Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Co-op)

at Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Campus Canada

The combination of Laurier's internationally accredited Lazaridis School of Business and Economics and the University of Waterloo's world-renowned Faculty of Mathematics lets you harness the strengths of two top-tier institutions in one program. This is a unique opportunity to learn about business and the applications of math while simultaneously earning two degrees from two universities in five years: a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Laurier Bachelor of Math (BMath) from Waterloo.

As a student in the Water Science and Environmental Health program, you'll learn the underlying scientific principles, processes and theories concerning the physical, chemical and biological properties of water and the factors that play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem and human health.

Through a combination of training and practical work experience, including co-op, you'll identify and solve ongoing threats to our water resources including those caused by human activities and climate change. You'll be able to recognize that the availability of safe, clean water and its resources is a fundamental question of social justice.

This program will help you develop the skills needed to apply quantitative and computer analysis to assess, monitor and sustainably manage land and water resources. You'll understand the critical need of government responsibility for managing and protecting water and Earth's resources.

Throughout your studies, you will feel empowered to contribute to the quest to improve the availability, security and reliability of human water supplies, while ensuring the whole ecosystem and human health.

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.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Computer Science will help you develop strong algorithm analysis and design skills in procedural, object-oriented and low-level languages, with an optional introduction to functional, parallel, and logical paradigms. 

In senior years, you will select courses in application areas ranging from internet computing to writing apps for mobile computing, from applied cryptography to quantum computing.

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology program provides a firm foundation not only in Biology, but also in Chemistry and Math. The BSc program is ideal for those looking to move on to graduate work in Biology or to professional postgraduate programs in environmental or health sciences.

Courses combine theoretical fundamentals with hands-on practices, allowing you to strengthen your proficiency in essential scientific-technical and reasoning skills. Senior students can become involved in ongoing research programs at the cutting edge of our discipline.

The Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Laurier and the Cheriton School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo (UW) have teamed up to give you 2 highly respected degrees from our two outstanding institutions. In this double-degree program, you’ll earn both a Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) from UW and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Laurier in only 5 years.

The renowned Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, is one of the first internationally accredited business schools in Canada (AACSB accreditation), where you’ll learn to work in teams tackling real-world problems that exist in society and in business. Our Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program is full time and direct entry, which means your business education begins on day one.

You'll build a solid foundation and become a well-rounded business graduate, as well as a specialist in your area of focus by choosing one of ten business concentrations:

• Accounting
• Marketing
• Marketing Communications
• Sustainability
• Finance
• Entrepreneurship
• Human Resource Management
• Risk Management
• International Business
• Supply Chain Management

You also have the opportunity to earn all the university credits required for the major professional designations: CPA (accounting), CFA (finance) and CHRP (human resources).

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Computer Science lets you combine technical training with learning in another area, typically from the Faculty of Arts. It’s an opportunity to give yourself an edge in career markets where employers often seek people who can analyze and communicate effectively as well as code.

Your first-year courses in Computer Science and Math will give you a solid understanding of the basic principles of computer science while your Arts courses will let you explore your complementary interests.

Laurier's Computer Science program exposes you to not just the software, but also to the hardware that underlies the system, giving you a fundamental understanding of digital systems and microprocessors, and an appreciation for the interaction between the hardware and the software.

While exposure to high school computer science is useful, the first-year Computer Science courses at Laurier provide you with the necessary background.

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"

In our Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Honours Science program, you have the opportunity to solidify and pursue your scientific interests before committing to a specific major — or you can decide not to major at all and graduate with an extensive science degree.

Either way, you'll be prepared for future studies in professional or academic science-related fields. You have the flexibility to choose courses that interest you in order to tailor your degree to your career aspirations or postgraduate plans.

Choose to take courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, statistics and/or psychology, all while developing a myriad of research, analytic and technical skills.

Apply what you learn in hands-on labs and engage in research activities as part of a directed study or undergraduate thesis project. At Laurier, you can immerse yourself in cutting-edge research alongside faculty members at the undergraduate level.