Enrolment
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 academic advisor when considering course changes or withdrawals to ensure they have an understanding of any potential academic or financial consequences.
Grades
Students should also familiarize themselves with grade definitions and University-level regulations in the University Policies, Guidelines, and Academic Regulations section of this Calendar.
Faculty of Environment Grade Information
In Progress (IP) grade: 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 (normally the same grade). When the second (B) half of such a course is dropped, a Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations must be submitted to have the first (A) half dropped.
Audit (AUD) grade: Students may request to register for audit status 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 grade. Audits must be approved by the course instructor and the student's academic advisor during the published add period. Failure to satisfy the conditions of an audit will result in the course receiving a grade of WD (voluntary withdrawal).
Course Information
Academic Load
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 submit a Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations. Refer to the academic plan section in this Calendar for more information on per term course load allowance.
Overlapping Content
Some courses that are listed under separate subject codes 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 subject code.
Repeating Courses
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.
Courses with Extra Fees
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.
Courses During a Work Term
Co-op students require permission of their academic advisor and employer to enrol in more than one course (0.5 unit) while on a work term.
Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses
Graduate courses may be counted towards an undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Environment. Students must speak with their academic advisor to approve enrolment in a graduate course. Normally, graduate courses counted towards an undergraduate degree cannot be used to satisfy graduate degree requirements.
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 the cumulative plan 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 the cumulative plan averages (see the Internal and External Transfer Credits page 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.