Environment Academic Plans

Year One

• EARTH 121 Introductory Earth Sciences
• ENVS 178 Environmental Applications of Data Management and Statistics
• ENVS 278 Applied Statistics for Environmental Research
• GEOG 101 Human Geographies: People, Space and Change
• GEOG 102 Global Environmental Systems: Processes and Change
• GEOG 181 Designing Effective Maps
• GEOG 207 Climate Change Fundamentals
• One of:
  • ENGL 109 Introduction to Academic Writing
  • EMLS 129R Written Academic English
• One of:
  • MATH 104 Introductory Calculus for Arts and Social Science
  • MATH 127 Calculus 1 for the Sciences
• One of:
  • CHEM 120 General Chemistry 1
  • PHYS 111 Physics 1

Total of 5.0 units

Year Two

• BIOL 150 Organismal and Evolutionary Biology
• ENVS 200 Field Ecology
• GEOG 203 Environment and Development in a Global Perspective
• GEOG 205 Principles of Geomorphology
• GEOG 209 Hydroclimatology
• GEOG 271 Earth from Space Using Remote Sensing
• GEOG 294 Approaches to Research in Physical Geography
• GEOG 310 Geodesy and Surveying
• Electives totaling 1.0 unit

Total of 5.0 units

Year Three

• GEOG 281 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• GEOG 303 Physical Hydrology
• GEOG 305 Fluvial Geomorphology
• GEOG 307 Societal Adaptation to Climate Change
• GEOG 320 The Cryosphere
• One of:
  • GEOG 403 Eutrophication: From Process to Water-Quality Management
  • GEOG 404 Soil Ecosystem Dynamics
• One of:
  • GEOG 405 Wetlands (1.0 unit)
  • GEOG 459 Energy and Sustainability (1.0 unit)
• Electives totaling 1.0 unit at the 300- or 400-level

Year Four

• GEOG 309 Physical Climatology
• GEOG 391 Field Research
• GEOG 417 Climate Change Communication
• 2.5 units from:
  • GEOG 407 Environmental Hydrology of Terrestrial Ecosystems
  • GEOG 408 Earth's Future Climates (1.0 unit)
  • GEOG 409 Energy Balance Climatology (1.0 unit)
  • GEOG 420 Ice Sheets and Glaciers
  • GEOG 452 Resource Management Project (1.0 unit)
  • GEOG 490B Honours Thesis Completion (1.0 unit)
• Electives totaling 1.0 unit at the 300- or 400-level. Students must take GEOG 490A if intending to take GEOG 490B.

Notes

1. Minimum Required Units
   • Total: 20.0 units
   • Core requirements: 17.0 units
   • Minimum units at or above 200-level: 14.5 unit
2. Average Requirements
   
   • Minimum cumulative major average of 70% (all ENVS and GEOG courses);
   • minimum cumulative special average of 60% (all BIOL, CHEM, EARTH, MATH, and PHYS courses); and
   • minimum cumulative overall average of 65% (all courses).
3. Co-op Requirements
   For details, see the Environment Overview of Co-op Plan Requirements section of this Calendar.

Students are admitted to the co-op academic plan in first year based on secondary school grades. Interested students enrolled in first year regular Climate and Environmental Change at the University of Waterloo may be considered for admission (if space is still available in the co-op plan) at the end of first year based on university academic performance, an interview, and work experience related to Climate and Environmental Change.

4. Per Term Course Load Allowance
   No more than 2.5 units may be taken in a term without the approval of the associate chair undergraduate studies, Climate and Environmental Change. Normally, approval for a sixth 0.5 unit course will be considered only if the cumulative major average is 78% or higher.
5. Order of Course Completion
   The Honours Climate and Environmental Change co-op and regular plans have the same academic course requirements. The above suggested order of course completion is based on the co-op plan. The order of course completion for the regular plan may differ. Contact the Climate and Environmental Change plan academic advisor for course selection information.
6. General Information Applicable to all Faculty of Environment Plans
   
   • If a minimum grade of 65% is achieved in ENGL 109 or EMLS 129R, the Undergraduate Communication Requirement (UCR) milestone will be granted. If the minimum grade is not met, review the Overview of Academic Plan Requirements page and contact the Climate and Environmental Change academic advisor.
   • The Environment Academic Regulations section of this Calendar contains information, regulations, and requirements pertaining to undergraduate studies within the Faculty. It is students' responsibility to familiarize themselves with the content of this section.
   • A number of Faculty of Environment options, minors, and diplomas are available. A list and requirements are outlined under the Faculty of Environment Academic Plans section in this Calendar.