For more than 50 years, UW has been home to one of the top ranked geography departments in Canada. Geography at Waterloo engages in scholarly research and education through the study of physical and human environments from local to global scales. Whether it is finding solutions to the climate emergency, understanding the relationship between economy and society, analyzing change in our physical environment, or developing novel technologies to better map our world, Geography bridges the social sciences (human geography), environmental information technologies (geomatics), and the natural sciences (physical geography) to find sustainable solutions to the problems that face our planet.
We also offer the only Geography and Aviation Bachelors degree in the world that provides professional flight training and develops student understanding of sustainable aviation.
If you are interested in a deep-rooted discipline that offers hands-on training, quantitative and qualitative skills development, and an integrative perspective needed to tackle the toughest contemporary environmental and sustainability challenges, you have come to the right place. The Department of Geography and Environmental Management (GEM) offers undergraduate degrees in:
- Geography and Environmental Management (B.E.S.)
- Geomatics (B.E.S.)
- Climate and Environmental Change (B.Sc.)
- Geography and Aviation (B.E.S.)
and graduate degrees/diplomas in:
- Masters of Climate Change degree (M.C.C.)
- Graduate Diploma in CLimate Risk Management (G.Dip)
- Masters research degrees (M.E.S., M.A., M.Sc.)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
GEM's Research Reputation
2021 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. #6 in Canada for Geography.
GEM program ranked in top five Environmental Studies programs by MacLeans magazine, April 1 2025
2021 Academic Ranking of World Universities. Top 75 in the World for Geography.
Geography and Aviation
Geomatics
News
Congratulations, Vanier Scholars
Congratulations to Richard Adeleke and Satveer Dhillon, who have been awarded Vanier Scholarships.
More detail about their research and goals can be found here.
We are proud of their accomplishments and excited to see where their work will lead.
Dr Daniel Scott appointed University Professor
Congratulations Dr. Scott on this impressive honour!
Conferred by the University of Waterloo, this rare and prestigious recognition celebrates professors of international acclaim for their exceptional scholarly contributions.
Dr. Scott has been instrumental in designing, directing, and teaching climate change courses and programs at Waterloo, advising on climate programming at other universities, and supervising graduate students who have become leaders in their own right.
The University of Waterloo owes much of its international reputation and stature to the quality of its eminent professors and recognizes exceptional scholarly achievement and international pre-eminence through the designation 'University Professor'. Once appointed, a faculty member retains the designation until retirement.
Dr Susan Elliott wins Award of Excellence for Graduate Supervision
The Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision has been given to Dr Susan Elliott.
Nomination for the award is based on submissions from current and former graduate students in recognition of excelling as a mentor, advisor, role model, humanist and strategist. Each year supervisors who exemplify these qualities, as well as a high level of energy and ingenuity, are selected for the honour.