Honours Science

Deciding is difficult. So don't.

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 major, more than half of your courses are electives. Choose additional science courses, or take advantage of offerings from other faculties or departments across the university.

Once you graduate, an Honours Science degree gives you 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.

Choose your own courses

In Waterloo’s most flexible science program, there’s only one restriction: six of your 10 courses each year must be science related. After that, it’s up to you!

Pick your science major later

If you end up falling in love with a particular subject in science, you can switch into a more specialized program at any time up to third year.

Liquid being poured into a beaker.

Honours Science provides an excellent foundation for your career or for further education, such as medical school or a master's degree.

Globe The Faculty of Science is an international leader in research

Breifcase Available as a regular program only

State-of-the-art teaching labs located within our Science Teaching Complex

Honours Science 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

We recommend completing the Admission Information Form once you've applied.

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.

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First-year courses

September to December

Two of:
- First- or second-year Biology course course with associated labs (excluding BIOL 101, BIOL 225, and BIOL 280)
- CHEM 120/120L - Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter/ Laboratory
- EARTH 121/121L - Introductory Earth Sciences/ Laboratory
- PHYS 111/111L - Physics 1/ Laboratory
One Mathematics course
Two electives

January to April

ENGL 193/SPCOM 193 - Communication in the Sciences
Two of:
- First- or second-year Biology course with associated labs (excluding BIOL 101, BIOL 225, and BIOL 280)
- CHEM 123/123L - Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics/ Laboratory
- EARTH 122/122L - Introductory Environmental Sciences/ Laboratory
- PHYS 112/112L - Physics 2/ Laboratory
One Mathematics course
One elective

After first year

Most of the classes you’ll take will be Faculty of Science 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.

Click Apply directly to this program on your application

Beaker Offered by the Faculty of Science

Cap Earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Honours Science

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. Popular areas of focus for Honours Science students include Biology, Psychology, and Chemistry.

What can I do with an Honours Bachelor of Science degree?

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