- HBA · 4 years
- Work experience details
- ~High 80s to low 90s
Climate and Environmental Change
Image source
AI-generated ink illustration
Conceptual study artwork, not a photograph of teaching facilities.
Unidex · generated with ImageGen
Checked 2026-11-05
Symbolic subject artwork; no university facility depicted
4 / 5 years
Duration (years)
4 years regular · Typically 5 years co-op
Waterloo Faculty of Environment regular and co-op studyCo-op details
Work experience
Optional co-op. Five four-month terms scheduled, four successful terms required. First work term in winter of second year.
Waterloo Climate and Geography co-op and academic requirements~High 70s
Entering average
Published approximate guidance: High 70s. Published guidance checked November 2026. Waterloo’s approximate admission guidance for Ontario high-school applicants.
Waterloo Climate and Environmental Change
Deadlines
November 2026
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 |
Next deadline
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.
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
Requirements
Admission requirements
High-school prerequisites
ENG4U / EAE4UEnglish70% min.
MHF4U / MCV4U / MDM4UAny Grade 12 U Mathematics70% min.
SCH4U / SPH4UChemistry or Physics
One other Grade 12 U course
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma and six Grade 12 U or M courses including the listed prerequisites.
Application steps
Entry terms · Fall
September 2027 first-year entry through OUAC WCE.
Waterloo September 2027 application and document deadlinesStep 1Check the admission requirements
- Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
Step 3Declaration of Academic Experience (DAE)
- Complete the DAE in the Waterloo applicant portal. It updates your checklist with any required documents.
Step 4Apply to Climate and Environmental Change (WCE) on OUAC and choose regular or co-op.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 5Complete the Declaration of Academic Experience in your Waterloo applicant portal.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 6Check the portal for transcripts and English-language documents if requested.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Applicant pathways
International Baccalaureate
Applicants following the IB Diploma admission route
- Full IB Diploma with six subjects, including at least three at Higher Level. Total 27 before diploma points.
- HL or SL English A with at least 4, or HL English B with at least 5.
- HL or SL Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches, or HL Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations, with at least 4.
- One of HL or SL Chemistry or Physics.
Degree requirements
Credits and degree requirements
- Complete the BSc core and approved upper-year science, research and climate course groups.
- Waterloo lists an additional 60% special major average for the Climate and Environmental Change plan.
ReferencesWaterloo Honours Climate and Environmental Change BSc academic calendarWaterloo Climate and Environmental ChangeWaterloo current Honours Climate and Environmental Change study sequenceWaterloo 2026–27 Geography, Climate and Environment curriculum changesWaterloo Climate and Geography co-op and academic requirements
Work and practical requirements
- Co-op students complete four successful work terms and four professional development courses.
- For co-op continuation, the department lists at least 65% cumulative overall and 70% major average.
- The current co-op sequence places the last two work terms back-to-back before 4A and 4B.
ReferencesWaterloo Honours Climate and Environmental Change BSc academic calendarWaterloo Climate and Environmental ChangeWaterloo current Honours Climate and Environmental Change study sequenceWaterloo 2026–27 Geography, Climate and Environment curriculum changesWaterloo Climate and Geography co-op and academic requirements
Program facts
Entering average~High 70s
Waterloo’s approximate admission guidance for Ontario high-school applicants.
Waterloo Climate and Environmental ChangeWaterloo Climate and Environmental ChangeCo-opCo-op details
Optional co-op. Five four-month terms scheduled, four successful terms required. First work term in winter of second year.
University work-study informationMajors & specializations
Later 2.5-unit specializations. Waterloo permits up to two from its approved Climate and Environmental Change list.
Aviation
BSc
Study aviation, including its links to weather, geography and environmental management.
Courses
Department sequence revised for Fall 2026 requirements. Course placements refer to academic levels and may differ for co-op.
1A · Fall4 listed
One elective.
GDS 181Designing Effective Maps
EARTH 121Introductory Earth Sciences
ENVS 178Environmental Applications of Data Management and Statistics- ENVS 195Introduction to Environmental Studies
1B · Winter4 listed
One elective.
GEOG 102Changing Physical Environments- ENVS 131Communications for Environmental Professionals
- PHYS 111 / CHEM 120Physics 1 or General Chemistry 1
Choose one.
MATH 104 / MATH 127Introductory Calculus for Arts and Social Science or Calculus 1 for the SciencesChoose one.
2A · Academic term4 listed
Complete the remaining choice and elective requirements shown in the map.
- ENVS 278Applied Statistics for Environmental Research
- GEOG 205Landscape Dynamics
- GEOG 202Economy and Development
GEOG 225 can fulfil the option in 2B.
BIOL 240Fundamentals of MicrobiologyBIOL 220 is the published alternative in 2B.
2B · Academic term4 listed
The exact mix depends on the choices taken in 2A.
- GEOG 207Climate Change Fundamentals
- GEOG 209Hydroclimatology
- ENVS 200Field Ecology
- GEOG 225Global Environment and Health
One approved choice.
3A · Academic term3 listed
- GEOG 390Geographic Research Methods and Design
- GEOG 359Low Carbon Transitions
Course choice.
- GEOG 303 / GEOG 304 / GEOG 320Physical Hydrology, Carbon and the Biosphere, or The Cryosphere
Choose one or two in the published sequence.
3B · Academic term2 listed
- GEOG 307 / GEOG 314Societal Adaptation to Climate Change or Climate Services
Choose one or two in the published sequence.
- GEOG 305Fluvial Geomorphology
Example from the next course group.
4A · Fall2 listed
- GEOG 427Climate Change Solutions
- ENVS 459Energy and Sustainability
One upper-year choice.
4B · Winter3 listed
- GEOG 417Climate Change Communication
- GEOG 408Earth’s Future Climates
One upper-year choice.
- GEOG 420Ice Sheets and Glaciers
One upper-year choice.
Elective choices
- Follow the published option groups for chemistry or physics, calculus and upper-year climate courses. The honours thesis is an optional path.
ReferencesWaterloo Honours Climate and Environmental Change BSc academic calendarWaterloo Climate and Environmental ChangeWaterloo current Honours Climate and Environmental Change study sequenceWaterloo 2026–27 Geography, Climate and Environment curriculum changesWaterloo Climate and Geography co-op and academic requirements
Careers
Environmental consultant- Climate policy analyst
Sustainability coordinator- Climate communication specialist
- Water resource specialist
- Corporate sustainability analyst
- Environmental consultant assistant
- Water treatment project assistant
- Environmental services and approvals assistant
- Undergraduate research assistant
Career sectors
4
Climate policy- Environmental consulting
- Sustainability
- Conservation
Scope and qualifications
Waterloo lists its Master of Climate Change as one possible further-study path.
Waterloo’s possible careers and sample co-op roles for Climate and Environmental Change.
Costs
Program or faculty
| Program or faculty | Ontario | Other Canadian | International | Books and supplies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Financial Management, Sustainability and Financial Management | $9,000 | $10,000 | $58,000 | $1,500 |
| Architecture | $14,000 | $15,000 | $75,000 | $8,100 |
| Business Administration (Laurier) and Computer Science (Waterloo) Double Degree | $17,000 | $20,000 | $75,000 | $1,500 |
| Business Administration (Laurier) and Mathematics (Waterloo) Double Degree | $15,000 | $15,000 | $64,000 | $1,500 |
| Computer Science | $16,000 | $18,000 | $73,000 | $1,500 |
| Computing and Financial Management | $11,000 | $12,000 | $64,000 | $1,500 |
| Faculty of Arts | $9,000 | $10,000 | $58,000 | $1,500 |
| Faculty of Engineering, Software Engineering | $19,000 | $21,000 | $75,000 | $1,500 |
| Faculty of Environment | $9,000 | $10,000 | $51,000 | $1,500 |
| Faculty of Health | $9,000 | $10,000 | $54,000 | $1,500 |
| Faculty of Science | $9,000 | $10,000 | $54,000 | $1,500 |
| Geography and Aviation | $9,000 | $10,000 | $51,000 | $1,500 |
| Science and Aviation | $9,000 | $10,000 | $54,000 | $1,500 |
| Global Business and Digital Arts | $14,000 | $16,000 | $56,000 | $1,500 |
| Mathematics (includes 16 majors), Mathematics/ Business Administration, Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy | $9,000 | $10,000 | $62,000 | $1,500 |
| Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk Management | $12,000 | $14,000 | $63,000 | $1,500 |
First-year estimate
2026–27 · Two terms · CAD
Ontario example · Choose your fee category
Tuition and incidental fees$9,000
Books and supplies$1,500
Residence$8,254
Residence
Meal plan$8,040
Meal plan
Estimated total$26,794
Last updated
