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. July 8, 2020Inoculating against misinformation
    Ridhi Patel sits next to laptop with covid trivia game on the screen.

    COVID-19 overwhelmed healthcare systems around the world and left a devastating death toll in its path. The pandemic struck fear and panic in everyone. Knowing very little about the new virus and with no cure, COVID-19 encouraged the rapid spread of misinformation. Undergraduate Science student, Ridhi Patel, developed a game to fight COVID-19 misinformation.

  2. June 30, 2020Graduate student Nikhil George named CSM Ambassador
    Headshot of Nikhil George outside

    Biology doctoral candidate Nikhil George was awarded the Ambassador Award from the Canadian Society of Microbiologists. 

  3. June 23, 2020Spencer Weinstein wins prestigious Vanier Scholarship
    Headshot of Spencer Weinstein

    Last week, the 2020 Vanier Scholarship award winners were announced. Among the prestigious group were three Faculty of Science graduate students - Finnian Gray (Physics & Astronomy), Christian Ieritano (Chemistry) and Spencer Weinstein (Biology).

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