The Faculty of Environment is the home of two departments Geography and Environmental Management (GEM) and Knowledge Integration (KI) - and three schools - the School of Planning (PLAN), the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainabilty (ERS), and the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED). The Faculty and its units are recognized for their interdisciplinary and integrative approaches to solving contemporary, complex challenges in the environment and society. These cutting edge techniques are not limited to research, but are also embodied in the Faculty's innovative teaching.
In the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, students and faculty focus on creatively solving complex environmental, resource, and sustainability problems in the classroom, outdoors, and in the wider urban and rural communities. Many courses use experiential learning to help students take a transdisciplinary approach to problem-solving through integrative techniques, skills, and knowledge from the fields of (1) ecosystem sciences (e.g., for ecological conservation and restoration), (2) environmental governance, policy, and decision making (especially for energy, water, and food), (3) environmental, social, and sustainability assessment, and (4) socioecological and complex systems analysis.
Geographers combine natural science, social studies, and information technologies to understand the complex interaction of natural and human forces that define landscapes, regions, and communities – and the environmental challenges facing them. At Waterloo, innovative programs such as Geography and Environmental Management, Geomatics, and Geography and Aviation, give students the opportunity to develop practical skills and a deeper understanding of environmental systems and challenges.
Planners are professionals who guide the design, development, and management of healthy, vibrant communities. Planners may also address challenges of sparsely populated regions, parks and protected areas, and resource hinterlands. The School of Planning's professionally-accredited program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful careers in fields as diverse as municipal planning, urban design, land development and resource management, among others.
The School of Environment, Enterprise and Development includes programs in Environment and Business and International Development. Environment and Business provides all the foundations of a business degree - economics, finance, accounting, management, and marketing – combined with an environmental education including field ecology, environmental assessment, and research techniques. At the core of the program is a set of integrated courses that show how businesses can be both environmentally sustainable and profitable.
International Development brings together various disciplines of study, teamwork, and individual insight to recognize, analyze, and respond effectively to complicated human development problems in the world's most challenged communities. International Development integrates ethics, cultural and political understanding, knowledge of the natural and planned environment, and business skills to respond with lasting ideas and solutions to development problems.
Environment and Business, as well as International Development are programs for students who are passionate about change that is responsible, accountable, and sustainable.
Knowledge Integration (BKI) is a flexible, integrative arts and science degree that is designed to teach students how to tackle new and complex problems. Knowledge Integration students specialize in interdisciplinary collaboration and personalize their degrees by applying those skills to their specific interests across the arts, humanities, and natural, social, and applied sciences. While based in the Faculty of Environment, Knowledge Integration students are encouraged to access courses and resources in all University of Waterloo faculties.
There is a high degree of interaction among the Faculty's units. Faculty members in each School or Department participate in the curriculum of the other units. Interaction with other parts of the University is also fostered. Joint appointments of faculty members with other Faculties and Schools/Departments have been made and students are encouraged to choose courses from across the whole University.