Welcome to Biology at Waterloo

Biology is the study of living organisms: their structure, function, organization, origin, and evolution.

As a biologist, you’ll have career options that span a wide range of professions, including laboratory and field research, environmental assessment, the health professions, education, and industry. By choosing one of our areas of specialization, such as Animal Physiology, Ecology and Environmental Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, or Plant Biology, you can better prepare yourself for these exciting career opportunities.

Our Biology program is versatile, allowing you to complement your Genetics, Cell Biology, Physiology, Ecology, Plant Biology, and Human Anatomy courses with studies from the arts, humanities, languages, and mathematics areas. Related labs, tutorial sessions, and field trips provide hands-on experience in a wide range of biological disciplines.

The Department of Biology offers undergraduate degrees in Bioinformatics, Biomedical Sciences (formerly Pre-Optometry/Pre-Health), Honours Biochemistry, Honours Biochemistry/Biotechnology (Regular and Co-op), Honours Environmental Sciences (Ecology Specialization) and Honours Biology (Regular and Co-op). View the degrees and programs. More information about our graduate programs is available on our graduate program site.

Learn more about the Department of Biology's vision/strategic plan.

News

  1. Jan. 28, 2019Researchers and Indigenous community work together to determine fish safety for consumptionView of lake from tip of canoe.

    Food security is an urgent and growing concern for Indigenous populations in Canada. Environmental change in aquatic ecosystems can impact the health of fish and the communities that rely on those fish in many ways. Some of those ways can involve exposure to contaminants like mercury.

  2. Dec. 17, 2018Remembering Biology instructor Frank BrookfieldFrank Brookfield and Peter Russell with a fossil of Parasaurolophus.

    Frank Brookfield (left) and Peter Russell with a Parasaurolophus fossil.

    University of Waterloo retiree J. Frank Brookfield passed away on November 29th. Brookfield was a long-time instructor in the Biology department and also served as the biology curator of the Earth Sciences Museum.

  3. Nov. 15, 2018Contribution to environmental toxicology earns biologist Mark Servos SETAC FellowshipMark Servos and male student in river with fishing nets

    Canada Research Chair Mark Servos has been appointed a 2018 Fellow of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), in recognition of his research contributions as well as his SETAC leadership and service. In addition to being named a fellow, Servos will become an advisor to the SETAC World Council.

Read all news

Events

  1. Feb. 21, 2019Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: What Faculty Need to KnowLisa Willis headshot

    NSERC now requires an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) statement on its applications and CIHR wants to know how you are incorporating sex and gender into your research but most faculty don't even know what EDI is. 

    Join Prof. Lisa Willis for a seminar on including EDI into your grants, reference letters, hiring practices and managing trainees.

  2. Feb. 26, 2019BIOL 130 supported learning groupGroup of students working together with books and laptops on the table.

    Supported learning groups (SLG) are free weekly study sessions intended to give students a chance to study with their classmates. Science Peer Success Coaches create and facilitate fun and engaging activities to help students review challenging course content from BIOL 130.

  3. Feb. 28, 2019BIOL 130 supported learning groupGroup of students working together with books and laptops on the table.

    Supported learning groups (SLG) are free weekly study sessions intended to give students a chance to study with their classmates. Science Peer Success Coaches create and facilitate fun and engaging activities to help students review challenging course content from BIOL 130.

All upcoming events