Bachelor of Science in Honours Science

at Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Campus Canada

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AT LAURIER
In our Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental Science program, you will learn and understand how concepts from biology, chemistry and geography can be integrated to explain the processes that affect the physical environment and how these processes influence the biotic performance, from individual organisms to whole ecosystems.

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental Science will give you the skills needed to understand how to use analytical tools, including lab and field methods, to quantify and assess the physical and chemical properties of soil, water and air for assessing and monitoring populations of organisms.

You will develop a broad range of techniques that will allow you to identify and devise solutions to environmental problems caused by human activities. You will be able to communicate these issues to diverse audiences for a number of purposes, such as helping to restore ecosystems or advocating for environmental issues.

Students in Environmental Science take one mandatory field course, and have opportunities to take others through the Ontario Universities’ Program in Field Biology.

Faculty members hire students as research assistants to work help with studies in the lab and field.

HONOURS THESIS OPTION
Students completing an honours thesis will conduct a yearlong research project that includes data collection, analysis and write-up.

Examples of honours thesis topics include:

• "Relating intensity of forest fires to caribou herd depletion in the Northwest Territories"
• "Effects of climate change on frozen landscapes in the north"
• "Effects of atmospheric processes on the movement and fate of pollutants"
• "Identification and conservation of rare and threatened plant species"

If you're successful in your application to the BA + Master's program in History, you'll receive two conditional offers of admission:

• One to undergraduate studies (BA) in History
• One to graduate studies (master's) in your undergraduate program.

This means that if you decide to continue your studies at the graduate level, you don’t need to apply to the master's program at Laurier, because you’ve already received a conditional offer of admission. You will begin your master's program after you graduate from your BA degree program.

BENEFITS OF THE BA + MASTER'S
Students accepted into the BA + Master's program receive mentoring and skills development opportunities throughout their undergraduate degree that will help them achieve the admission requirements for the graduate program, and help turn the conditional offer into an acceptance.

BA - History

Laurier’s History department teaches all periods from ancient to modern and is especially strong in the following areas:

• Global history (both regional and transnational courses);
• War and its impact;
• Social, cultural and gender history; and
• Innovative thematic courses (music, crime, business).

Our program encourages you to specialize in what interests you, whether it’s cultural or art history, social or military history, or the history of crime or politics. We focus on developing analytical and communication skills. These skills are invaluable in such varied professions as law, education, journalism and public and international service.

Chemistry touches every aspect of our lives. The study of the complex molecular world, a world that exists at the submicroscopic level, is a discipline of enormous scope.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Chemistry at Laurier, you will have the opportunity to work with professors who are both devoted to teaching and active in research. The broad chemical principles learned are the basis of many of today's unique products, providing a foundation for a variety of career options.

Classroom and laboratory time are balanced to provide you with solid theoretical foundations and mastery of experimental techniques. Also, the small size of the department means there are plenty of opportunities to interact with faculty. 

Geographers examine interactions between humans and their environment. Over the past few hundred years, humans have modified urban and natural systems at a staggering rate. As the human population continues to increase and the demand for space becomes more competitive, graduates of Geography will have a sound basis for understanding these pressing issues.

Our Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography offers you the opportunity to focus on the field of physical geography. Physical geography includes the sub-disciplines of geomorphology, climatology, biogeography and hydrology, and focuses on understanding how processes in the natural environment function, such as the changing surface of the earth, weather and climate, or the distribution of water on our planet.

The BSc in Geography program prepares you to seek professional registration as an environmental geoscientist (PGeo). Professional registration allows you to practice geoscience in the province of Ontario. The work involves analysis of different Earth systems and geoscientific situations in natural settings, so geoscientists need to gather on-site data and make direct field observations. Worksite locations can be remote and physically challenging. As a BSc in Geography graduate, you'll be able to confidently apply to seek professional registration.

Mathematics is a dynamic, evolving subject with many fascinating applications. Mathematics is often used to solve problems from the sciences, the arts and business – once put within the framework of mathematics, real-world problems can be solved in an efficient and reliable manner.

As a Mathematics student, you’ll study why modern business models heavily depend on probability and statistics, first developed in analyzing astronomical and census data and gambling. This is just one example why mathematics has been, and will continue to be, of vital importance to the world we live in.

Our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Mathematics focuses on the mathematics and statistics used in the social sciences, the humanities and business. You can combine our Mathematics program with many other disciplines, including Economics. We also offer a program specifically in Financial Mathematics, in addition to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Mathematics, which emphasizes the role of mathematics and statistics in the natural and computer sciences.

CONCENTRATE YOUR STUDIES:

• You can select elective courses in mathematics and statistics within six optional concentrations:
  • Analysis and Geometry
  • Discrete Mathematics and Algebra
  • Mathematical Modelling
  • Statistics and Data Analytics
  • Financial Risk Management
  • Computational Finance

If you're successful in your application to the BA + Master's program in Political Science, you'll receive two conditional offers of admission:

• One to undergraduate studies (BA) in Political Science
• One to graduate studies (master's) in your undergraduate program.

This means that if you decide to continue your studies at the graduate level, you don’t need to apply to the master's program at Laurier, because you’ve already received a conditional offer of admission. You will begin your master's program after you graduate from your BA degree program.

BENEFITS OF THE BA + MASTER'S
Students accepted into the BA + Master's program receive mentoring and skills development opportunities throughout their undergraduate degree that will help them achieve the admission requirements for the graduate program, and help turn the conditional offer into an acceptance.

BA - Political Science

A Political Science degree at Laurier gives you the training and tools you need in areas such as political communication, policy and legal analysis, public opinion design and implementation, as well as election analysis. In the process, you’ll gain the experience and skills to understand the political events and debates around you, preparing you for a life of engaged citizenship.

Our program allows you to concentrate your studies in topics ranging from international governance and global trade, Canadian politics, comparative politics (e.g., the U.S. and Europe), public policy, area studies (Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East), to refugees and migration and political research methodology.

Chemistry touches every aspect of our lives. The study of the complex molecular world, a world that exists at the submicroscopic level, is a discipline of enormous scope.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Chemistry at Laurier, you will have the opportunity to work with professors who are both devoted to teaching and active in research. The broad chemical principles learned are the basis of many of today's unique products, providing a foundation for a variety of career options.

Classroom and laboratory time are balanced to provide you with solid theoretical foundations and mastery of experimental techniques. Also, the small size of the department means there are plenty of opportunities to interact with faculty. 

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biology program is intended for those who want to have a role in communicating biology and biological concepts to others. This program will prepare you for careers such as law, education/teaching, public policy or science journalism.

This is a flexible program that you can combine with other subject areas through minors, options or even as a dual major with another BA program.

STUDY MUSIC AT LAURIER:-
Built around world-class instructors and a supportive learning environment, you’ll start your Bachelor of Music as a common first-year student, giving you the flexibility to delve deeper into all areas of music before choosing a major. Concentrations are chosen in second year and are offered in:

• Composition
• Comprehensive
• Integrated music arts
• Music education
• Music history, theory and critical analysis
• Performance

As a first-year student, you’ll receive weekly one-hour private lessons, ensemble experience and masterclasses plus access to professional coach-accompanists. We admit 100 students annually in winds, brass, percussion, piano, harp, organ, voice, strings, classical guitar and historical instruments.

The Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) features a broad selection of core courses that reflect our integrated and multidisciplinary approach to the study of human movement, physical activity and sport, followed by opportunities to select from a wide range of elective courses and to choose one of four optional concentrations.

CORE COURSES

• Sociocultural courses exploring historical and philosophical foundations and sociological examinations of physical activity, sport and the body.
• Lab/tutorial-supported courses in human regional anatomy, human physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor learning and control, and inferential statistics.
• Foundational courses introducing you to key concepts in sport and exercise psychology, health and research methods.
• Fundamental and applied movement-based courses actively exploring key concepts related to physical literacy and athlete development, as well as teaching and coaching physical activity and sport.

CONCENTRATIONS AND ELECTIVE COURSES
Our program features four areas of concentration:

• Athletic Performance and Injury Management
• Movement, Health and Development
• Physical Activity Education and Promotion
• Sport Development and Management

Within these concentrations are Kinesiology elective courses, including:

• Exercise Nutrition; Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription; Athletic Injuries
• Psychology of Injury Rehabilitation; Applied Psychology of Sport and Performance
• Behaviour Change and Physical Activity; Adapted Physical Activity
• Children in Physical Activity; Aging, Physical Activity and Health
• Ethics in Sport and Physical Activity; Modern Olympics; Canadian Sport History
• Organization and Administration of Physical Activity; Marketing in Sport and Physical Activity
• Advanced Biomechanics and Ergonomics; Advanced Exercise Physiology
• Balance, Posture and Gait; Neuromuscular Function in Exercise
• Research Thesis; Interdisciplinary Capstone Experience

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Laurier’s Kinesiology program is designed to expose you to learning inside and outside the classroom. During your studies you are required to complete 96 hours of community-based leadership or volunteer work. Some courses will also require you to engage in practical, hands-on learning experiences such as physical activity programming, fitness testing or injury assessment.