uwloo

ENVS 105Environmental Sustainability and Ethics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Environment
Subject
Environment

When it runs

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

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course examines and evaluates the reasons why the compatibility of commercial activity, ethics and environmental stewardship has been challenged or defended by stakeholders in government, business and civil society organizations. Concepts and activities by which stakeholders describe and debate this compatibility will be discussed. Different cultural perspectives on the compatibility debate will be considered, compared and evaluated. Case studies will test whether and to what extent compatibility may be defended adequately. Private and non-profit enterprises will be considered.

Prerequisites

Antirequisites

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

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 0015647105 / 125MW 08:30–09:50

Reviewed on UW Flow

66% liked it62% easy47% useful

From 29 ratings and 5 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • At times, the course can be pretty interesting, but most of the time, I was on the verge of falling asleep. The midterm and exam both allowed cheat sheets and were pretty easy. Final paper was pretty interesting and fun to write, with a good variety of prompts to choose from. Bird course, but was only available at 8AM.

    Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Very interesting topics, however not enough attractive, in-class tests are open book which is not bad, but overall difficult questions for these tests and finals

    Feb 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This class started off interesting, then the interest was lost. 4 quizzes (worth 8 marks each, a horrible number), a weekly discussion post activity (based on the readings) , in-class participation polls, a reflection paper proposal, reflection proposal and a final exam is what the class consists of. This class is quite reading heavy, some of the readings being shorter than others. Class ended 10 minutes early about 30% of the time, so that was nice. Would be more tolerable if it was later in the afternoon instead of 10 in the morning. Not a "bird" course and not particularly easy.

    Oct 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Super interesting class, I feel like I learned a lot about different environmental theories. It really makes you think about your own world views. Reading heavy, but I found it fascinating. Discussion assignments were also quite fun, but took a lot of energy to figure out my points.

    Jun 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • this is an interesting class, very inspiring actually. yet, you can't really focus when there are too many theories and ideas coming to you at the same time. read the textbook!

    Dec 2015 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

11 posts and comments in 11 threads mention ENVS 105, August 2014 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

I'm pretty sure I failed my 1A term. Help. 26 points, 1 comment

“Hi. I'm a 1A student at UW in the faculty of Environment in an honours program. With exams coming up, I don't think I can swing the grades to pass all my courses, and have definitely failed a few of …”

u/YashX_Gamer: “… In the FT, you do a reduced course load of 3 courses: UNIV101, ENVS105 (for Environment students), and a third course for your program. …”

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Spring 2022

Fall 2019

Spring 2018

Fall 2017

Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”

u/Jackhofmann: “… ENGL 794 ENVE 100 ENVE 223 ENVE 225 ENVE 277 ENVE 279 ENVE 299 ENVE 400 ENVE 472 ENVE 498 ENVS 105 ENVS 178 ENVS 195 ENVS 200 ENVS 201 ENVS 278 ENVS 395 ENVS 401 ENVS 444 ERS 100 ERS 201 ERS 202 ERS 210 ERS 234 ERS 265 ERS 275 ERS 300 ERS 301 ERS 315 ERS 316 ERS 321 ERS 328 ERS …”

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ENVS 105 2 points, 0 comments

u/younghwanee: “I'm thinking of taking it as a CSE in 4A to fulfill my list A requirement. There's another post like this that doesn't really answer the question in depth. Is it birdy? Workload, difficulty, etc.”

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Spring 2017

Spring 2014

ENVS 105 2 points, 5 comments

u/MrHate: “… ENVS 105 LEC 0.50 Environmental Stewardship and Ethics This course examines and evaluates the reasons why the compatibility of commercial activity, ethics and environmental stewardship has been challenged or defended by stakeholders in government, business and civil society …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar