Honours Science

Craft your own Bachelor of Science degree

With so many different sciences to love, why limit yourself? Honours Science at Waterloo lets you keep your interests broad.

Take a range of courses in chemistry, biology, physics, earth sciences, and more in the most flexible program within the Faculty of Science. Because you don’t have to commit to a specific discipline, more than half of your Science courses are electives. In addition, you also have space to take courses from other faculties or departments across the university.

An Honours Science degree is an excellent foundation for many science-related careers. It also makes it easy to meet the requirements for professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, and more.

What courses will you take in Honours Science?

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

Choose two from
- CHEM 120 / 120L – General Chemistry 1/ Lab
- EARTH 121 / 121L – Introductory Earth Sciences/ Lab
- PHYS 111 / 111L – Physics 1/ Lab
- a 100- or 200-level Biology course
One Mathematics elective
Two electives

January to April

Choose two from
- CHEM 123 / 123L – General Chemistry 2/ Lab
- EARTH 122 / 122L – Introductory Environmental Sciences/ Lab
- PHYS 112 / 112L – Physics 2/ Lab
- a 100- or 200-level Biology course
One Mathematics elective
ENGL 193 / COMMST 193 – Communication in the Sciences
One elective

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.

After first year

Most of the classes you’ll take will be in subjects offered by the Faculty of Science. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.

View all the courses required for your degree.

Customize your Honours Science Degree

You can add additional areas of expertise to your degree by including one or more of the minors available to all Waterloo students, or our Bioinformatics Option.

Popular minors for students in Honours Science include:

View "Science at the University of Waterloo" on YouTube

Science + AI: Discover what’s possible

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way scientists explore our world, from uncovering patterns in biological data to tackling global challenges in health and the environment.

At Waterloo, students in the Faculty of Science can learn how AI and science work together to drive new discoveries and innovation.

Examples of how we're using AI to make an impact

Murto Hilali and Kritika Grover — Murto Hilali (left) and Kritika Grover (right) used AI at SickKids Research Institute in Toronto to visualize genes and predict how they could influence symptoms of cerebral palsy. Kritika said the field of bioinformatics was new territory for her, and throughout her work, became inspired by the potential of AI in transforming healthcare research.

Faculty:
Faculty of Science

Degree:
Bachelor of Science in Honours Science

Available as a co-op program?
No

Available as a regular program?
Regular only

Available as a minor?
No

Choose your own courses. In Waterloo’s most flexible science program, you get to customize your degree based on your interests in science and other areas of study.

Excellent preparation for health professions. Honours Science is a recommended major for preparing for our Pharmacy and Optometry programs.

What can I do with a degree in Honours Science?

With its flexible course selection, Honours Science leads to a wide variety of careers in health care and research, education, energy and oil, pharmaceuticals, environmental science and research, insurance, agriculture and food, and natural resources.

Sample graduates

Teacher — Halton District School Board
Cardiac Ethnographer — University Health Network
Coordinator Forests Without Borders — The Canadian Ecology Centre
Environment, Health Safety Advisor — Suncor Energy Products Inc.
Food Processing Specialist — Maple Leaf Consumer Foods
Industrial Hygienist — Petro-Canada
Lab Technologist — Stratford General Hospital

Learn about the future of careers in science.

"The best thing about Waterloo is the high-quality education. Every class I’ve taken has been amazing. The professors are passionate about their fields and helping students. My peers are curious and driven, which has encouraged me to do my best and grow." Lindsay, Honours Science student (minors in Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology)

"Honours Science really allows you to personalize your own degree and work at your own pace. It’s so flexible you can take anything — from mythology to languages — while you gain skills and knowledge in the sciences you love. " Maggie, Honours Science student

Admission requirements

Ontario students

Six 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)
Two of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, and Physics

Admission averages: Low 80s

Not studying in Ontario?

Search our admission requirements.

How to apply

Apply directly to this program on your application.

Related programs

Medical Sciences (Waterloo) and Doctor of Medicine (St. George's University)

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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.