Chemistry (Co-op and Regular)
- About
- Beyond the classroom
- First-year courses
- Upper-year courses
- Specializations
- Co-op
- Beyond University of Waterloo
- Important information
About
Chemistry is a diverse discipline, involving substances in every aspect of life — what we see, eat, smell, touch, and taste every day. With an equal emphasis on theory and practical work, Waterloo's Chemistry program prepares you for a growing number of dynamic career options. You could be searching for the roots of crippling diseases, developing cancer-fighting drugs, or assessing environmental damage.
Beyond the classroom
Chemical synthesis, virology, enzymology, and microbiology are just a few of the areas of study available to you, providing you with opportunities to work on interesting and practical projects. You'll learn scientific methods specific to biochemistry through hands-on labs common to most courses. Modern equipment will give you experience in analytical techniques like chromatography, electrophoresis, and nuclear magnetic resonance. If you choose to add the Biotechnology specialization to your program, you can explore biological and biochemical processes used to make new products, including novel drugs to treat disease.
First-year courses
Leading-edge labs, such as our Analytical Chemistry Lab, will introduce you to advanced equipment and computer-assisted techniques. To complete your learning experience, your professors will bring real-world examples of chemistry to the classroom through their research and collaboration with industry.
At Waterloo, you'll get the strongest possible grounding in chemistry, with comprehensive courses starting right from first year.
First-year courses you'll take:
| fall term (1A) | winter term (1B) |
|---|---|
| CHEM 120/120L Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter / Lab MATH 127 Calculus 1 PHYS 121/121L Mechanics and Waves 1 / Lab Two electives |
CHEM 123/123L Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics / Lab CHEM 140 Introduction to Scientific Calculations (previously listed as CHEM 140L) MATH 128 Calculus 2 PHYS 122/122L Mechanics and Waves 2 / Lab Two Electives |
Upper-year courses
- Here is a list of some of our upper-year courses in chemistry.
- Modelling with Ordinary Differential Equations
- Introductory Hydrology/ Laboratory
- Introductory Chemical Thermodynamics
- Ionic Equilibria
- Chemical Kinetics
- Physiochemical Aspects of Natural Water
- Physical Hydrogeology
- Environmental Geology for Earth Scientists
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Chemistry course descriptions and requirements, are found in the undergraduate Calendar.
Specializations
As a chemistry major, you can choose to focus your studies in one of our offered specializations.
- Analytical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
Co-op
What is co-op?
In the second term of your second year, you are able to begin a co-op job. You will complete 4 months of co-op, then return for 4 months of school. This pattern will continue the rest of your stay at University of Waterloo.
For more information visit the Co-operative Education website.
Co-op students at work
- Corrosion and Surface Scientist, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.
- Assistant Geochemist, Environment Canada
- Organic Chemist, Apotex Inc.
- Research & Development, DOW Canada
- Chemist, Xerox Research Centre of Canada
To see what other jobs students have had, click here.
Chemistry co-op earnings
| work term | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| earnings/week (avg $) | 545 | 585 | 619 | 661 | 673 |
Beyond University of Waterloo
Because our Chemistry program emphasizes research and computer skills, employers find that our students are valuable team members who quickly learn new techniques and who are able to quickly problem solve.
What our grads are doing now
- Applied Research Scientist, MDS Sciex
- Inorganic Technician, Environmental Enforcement Services
- Analytical Chemist, GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
- Software Designer, AES Data Inc.
- Chemist, Allelix Biopharmaceuticals
Other careers students are following can be found in our Carrers in Science website.
Important information
Information on admission requirements, financing and housing, is found in our admission website.
