Course enrollment processes
Course enrolment begins with course selection, which happens early in the term before the term of study (so Sept for the Winter term, January for the Spring term and May for the Fall term). Course selection is your "wish list". The courses you prioritize for your program. The University takes everyone's wish list and tries to create a conflict-free schedule for as many students as possible. Although asynchronous online courses do not pose an issue for conflicts, they are highly desired and therefore getting on the course selection list for an online course is mandatory to obtain a seat.
After course selection, students are pre-slotted into courses on their "wish list." The next stage is open enrolment; this is where anyone who hasn't participated in course selection can register for courses.
Finally, there is the add/drop period. This is where you can rearrange your schedule, change your mind about a course or swap a course for a different one. While you can wait until 2 weeks into term to drop a course, you may not get a full refund if you miss the deadline, so it is important to pay attention to the deadlines.
Tip: We strongly encourage you to participate in the Course Selection process if you want to obtain a seat in online courses or other popular courses.
Primary resources for course information
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Schedule of Classes (enrolment caps and class times)
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Quest (instructors and campus locations)
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Undergraduate calendar (descriptions and pre-requisites)
Secondary resource for Philosophy course offerings
Fall 2026
Course Selection
May 21st - June 1st
We urge you to reserve a seat in your desired courses during this phase to ensure your successful enrolment.
Add / Drop Appointments
July 27th - July 28th
For all returning students
Open Enrolment Period
July 29th
Add/Drop Deadline
Add deadline: Sept 22nd
Drop Deadline: Sept 29th
Tip: We strongly encourage you to participate in the Course Selection process if you want to obtain a seat in online courses or other popular courses.
Featured Courses
PHIL 271: Philosophy of Race
What does "race" mean? Better yet, how does "race" operate within our rapidly changing social world? This course will explore the historical exposure (and silencing) of discourses of race using various traditional and unique philosophical texts as our guide. Through classroom discussions, written assignments, critical reflections, and creative engagement with varied readings students will become familiar with the numerous ways that "race" impacts our daily lives.
PHIL 463: Social Justice and Philosophy of Language
This course uses the tools of philosophy of language to consider social justice issues related to communication. Students will apply these theoretical tools to real-world topics of interest to them. Topics may include gendered language, the role of language in oppression, linguistic manipulation, and the language of resistance.
PHIL 371: Consciousness
This course explores some of the most challenging debates in the philosophy of consciousness through interdisciplinary engagement with ideas from psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, and biology. Students will examine theories of qualia, the “hard problem” of consciousness, higher-order thought theories, information integration theories, and reductive and eliminative approaches shaped by emerging neuroscientific research. The course also investigates the role of embodiment in conscious experience, the nature of consciousness in non-human animals, and the possibility of conscious machines. Emphasis is placed on connecting philosophical argument with empirical work in the sciences and cross-cultural perspectives on mind, self, and experience. We may even ask some ethical questions about what is owed to conscious beings.
Complete course list
| course code | course title | course location |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 101 | Challenging Ideas: Intro to PHIL | on-campus |
| PHIL 110B |
Ethics and Values |
online |
| PHIL 121 | Moral Issues | on-campus |
| Critical Thinking |
on-campus online |
|
| PHIL 215-(two sections) | Business Ethics |
on-campus online |
|
Ethics |
on-campus |
|
| PHIL 226 | Biomedical Ethics | on-campus |
| PHIL 240 | Intro to Formal Logic |
on-campus |
| PHIL 251 | Metaphysics and Epistemology |
online |
| PHIL 256 | Intro to Cognitive Science |
online |
| PHIl 271 |
Special Topic: Philosophy of Race |
on-campus |
| PHIL 290 | Nature of Scientific Knowledge | on-campus |
| PHIL 371 | Special Topic: Consciousness | on-campus |
| PHIL 384 | History of Modern Philosophy |
online |
| PHIL 463 | Social Justice and Philosophy of Language | on-campus |
| PHIL 458 |
Philosophy of Applied Math |
on-campus |
For the official calendar descriptions, click the course code or see the featured courses above.
Winter 2027
Featured Courses
PHIL 205 Philosophy of Economics
PHIL 216: Probability and Decision Making
PHIL 302: Feminisms for Social Justice
PHIL 329: Violence, Non-violence, and War
PHIL 252 / SCI 252: Quantum Mechanics for Everyone
Quantum mechanics is driving a technological revolution, and here in Waterloo we have front-row seats. This course offers an introduction to the basic concepts of quantum mechanics from a historical and philosophical perspective. Topics will include Schrödinger's cat paradox, the debate between Einstein and Bohr, “spooky action at a distance,” and quantum computers. No background in mathematics or physics will be presupposed. Assessments will be in the form of quizzes and short written assignments. The goal of the course is to supply the background needed to understand some of the principles behind the cutting-edge research being carried out at the Perimeter Institute and the University of Waterloo.
Compete Course offering List
| course code | course title | course location |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 101 | Challenging Ideas: Intro to Philosophy |
on campus |
| Knowledge and Reality: Intro to Philosophy |
online |
|
| PHIL 121 | Moral Issues | on campus |
| PHIL 125 | Happiness | on campus |
| PHIL 145 | Critical Thinking |
on campus online |
| PHIL 201 | Philosophy of Sex and Love |
online |
| PHIL 205 | Philosophy of Economics | on campus |
| PHIL 215 | Professional Business Ethics | on campus |
| PHIL 216 | Probability and Decision-Making | on campus |
| PHIL 221 | Ethics |
online |
| PHIL 226 | Biomedical Ethics |
online |
| PHIL 240 | Intro to Formal Logic |
online |
| PHIL 251 | Metaphysics and Epistemology | on campus |
| PHIL 252 | Quantum Mechanics for Everyone | on campus |
| PHIL 262J | Postmodernist Philosophy | St Jerome's |
| PHIL 265 | The Existentialist Experience | on campus |
| PHIL 283 | Great Works: Ancient and Medieval | St. Jerome's |
| PHIL 291 | Social Nature of Knowledge | on campus |
| PHIL 302 / GSJ 300 | Feminisms for Social Justice | on campus |
| PHIL 327 | Philosophy of Law |
St. Jerome's online |
| PHIL 329 | Violence, Non-violence, and War | on campus |
| PHIL 400 | Philosophy as Practice | on campus |
| PHIL 404 | Studies in Medieval Philosophy | St. Jerome's |
| PHIL 471 | Happiness and Wellbeing | on campus |
Please click the course code for the complete calendar description of each course. To see Saint Jerome's Philosophy offerings, visit the Schedule of Classes
Future 2026-2029
Course offerings vary slightly from term to term. For the official calendar descriptions, see the Undergraduate Calendar
St. Jerome's University also offers Philosophy courses. The St Jerome's Philosophy course offerings are indicated in the Schedule of Classes with the suffix "J" under the course location.