Honours Science (BSc)

This broad-based science program provides a solid theoretical and practical foundation in the sciences. You can explore your scientific interests before committing to a major, or stay in Honours Science and graduate with an extensive science degree.  

Choose from many and diverse course offerings to support your career aspirations as this program can prepare you to apply for many professional and postgraduate programs in health or science. 

female and male student in lab coats

Program Details

Degree Highlights

Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on: 

  • Career-Ready Curriculum: Select from biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, mathematics, geography, and psychology courses. Each course is designed to build foundational and advanced skills relevant to your chosen focus.
  • Lab Opportunities: There’s nothing like hands-on experience to solidify your learning and round out your resume, so laboratory experience is integrated into the curriculum. Look for opportunities to take part in research projects in faculty members’ labs. Consider a Directed Studies or Directed Research course in your fourth year.
  • Get Ready for Grad School: Complete all necessary prerequisites for graduate studies or health-related professional schools, including medicine, dentistry, veterinary, and pharmacy.

Top Experiences

Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (check out the Experience Guide for even more!): 

  • Co-op: Apply to co-op at the end of first year and complete multiple work terms while strengthening your resume during your degree.
  • Residence Learning Community: Live in the Faculty of Science Residence Learning Community to enhance your academic and social success.
  • Become an Instructional Assistant: Be hired as an instructional assistant to work in a teaching lab in your senior years.
  • Science Maker Lab: Take science entrepreneurship courses and explore the Science Maker Lab to gain hands-on experience.
  • Research Projects: Consider a directed studies course in your fourth year to focus on an area that interests you. Look for opportunities to take part in research projects in faculty members’ labs.  

Courses, Options and Pathways

Sample First-Year Courses

  • Biological Diversity and Evolution
  • Data Structures I
  • Fundamentals of Chemistry I and II
  • Calculus I
  • Introduction to Physical Geography
  • Introduction to Programming
  • Introduction to Psychology I and II
  • Mechanics
  • Thermodynamics and Waves
  • The Surface of Earth
  • Unifying Life Processes

Sample First-Year Electives

  • Environment, Sustainability and Society
  • Introduction to Human Geography
  • Astronomy I and II

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Human Anatomy
  • Introduction to Immunology
  • Animals: Form and Function
  • Environmental Toxicology
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Behavioural Neuroscience
  • Drugs and Behaviour
  • Planetary and Space Science
  • Windows Application Programming

Options and Minors

These are a few of the many popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge.

  • Leadership Option
  • Education Minor
  • Indigenous Studies Minor

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Management Option

The Management Option is for students interested in adding management-specific education to their degree. This is a direct-entry, 4.0-credit option that includes courses covering all the core pillars of business and economics. Apply directly to Science with Management Option on OUAC.

Grad School Pathways

The following opportunities allow you to pursue additional, related post-grad qualifications from another postsecondary institution:

  • Medical School Pathways: Our pathway agreement with American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) means you’re automatically granted an admissions interview to the AUC School of Medicine if you meet all academic requirements. Upon graduation, you’ll have the opportunity to write exams to practice medicine in Canada, the UK or the United States. We also have a pathway agreement with St. George's University School of Medicine.
  • Law Pathway: You can also pair your Science (BSc) degree from Laurier with a Law (LLB) degree from the University of Sussex (United Kingdom) through our six-year pathway program.

Admissions

  • Format: full time or part time
  • Duration: four years
  • Start: September (fall term)

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • bioinformatics specialist
  • epidemiologist
  • environmental consultant
  • forensics laboratory manager
  • health policy analyst
  • physician
  • policy analyst
  • research coordinator
  • teacher
  • technical/science writer

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Your Co-op Experience

Co-op is a way to integrate what you are learning in the classroom with practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, earn money, develop your network, and graduate with work experience.

You can apply for admission to co-op in your first year and may be eligible for an admission interview early in your second year. As a student in this program, you will be eligible to complete paid work terms lasting 12 to 16 weeks.

Interested? Learn more about co-op.

verticalCenterFlex

98%employment rate for co‑op students – 2023 / 2024

student-business-lecture-banner.jpg

Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

 

Laurier is among the top 6 percent in the Global 2000 World University Ranking

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2023

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2023

Waterloo Campus

The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so you’re steps away from your classes, food and your new favourite study spot.

There are many ways to tour our Waterloo campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

Chat with Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be in this program? U Community is our Discord server where future Golden Hawks like you can connect with current students to get their first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.

Connect with Us

Questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.


You Belong Here

Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?