ENVS 131Communications for Environmental Professions
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Environment
- Subject
- Environment
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.
This course provides a practical introduction to effective communication in written, visual, and oral forms. You will learn to strategically consider the purpose, audience, channel, and style of your communication, and understand its connection to broader cultural, political, academic, and professional contexts. An iterative design process will encourage revision and refinement of your work through collaboration and peer feedback. Practical exercises, case studies, and interactive tutorials will help you develop the ability to communicate complex environmental issues clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences. This course integrates Indigenous knowledge and perspectives and is tailored for students in the Faculty of Environment.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5804 | 302 / 320 | Th 14:30–17:20 |
| TUT 101 | 5808 | 19 / 20 | Th 18:30–19:50 |
| TUT 102 | 5809 | 20 / 20 | Th 18:30–19:50 |
| TUT 103 | 5810 | 20 / 20 | Th 18:30–19:50 |
| TUT 104 | 5811 | 20 / 20 | Th 18:30–19:50 |
| TUT 105 | 5812 | 20 / 20 | Th 18:30–19:50 |
| TUT 106 | 5813 | 20 / 20 | Th 18:30–19:50 |
| TUT 107 | 5814 | 20 / 20 | F 10:00–11:20 |
| TUT 108 | 5815 | 11 / 20 | F 14:30–15:50 |
| TUT 109 | 5816 | 20 / 20 | F 13:00–14:20 |
| TUT 110 | 5817 | 17 / 20 | F 14:30–15:50 |
| TUT 111 | 5818 | 19 / 20 | F 11:30–12:50 |
| TUT 112 | 5819 | 18 / 20 | Th 18:30–19:50 |
| TUT 113 | 5820 | 19 / 20 | F 10:00–11:20 |
| TUT 114 | 5821 | 20 / 20 | F 11:30–12:50 |
| TUT 115 | 5865 | 20 / 20 | F 08:30–09:50 |
| TUT 116 | 8846 | 19 / 20 | F 13:00–14:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5312 | 0 / 260 | F 14:30–16:20 |
| LEC 701 | 2100 | 205 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 5352 | 0 / 20 | M 14:30–15:50 |
| TUT 102 | 5353 | 0 / 20 | W 14:30–15:50 |
| TUT 103 | 5354 | 0 / 20 | W 16:00–17:20 |
| TUT 104 | 5369 | 0 / 20 | T 18:30–19:50 |
| TUT 105 | 5370 | 0 / 20 | T 14:30–15:50 |
| TUT 106 | 5468 | 0 / 20 | T 13:00–14:20 |
| TUT 107 | 5469 | 0 / 20 | T 10:00–11:20 |
| TUT 108 | 5470 | 0 / 20 | W 13:00–14:20 |
| TUT 109 | 5471 | 0 / 20 | Th 16:00–17:20 |
| TUT 110 | 5472 | 0 / 20 | T 16:00–17:20 |
| TUT 111 | 5473 | 0 / 20 | W 18:30–19:50 |
| TUT 112 | 5474 | 0 / 20 | M 16:00–17:20 |
| TUT 113 | 5475 | 0 / 20 | M 18:30–19:50 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
45% liked it80% easy52% useful
From 76 ratings and 21 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
This course is okay I guess. Most of the content feels useless and boring, but the discussion on ethics late into the course was pretty interesting. The grading structure is strange since every assignment is marked on a pass/fail basis, and the amount of assignments you pass generally determines your final grade. It's not that bad, it means you don't necessarily need to put as much effort into each task and you have a lot more control over what grade you get. The lectures don't relate to the vast majority of the assignments
Nov 2022 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
This class provides skills & information valuable in future classes & the real world too! I really enjoyed that the final exam was an oral discussion, since I felt it helped me fully comprehend the information better than a written exam.
Nov 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
not a big fan of this course but it is easy and a bird course. be on time when submitting assignments cuz i think that's what they really like. there is a final oral exam, if you are not sure about something, just brag and you'll be fine. Dr James in the first of the lectures would sound strict and make the course sound very hard to deal with and pass - don't worry about it!
Apr 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
There are lots of assignments that you have to keep up with. Very big class btw. There is an oral final exam, no midterms. Overall fun class, useful in the real world.
Feb 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Bro i'd rather kill myself then do this course again
Jan 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
20 posts and comments in 16 threads mention ENVS 131, December 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.
Winter 2023
envs 131 textbook 2 points, 1 comment
Fall 2019
Winter 2020 Bird Courses? 9 points, 11 comments
u/YoungBaller23: “… Other than: Arts 111, GEOG 101, ENG 109, Clas 104, BET 100, ENVS 131, HRM 200, HLTH 101, HLTH 310, HLTH 352, FR 151, Rec 101, Rec 215, Rec 200, CS 100 \all pretty much locks for 90%+ if you put in a small amount of effort by the way”
Spring 2019
Bird course?? 0 points, 20 comments
“Hello i’m looking for bird courses that doesn’t have prerequisite such as at least 2A, 3A etc. Also something that doesn’t have a lot of course load and preferably no finals or midterms. …”
u/YoungBaller23: “… Taken that are easy af: BET100 HRM200 ARTS111 ENVS131 CLAS104 GERON201 Heard are super easy: CS100 MUSIC140 PSYCH207 KIN310 KIN352 For all of these if you attend and do the work you should get 85. If you try (so study and go to classes) with some effort and common sense 90+. …”
Winter 2019
Spring 2019 Bird Courses 16 points, 52 comments
u/YoungBaller23: “… Looking for some outside of the usual suspects, Already taken: CLAS104, BET100, ARTS111, ENG109, GEOG101, HRM 200, GERON 201, ENVS131. \All easy af btw if you are looking for one. …”
Absolute Bird Course UW 13 points, 11 comments
u/tonythegoose: “So far I've seen posts about HRM200, CLAS104, ENVS 131, SMF 101. Also, I've read the first two series of Percy Jackson, is this enough to get a 90 in CLAS104? I'm looking for the absolute easiest course to take, with minimal work, and possibly no final. …”
Need some advice about switching programs and grad school 9 points, 7 comments
u/cbridgeswimmer19: “… Last term, my marks were as follows; ANTH 100: 84 LS 101: 89 ERS 100: 93 ENVS 195: 87 ENVS 178: 88 My marks for this term will probably be; AFM 123: 78 ENBUS 112: 85 ENVS 131: 83 ECON 101: 85 PACS 202: 87 I just want to know if these marks will be good enough to get into law …”
Fall 2018
Failed CS245 9 points, 3 comments
“I was in 2A CS and going into coop in Toronto this Winter. I already emailed the CS advisors but they aren't back until January. …”
u/uwcoopstudent: “… For perspective, this is my fucked term, but it ain't too bad overall (CS240, CS370, CS349, ENVS 131, ENGL306A). …”
Envs 131, 178, 195 5 points, 6 comments
Should I take ENVS 131 during my co-op? 1 point, 0 comments
u/ConfusedKidInCS: “… the only course I need have left for my breadth/depth is for pure/applied sciences which ENVS 131 would be perfect for, however I emailed the instructors and they say that attendance is mandatory for me to take this course. …”
Spring 2018
ENVS 131 vs ENVS 195 2 points, 7 comments
u/i_am_thomas: “which one is easier”
u/kidwithoutahat: “ENVS 131 is the easiest in the world if you can deal with annoying weekly assignments that take 30 minutes to complete!”
u/dogluver98: “131!!!!!”
u/i_am_thomas: “do u know when its available to take? it doesnt look available for fall D: have u taken both envs 131 and 195 btw? is 195 a lot harder than 131”
Winter 2018
ENVS 131 vs ENVS 195 2 points, 1 comment
u/pynoise: “Anyone taken either? how are they?”
[SERIOUS] Easiest bird course? 4 points, 9 comments
“Other than ECON 101 and 102...”
u/ilovecorntoomuch: “Hands down ENVS131. No quizz, exams, projects. 10% participation marks. Assignment each week is writing memos, business letters, TWEETS, etc.”
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