Science and Aviation Degree

student crouched in front of a plane

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

January to April

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 307 – Professional Pilot Program Course 7
AVIA 310 – Human Factors in Aviation
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.

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.

What can you do with a degree in aviation?

Science and Aviation graduates pursue careers as pilots as well as flight instructors and aerial surveyors.

Recent graduates

  • Flight Instructor — Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre
  • Pilot Cadet — Cathay Pacific Airways

Tuition fees for aviation programs

First-year tuition

Type of fees Tuition (8 months of school)
Domestic (Ontario residents) $9,000
Domestic (Out of province students) $9,000
International (visa students) $50,000 (Geography and Aviation), $52,000 (Science and Aviation)
  • Estimated amounts listed include incidental fees. Fees based on 2024-25 tuition rates.
  • Visit our financing page to learn about scholarships, estimate your total expenses, and see how co-op can help pay for your education.

Flight training costs

Approximate total cost over four-year degree: $93,000. Further details about total costs can be found on the Aviation website.

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, or Physics

Admission average: Mid-80s

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.

Screening process

Qualified applicants will be asked to complete a screening process by the Waterloo-Wellington Flight Centre that includes

Admitted students

If you receive an offer of admission, you should book a medical fitness appointment with an approved Civil Aviation Medical Examiner as soon as possible. You should not accept your Offer of Admission until you have the results of your medical exam since results could be disqualify you from flight training.

How to apply?

Apply directly to this program on your application.

Related program

Geography and Aviation

Sign up for insider advice that can help you now and in the future.

Monthly topics include how to choose a university program, what it's like to be a Waterloo student, and more.

Contact a Science student ambassador to learn about their experience.

Ask them questions such as why the chose their program, what the classes are like, and how you can get involved on campus.

Connect with us

Questions about courses, programs, requirements, or careers?

Please contact our Faculty of Science recruitment team who can answer any questions you have.