Biology

Study life. It’s in your DNA.

At Waterloo, you’ll dive into your Biology major right from day one. And with more than 80 biology courses available, you’ve got plenty of options. Keep your Biology degree broad, or go deeper with one of 6 possible specializations.

You’ll graduate ready for a career in laboratory or field research, environmental assessment, education, the health professions, or industry.

Get career-relevant skills

Looking for practical skills? Take advantage of hands-on field courses to study terrestrial, aquatic, or marine biology in places like Algonquin Park and Jamaica.

Meet other bio-nerds

Make some time in your schedule for the Biology Undergraduate Society (BUGS), which organizes student-professor nights, tutoring sessions, and a full calendar of social events.

Two students in the Biology program at University of Waterloo dissecting a crayfish

By choosing an area of specialization, you can focus your studies and prepare for exciting career opportunities.

About the Biology program

Breifcase Available as a co-op and regular program

Click Apply to Life Sciences and select Biology as your major

Cap Earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology

book icon Available as a major and minor

BEAKER Offered by the Faculty of Science

Trophy Ranked among the world's top universities for biological sciences

Biology admission requirements

Ontario students: 6 Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- English (ENG4U) (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- 2 of: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, Physics (Biology, Chemistry, and/or Physics are recommended)
Admission averages: Low 80s
An Admission Information Form is recommended
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements

How to apply

Apply to Life Sciences and select Biology as your major.

Careers in biology

Graduates with a Biology degree often work in health care, microbiology and genetics for agricultural companies, hospitals and health science centres, medical research centres, labs, pharmaceutical companies, energy companies, and in education as teachers, lecturers, researchers, and more.

Recent graduates

Cellular Therapy Production Manager, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Chiropodist/Foot Specialist, LifeSource Medical Centre
Clinical Research Assistant, Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
Co-Founder, Feeband Lab Inc.
Fishery Research Program Associate, Great Lakes Fishery Commission
Genetic Counsellor, Prenatal Diagnosis Clinic, McMaster University
Researcher, Hospital for Sick Children
Microbiologist, Septodont, Novocol Pharmaceutical Division
Dietitian, Bridgepoint Health

First-year Biology courses

September to December

BIOL 110 - Introductory Zoology
BIOL 130/130L - Introductory Cell Biology/Lab
CHEM 120/120L - Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter/Lab
BIOL 150 - Organismal and Evolutionary Ecology
ENGL 193/SPCOM 193 - Communication in the Sciences

January to April

BIOL 165 - Diversity of Life
BIOL 239 - Genetics
CHEM 123/123L - Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics/Lab
Choose one of:
• MATH 114 - Linear Algebra for Science
• MATH 127 - Calculus 1 for the Sciences
• PHYS 111 - Physics 1
1 elective

After first year

Most of the classes you’ll take will be Biology courses. 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 (refer to Honours Biology or one of the specializations in Biology).

Sample upper-year courses

BIOL 225 – Plants and Civilization
BIOL 310 – Invertebrate Zoology
BIOL 346 – Microbial Ecology and Diversity
BIOL 472 – Cell Biology of Human Disease

Customize your Bachelor of Science in Biology degree

You can add additional areas of interest and expertise by including a minor/minors or one of the below specialization within Biology as part of your degree.