Environment and Business degree

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Sustainability meets profitability

Smart businesses know that sustainability must be a core part of their plan. In Environment and Business — the only program of its kind in North America – you’ll develop an in-depth knowledge of environmental issues and the business world.

You'll get the foundations of a business degree with courses in economics, finance, marketing, and management, and you'll get an environmental education including field ecology and human geography. Plus, you'll learn how to integrate environment and business knowledge through specialized courses in corporate sustainability, social marketing, and more.

When you graduate, you’ll be ready to make a difference, whether that’s developing business plans for renewable energy suppliers, analyzing the environmental record of a Fortune 500 company, or helping businesses reduce their ecological impacts.

What courses will you take in Environment and Business?

First-year courses

September to December

  • AFM 131 – Introduction to Business in North America
  • ENBUS 102 – Introduction to Environment and Business
  • ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomics
  • GEOG203 – Environment and Development in a Global Perspective
  • One elective

January to April

  • ENBUS 112 – Operationalizing Sustainable Development within Business
  • ENVS 131 – Communications for Environmental Professions
  • ENVS 178 – Environmental Applications of Data Management and Statistics
  • ENVS 195 – Introduction to Environmental Studies
  • AFM 123 – Accounting Information for Managers

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.

After first year

Most of the classes you’ll take will be Environment and Business courses. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.

View a list of the courses required for your degree.

Sample upper-year courses

ENBUS 203 – Green Entrepreneurship
ENBUS 308 – Sustainability Management Standards and Auditing
ENBUS 309 – Behaviour Change and Sustainability
ENBUS 403ASustainable Entrepreneurship Project

Customize your degree

You can add additional expertise to your degree by choosing one of the minors available to all Waterloo students.

Some popular choices for Environment and Business students include minors in Geography and Environmental Management, Economics, and Entrepreneurship.

Faculty:
Faculty of Environment

Degree:
Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Environment and Business

Available as a co-op program?
Yes

Available as a regular program?
No

Available as a minor?
No

Grow your own green business. Have an idea for an environmental business or social enterprise? Take a course in green entrepreneurship. Or drop by Entrepreneurship at Environment (E@E) to work on your business plan with one-on-one coaching from an experienced advisor.

20 months of job experience. You’ll get plenty of hands-on experience through 20 months of paid co-op work experience, plus a fourth-year capstone project where you’ll do sustainability consulting for real-world clients.

Co-op = relevant paid work experience

Waterloo's co-op program, the largest in North America, is an amazing way to explore potential careers, learn to interview for jobs, graduate with up to two years of valuable experience — and make money!

Sample co-op job titles

  • Assistant environmental planner
  • Sustainability coordinator
  • Air quality and climate change coordinator
  • Research associate
  • Junior policy analyst
  • Operations and logistics analyst
  • Environmental technician
  • Sustainability business outreach, education, and marketing coordinator

Co-op work-study sequence

Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027).

Learn more about co-op →

What can you do with a degree in Environment and Business?

Our graduates often pursue careers in health and safety, project management, and environment. They often work in consulting, banks, manufacturing, various levels of government, and more.

Recent graduates

  • Manager, Environmental Stewardship Compliance - Home Depot of Canada
  • Environmental Health and Safety Specialist - NTN Bearing
  • Project Manager - Peritus Environmental Consultants
  • Environment, Health, and Safety Specialist - Amazon Canada
  • Planning Coordinator, Climate Change - Region of Waterloo
  • Project Manager, Renewal Energy - City of Toronto
  • Technology Analyst - Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Learn about the future of careers in business.

Tuition fees for programs in the Faculty of Environment

First-year tuition

Type of fees Tuition (8 months of school)
Domestic (Ontario residents) $9,000
Domestic (Out of province students) $9,000
International (visa students) $50,000
 
  • Estimated amounts listed include incidental fees. Fees based on 2024-25 tuition rates.
  • Visit our financing page to learn about scholarships, estimate your total expenses, and see how co-op can help pay for your education.

Admission requirements

Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including

  • Any Grade 12 U English (final grade of 70% is required)

Recommended courses: one Grade 12 U Mathematics, one Grade 12 U Science, Grade 12M Principles of Financial Accounting, Analysing Current Economic Issues (where offered)

Admission averages: High 70s

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.

How to apply?

Apply directly to this program on your application.

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Ask a Faculty of Environment student about their program, classes, getting involved on campus, and more!

Connect with us

Questions about courses, programs, requirements, or careers?

Please contact our Faculty of Environment recruitment co-ordinator who can answer any questions you have.

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