Undergraduate programs
Climate and Environmental Change
Waterloo’s Climate and Environmental Change program provides an ideal framework for exploring and finding solutions to climate change challenges, training and preparing the first generation of climate change professionals.
In this program, students study the science behind the challenges facing our planet’s environment, combining climate and environmental change awareness with knowledge in physical geography and the natural sciences.
Through a blend of biology, chemistry, physics and earth science with human geography, students prepare to address challenges such as flooding, permafrost thawing, drought and forest fires, peatland degradation, rising sea levels and coastal change and changing economic opportunities in climate-sensitive sectors.
The Climate and Environmental Change program offers a unique applied science-based approach to understanding climate and environmental changes that are occurring in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, and their interconnections with landscape processes that require management practices.
Courses offered span geography, science, environment, math, hydrology, ecology and climatology. Three specializations are available:
- Geomatics
- Economy and society
- Aviation
Students build a range of specialized knowledge and gain practical, transferable skills through in-class and hands-on lab experience, including:
- data collection and analytical skills
- critical reading, writing and communication skills
- practical lab and field research experience
- research skills
- problem-solving skills using integrated approaches
- strong computer skills
- ability to use new and emerging technologies, rooted in geomatics
Environment and Business
As the links between environment and business grow, there is a demand for individuals with a strong foundation in interdisciplinary environment studies complemented by expertise in core business subjects.
Waterloo’s Environment and Business program is a distinctive interdisciplinary plan that equips graduates with a unique blend of knowledge in environment and business areas, together with a set of flexible problem-solving and decision-making skills.
This program is designed to provide opportunities for students to explore ways in which environment and business could, and should, be integrated. At the end of the program, graduates are well-placed to be at the cutting edge of the development of new ideas in this growing field.
Students gain all the foundations of a business degree – economics, finance, accounting, management and marketing. They also are provided with an environmental education including field ecology, human geography and environmental research techniques.
Students enter Waterloo’s Environment and Business program because they have a strong interest in this area. They are bright, flexible and highly motivated.
Valuable skills and attributes that students from this program bring include:
- environmental management systems
- life-cycle assessment
- design for the environment
- operation of emissions trading systems
- understanding of balance sheets and income statements
- communication skills
- problem-solving skills
- time-management skills
- environmental law
- environmental auditing
- marketing
Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Waterloo’s Environment, Resources and Sustainability program is oriented towards the study of the many complex relationships between humans and the environment. Through a wide array of courses, students learn how to use techniques and ideas from multiple disciplines to solve environmental and resource challenges. Courses include proper waste management strategies, sustainable development, pollution control, environmental protection and global awareness, among many other options.
Although technical skills are taught within specific courses, the program focuses on broad learning to build the adaptability that is critical within this fast-moving field. The program also emphasizes management skills to meet the need for analysis and communication skills.
The program is designed to provide students with a broad skill-set and the adaptability to solve environmental and resource problems using techniques and ideas from many disciplines: ecology, environmental governance, energy, water, waste management, media and environmental assessment.
The learning environment is student-centred with small classes and one-on-one learning with professors via projects and a thesis – with topics chosen on the basis of student interests and the demands of society.
Students in Waterloo’s Environment, Resources and Sustainability program bring problem-solving skills from different disciplines to meet the way the real world operates. They understand the best strategies to use from both government and private efforts to make society more sustainable.
Valuable skills and attributes that students from this program bring include:
- highly adaptable
- team player
- lab and field sampling experience
- information research abilities
- critical reading, writing and communication skills
- analysis and critical thinking skills
- computer software aptitude and competence
- mathematics and statistics capabilities
- time-management skills
Geography and Environmental Management
Waterloo’s Geography and Environmental Management program emphasizes a multidisciplinary and highly integrated approach to the study of the environment from a local, regional and global perspective. Students combine natural science, social studies and information technologies to understand the complex interaction of natural and human forces that define landscapes, regions and communities.
The program is wide-ranging and includes the practical application of geographical studies, the role of field work and computer techniques such as model building, geographical information systems and digital remote sensing.
It provides students with considerable freedom to choose supporting electives from many departments in the university.
The program combines a series of integrated courses concerning the human and natural environment with an emphasis on the development of theory and methodology and on the practical application of geographical concepts.
Courses are offered under the following themes: urbaneconomic and community development, environment resources and economy, information technologies, biophysical systems and local, regional and international systems.
Three specializations are available:
- Biophysical systems (physical geography): climate, hydrology, wetlands.
- Geomatics: geographic information systems, remote sensing, statistics, global positioning systems.
- Society, Environment and Economy: tourism, resource management, recreation geography, Canada, Japan, Russia, developing nations, sustainable development.
Students have a broad range of intellectual, practical and social abilities, characterized by a variety of transferable skills and attributes including:
- knowledge of geographic information systems
- knowledge of remote sensing
- numeracy and literacy
- problem-solving skills
- spatial awareness
- analytical skills
- social and environmental awareness
- teamwork and leadership
- computer literacy
- well-developed communication skills
Geomatics
Geomatics is the fusion of geography and information technology for gathering, analyzing, interpreting, distributing and using geographic information. It is one of Waterloo’s newest programs. Students combine studies in geographic and environmental analysis with computer science courses, which provide the essential tools to develop the more applied aspects of geomatics.
Students in the program gain a wide exposure to essential computer science knowledge and to the applications of GIS, remote sensing and survey and mapping (including GPS). They become stronger practitioners of geomatics, able to go beyond the competent use of existing geomatics tools to develop applications including spatial database, development and management, data dissemination, spatial analysis, decision support and spatial modelling.
Geomatics consists of a number of disciplines, including:
- geographic information systems (GIS)
- remote sensing
- surveying and mapping
- global positioning systems (GPS)
Students choose from a wide variety of courses. They take 18 geography/geomatics courses and eight computer science courses, together with electives that are chosen from across the university.
Students in Waterloo’s Geomatics program bring a unique combination of strengths in both geography and information technology. They are adaptable and know how to apply knowledge to fast-changing issues and needs.
Valuable skills and attributes that students from this program bring include:
- project-management skills
- knowledge of geographic information systems
- knowledge of remote sensing
- knowledge of global positioning
- spatial statistics
- strong computer skills
- team player
- bright and highly motivated
Planning
Waterloo’s School of Planning is located in the Faculty of Environment, which uses an interdisciplinary approach to address a wide range of environmental issues. The ability to draw upon multiple disciplines will be crucial in the forthcoming decades in planning for more sustainable development.
The school enjoys tremendous respect in the profession and is the only school in Canada to offer Planning degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels.
The program is designed to produce a complete planner with the knowledge, skills and attitudes for professional practice in a wide variety of private and public sector areas or for further post-graduate study.
Students are trained to anticipate and understand change and to manage the process to ensure a smooth transition. Since change is never-ending, students are taught the importance of adopting a strategy of lifelong learning to maintain a current knowledge base and technical expertise.
Students in Waterloo’s Planning program bring a broad knowledge base across the planning spectrum. They are also adaptable and know how to apply this knowledge to rapidly evolving issues and needs.
Valuable skills and attributes that students from this program bring include:
- research skills
- decision-making skills
- understanding of the Ontario Planning Act
- computer skills: MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, GIS
- writing and communication skills
- able to work independently with minimal supervision
- knowledge of mapping/cartographic terminology and tools
- ability to analyze and assess data from various sources
- ability to organize, plan and prioritize
- familiar with provincial planning legislation, planning
- policies and provincial initiatives in land use planning
Sustainability and Financial Management
Sustainability and Financial Management is offered by the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) in the Faculty of Arts and the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED) in the Faculty of Environment.
The program combines extensive training in accounting and financial literacy with a focus on environmental sustainability. It is the first program in Canada integrating education in accounting and finance fields with sustainability and the environment. Students in the corporate sustainability stream work towards a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.
Students in the Government Policy and Financial Markets pathway work towards a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Students in the Indigenous Entrepreneurship Specialization gain foundational training in financial management and sustainability.
The depth of professional knowledge and skills attained in the field of accounting and finance, coupled with a broad foundational knowledge of sustainability, enables students to synthesize the opportunities and challenges posed by changes in the natural environment and their implications for business and the economy at large. Graduates will incorporate people, profit and the planet into the bottom line while evolving environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) reporting to lead organizations toward a greener world.
Students gain skills that can benefit financial departments and corporate sustainability teams across industries. Their education prepares them to achieve success in accounting, financial analysis, public administration, finance/insurance, manufacturing, professional/scientific/technical services, and wholesale/distribution.
Students from the Sustainability and Financial Management program bring a range of abilities to the workplace.
Valuable skills and attributes that students from this program bring include:
- understanding of ecosystem structure, functions, energy flows and connectivity
- interpreting principles and practices of environmental management, environmental law and regulatory approaches
- technical skills directly related to accounting and finance
- data analysis
- problem solving and critical thinking
- leadership, communication, and collaboration
- ethical conduct and social responsibility
