Can science nerds make it big in business? You bet.
Jumpstart your career with a one-of-a-kind degree that equips you with both scientific know-how and valuable business skills.
Science and Business at Waterloo combines studies in biology, chemistry, and physics with courses in economics, accounting, marketing, law, and entrepreneurship.
Focus your degree by specializing in one of 4 different scientific disciplines, or take a broader range of courses tailored to your interests. Meanwhile, in one of Canada’s top universities for business, you’ll work in small groups on case studies, business plans, and market analysis.
When you graduate, the opportunities are many: this is a degree you can put to work in intellectual property, research, mutual funds, technical sales, business development, law, and a host of other fields.
Launch your own startup
Have entrepreneurial ambitions? Velocity Science, our incubator for science startups, provides all kinds of support to launch a business.
Connect outside of class
The Science and Business Students’ Association organizes beach days, BBQs, and end-of-term events … plus pre-exam breakfasts and résumé critiques.
Choose the co-op stream to include 20 months of paid work experience as part of your Bachelor of Science degree.
About the Science and Business program
Available as a 
Apply directly to this program on your application
Earn a Bachelor of Science in Honours Business and Science
300+ business-related courses available at Waterloo
Offered by the Faculty of Science
Optional specializations for you to choose fromScience and Business admission requirements
- Ontario students: 6 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, Geometry and Discrete Mathematics, Mathematics of Data Management, Physics
- Recommended courses: Chemistry, Introduction to International Business
- Admission averages: Low 80s
- An Admission Information Form is recommended
- Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements
Careers in Science and Business
Science and Business graduates are in high demand and commonly pursue careers in finance, science, technology, health and medical research, consulting, and in the energy and oil industry practising project and program analysis, business analysis, and technology development.
Recent graduates
- Business Analyst, Hospital for Sick Children
- Clinical Research Officer, Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
- Drug Safety Operations Team Lead, Hoffmann-LaRoche Limited
- Logistic Planner, Praxair Canada Inc.
- Project Leader, Apotex Incorporated
- Science Commercialization Officer, Science Enterprise Algoma
- Privacy Analyst, eHealth Ontario
- Account Manager, Pivotal Labs
Specializations
Focus your studies with one of our 4 specializations, or remain unspecialized:
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Earth Sciences (co-op not available)
First-year Science and Business courses
September to December
AFM 131 - Introduction to Business in North America
CHEM 120/120L - Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter/Laboratory
MATH 127 - Calculus 1 for the Sciences
SCBUS 123 - Workshop 1: Science and Business
ENGL 193/SPCOM 193 - Communication in the Sciences
January to April
ECON 101 - Introduction to Microeconomics
MATH 128 - Calculus 2 for the Sciences
CHEM 123/123L - Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics/Laboratory
SCBUS 122 - Management of Business Organizations
CS 100 - Introduction to Computing through Applications
One of:
• 100- or 200-level BIOL course
• EARTH 122/EARTH 122L Introductory Environmental Sciences
• Science elective
After first year
Most of the classes you’ll take will be Faculty of Science courses with some Economics and Accounting and Financial Management 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.
Sample upper-year Science and Business courses
AFM 231 – Business law
BIOL 239 – Genetics
SCBUS 223 – Workshop 2: Strategies Behind Technological Innovation
SCBUS 323 – Workshop 3: Technology Development
Customize your Bachelor of Science in Science and Business degree
You can also add additional areas of interest and expertise by including a minor/minors or specialization as part of your degree.
Gain relevant work experience through co-op
By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, you can explore new career areas and types of employers as your career interests evolve.
Sample co-op job titles
- Marketing Research Analyst
- Business Analyst
- Clinical Stats Research Analyst (ACCRU)
- Scientific Officer
- Validation & Quality Assurance
- Research Technician
Sample co-op employers
- Environment Canada
- Apotex Inc
- Kenexa
- Alberta Cancer Research Institute
- Environment Canada
- University of Waterloo
Learn more about Science and Business
- Email Jenn Czekus, our Science recruitment co-ordinator, who can answer any questions about Science and Business
- Visit the Science and Business website
