2 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

	McMaster Environmental and Earth Sciences Gateway OUAC MEE Remove	Waterloo Geological Engineering (Co-op Only) OUAC WWG Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	83–87%“Mid-80s”	83–90%“Mid- to High 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U SCH4U SPH4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	one of MCV4U, MHF4U one of SBI4U, SCH4U one of MCV4U, MHF4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, SPH4U	—
Prerequisitesas published	English 4U 1 of Advanced Functions 4U, Calculus & Vectors 4U 1 of Biology 4U, Chemistry 4U 1 of Advanced Functions 4U, Calculus & Vectors 4U, Biology 4U, Chemistry 4U, Physics 4U Applicants without Calculus & Vectors 4U will be required to take an equivalent Calculus course in Level I.	English (ENG4U – min. 70%) Advanced Functions (min. 70%) Calculus and Vectors (min. 70%) Chemistry (min. 70%) Physics (min. 70%)
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Yes NEW: All Engineering program applications require an online video interview. You will receive more information after you apply. An Admission Information Form is also required. We will send you instructions when we acknowledge your application. Also considered: Involvement in extracurricular activities in school or community, evidence of interest in engineering and strong performance in mathematics, science or engineering-related competitions. Usually closes before January 15
Co-op	Available	Available
Degree	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	85	26
What you study	Environmental Studies Human Geography Physical Geography	Civil Engineering Environmental Studies General or Integrated Engineering Geology
What it is	This program introduces you to how Earth's physical systems — climate, geology, water — interact with human society and geography. You explore environmental challenges through both natural science and social perspectives, rather than focusing on just one. It suits students curious about environmental issues from multiple angles who want hands-on experience through co-op placements.	You study how to design and build structures and systems that work with geological materials and conditions — things like dams, tunnels, foundations, and mines. Unlike pure geology, you learn practical engineering design and problem-solving alongside earth science. The co-op requirement means you alternate between school and paid work terms at engineering firms, which is how you gain hands-on experience before graduating. This program suits people who want to combine science with engineering and need real-world workplace experience built into their degree.
The door tomajors you reach through it	earth science environmental science	Applied to directly
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them
Source	McMaster University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo

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Ranges are what each university publishes, not guaranteed cutoffs, and limited-enrolment programs often admit above them. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the university; each column links to its source.