Geography and Environmental Management Degree

Join the movement, meet the moment.

Explore how people shape the planet we live on. Delve into the dynamics of the Earth’s physical systems. Help solve many of the world’s most pressing problems, such as climate change, water scarcity, resource management, global food security, natural resource sustainability, and more.

Ranked 4th in Canada for research and reputation (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026), Waterloo's Department of Geography and Environmental Management is one of the country's largest. Follow us on Instagram to learn about our 70+ geography courses, including lots of field studies, as well as gaining paid work experience through co-op.

Focus your degree with specializations and options or even add another major. Through your classes and extracurriculars, you’ll quickly connect with other students in the Faculty of Environment’s welcoming and close-knit community.

What courses will you take in Geography and Environmental Management?

First year courses

During your first year, you'll take a combination of geography and environmental studies courses.

In your upper years, about half of the classes you'll take will be in geography.

September to December

GEOG 100 – Changing Human Environments and Intro to Geography and Environmental Management
GDS 181 – Designing Effective Maps
ENVS 178 – Environmental Applications of Data Management and Statistics
ENVS 195 – Introduction to Environmental Studies
One elective

January to April

GEOG 102 – Global Environmental Systems: Processes and Change
ENVS 131 – Communications for Environmental Professions
Three electives

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

After first year

About half of the classes you’ll take will be Geography courses. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.

View all the courses required for your degree.

Sample upper-year courses

GDS 281 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
GEOG 207 – Climate Change Fundamentals
GEOG 306 – Human Dimensions of Natural Hazards
GEOG 402 – Applied Wetland Science
GEOG 420 – Icesheets and Glaciers

Customize your degree

You can add additional areas of expertise by choosing one or more specializations within the program.

You can also choose one of the minors available to all Waterloo students.

Faculty:
Faculty of Environment

Degree:
Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Geography and Environmental Management

Available as a co-op program?
Yes

Available as a regular program?
Yes

Available as a minor?
Yes

30+ possible minors. Include additional interests and skills by adding one of more than 30 minors to your degree. Or add a double major or an option. Customize your degree to your interests!

See geography in action. Gain experience with environmental issues through field studies across Canada and internationally.

Co-op = relevant paid work experience

In the world's leading co-op program, you'll 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

Aquatic research technician
Forester/forest technician
Agroclimate analyst
GIS technician

Assistant wildlife officer
Environmental policy analyst
Sustainability projects 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.

Your first work term will be in the winter term of second year.

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	-

Learn more about co-op →

What can you do with a geography degree?

Person using a tablet with geography screening software. — There is a location component to much of the vast amounts of data collected by organizations today, providing opportunities for geography graduates to advise businesses on location strategies, governments on natural area protection, and more.

You can learn more in our article on careers in geography, but graduates often work in conservancy, education, government, business, non-profits, and consulting.

Conservation Technician — Nature Conservancy of Canada
Planner, Parks Recreation — Monteith Brown Planning Consultant
Geographic Information System Technician — Algonquin Power Utilities
Aquatic Specialist — Wood Environment Infrastructure Solutions
Research Associate — Environics Analytics Group
Junior Environmental Scientist — BluMetric Environmental
Environmental Planner — Ontario Ministry of Transportation Ontario

Graduates also pursue a wide range of further education, including specialized master's and PhD programs as well as education (teaching), urban planning, GIS and spatial data analysis, environmental management, human geography, and more.

Admission requirements

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

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

Admission average: High 70s

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.

How to apply

Apply directly to this program on your application.

Related programs

Geography and Aviation

Geospatial Data Science

Environment, Resources and Sustainability

Success starts at Waterloo

As home to Canada's largest faculty of environment and the world's leading co-op program, Waterloo is the only place where you can test drive up to five careers before you graduate.