Undergraduate Students

The University of Waterloo offers the best Civil Engineering Undergraduate Program in Canada and competition is high for letters of acceptance. Your high school marks are very important as last year the average for new students was 86%. However marks are not the only factor as we also take into consideration extra-curricular activities.

In Ontario, admissions to undergraduate programs at Universities are handled through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) in Guelph. When you apply there you will need to select Engineering at the University of Waterloo with the program code of WE for Civil Engineering. Ontario high school students should apply early in your final year of high school through your high school's guidance office. All other applicants need to apply online through the OUAC's COMPASS site.

Please visit both the Faculty of Engineering web site for prospective students and the University's web site for prospective students for more information.

Program Overview

The preparation for an engineering career includes both formal academic studies at a university and intensive training in the practice of engineering. A similar pattern is to be found in preparation for careers in medicine or law, and is characteristic of any development of professional competence. Co-operative Engineering at the University of Waterloo provides a completely integrated pattern of academic study and industrial experience in various phases of engineering with ultimate graduation requiring satisfactory performance in both areas. The degree program covers almost five calendar years, comprising of eight terms each of about four months' duration of university work on campus which are pursued alternately with six four-month terms of supervised training in the practical experiences fundamental to the development of the graduate engineer. The total time spent in academic study is the same as that encountered in the usual course of four 'academic years'. We grant a BASc (Bachelor of Applied Science) degree to successful graduating students.

The Engineering curricula at the University of Waterloo provides a sound basis in Mathematics and Pure Science and in Engineering Science and Design. A substantial part of the work of the first and second years is common to all Engineering Programs. The curriculum for each of the programs combines required 'core' subjects essential to the field, and 'elective' subjects permitting considerable diversity. An enhanced curriculum has been developed and is being phased in beginning with the class entering the program in September 2002. A course summary for classes entering first year of the program on or after September 2002 can be seen on the Civil Undergraduate Courses web page. A course summary for classes entering the first year of the program prior to September 2002 can be seen on the previous Civil Undergraduate Courses web page. Additional detailed course information can be found in the UW Undergraduate Course Calendar - Civil Engineering web page.

The professional engineer requires in addition to technical knowledge and skill, an understanding of society, its needs, and the engineer's role in society. An ability to make intelligent judgements that encompass human and social values, as well as technical values, is inherent in that role. Such areas form an essential complement to technical studies in the education of an engineer. The Complementary Studies component of the curricula in the Engineering programs requires that all students in Engineering receive instruction in the humanities and social sciences, engineering economics, communication, and the impact of technology on society. For more details please visit the Complementary Studies web site.

We only offer a co-operative education program within our faculty. Co-operative education is based on the principle that during the undergraduate years an academic plan combined with integrated work experience in alternating terms, is relevant to, and desirable for, effective professional preparation. The work terms allow students to acquire experience in their areas of career interest, while the academic terms are devoted to fundamental and theoretical studies. These practical experiences and academic studies complement one another. Students are introduced to the operation and requirements of the co-operative system of study in GENE 10 taken in the academic term prior to their first work term. For more details please visit the Co-operative Education and Career Services web site.

take a look at the co-op schedule for students in all Engineering programs at the Engineering Prospective Students web site.

If you have any more questions about our undergraduate program please feel free to contact either the Undergraduate Associate Chair or the Undergraduate Secretary.

Civil Engineering Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies: Dr. Maria Anna Polak

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Secretary: Shirley Springall