Faculty of Environment

The Calendar of Events and Academic Deadlines section is updated each academic year and provides key academic dates specific to each term. Students should refer to this section and speak with their advisor when considering course changes or withdrawals to ensure they have an understanding of any potential academic or financial consequences.

Students should also familiarize themselves with grade definitions and University-level processes in the University Policies, Guidelines, and Academic Regulations section of this Calendar.

Grade information specific to the Faculty of Environment:

1. An Aegrotat (AEG) grade may be awarded in extraordinary circumstances or when a prolonged recovery from illness is expected. Students must submit a Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations accompanied by official documentation to be considered for an AEG grade. Students are normally required to have successfully completed half of the course requirements and demonstrated understanding of the course content to the extent that the instructor is satisfied that the student should receive credit for the course, even though a numerical grade could not be given. 
2. The grade of In Progress (IP) may be assigned to the first half of a course that is listed as two courses normally taken over two terms (e.g., GEOG 490A and GEOG 490B). The grade indicates that the course is in progress and that when completed a final grade will be assigned to both the A and B halves of the course (usually the same grade). When the second (B) half of such a course is dropped, a Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations must be filed to have the first (A) half dropped.
3. Students may request to register for Audit status (AUD) in a course if the Faculty administering the course allows Audits. Students interested in an Audit must consult with the course instructor at the beginning of the course to ascertain what conditions are attached to the granting of an AUD. Audits must be approved by the course instructor and the student's academic plan advisor during the two week add period. Failure to satisfy the conditions of an Audit will result in the course receiving a grade of WD (voluntary withdrawal).

Additional course information:

1. On-campus students may take online courses through the Centre for Extended Learning.
2. Some courses that are listed under separate labels or numbers have overlapping content, so only one of them may be taken for credit. Such courses are designated with notes either after or within the course description that indicate one of the following:
   
   • the courses are cross-listed;
   • the courses are listed as antirequisite; or
   • a course was formerly designated with a different number and/or label.
   Students should consult their academic plan advisor if unsure about their eligibility to take a course and whether it will contribute to their degree requirements.
3. Students must submit a Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations to repeat a course they have already passed and for which they have achieved credit.
4. Extra fees may be required to cover course costs not included in tuition, such as field trip expenses. Notes on extra fees are included in the course descriptions. Upon request, academic units will supply a breakdown of course fees.
5. The listed sequence of courses within your plan is subject to change based on availability. Consultation with your academic plan advisor is recommended.
6. Co-op students require permission of their academic plan advisor and employer to enrol in more than one course (0.5 unit) while on a work term.
7. Graduate courses may be counted towards an undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Environment. Students must speak with their academic plan advisor to approve enrolment in a graduate course. Normally, graduate courses counted towards an undergraduate degree cannot be used to satisfy graduate degree requirements.
8. An academic plan advisor may approve a maximum of 3.25 academic units per academic term if exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. Students wishing to take 3.5 or more units in a term must file a Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations. Refer to your academic plan section in this Calendar for more information on per term course load allowance.

Wilfrid Laurier University Courses

Within the Faculty of Environment, courses taken at Laurier (maximum of 10 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 of Waterloo's Schedule of Classes, a "W" following the course number (e.g., BUS 121W) denotes a Laurier course. Students may enrol in these courses in the same manner as any Waterloo course, by using Quest. To enrol in a Laurier course that does not appear on the University of Waterloo Schedule of Classes use the Undergraduate Studies Cross-Registration Form, which provides more information about cross-registration policies and procedures.

When students transfer from Laurier into the Faculty of Environment, their Laurier courses will be assessed as external transfer credits and will not be included in overall and major cumulative averages (see the Internal and External Transfer Credits section of this Calendar).

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

Students registered in Faculty of Environment courses in which equipment will be used or procedures employed that could present hazards must show proof that they have completed the online University of Waterloo Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training.