First-year courses and beyond
Programs/majors in the Faculty of Science start right in first year. To select your program with confidence, here’s some handy info to get you started.
September to December
- AVIA 100 – Introduction to Aviation
- GEOG 181 – Designing Effective Maps
- One math elective (such as MATH 127 – Calculus 1 for the Sciences)
- Two of the following:
- A 100- or 200-level Biology course and lab (excluding BIOL 225 and BIOL 280)
- CHEM 120/CHEM 120L – General Chemistry 1/Lab
- EARTH 121/EARTH 121L – Introductory Earth Sciences/Lab
- PHYS 111/111L – Physics 1/Lab
January to April
- AVIA 101 – Professional Pilot Program Course I
- ENGL 193/COMMST 193 – Communication in the Sciences
- Two of the following:
- A 100- or 200-level Biology course and lab (excluding BIOL 225 and BIOL 280)
- CHEM 123/CHEM 123L – General Chemistry 2/Lab
- EARTH 122/EARTH 122L – Introductory Environmental Sciences/Lab
- PHYS 112/112L – Physics 2/Lab
This a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability. Some students may begin Professional Pilot Program Course I (AVIA 101) during the spring term (May to August) following first year, depending on cohort.
After first year
About half of the classes you’ll take will be Aviation courses with the other half being mostly Science courses with some Math and Geography classes to round out your degree. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.
View a list of all the courses required for your degree.
Sample upper-year courses
AVIA 310 – Human Factors in Aviation
AVIA 307 – Professional Pilot Program Course 7
EARTH 221 – Introductory Geochemistry
EARTH 238 – Introductory Structural Geology
Types of courses you'll take
This is a general guideline. The ratio of courses may change slightly from year to year.
Skills you'll develop with this major
- Time management
- Safety and risk management
- Public speaking
- Critical thinking
- Teamwork
This isn't an exhaustive list – rather a glimpse into the skills a Science and Aviation major can provide.
Your experience will be unique, and the skills you develop will depend on your goals; which courses you take; and your involvement with any clubs, jobs, or research projects.
Advisors are here to help
With so much flexibility, you might have a lot of questions. We're here to help! If you're applying for admission, contact our Faculty of Science recruitment co-ordinator.
Once you're a Waterloo student, you'll have access to academic advisors who can help you
- choose your courses,
- select minors and specializations,
- ensure that you're meeting the requirements for your degree, and more.
Next steps
- Overview of Waterloo's Science and Aviation degree program.
- Download a Faculty of Science brochure.