Environmental & Earth Sciences Gateway

Human life and society depend critically on environmental resources we all too often take for granted: air, water, soil and the mineral and organic resources of the earth. With the recent attention to global warming and climate change, there has been a dramatic increase in scientific research and employment opportunities in this area.

McMasters Faculty of Science is a scholarly community that is dedicated to integrating education and research, and to enhance learning through hands-on experience. The Environmental & Earth Science program offers problem-based and inquiry learning experiences that will challenge you to think independently and to apply the knowledge you gain.

You will graduate with a broad understanding of scientific methods, a solid grounding in environmental and earth sciences, and general intellectual skills relevant to careers in science and elsewhere.

Whether you know exactly what area of science you are interested in or are still undecided (or change your mind after you arrive!), the structure of our Level I Environmental and Earth Sciences Gateway program will provide you with a range of Level II program options.

While some students continue in a Level II program from the same area of study as their Level I program (for example, selecting Level II Honours Environmental Science after completion of Environmental and Earth Sciences Gateway), others discover a new area of interest and change their original direction (for example, an Environmental and Earth Sciences Gateway student may choose to move into Honours Biochemistry or Honours Mathematics and Statistics). Regardless of your path, at the end of first year you will rank order and apply to up to four Level II programs.

The School of Earth, Environment & Society offers courses that allow students to fulfill the academic requirements to become a Professional Geoscientist through the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO).

The Minor in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) program fulfills the academic requirements to become a certified GIS Professional (GISP) through the GIS Certification Institute.

Know your deadlines

Mark your calendars with all your important application dates.

Explore your options

McMaster has 25 direct-entry undergraduate programs. Find the one that’s right for you.

Check your admission requirements

Research and compare program requirements with our Admission Requirements tool. Use the drop-down menus to start looking at and comparing programs.

Get ready to apply

You’ve picked your programs. Now it’s time to get everything together.

Connect with us

Webinars, live events, chat and virtual meetings. Our team is here to help you at every step. Connect with us to get more info, have your questions answered and to learn more about Mac. If you have extenuating circumstances that you believe have impacted your academics, and you would like to share this information with us, please use the Request for Special Consideration form. Contact us via the live chat and we can walk you through the process.

Apply on OUAC

To apply, you’ll need to visit the Ontario University Application Centre. Learn how here.

Complete your applicant checklist

Learn how to submit documents, complete supplementary applications, submit English language proficiency and more.

Accept your offer

Congratulations on your offer of admission! You’re one step closer to becoming a Marauder.

Clear your conditions

After you accept your offer, you’ll need to clear any conditions. Let’s look at what those might be and how to complete this penultimate step.

Join the incoming class

It’s time to join your fellow Marauders and get ready for your first semester!