Degrees and programs

Undergraduate programs

The Department of Biology is home to a number of academic plans. When viewing information on the Undergraduate Calendar, please ensure that you are viewing the calendar for the year you were admitted.

Program information

This list covers all programs in the Department of Biology, as well as links to their pages on the Undergraduate Calendar.

Honours Biology (No Specialization)
Honours Biology specializations are only available to students entering Fall 2020 or earlier: (Animal Biology Spec., Biotechnology Spec., Environmental Biology Spec., Microbiology Spec., Molecular Genetics Spec., Plant Biology Spec.)
Please select your entry year from List of Undergraduate Archieved Calendars for Honours Biology
Honours Biochemistry (No Specialization, Biotechnology Spec.)
Honours Biomedical Sciences
Bioinformatics Option
Honours Life Physics
Honours Environmental Sciences (Ecology Specialization)

Minors in Biology

Below is a list of minors offered by the Department of Biology, including links to their descriptions on the Undergraduate Calendar.

Available options in Biology

Biology and Biotechnology Technician Diploma (For students in the Biology and Biomedical Sciences programs)
Bioinformatics Option (Available to Honours BSc students within the Faculty of Science)

Degree checklists

Plan	Information
Honours Biology (regular and co-op)	View the degree checklists
Biomedical Sciences	Visit the Biomedical Sciences website
Honours Biochemistry	Visit the Biochemistry website
Honours Biochemistry/Biotechnology (regular and co-op)	Visit the Biochemistry/Biotechnology website
Honours Environmental Science Ecology Specialization (regular or coop)	View the Ecology Specialization (PDF)

Please consult our undergraduate student webpages for more information.

Graduate programs

The Department of Biology offers thesis based graduate training at both the M.Sc. (Master of Science) and Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) levels. In both programs students are required to take courses.

Normally, these courses are selected from the Biology listings, but you may take a course from any department on campus, or from other universities, provided that it is approved for credit by your advisory committee. At least two of the required courses must come from within the Biology Department listings.

All our programs require that graduate students take the Graduate Academic Integrity Module. This is an online course that must be completed within the first 8 weeks of your first term and will be listed on your transcript. You will be contacted by the Integrity Office to complete this online module. This is not the same as the Academic Integrity Workshop, which is also required.

More information and program requirements can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook

Explore our programs to find the right one for you.

Water program | Transfer and Direct Entry programs

Water program

The Collaborative Water Program promotes the development of interdisciplinary perspectives on water. This unique program allows students to complete their specialist training in the Department of Biology, while working with colleagues from a variety of other departments or schools in core interdisciplinary courses. As an interdisciplinary offering, the Collaborative Water Program is delivered jointly by 11 departments and schools from across all six University of Waterloo faculties. Co-ordinated and supported by the Water Institute, the Collaborative Water Program provides students with the opportunity to study complex water problems, learning how to work in interdisciplinary teams to better understand and address these water issues. Students graduate from the Collaborative Water Program as future water leaders, able to communicate across disciplines and within interdisciplinary teams in the water sector.

The Collaborative Water Program is available to Masters or Doctoral students in thesis or research-paper based programs, and whose program of study will have a substantial focus on water.

The Department of Biology offers thesis based graduate training in Integrated Water Management at both the M.Sc. (Master of Science) and Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) levels. The first term of enrolment was Winter 2014.

Please review the joint-venture Water program information available. The Graduate Calendar contains the most current and official record of requirements:

Students should consult the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar to for specific degree requirements in their program of study.

Students should consult the Collaborative Water Program website for additional information on the program.

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Transfer and Direct Entry programs

The option of transferring from the M.Sc. program to the Ph.D. program or to apply directly to the Ph.D. program is open to students with:

good academic standing, not on probation or carrying incomplete course grades
significant progress in a research project that could be expanded to a Ph.D. project
demonstrated scientific writing skills

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