BIOL 447Environmental Microbiology
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Science
- Subject
- Biology
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
A study of the environmental impact of microorganisms. Aspects of pollution, waste treatment, biodegradation of environmental contaminants, and nutrient cycling will be examined. Tutorials emphasize critical analysis of primary literature.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 7208 | 159 / 160 | MW 13:30–14:20 |
| TUT 101 | 7209 | 39 / 40 | Sep 21 14:30–16:20 Oct 5 14:30–16:20 Oct 26 14:30–16:20 Nov 9 14:30–16:20 Nov 23 14:30–16:20 |
| TUT 102 | 7397 | 40 / 40 | Sep 28 14:30–16:20 Oct 19 14:30–16:20 Nov 2 14:30–16:20 Nov 16 14:30–16:20 Nov 30 14:30–16:20 |
| TUT 103 | 7398 | 40 / 40 | Sep 23 14:30–16:20 Oct 7 14:30–16:20 Oct 28 14:30–16:20 Nov 11 14:30–16:20 Nov 25 14:30–16:20 |
| TUT 104 | 7399 | 40 / 40 | Sep 30 14:30–16:20 Oct 21 14:30–16:20 Nov 4 14:30–16:20 Nov 18 14:30–16:20 Dec 2 14:30–16:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
83% liked it88% easy75% useful
From 18 ratings and 9 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
content isn't super interesting (also, there's not that much content) but it's an easy course. two midterms + two group midterms + tutorial group assignments (really easy) + tutorial group presentation + final exam. you get cheat sheets for the midterms and exams, but they're mc + short answer. definitely an easy 90+ if you study well
Apr 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Honestly very easy for a 4th year level course. I found it to be a mix of BIOL 241 and BIOL 309. It can be a bird course as long as you participate in the iclickers and pay attention. Jacqueline MacDonald uses an active form of learning which really helps the content stick.
Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
super birdy for a 4th year
Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Prof Macdonald makes the course content very manageable and does a great job at promoting active learning. She lets you bring in a cheat sheet for exams which is nice, although I found her exam questions to be rather tough. The tutorial is pretty chill, however group projects will always be the bane of my existence. For a 400 biol course this was really easy, even if you don't remember much from 240/241 you will be fine.
Dec 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Proff not listed: Jaqueline MacDonald. She's chill and straightforward, the lectures aren't complicated, the slides are not essays, she doesnt try to fool you with. The course content is SUPER easy (if you took 346 with Hug, a LOT of this material will be familiar to you), and a lot of the units will tie into each other so applying the material while studying will make memorization much easier. 2% participation marks (iClicker), 1% for just doing a practice midterm, 22% midterm, 40% cumulative exam. NOTE: you are allowed 1 double sided cheat sheet for BOTH midterm and exam. The last 30% is from tutorials, you will be assigned a group, you have to pick an env microbio paper, summarize the…
Dec 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
21 posts and comments in 21 threads mention BIOL 447, October 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 2023
Anyone in BIOL 359 and BIOL 447? 1 point, 3 comments
u/taffy999: “If you're in both classes let me know”
Spring 2023
Biol 439 vs Biol 447 7 points, 0 comments
u/Accomplished-End-745: “… Biol 439 Environmental and Natural Products in Biochem Biol 447 Environmental Microbiology”
Fall 2022
Has anyone taken a Biology course with Jacqueline MacDonald? 3 points, 5 comments
u/StrictOlive: “I have her this term for BIOL 447, she's an okay lecturer but her tests are not good. They're multi-select (as in circle all the right answers on your scantron) and the questions feel like a mind game when you read them”
Biol 447 - notes 0 points, 2 comments
u/sj97635: “Anyone in biol 447 who can lend me notes for two classes I missed?”
Spring 2022
Fourth Year Bio Courses 2 points, 0 comments
u/Godatgaming111222: “Right now I have selected Biol 447 and 439 but I heard that 439 might be kind of difficult now. Has anyone taken one of these courses or if anyone has taken anyother fourth year bio courses that were relatively easy. I have already taken biol 449 as well”
One stop shop for course selection+tips to all biomedical/science students 6 points, 3 comments
u/-Leviathan-: “… KIN 404, KIN 406, BIOL 447 and BIOL 449 are good options. BIOL 447 was a good experience, Dr. Lynch was incredibly understanding and reasonable, the test questions were very fair, and the content was pretty interesting. …”
Winter 2022
400-Level Easy BIOL Courses 3 points, 5 comments
“I need to take some 400 level BIOL courses and I was wondering which ones are the easiest to obtain a high mark in?”
u/Regular-Brain-6412: “Biol 447 and biol 449 are quite easy”
Fall 2021
Taking BIOL 447 without BIOL 241? 1 point, 2 comments
u/InformalDuck1506: “I received a course override request approval for taking BIOL 447 (Environmental Microbiology), having not have taken BIOL 241 before. …”
Spring 2020
What are some relatively easy 4th year biology courses? 2 points, 2 comments
“help”
u/QueenOfThisThrone: “Every micro, especially BIOL 447 and 449”
Winter 2020
What are the easiest 4th-year bio courses? 2 points, 3 comments
“I'm looking for the easiest courses for a grade boost. Don't really care about the content so long as it's easy/memorization based. Thanks!”
u/QueenOfThisThrone: “Any of barb butlers courses BIOL 449, BIOL 447”
Fall 2019
When are these biol 447 marks coming out holy sht 6 points, 4 comments
u/biomedgod: “???”
Not too hard Science courses 1 point, 14 comments
“Hey y’all what are some not super hard Science courses that y’all have taken? I’ve already taken biol 130,240,225, 239, 359, chem 120,123 earth 121 sci 206,207. Need some good 200+ level suggestions. …”
u/Med_Stark: “Biol 447, Biol 449, Biol 439 (depends if Greenberg is actually retiring, so if he somehow sticks around then definitely take it with him), Biol 302 I found to be fairly easy so long as you practice rather than memorize, I've heard good things about Biol 414 but I've personally …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them