Environmental & Earth Sciences Gateway

McMaster University

Earth Science and Geography: blue ink subject illustration

3 / 4 years
Duration (years)
3-year B.Sc. or 4-year Honours B.Sc.
McMaster Science degree lengths, progression and co-op options
Co-op details
Work experience
Paid co-op is optional in eligible Level II degrees. Apply for the co-op stream separately. Work schedules depend on the degree.
McMaster Science degree lengths, progression and co-op options
~Mid-80s
Entering average
Published approximate guidance: Mid-80s. Fall 2027 entry. Ontario high-school applicants
McMaster Fall 2027 Environmental & Earth Sciences Ontario admission selector

Deadlines

November 2026

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Next deadlineThursday, November 19, 2026

OUAC. Ontario high schools report midterm/final 4U/M grades
2027 entry
School deadline, not a student task. Universities receive these grades by November 26. Verbatim: "Deadline for the OUAC to receive all midterm or final grades available for 4U/M courses from Ontario high schools. Schools may report in-progress grades for full-year courses as soon as they are available." Universities receive these by the target date of November 26, 2026. This is a deadline on the high school, not on the student, but it governs which grades a university sees in the first round.
Official deadline

Other deadline details

No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by programOUAC Undergraduate application, applicants who are not Ontario high school students (Group B)2026 entry

No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by program
No single OUAC deadline
University, program, transcript, portfolio, interview, and audition dates still apply

Full source wording

Verbatim: "There is no specific Undergraduate application deadline if you are a Group B applicant. Deadlines vary at each university and sometimes depend on the program. Visit the university websites or contact the universities directly for their deadlines. If you are interested in a program but the deadline has passed, you may contact the university's admission office for help. Be aware of university-specific deadlines for submitting transcripts and portfolios, if required, and for arranging interviews and auditions. You must ensure the OUAC has enough time to process your choices before the universities' program deadlines." OUAC defines Group B as anyone who does not meet the Group A criteria, e.g. not currently taking an Ontario high school course, a Canadian outside Ontario, an international applicant, a postsecondary transfer student, or a mature applicant.

SourceChecked Aug 14, 2026

Requirements

Admission requirements

High-school prerequisites

ENG4UEnglish
MHF4U / MCV4UOne of Advanced Functions or Calculus and Vectors
SBI4U / SCH4UOne of Biology or Chemistry
One additional, distinct course from Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors, Biology, Chemistry or Physics

Ontario Secondary School Diploma and six Grade 12 U or M courses, including the prerequisites.
A course can satisfy only one prerequisite.
McMaster strongly recommends Biology, Chemistry, and Calculus and Vectors. Without Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors, take MATH 1F03 in Level I.

Application steps

Entry terms · Fall

September 2027 first-year entry through OUAC code MEE.

Step 1Check the admission requirements
- Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
McMaster Fall 2027 Environmental & Earth Sciences Ontario admission selectorMcMaster Fall 2027 Environmental & Earth Sciences Ontario admission selector
Step 2Apply through OUAC
- Create your application and select this program.
OUACOUAC
Step 3Academic documents for your applicant category
- Canadian high school applicants outside Ontario upload the requested records to the Applicant Portal. Uploaded records can support initial review; accepted conditional offers require final official transcripts. Current Ontario high school applicants follow the separate instructions rather than sending unrequested records.
McMaster transcripts and documentsMcMaster transcripts and documents
Step 4English test results, if required
- When English proficiency evidence is required, IELTS, TOEFL and other accepted test results must come directly from the testing centre.
McMaster direct submission of language resultsMcMaster direct submission of language results
Step 5Apply through OUAC using MEE.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
McMaster Fall 2027 Environmental & Earth Sciences Ontario admission selectorMcMaster Fall 2027 Environmental & Earth Sciences Ontario admission selector
Step 6Check your McMaster applicant portal. Upload supporting documents if requested. McMaster receives current Ontario high-school grades from OUAC.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
McMaster Fall 2027 Environmental & Earth Sciences Ontario admission selectorMcMaster Fall 2027 Environmental & Earth Sciences Ontario admission selector

Degree requirements

Credits and degree requirements

The gateway is one academic year. The recommended Level I workload is 30 units.
Honours B.Sc. degrees normally require 120 units over four years. The faculty also lists 90-unit B.Sc. options.
Students on the Honours Environmental Sciences route must complete EARTHSC 1G03 and ENVIRSC 1C03 by the end of Level II. Honours Earth and Environmental Sciences has a separate set of first-year prerequisites.

References

Required courses and electives

The recommended plan includes EARTHSC 1G03 and ENVIRSC 1C03, three calculus units, 15 units from the Science I list, and six electives.

References

Grades and academic standing

Honours Environmental Sciences Level II requires a 5.0 first-year GPA, one listed calculus course, two listed earth or environment courses averaging at least 6.0, and three Science I courses.

References

Program facts

Entering average~Mid-80s

Ontario high-school applicants

Co-opCo-op details

Paid co-op is optional in eligible Level II degrees. Apply for the co-op stream separately. Work schedules depend on the degree.

Check work experience options

Majors & specializations

Examples of related Level II degrees. Choose a degree after first year. Each has its own prerequisites and selection rules.

Environmental Sciences

B.Sc. / B.Sc. (Honours)

A general degree covering environmental science.

Published requirements Published courses

Courses

First-year sample and route-specific planning. Course combinations vary by the intended Level II degree.

Level I · Example courses8 listed

These are the Faculty of Science planner’s typical courses. The academic calendar also recommends a calculus course. Check your intended degree and use the remaining units to complete a 30-unit plan.

EARTHSC 1G03Earth and the Environment3 units
Study Earth materials, geological processes and interactions with the environment.
McMaster 2026–27 Undergraduate Calendar, EARTHSC 1G03
ENVIRSC 1C03Climate, Water and Environment3 units
Explore climate, hydrology and interactions among environmental systems.
McMaster 2026–27 Undergraduate Calendar, ENVIRSC 1C03
ENVSOCTY 1HA3Society, Culture and Environment3 units
Examine relationships among people, cultures, environments and places.
McMaster 2026–27 Undergraduate Calendar, ENVSOCTY 1HA3
ENVSOCTY 1HB3Population, Cities and Development3 units
Examine population change, urbanization and development across places.
McMaster 2026–27 Undergraduate Calendar, ENVSOCTY 1HB3
BIOLOGY 1A03Cellular and Molecular Biology3 units
Study biological molecules, cells and the mechanisms that regulate them.
McMaster 2026–27 Undergraduate Calendar, BIOLOGY 1A03
BIOLOGY 1M03Biodiversity, Evolution and Humanity3 units
Explore evolution, ecology and biological diversity.
McMaster 2026–27 Undergraduate Calendar, BIOLOGY 1M03
CHEM 1A03Introductory Chemistry I3 units
Learn bonding, structure, reactions and the energetics of phase changes in lectures and labs.
McMaster 2026–27 Undergraduate Calendar, CHEM 1A03
PSYCH 1X03Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour3 units
Learn scientific methods for studying higher-order psychological processes and interpersonal behaviour.
McMaster 2026–27 Undergraduate Calendar, PSYCH 1X03

Level I · Bridging courses3 listed

Use the relevant bridge when entering without Grade 12 calculus, biology or chemistry. Check the course and Level II prerequisites before registering.

MATH 1F03Introduction to Calculus and Analytic Geometry3 units
Prepare for later calculus courses through functions, analytic geometry and introductory calculus.
McMaster 2026–27 Undergraduate Calendar, MATH 1F03
BIOLOGY 1P03Introductory Biology3 units
Study foundational biology before taking courses that require Grade 12 Biology.
McMaster 2026–27 Undergraduate Calendar, BIOLOGY 1P03
CHEM 1R03General Chemistry3 units
Build a foundation in chemical principles and calculations before Introductory Chemistry I.
McMaster 2026–27 Undergraduate Calendar, CHEM 1R03

Elective choices

Use first-year electives to prepare for the Level II programs you intend to rank. Later course and elective requirements depend on the degree.

References

Careers

Career sectors

Environmental assessment
Geographic information science
Sustainability
Climate change
Geochemistry
Petroleum exploration
Environmental policy
Hydrology
Urban planning
Mineral exploration

Career sectors

Scope and qualifications

Career areas McMaster attributes to graduates who started in this gateway. Outcomes depend on the later degree. The program page does not provide an employment rate or a list of employers.