Having your head in the clouds is a good thing
Earn a Bachelor of Science degree and your Commercial Pilot Licence through the largest aviation program in Canada.
Your core science education will be supplemented with courses that include cartography, climatology, geographic information systems, aerodynamics, and remote sensing. Our curriculum also emphasizes the organizational and communication skills you’ll need to succeed in the working world.
Aviation and aerospace industries demand a new breed of specialists who have well-developed analytical and decision-making skills, along with an understanding of complex aircraft systems.
Waterloo’s Science and Aviation program equips you with that expertise.
What courses will you take in Science and Aviation?
First-year courses
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.
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.
Customize your degree
You can add additional areas of expertise to your degree by including one or more of the minors available to all Waterloo students.
Faculty:
Faculty of Science
Degree:
Bachelor of Science in Science and Aviation
Available as a co-op program?
No
Available as a regular program?
Yes
Available as a minor?
No
Build valuable skills. When you graduate, your combination of a university degree and a pilot’s licence will set you up for a wide range of airborne and ground-based careers — and give you a distinctive edge over your competition.
Log 200+ flight hours. You’ll spend lots of time in the air — flight hours that count toward your Commercial Pilot Licence with aviation courses through the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre.
Admission requirements
Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- English (ENG4U) (minimum final grade of 70%)
- Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Two of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, or Physics
Admission average: Mid-80s
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.
How to apply?
Apply directly to this program on your application.
Qualified applicants will be asked to complete a screening process by the Waterloo-Wellington Flight Centre that includes a program briefing session, Transport Canada Category 1 Medical Certification, and Aviation Language Proficiency Test (for Permanent Residents and visa students only; the medical certification must be completed prior to writing the test).
Related program
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Questions about courses, programs, requirements, or careers?
Please contact our Faculty of Science recruitment team who can answer any questions you have.