- HBA · 4 years
- Work experience details
- ~High 80s to low 90s
Geography and Environmental Management
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 Geography and Environmental Management
Deadlines
November 2026
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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 / EAE4UAny Grade 12 U English70% min.
- 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 WG.
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 Geography and Environmental Management (WG) 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.
Degree requirements
Required courses and electives
- Complete the published BES core and upper-year Geography elective distribution.
ReferencesWaterloo Honours Geography and Environmental Management BES academic calendarWaterloo Geography and Environmental ManagementWaterloo current Honours Geography and Environmental Management 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 Geography and Environmental Management BES academic calendarWaterloo Geography and Environmental ManagementWaterloo current Honours Geography and Environmental Management 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 Geography and Environmental ManagementWaterloo Geography and Environmental ManagementCo-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. Aviation here is a specialization within WG, distinct from the pilot-training degree.
Aviation
BES
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.
GEOG 100Changing Human Environments and Introduction to Geography and Environmental Management
GDS 181Designing Effective Maps
ENVS 178Environmental Applications of Data Management and Statistics- ENVS 195Introduction to Environmental Studies
1B · Winter2 listed
Choose electives to complete the term.
GEOG 102Changing Physical Environments- ENVS 131Communications for Environmental Professionals
2A · Academic term3 listed
Choose the approved fall courses under the published sequence.
- ENVS 278Applied Statistics for Environmental Research
- GEOG 202Economy and Development
One approved choice.
- GEOG 205Landscape Dynamics
2B · Academic term4 listed
Choose the required number from the published 2B group.
- GEOG 207Climate Change Fundamentals
- ENVS 200Field Ecology
- GEOG 209Hydroclimatology
- GDS 281Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
One approved choice.
3A · Academic term1 listed
Complete the listed GEOG 200+ and 300+ elective slots.
GEOG 390Geographic Research Methods and Design
Upper-year examples3 listed
Check the sequence and course prerequisites for your upper-year choices.
- GEOG 306Human Dimensions of Natural Hazards
- GEOG 402Applied Wetland Science
- GEOG 420Ice Sheets and Glaciers
Elective choices
- Use the current course list for GEOG 200+, 300+ and 400-level choices. Waterloo’s published options include a thesis or capstone and separate GIS credentials.
ReferencesWaterloo Honours Geography and Environmental Management BES academic calendarWaterloo Geography and Environmental ManagementWaterloo current Honours Geography and Environmental Management study sequenceWaterloo 2026–27 Geography, Climate and Environment curriculum changesWaterloo Climate and Geography co-op and academic requirements
Careers
Environmental consultant- Geographic information systems analyst
Conservation officer
Environmental policy advisor- Climate change analyst
- Natural resource manager
Aquatic research technician- Forester or forest technician
- Agroclimate analyst
- GIS technician
- Assistant wildlife officer
- Environmental policy analyst
Career sectors
4
- Environmental consulting
- Government
- Spatial analysis
- Conservation
Scope and qualifications
Waterloo lists advanced study in geography, environmental management, GIS, education and urban planning.
Waterloo’s published WG career and co-op examples. The department’s historical alumni list covers multiple programs.
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
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