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‡ ERS 111 must be completed with a grade of 65% or higher. Please see the English Language Proficiency Requirement section for the Faculty of Environment if you fail to meet this requirement.
* A total of 3.0 units of ERS/ENVS labelled courses are required in addition to the listed core/required courses. Students must consider this requirement when selecting elective courses.
** ERS 412A/B or ERS 413 can be taken instead of ERS 411A/B
Year One
ERS 110 Environmental Analysis and Solutions I: Foundations
ERS 111‡ Environmental Analysis and Solutions II: Experiential Approaches
ENVS 178 Introduction to Environmental Research Methods
ENVS 195 Introduction to Environmental Studies
ENVS 200 Field Ecology
plus electives* for a total of five units
Year Two
ERS 210 Environmental Analysis and Solutions III: Greening Communities
ERS 211 Environmental Analysis and Solutions IV: Restoration Ecology
plus electives* for a total of five units
Year Three
ERS 310 Environmental Analysis and Solutions V: Environmental Thought
ERS 311 Environmental Research Project I: Systems Thinking for Interdisciplinary Research
one of:
ERS 316 Urban Water and Waste Systems: Integrated Planning and Management
ERS 317 Waste Management
ERS 365 Water Governance
ERS 370 Corporate Sustainability: Issues and Prospects
ERS 372 First Nations and the Environment
ERS 404 Global Environmental Governance
ERS 462 Global Food and Agricultural Politics
plus electives* for a total of five units
Year Four
ERS 410 Environmental Analysis and Solutions VI: Ecosocial Systems
ERS 411A** Environmental Research Project II
ERS 411B** Environmental Research Project III
plus electives* for a total of five units
Notes
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Minimum Required Units
Total: 20 units. Required: 6.5 units. Core Electives: 3.0 units (see note 4). Electives: 10.5 units.
- Course Load
No more than 2.5 units may be taken in a term without departmental approval.
- Average Requirements
Students in the Environment and Resource Studies (ERS) Honours Regular and Co-op plans must maintain an overall cumulative average of at least 65% and a major cumulative average (all ERS and ENVS labelled courses) of at least 70%. All required courses must be passed.
- Core Electives
In addition to the listed required courses, an additional 3.0 units of ERS and/or ENVS labelled courses are required.
- Third year courses
Students in 3rd year must take three core courses: ERS 310, ERS 311, plus one of: ERS 316, ERS 317, ERS 365, ERS 370, ERS 372, ERS 404, ERS 462. This requirement is in addition to the 3.0 units of ERS/ENVS core electives.
- Restriction on number of First-Year Courses
A student must have at least 13.5 units (27 courses) above the 100-level.
- Double-counting
A course can be used to satisfy requirements for a maximum of two credentials. Double counting of courses applies as follows: once for the ERS plan and once for a joint honours or concurrent degree, option, minor, diploma, or specialization. There is no limit on the number of courses that may be double counted unless otherwise stated.
- Joint Honours Degree
Many Honours plans may be combined with ERS. However, before embarking on a Joint Honours plan, it is highly recommended that students consult with the Undergraduate Officer of both programs. Students must meet the requirements of both plans as stated in the Calendar, and they should be aware that combining some Honours plans may require more than the normal number of academic terms to complete. Admission to a Joint Honours plan will not be approved prior to Year Two of studies.
A Joint Honours degree with ERS is available to all University of Waterloo students.
- Transfer students
Students wishing to transfer to Environment and Resource Studies may receive credit for courses previously completed. Students should meet with the Undergraduate Officer to determine transferable courses and course selections for first year. See Transfer Credit Allowance section of this calendar for more information.
Notes for Co-op Students:
- Academic/Work term sequencing
The first work term will be in the winter following 2A. Terms 1A, 1B, 4A, and 4B are the same as Years One and Four respectively as the Regular Honours academic plan. Academic terms 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B alternate with work terms. The sequencing of academic and work terms, and further information on co-operative study generally, is stated in the Co-operative Education and Career Action section of the Calendar.
- Work-term and work-term Report requirement
A total of four approved work-terms and work-term reports are required for the Honours Co-op degree.
- Professional Development (PD) courses
Co-op students in the Faculty of Environment are required to complete a minimum of four Professional Development (PD) courses. PD1 and PD12 are mandatory. PD1 must be taken prior to the first work term and PD12 completed during the first work term.
Professional Development 12 (PD12) requires the submission of a written report. Successful completion of PD12 will be considered to be the first of the four required work-term reports. Other than PD1, PD courses are normally taken during co-op work terms. Students are encouraged to take a Professional Development course each work-term until the requirement is met.
- Transfer from ERS Co-op to ERS regular
Students will be permitted to transfer from Co-op to the Regular Honours academic plan if all requirements of the Co-op academic plan have been met up to the time of transfer.