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Geography and Aviation

Have you always dreamed of flying? Are you passionate about the environment?

Watch more Aviation adventures on YouTube.

Waterloo’s new Geography and Aviation program takes a different approach to aviation studies. Instead of looking at the industry as a business, you’ll explore it from the perspective of a geographer and pilot.

In your Faculty of Environment classes, you’ll learn to interpret weather patterns, identify land formations, read multi-layer maps, and use tools such as geographic information systems and remote sensing.

 

At the Waterloo-Wellington Flight Centre, you’ll learn to fly and attain your multi-engine, and multi-instrument ratings. By the time you graduate, you’ll have a Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree and your Commercial Pilot license. A one-of-a-kind program, Geography and Aviation is only offered through the regular system of study.

Prepare for a vibrant career in aviation with this exhilarating program.

Courses

Students in Geography and Aviation take a variety of courses from across campus at the University of Waterloo. The course sequence allows for a strong foundation in Geography and Environmental Management and Geomatics, as well as the ability to specialize in an area of interest.

Note: Students in the Geography and Aviation program will automatically be approved for the Geomatics Option at time of graduation unless otherwise instructed by the student.

Year One
GEOG 101 Geography and Human Habitat
GEOG 102 Geography and Our Planetary Environment
GEOG 165 Computer Cartography: Principles and Design
GEOG 271 Earth from Space Using Remote Sensing
ENVS 178 Introduction to Environmental Research Methods
AFM 131 Introduction to Business in North America 
CS 115 Introduction to Computer Science 1
One elective* (0.5 unit)
Professional Pilot Program Course I † (1B) (0.5 unit)

Year One (Spring)
Professional Pilot Program Course II † (0.5 unit)

Total of 5.0 units

Year Two
GEOG 201 Fluvial Geomorphology
or GEOG 209 Hydroclimatology
GEOG 281 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
ENVS 201 Introduction to Environmental and Planning Law
ENVS 278 Advanced Environmental Research Methods
Students must take at least two courses from the following theme. 
Development and Environment: one of GEOG 202 , 203 and one of GEOG 206, 208
Two electives* (1.0 units)
Professional Pilot Program Course III † (2A) (0.5 unit)
Professional Pilot Program Course IV † (2B) (0.5 unit)

* Electives including a course in English, either one of ENGL 109 , 129R , 140R , taken in Year One or ENGL 210E , 210F taken in Year Two.A student who receives greater than 80% in ENG4U English is exempt from the English requirement.

Total of 5.0 units

Year Three
GEOG  210 Image Interpretation and Photogrammetry
GEOG 310 Geodesy and Surveying
GEOG 371 Advanced Remote Sensing Techniques 
GEOG 387 Spatial Databases 
GEOG 393 Approaches to Research in Human Geography
or GEOG 394 Approaches to Research in Physical Geography
Three electives (1.5 units)
Professional Pilot Program Course V† (3A) (0.5 unit)
Professional Pilot Program Course VI† (3B) (0.5 unit)

Total of 5.0 units

Year Four
GEOG 381 Spatial Analysis Using Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 471 Remote Sensing Project
GEOG 490A/B Honours Thesis
or two Fourth Year Geography courses (1.0 unit) 
Electives

Total of 5.0 units

Note:
For more information on rules governing this program, please see Geography and Environmental Management.

† Professional Pilot Program Courses: 3.0 units to be transferred upon completion of University of Waterloo core and elective course requirements. The Professional Pilot Program Courses will not count towards any other University of Waterloo program requirement.

† Recommended Electives

last reviewed May 2011, from undergraduate calendar 2011-2012