Overview
Students who have not determined the field or subject in which they wish to concentrate are encouraged to read the academic plan and core course descriptions in this Calendar. Admission categories, requirements, and procedures are outlined in detail in the Admissions section of this Calendar as well as the Faculty website.
The Calendar is designed to enable students to make an informed decision about plans and courses. Students are encouraged to consult with their high school Guidance Counselor, the Recruitment and Student Engagement C-oordinator, or the Undergraduate Officer of the appropriate School or Department.
Applicants should apply to the plan most suited to their interests. Transfer to other Faculties may be considered after Year One, depending upon the student's academic record and plan. It is simpler to transfer between some academic plans than others, so students considering a transfer should speak with the academic advisor of the academic plan they wish to enter as early as possible.
Admissions for a Second Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) Degree
An applicant who has already been awarded a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) degree from the University of Waterloo, or elsewhere, will normally be considered for admission if the applicant is exploring a new and distinct area of study.
The Admission Committee’s decision to admit will be based on a number of factors including the reason the applicant is pursuing a second BES degree, the applicant’s post-secondary transcript(s), and the overlap in program content.
Normally, an applicant who has already received a BES co-op degree from the University of Waterloo will not be considered for a second BES co-op program.
Transfer credits will be granted in accordance to Faculty of Environment guidelines as indicated below and in the Admissions section of this Calendar.
Internal and External Transfer Credits
Any course taken at the University of Waterloo for which credit is granted, but where the grade is not included in the student's cumulative averages, will be considered an internal transfer credit. Students are encouraged to meet with their undergraduate advisor(s) for further guidance on what constitutes an internal transfer credit.
Any course taken at an accredited post-secondary institution, except Wilfrid Laurier University (see information below), will be considered for external transfer credit and, if approved, may be counted towards degree requirements. External transfer credits can be acquired through studies completed prior to admission to the University of Waterloo, through a University of Waterloo approved International Exchange agreement, or through courses taken on Letter of Permission (see information below).
For courses to be considered for external transfer credit, a grade of 60% or better is required.
External Transfer Students
A student applying for admission to the Faculty of Environment who has already completed courses at an accredited post-secondary institution will automatically have their transcripts assessed for external transfer credit allowances. For maximum number of transfer credits allowed, see Transfer Credit Allowance below.
Letter of Permission
Students may request to take a course(s) at other accredited post-secondary institutions for credit towards a Waterloo degree by Letter of Permission. A Letter of Permission is granted only to students who have successfully completed a minimum of four University of Waterloo courses and who are in satisfactory standing; that is, they have satisfied the minimum cumulative average requirements for their current plan.
A Letter of Permission must be approved by the student's advisor prior to enrolling at the host institution and is subject to departmental regulations. More information about the Letter of Permission policy and procedures is provided on page two of the Letter of Permission form.
Courses taken on a Letter of Permission must meet the requirements for External Transfer Credits as noted above.
Internal Transfer Students
A student transferring to a Faculty of Environment plan from within the University, or former University of Waterloo students returning after an absence, will have their previous Waterloo courses assessed for internal transfer credit. If it is determined to be in the student’s best interest, their prior University of Waterloo record will be cleared; all courses will remain on the student’s academic record, but the grades achieved will not be included in the calculation of cumulative averages. Cleared courses with a grade of 50% or better will contribute to the total credits required. For maximum number of internal transfer credits allowed, see Transfer Credit Allowance below.
Transfer Credit Allowance
The maximum number of transfer credits (internal and external) that are allowed to be counted towards a Bachelor of Environmental Studies or Bachelor of Knowledge Integration degree is:
- General Geography and Environmental Management: Any combination of internal and external transfer credits that does not exceed 15 courses (7.5 units).
- Environment and Business, Honours Geography and Environmental Management, Geomatics, International Development, and Knowledge Integration: Any combination of internal and external transfer credits that does not exceed 20 courses (10.0 units).
- Geography and Aviation: Any combination of internal and external transfer credits that does not exceed 20 courses (10.0 units), including flight training requirements.
- Planning: Any combination of internal and external transfer credits that does not exceed 20 courses (10.0 units) with a maximum of 5.0 units being granted at time of admission from an external accredited post-secondary institution.
- Environment, Resources and Sustainability: Any combination of internal and external transfer credits that does not exceed 20 courses (10.0 units) with a maximum of 5.0 units being granted at time of admission from an external accredited post-secondary institution. A maximum of seven courses (3.5 units) at the 100-level will be transferred upon admission.
Normally, external transfer credits cannot be used to satisfy Faculty of Environment Diploma requirements or the English Language Proficiency Requirement.
Students are advised to refer to the departmental or Faculty sections in the Calendar, or contact their academic advisors, for detailed regulations.
Inter-faculty Transfer of Co-op Credits
Information pertaining to the transfer of work-term credits can be found in the Co-operative Education website.
Wilfrid Laurier University Courses
Within the Faculty of Environment, courses taken at Wilfrid Laurier University (maximum of ten courses or 5.0 units) will appear on University of Waterloo records as graded courses and will be included in overall and major cumulative averages. On the University's Schedule of Classes, a "W" following the course number, i.e., BUS 121W (see Laurier calendar), denotes a Wilfrid Laurier University course. Students may enrol in these courses in the same manner as any Waterloo course, by using Quest. To enrol in a Wilfrid Laurier University course that does not appear on our Schedule of Classes, an Undergraduate Studies Cross-Registration form is used. More information about Cross-Registration policies and procedures is provided on the form.