Advisors: For Program Director and list of advisors see Science program advisors
The Honours Science and Aviation Plan is designed to provide a strong science and technology base for careers in a very diverse array of aviation and aerospace industries. It consists of a Science Degree combined with a Commercial Pilot Program that provides advanced flight training, leading to a private and commercial pilot licence.
Core subjects in the Science and Aviation plans include those in the science specializations (Earth Science, Physics, or non-specialized options), several Geomatics courses, as well as electives. The aviation component of the plans consists of the Professional Pilot Program delivered by the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre (WWFC).
The WWFC component of the program provides advanced flight training leading to a commercial pilot licence. Coursework includes the essentials of aviation, as well as private and commercial pilot training, an instrument rating and multiengine rating. This instruction is provided by eight courses in flight training as outlined on the University of Waterloo Aviation webpage. Costs related to the flight-training component are assessed as a separate fee paid directly to the WWFC.
Applicants must satisfy a screening process by WWFC that includes attending an intake briefing and obtaining a Category 1 Aviation Medical. Transport Canada Category 1 Medical Certification is required for admission to first year and all subsequent years. This requirement is monitored by the WWFC.
Transfer Candidates
Students will be granted advanced credits up to and including a Private Pilot Licence. Program hours will be granted up to licence sign off and the remaining hours will be logged as career, not program hours. Students are not accepted past the Private Pilot Licence or if they have acquired a Night Rating. Students entering the program with a Private Licence will be required to attend WWFC’s Flight Management Basic Courses as a review. Students who apply with the flight qualifications that meet the standards set by WWFC are eligible for the Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree upon successful completion of the plan curriculum and transfer of credit for the flight courses.
Maintaining Academic Status
In order to continue in the Aviation plan, students must maintain the University of Waterloo academic standards (described below) as well as achieve the flight component benchmarks set by WWFC for each semester. Students are expected to maintain passing grades (70%) in all WWFC flight components. Students may be allowed to achieve this by using a "competency-based" approach, so long as they achieve the established benchmarks on time.
No transfer credits for the flight training courses are permitted in the event that a student fails to complete the flight training component, and subsequently enrols in another program in order to obtain a regular degree.
This plan is offered in the Regular system of study with the option to remain unspecialized or to choose one of the following specializations:
- Honours Science and Aviation (Earth Science Specialization)
- Honours Science and Aviation (Physics Specialization)
Honours Science and Aviation
Continuation in Honours Science and Aviation requires a cumulative overall average of 65% and a cumulative average of 65% in Science courses. Students who are no longer eligible, or elect not to continue in the Science and Aviation Program, may transfer into any other Science Program for which they are qualified. It should be noted that the Professional Pilot Program Courses are eligible for credit only for fulfilment of the requirements of a Science and Aviation Plan. Transfer consideration of previous flight training or Professional Pilot Program Courses will be at the discretion of the Waterloo-Wellington Flight Centre and not determined by the University of Waterloo.
In order to graduate in Honours Science and Aviation the following requirements must be met:
- Successful completion of at least 21.0 units with a cumulative average of 65% and a 65% Science average. Of the 21.0 units required:
- 5.0 units of Professional Pilot Program Courses. AVIA 101, 102, 203, 204, 205, 306, 307 and 408 are Professional Pilot Program courses and are not used in average calculations. Grading is CR (credit granted) or NCR (no credit granted, failure recorded).
- Completion of the English Language Proficiency Requirement
- No more than 2.0 failed units of University of Waterloo courses are allowed. All WWFC courses must be passed.
- Mandatory courses are listed below.
- To be eligible for the Term Dean’s Honours List, students must achieve a minimum term average of 80%, with no failures, in any given term, with the total number of University of Waterloo courses determined by the recommended course load for that term.
- Geomatics Option and Minors - Students in Science and Aviation may be approved for the Geomatics Option or other credentials at the time of graduation with additional course requirements.
Geomatics Option
The Geomatics Option is available to students in the Science and Aviation Plans in the Faculty of Science.
The requirements for the Option are six courses (four core and two electives) with a minimum average of 65%.
Required Courses
GEOG 181, 271, 281, 309
Electives Courses
Two courses from: GEOG/PLAN 381, GEOG/PLAN 387, GEOG 310, GEOG 371