Department of Geography & Environmental Management

Legend

‡ENGL 109 or ENGL 129R must be completed with a grade of 65% or higher. Please see the English Language Communication Requirement section for the Faculty of Environment if you fail to meet this requirement.

Year One

One of:
ENGL 109^‡ Introduction to Academic Writing
ENGL 129R^‡ Written Academic English

Three Electives (1.5 units)

Year Two

One of:
GEOG 293 Approaches to Research in Human Geography
GEOG 294 Approaches to Research in Physical Geography

Six of:
GEOG 201 Fluvial Geomorphology
GEOG 202 Geography of the Global Economy
GEOG 203 Environment and Development in a Global Perspective
GEOG 207 Climate Change Fundamentals
GEOG 209 Hydroclimatology
GEOG 271 Earth from Space Using Remote Sensing
GEOG 281 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Three Electives (1.5 units)

Year Three

GEOG 391 Field Research
Nine courses (4.5 units) to fulfil degree requirements (see note 2 below)

Students are strongly encouraged to take courses in one of the following specializations: Climate Change and Environment, Earth Systems Science, Economy and Society, or Geomatics.

Year Four

10 Courses (5.0 units) to fulfil degree requirements (see note 2 below)

Note: Co-op students, see note 7 below 

Notes

1. Minimum Required Units
   Total: 20.0 units. Geography: 11.0 units; English: 0.5 unit. All courses for which 1.0 unit is awarded will count as the equivalent of two courses. Only 1.5 units designated Environmental Studies (ENVS) may be counted as Geography units but all units designated ENVS are included in the cumulative major average (see note 4).
2. Year Three and Year Four Requirements
   Minimum of 4.5 units of GEOG-labelled courses:
   
   • 1.0 unit at or above 200-level
   • 1.0 unit at or above 300-level
   • 2.5 units at 400-level
   
   5.0 units of additional courses to meet degree requirements (see note 1)
3. Course Load
   No more than 2.5 units may be taken in a term without the approval of the Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies). Normally, approval for a sixth 0.5 unit will be considered only if the cumulative Geography and Environmental Management average is 78% or higher.
4. Average Requirements
   Students in the Honours academic plans must maintain an overall cumulative average of 65% and a Major cumulative average of 70%. All required courses must be passed.
5. Materials and Costs
   For some courses, extra fees may be required to cover field expenses/travel costs. Statements on extra costs, where required, will be found with the course descriptions.
6. Independent Study
   Up to three independent study GEOG 475 courses may be taken.
7. Honours Co-operative Academic Plan
   Co-op plan requirement details are stated in the Faculty of Environment, Academic Plans, Overview of Co-op Plans section of this Calendar.
   Students are expected to follow the academic/work sequence noted in the Co-operative Education & Career Action section of this Calendar.
8. Enrolment in Honours Geography and Environmental Management Co-op
   Students are admitted to the Co-op academic plan in first year based on secondary school grades. Interested students enrolled in first year Regular Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo may be considered for admission to any remaining co-op positions at the end of first year based on university academic performance, an interview, and work experience related to Geography. The Honours Geography and Environmental Management Co-op plan has the same academic requirements as the Honours Regular Plan.
9. Restriction on number of First-Year Courses
   For a Four-Year Honours degree a student must have a least 13.5 units at or above the 200-level.
10. 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 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.
11. Fourth Year Geography Course Restrictions
    Fourth year courses are normally restricted to third and fourth year honours students.