- HBA · 4 years
- Work experience details
- ~High 80s to low 90s
Geospatial Data Science
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 / 5 years co-op
Waterloo Geography and Environmental Management 2026–27 curriculum changesOptional co-op · four-month work terms
Work experience
Optional co-op · four-month work terms
Waterloo Geospatial Data Science · programme and work-study examples~High 70s
Entering average
Published approximate guidance: High 70s. Fall 2027 application guidance. Waterloo’s approximate Ontario guidance based on previous years.
Waterloo Geospatial Data Science · Ontario admissions
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.
MHF4U / MCV4U / MDM4UAny Grade 12 U mathematics70% min.
- Complete an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and six Grade 12 U/M courses including the required courses.
Application steps
Entry terms · Fall 2027
September 2027 first-year applicants to Geospatial Data Science
Waterloo first-year application and document deadlines · September 2027Step 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 4Select Geospatial Data Science in OUAC.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 5Complete the Declaration of Academic Experience.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 6Check the Waterloo applicant portal for required documents.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Degree requirements
Credits and degree requirements
- Complete 20.0 academic units including the published BES and Geospatial Data Science requirements.
- Maintain at least 65% overall, 70% in the environment major course set and 60% in the CS and MATH course set.
- Complete a qualifying capstone or honours thesis sequence.
ReferencesWaterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours)Waterloo Geography and Environmental Management 2026–27 curriculum changesWaterloo regular system of studyWaterloo Geospatial Data Science · programme and work-study examplesWaterloo calendar · CS234Waterloo calendar · CS338
Program facts
Entering average~High 70s
Waterloo’s approximate Ontario guidance based on previous years.
Waterloo Geospatial Data Science · Ontario admissionsWaterloo Geospatial Data Science · Ontario admissionsCo-opOptional co-op · four-month work terms
Majors & specializations
Direct entry to Honours Geospatial Data Science. The degree has regular and co-op options and later specializations.
Aviation
BES
Study aviation, including its links to weather, geography and environmental management.
Courses
1A · Fall example6 listed
Choose CS 115 or CS 135.
GDS 181Designing Effective Maps0.5 unitsUse cartographic principles to communicate information through maps.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours)
GDS 187Geospatial Data Science0.5 unitsUse digital data and computational approaches to work with geographic information.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours)
ENVS 178Environmental Applications of Data Management and Statistics0.5 unitsUse statistics and data management to answer environmental questions.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours)
ENVS 195Introduction to Environmental Studies0.5 unitsExamine current environmental issues and approaches to environmental studies.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours)- CS 115Introduction to Computer Science 10.5 units
Learn introductory programming and problem solving.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours) 
CS 135Designing Functional Programs0.5 unitsDesign functional programs using structured data and recursion.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours)
1B · Winter example6 listed
Choose CS 116 or CS 136 and MATH 106 or MATH 114. Add one elective.
GEOG 102Changing Physical Environments0.5 unitsStudy physical environmental processes and change.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours)- ENVS 131Communications for Environmental Professions0.5 units
Develop written and oral communication for environmental work.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours) - CS 116Introduction to Computer Science 20.5 units
Extend introductory computer science and programming.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours) - CS 136Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction0.5 units
Study algorithm design, data abstraction and programming tools.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours) 
MATH 106Applied Linear Algebra 10.5 unitsUse matrices and vectors to solve applied linear algebra problems.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours)- MATH 114Linear Algebra for Science0.5 units
Learn linear algebra for applications in science.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours)
Other calendar courses28 listed
The complete calendar marks required courses and alternatives. Where it lists a choice, complete only the specified option or options.
CS 234Data Types and Structures0.5 unitsChoose and implement data types and structures for efficient computation.
Waterloo calendar · CS234- CS 338Computer Applications in Business: Databases0.5 units
Work with relational databases and queries in business applications.
Waterloo calendar · CS338 - ENVS 200Field Ecology0.5 units
- ENVS 278Applied Statistics for Environmental Research0.5 units
- GDS 271Earth from Space Using Remote Sensing0.5 units
GDS 287Geospatial Data Collection and Management0.5 units- GDS 371Advanced Remote Sensing0.5 units
- GDS 387Artificial Intelligence in Geospatial Data Science0.5 units
Apply artificial intelligence methods to geospatial problems.
Waterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours) - GDS 471Remote Sensing Project1 units
GEOG 390Research Methods and Design0.5 units- AVIA 270Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Knowledge Requirements0.5 units
- GDS 270Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Knowledge Requirements0.5 units
- GDS 281Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)0.5 units
- PLAN 281Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)0.5 units
GDS 318Spatial Statistical Analysis0.5 units- PLAN 353Spatial Statistical Analysis0.5 units
- GDS 381Advanced Geographic Information Systems0.5 units
- PLAN 381Advanced Geographic Information Systems0.5 units
- GDS 481Geographic Information Systems Project1 units
- PLAN 481Geographic Information Systems Project1 units
- GEOG 202Economy and Development: Spaces of Global Transformation0.5 units
- GEOG 225Global Environment and Health0.5 units
- GEOG 205Landscape Dynamics0.5 units
- GEOG 209Hydroclimatology0.5 units
- GEOG 207Climate Change Fundamentals0.5 units
- SCI 205Climate Change Fundamentals0.5 units
- GEOG 490AHonours Thesis Proposal0.5 units
- GEOG 490BHonours Thesis Completion1 units
ReferencesWaterloo academic calendar · Geospatial Data Science (Bachelor of Environmental Studies - Honours)Waterloo Geography and Environmental Management 2026–27 curriculum changesWaterloo regular system of studyWaterloo Geospatial Data Science · programme and work-study examplesWaterloo calendar · CS234Waterloo calendar · CS338
Careers
- GIS technician
- Remote sensing specialist
Geospatial data scientist- Urban analytics specialist
- Environmental data officer
- Disaster risk modeler
Mobility data engineer
- GIS data management student
- Geomatics plan technician
Map design support- Junior GIS assistant
Scope and qualifications
Waterloo publishes example roles and co-op jobs for this programme.
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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