Undergraduate

The common ground upon which our undergraduate honours programs at SEED are built is sustainable development.

In the Environment and Business program, sustainability is advanced in two ways. First, there is an emphasis placed on identifying, understanding, and engaging business in the realization of a sustainable future. Second, knowledge and tools traditionally associated with business (such as marketing) are applied to advance knowledge, products and behaviour related to sustainability.

The Sustainability and Financial Management program looks at the use of financial and accounting approaches to support sustainable development. More and more, progressive companies are seeking alignment of environmental responsibility with profitability. Environmental, social, and governance tools can be integrated to drive policy and decision-making towards the long-term success of businesses and society.

Our School was also home to the International Development program for over a decade, creating the latest wave of international development professionals working locally and across the globe. 

Learn about our programs

Environment and Business

In Environment and Business, the only program of its kind in North America, you’ll combine business fundamentals like economics and marketing with environmental education to drive corporate sustainability and reduce ecological impacts.

Sustainability and Financial Management 

Become a sought-after expert who can measure profits and planetary health. Through this one-of-a-kind program, you'll gain expertise in accounting and financial management at Waterloo's world-class School of Accounting and Finance, and study sustainability in Canada's biggest Faculty of Environment.

Additional program information

Environment and business (ENBUS) degree overview

Environment and business (ENBUS) co-op

As an Environment and Business (ENBUS) student, you will gain valuable co-op work experience and gain first-hand knowledge of how environmental decision-making can be integrated into the business world. You'll complete five four-month work terms over the course of the program. Past co-op jobs include:

  • Sustainability Coordinator, Minto Group
  • Partner Marketing Associate, Microsoft Canada
  • Environmental Officer, Transport Canada
  • Business Analyst, Canadian Tire

Professional Development

Students are required to complete four Professional Development (PD) courses. Prior to the first work term, the introductory course, Career Fundamentals (PD1) must be taken. PD1/12 is mandatory and two other PD courses must be taken to cover non-technical skills. Other than PD1, PD courses are normally taken during each work term until the requirement is met. Students who fail to meet these requirements will not be permitted to continue in co-op.

Finding a co-op job

While most students find jobs through the interview process run by Co-operative Education (CE), you are free to arrange your own job.

If you arrange your own work term, you can request to have it count as a regular work term. Please read the tips for arranging your own co-op job or contact your advisor through WaterlooWorks.

ENBUS Cohort schedule

Please consult the Undergraduate Calendar for the Environment and Business (ENBUS) degree requirements and for more questions, contact the ENBUS program coordinator.

The program includes 5 paid co-op work terms and a Capstone Project that allow students to apply their knowledge and skills gained in the ENBUS program to a meaningful project in the business community. In addition to your required courses, you can choose 9 electives over your 5 years of study. The electives can be used to customize your degree.

Depending on the year you started your degree, the course sequence and degree requirements will vary slightly. To ensure successful completion of the ENBUS degree requirements, please see the program schedule for your cohort:

ENBUS (Honours Co-op)

ENBUS (2+2) - Cohort schedules

ENBUS (3+2) - Cohort schedules

Sustainability and financial management degree overview

 Please consult the Undergraduate Calendar for the Sustainability and Financial Management (SFM) requirements. 

Your studies will ground you in core accounting and finance concepts through a sustainability lens. Through hands-on learning, you’ll build the human side of business, thinking critically, collaborating confidently and making ethical decisions, while gaining the skills to drive financial, social and environmental impact.

You’ll also learn the technology behind sustainable business. With digital tools and an analytical mindset built into the SFM curriculum, you’ll be able to measure, manage and report on sustainability performance, and use data and innovation to make smarter, more responsible decisions.

How to apply

Apply directly to this program on your application.

You can apply either to Sustainability and Financial Management (SFM) or Accounting and Financial Management (AFM), but not both. If you're interested in other programs related to financial management you can check out Environment and Business (ENBUS). 

Customize your degree

After the second year of your program, you'll also have the opportunity to select a specialization for your degree.

  • Corporate Sustainability. This specialization will prepare you to work in the financial departments of companies or to work as a part of a team establishing sustainable practices. Plus, this pathway will give you the skills to pursue the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation and/or enable you to take the required courses to be admissible to the Master of Accountancy Program (MAcc). 
  • Government Policy and Financial Markets. This pathway will prepare you to work within governance channels, either creating policy and regulations or leveraging financial market mechanisms to achieve sustainability objectives. You will also gain the required skills and knowledge to pursue the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. 

  • Indigenous Entrepreneurship. This specialization will provide Indigenous students with foundational training in financial management and sustainability. Students will deep dive into business strategic development, enabling them to start their own business ventures or to contribute to the growth strategies of existing organizations. 

Our students are making waves

  • Curiosity leads to quality carbon decisions abroad
  • Delivering corporate sustainability for Purolator
  • First SFM graduates prove the program was worth the bet