ENGL 208BScience Fiction
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
- Subject
- English
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Various examples drawn, for instance, from Utopian and anti-Utopian science fiction, social science fiction, "gadget" science fiction, parapsychology, and alternate worlds and beings will be considered. Some attention will be given to the historical development of the genre.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 3576 | 0 / 45 | TTh 13:00–14:20 |
| LEC 702 | 1361 | 41 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
86% liked it58% easy41% useful
From 43 ratings and 21 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
May depend on the prof, but with Hancock it has been impossible to get anything above an 85%.
Jan 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
A fairly average course, in my opinion. If you like science fiction, you'll like the weekly readings (short stories + a couple movies in my section), although the critical texts accompanying them were sometimes extremely dense. However, nothing in the rest of the course was at all special: a couple analysis essays and some peer feedback -- which makes the course basically a fancy author/book recommendation.
I would avoid unless you really like SF and analyzing works (or if you're fulfilling a communications requirement).Apr 2022 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The course covered a reasonably good selection of material, and the assignments and final were easy. There wasn't a lot of insight into the material though, and it lacked the higher level thought I would expect from a University course.
Dec 2012 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
what's there to say? It's a class about scifi, fun course, good discussions and a nice break from more technical classes.
Aug 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Its useful in learning how to apply theory to new concepts and if you're taking an English degree or some sort I think you'll find that it connects to different concepts in other classes in some ways. Its a worthwhile course to take if you can!
Apr 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
35 posts and comments in 30 threads mention ENGL 208B, October 2012 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
ENGL208B (Michael Hancock) VS ENGL119 (Jessica Van De Kemp)? 2 points, 2 comments
u/Ok_Beautiful4673: “Basically the heading...I've effectively shortlisted my options down to these two classes with these professors respectively. How have your experiences been with these professors in these two classes? Should I steer clear of one of them? …”
What courses to choose for 1B CS?? 2 points, 8 comments
“So the deadline is almost up and I am super late. I am aware of the 3 courses we are required to choose CS136/146 Math136/146 Math138/148 What are the other two courses? …”
u/s01arpunk: “… I highly recommend ENGL 208B (Science Fiction) - it‘s one of the best courses I’ve ever taken and it counts for one of your communication credits. It also touches on a lot of philosophical concepts that may be particularly useful or interesting to you as a CS major. …”
Advice for 1B course selection 1 point, 4 comments
u/Helpful-Wing4419: “I'm planning to take Math 136 + 138, CS 136 + 136L and ENGL 208B in my 1B term. Since CS 136L is only 0.25 credits, should I add STAT 230 or would that be too much work? …”
Fall 2023
Bird bird communication course 1 point, 1 comment
u/serenelmuss314: “… ENGL 108D Digital Lives ENGL 119 Communications in Mathematics and Computer Science ENGL 208B Science Fiction ENGL 209 Advanced Academic Writing ENGL 210E Genres of Technical Communication ENGL 210F Genres of Business Communication ENGL 378/MTHEL 300 Professional Communications …”
Spring 2023
Advice for ENGL 208B (science fiction) final? 1 point, 1 comment
u/Electrical-Lunch-525: “Have it coming up on Wednesday. I'd say I've kept up and done about 50% of the readings and have a fair idea of the themes in the other texts. Does anyone know how best to prepare for this course's final? …”
Winter 2022
looking for friends that like literature or languages? 5 points, 20 comments
“Also wondering if anyone has ENGL course recommendations. I want to make friends that read and have people to talk to about books :( I been buying books constantly and been having trouble staying …”
u/Mysterious_Glass_798: “ENGL208B was fun. It felt like a fun scifi book club. Not too much work, beyond the reading. But that's the fun part”
[deleted by user] 11 points, 4 comments
u/KnowledgeVampire: “ENGL208B”
Fall 2021
What are your favourite classes at UW 56 points, 87 comments
u/Mysterious_Glass_798: “ENGL 208B - I love science fiction STV 205 - I love science fiction, but it was also cool to get a little bit of a (very high level) history of control theory and automation also ECE 358 - It was really interesting to learn how the lower layers of the internet (after the …”
Which ENGL/SPCOM course to get 95+ 5 points, 4 comments
u/og_darcy: “Does anyone know in which of these courses is it possible to get a 95+? - ENGL 101B - ENGL 108B - ENGL 108D - ENGL 208B - ENGL 210E - ENGL 210F - SPCOM 228”
Winter 2021
Anybody taking ENGL 208B - Science Fiction? 1 point, 0 comments
[deleted]: “It's the only course without a page on LEARN for me, and I haven't received any kind of email from either the prof or TA, although I am registered on Quest for the course. Is anybody else taking it this term, and if so, is your experience different from mine?”
ENGL 208B 2 points, 0 comments
u/IceyPosition: “Is anyone else enrolled in this course but doesn't see anything on learn?”
Admissions / High School Megathread (Fall 2020) 316 points, 7,386 comments
“I think we lost track of the old one somewhere, and this is to also help reset the expiry date (these threads archive after six months) Engineering Admissions Blog: https://theroadtoengineering.com/ …”
u/abababbb: “Not really about admissions but the frosh megathread is gone so I'll just post here: &x200B; for CS breadth/depth, if I take ENGL 208B (comms list 2) ENGL 108A (humanities) ENGL 306A (humanities) Would I be able to satisfy communications, humanities (breadth), and humanities …”
u/Tinywatermelon_: “I’m going applying for a BA In psych and am confused between colleges and Res. What are the differences and befits of residence vs college and can anyone give me brief descriptions of each of the …”
u/BubonicPython: “… I also took ENGL 208B on the STJ campus. I'm not sure about the specifics of the other UCs but you can actually apply to STJ and get a degree from STJ and not UW. I'm also not sure if you can take UW courses if you're enrolled at a UC. …”
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