Science/BASE

If you have been admitted to a Science program, you will either do 1 term or 2 terms of BASE. Your courses will be selected for you.

Your credit courses include CHEM 120 and CHEM 120L (and ENVS 195 if you are doing 2 terms). These courses count toward your degree. Refer to the Undergraduate Calendar for descriptions of the courses you'll take.

Courses - 1 term

Fall programs
CHEM 120 Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter (0.5 credits)
CHEM 120L Chemical Reaction Laboratory 1 (0.25 credits)
BASE 42 Academic Skills
BASE 44 Writing Skills
BASE 46 Oral Skills
Bi-weekly meetings with instructors
Weekly workshops and information sessions

Courses - 2 terms

Fall term courses	Winter term courses
CHEM 120 Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter (0.5 credits)	CHEM 123 - Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics (0.5 credits)
CHEM 120L Chemical Reaction Laboratory 1 (0.25 credits)	CHEM 123L - Chemical Reaction Laboratory 2 (0.25 credits)
BASE 32 Academic Skills	BASE 42 Academic Skills
BASE 34 Writing Skills	BASE 44 Writing Skills
BASE 36 Oral Skills	BASE 46 Oral Skills
Bi-weekly meetings with instructors	Bi-weekly meetings with instructors
Weekly workshops and information sessions	Weekly workshops and information sessions

Watch video on YouTube

Instructor Jesse Corwin discusses the BASE program's hands-on approach to studying science. In Science/BASE, you learn to conduct research and experiments, and then present your findings.

What to expect in your credit course(s)

In Science/BASE, you take 1 or 2 university credit courses along with your BASE courses. Taking these courses helps you build a strong foundation for other Waterloo Science programs. They also allow you to practise the oral, writing, and academic skills you learn in your BASE courses.

You earn .50 credits for each lecture course and .25 credits for the lab course. These credits count toward your degree.

How to prepare for your Chemistry courses

You can use SciSpace, our online Science community, to learn how to prepare for lectures and labs. In the In Class section, you’ll learn

What you will do in the CHEM 120 Lab
What a Science lecture is like
How to prepare lab reports
How to act in a lecture

Note: In mid-July, we will email you information about how to to access your SciSpace account. Contact the Science Undergrad Office if you have any questions about SciSpace.

What to expect in your BASE courses

Academic skills

In Academic Skills, you learn language and study skills that help you in your credit courses, such as

Lecture listening and note-taking skills,
Reading and test-taking strategies, and
Vocabulary development.

You also develop your study skills through workshops about goal-setting, time management and test preparation.

You demonstrate your understanding of important course content through a variety of written and spoken assignments. These assignments increase in complexity as you move from the 30 to 40 level.

BASE 32 Academic Skills
You are introduced to scientific thinking and the scientific method as it is used in lab report writing.

BASE 42 Academic Skills
You apply critical thinking as your instructor guides you in writing a researched lab report.

Writing skills

Course materials, discussion topics, and vocabulary study incorporate a Science or disciplinary focus whenever possible.

BASE 34 Writing Skills
You are introduced to important grammar concepts and essay formats most commonly found in academic writing. You also learn the basics of research literacy skills and textual attribution.

BASE 44 Writing Skills
You extend your research skills and your understanding of rhetorical modes and linguistic and grammatical structures by completing a literature review and lengthy research report project. This report is an independent study project that allows you to research an area of interest in Science.

Oral skills

In Oral Skills, you complete major tasks that include

assuming the role of leader for discussion groups,
practising the art and language of persuasion in your presentations, and
sharpening your interviewer/interviewee skills to complete a group project.

Course materials, discussion topics, and vocabulary study incorporate a science or disciplinary focus whenever possible.

BASE 36 – Oral Skills
You become familiar with a variety of academic speaking environments and tasks and improve your speaking confidence, pronunciation, listening, academic vocabulary and academic presentation skills. You become more effective in conversations, discussions and presentations, both in and out of the classroom.

BASE 46 – Oral Skills
You expand your speaking confidence and academic vocabulary, while refining your pronunciation and presentation skills.