Waterloo Region Students Have a Chance to Earn University-Level Credit
Waterloo Region District School Board Students with a keen interest in the environment and geoscience will benefit from a new agreement between the University of Waterloo and the Waterloo Region District School Board.
The innovative initiative comes at a time when there's a growing shortage of geoscientists in Canada. A geoscientist studies the Earth's physical makeup and history, gathering and interpreting data about the Earth in order to increase understanding and improve the quality of life.
The agreement allows Waterloo Region public students, who complete an advanced standing dual credit requirements for Grade 12 university- type earth and space science course, to earn their first university- level credit.
Under the new program, successful students will receive a first-year half credit in earth sciences if they decide to major in science - with co-operative education learning opportunities - at the University of Waterloo.
"The University of Waterloo is the first university in Ontario to develop a partnership with the local public school board to introduce an advanced standing dual credit option for students with an interest in the geosciences," said Barry Warner, chair of the department of earth and environmental sciences. "This new initiative will better prepare students for university and encourage them to explore the broad career opportunities available in earth and environmental sciences given the predicted future shortage of geoscientists."
A major study says that the geosciences sector in Canada would face a serious skills shortage over the next decade. It reported that up to 81,000 professionals will be needed to meet future needs.
"We are pleased to expand on the advanced standing dual credit opportunities we provide to our students through this initiative with the University of Waterloo," said Mark Harper, superintendent of learning services at the local school board. "The advanced standing dual credit in earth and space science, which will be accessible through local high schools, combines the experience and resources of the University of Waterloo with the teaching excellence of the Waterloo Region District School Board."
The Earth Sciences Museum at the University of Waterloo will serve as an essential teaching element in support of the new program. Waterloo's department of earth and environmental sciences offers students many opportunities for exploring key concentrations in such mining-related fields as hydrogeology, groundwater modeling and remediation, organic and isotope geochemistry, isotope hydrology, economic geology, mineralogy, geophysics, and mine-site remediation and restoration.