Program requirements

Students in class, listening to professor teach.

Degree requirements

Degree-specific requirements may be found in the Faculty of Environment chapter of the Undergraduate Calendar. You must normally satisfy the requirements set out in the calendar for the year in which you first entered the Faculty or you may choose to satisfy a set of requirements specified subsequently.

Co-op requirements for S2020, F2020, W2021 and S2021 - changes due to Covid-19

For students unemployed during the Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Winter 2021, or Spring 2021 work term, the University is reducing the minimum number of required work terms in a co-op program by one. Upon confirmation from Co-operative Education (CEE), ENV students who were unable to obtain approved employment will be considered for a reduction in the number of required work terms from four to three. The minimum number of work terms required for the Co-op designation on a Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree is three; therefore, students who were unable to obtain approved employment for more than one of the terms will need to meet with their academic advisor to discuss options for completing their co-op requirements.
 
If a student qualifies for the reduction to their work term requirements, the Faculty of Environment will also allow a student to graduate with a reduced number of professional development (PD) courses and work term reports from four to three each. To be eligible to receive a co-op designation at the time of graduation, students in the Faculty of Environment who are unemployed during the Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Winter 2021 and/or Spring 2021 work term must successfully complete:

  • A minimum of three professional development (PD) courses: PD1, PD12, and one additional PD course of the student’s choice
  • A minimum of three work reports
  • A minimum of three work terms

If a student qualifies for the reduction in co-op requirements, a milestone will be added to their record indicating this reduction and transcript text will be added to indicate that it is due to COVID-19.

Students are expected to be actively looking for employment during these terms to qualify for these reductions in co-op requirements.

If a student is unemployed during any of these terms and wishes to drop a PD course from their schedule, the course should be dropped in accordance to the published drop deadlines.

Have questions? Be sure to connect with your academic advisor and take time to review the details Co-operative Education have posted about your Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Winter 2021, and Spring 2021 work terms. 

Minors, specializations, options, and diplomas

You can customize your degree with minors, specializations, options, and diplomas. Take a look through your specific program’s information or contact your academic advisor.

Undergraduate Communications Requirement

The Faculty of Environment requires that all students have basic competency in English language communications – oral, written and other media – in order to be successful in their university studies. First-year, required courses have been identified in each program to provide the English language communication skills that are the foundation for successful completion of degree requirements.

WHMIS

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is mandatory for Environment students who are:

  • enrolled in a lab
  • use the Environment darkroom and workshop
  • enrolled in a course which stipulated WHMIS as a requirement (e.g., ENVS 200)

Even if not mandatory for you, it is in your best interest to complete WHMIS. The training is available through LEARN. WHMIS certification from sources off-campus are not recognized at the University of Waterloo.