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BIOL 354Environmental Toxicology

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Biology

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

An introduction to the basic theories, principles, and techniques of environmental toxicology. A comparative study of the effects of specific groups of toxicants and how they can affect molecular, cellular, and organismal processes will be explored in lectures and through laboratory experiments.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Earned at least 0.50 units from BIOL 100 - 299
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • CHE102 - Chemistry for Engineers (0.50)
      • CHEM120 - General Chemistry 1 (0.50)
      • CHEM121 - Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 0016954159 / 160MW 09:30–10:20
LAB 101695532 / 32M 14:30–17:20
LAB 102695632 / 32T 14:30–17:20
LAB 103695731 / 32T 19:00–21:50
LAB 104724932 / 32W 14:30–17:20
LAB 105737632 / 32Th 14:30–17:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

82% liked it78% easy84% useful

From 50 ratings and 15 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • I chose to take this course because Dr. Dayeh teaches it and her courses are always, in my experience, very straightforward and relatively simple to do well in (also had her for BIOL 273 and BIOL 201). The lab was combined in the 0.5 credit; in my opinion, the lab should have been a separate 0.25 credit since, although only a few labs and associated reports, they were very long and confusing. The good thing about the lab is that you only needed to submit 3/4 of the lab reports or if you submitted all, the lowest mark would be dropped. I think each lab report ended up being something like ~9.33%, totalling 28%, then of course there were lab performance/subjective grades also awarded. The…

    Dec 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • labs hard and unclear...thats duxbury for ya

    May 2020 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • by far one of the easiest bio courses I've taken in uni thus far. Vivian Dayeh is a gem who provides her own notes, lecture videos, and practice questions. The midterms were very fair imo, and theres no final exam. There was a presentation we had to do in class though, but it was only 1 min per person (4 ppl per group). Overall not the most interesting course, but definitely a gpa booster if taken with Vivian. The lab was a pain tho, the lab reports were quite long as per usual, but I found the ta marking to be a bit easier.

    Jan 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The content is straightforward and Vivian Dayeh used fill-in-the-blank style course notes. Two term tests worth 25% each with no surprises as the questions come straight out of her PowerPoints. No final exam. And she gave away bonus marks for perfect attendance.

    Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The lecture component was easy, lab was okay. The lab reports were annoying and long sometimes. Took so long to write

    Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

77 posts and comments in 63 threads mention BIOL 354, March 2016 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

Spring 2024

Fall 2023

bio 130 1 point, 10 comments

“did anyone else fail both the midterm 2 and 3. i study so hard and still come out with a fail. i feel like everyone is doing better than me. is it possible to pass the course still? …”

u/Inevitable-Ice-5061: “Is 130 the cell bio one?”

u/Inevitable-Ice-5061: “… Shit gets real when you get into craziness like Biol 354 and whatever embryology was. …”

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Spring 2023

BIOL 354 Toxicology 8:30am Midterm, prof no showed. 69 points, 13 comments

u/whodathoe_: “The prof didn't show up to our 8:30am midterm, has this happened to anyone before? The proctors were there and didn't know what was going on, the prof wasn't in contact with them. But people writing in accessibility wrote their tests. …”

u/ruoyinnaixi: “I was in BIOL 354 as well since we don’t need VIF for this midterm I think the prof. …but wait isn’t TAs allowed to held exams?”

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IS THIS A HEAVY SEMESTER OR NO??? 0 points, 2 comments

u/Hot-Budget-4679: “For the spring term I taking these courses: KIN 221 KIN 221L KIN 232 BIOL 354 BIOL 239 Would you consider this a heavy semester or it is ok. Should I consider dropping one course and take it later. I’m really confused and I’m not sure what to do. I need help please.”

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Winter 2023

Fall 2022

biol 354 vs biol 462 0 points, 0 comments

u/buttercupbeuaty: “ive realized im insane to take more than 6 courses so im narrowing it down. biol 354 and biol 462 seem pretty similar so which one is really worth taking?”

u/mari0499: “… I did like Biol 354 more since the topic interested me. There is a mandatory lab component that's attached to the course and it can be very time consuming but I found my experience in the course was overall rewarding. Let me know if you would like the specifics! …”

u/ssadena: “Did u take Biol 354 last fall ?!”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar