ENVS 200Field Ecology
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Environment
- Subject
- Environment
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Introduces the main concepts and principles of ecology; the cycling of elements; energetics and structural organization of major ecological systems; population dynamics; impact of natural resource management practices and urban and industrial development on the environment; incorporating environmental quality considerations into development activities. The lab sessions include field trips to study natural and disturbed ecosystems, urban and applied ecology.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 1B or higher
- Obtained all of the following milestones: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Milestone
Antirequisites
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
- BIOL251 - Fundamentals of Ecology (0.50)
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5590 | 319 / 324 | M 14:30–16:20 |
| LAB 101 | 5731 | 27 / 27 | T 08:30–11:20 |
| LAB 102 | 5732 | 27 / 27 | T 11:30–14:20 |
| LAB 103 | 5733 | 27 / 27 | T 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 104 | 5734 | 27 / 27 | W 08:30–11:20 |
| LAB 105 | 5735 | 25 / 27 | W 11:30–14:20 |
| LAB 106 | 5736 | 27 / 27 | W 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 107 | 5737 | 26 / 27 | Th 08:30–11:20 |
| LAB 108 | 5738 | 27 / 27 | Th 11:30–14:20 |
| LAB 109 | 5767 | 27 / 27 | Th 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 110 | 5777 | 25 / 27 | F 08:30–11:20 |
| LAB 111 | 7743 | 27 / 27 | F 11:30–14:20 |
| LAB 112 | 7744 | 27 / 27 | F 14:30–17:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5330 | 0 / 150 | M 12:30–14:20 |
| LEC 701 | 2108 | 94 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LAB 101 | 5331 | 0 / 25 | T 08:30–11:20 |
| LAB 102 | 5332 | 0 / 25 | T 11:30–14:20 |
| LAB 103 | 5356 | 0 / 25 | W 08:30–11:20 |
| LAB 104 | 5357 | 0 / 25 | W 11:30–14:20 |
| LAB 105 | 7566 | 0 / 25 | Th 11:30–14:20 |
| LAB 106 | 7567 | 0 / 25 | Th 14:30–17:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
70% liked it53% easy68% useful
From 218 ratings and 49 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
bird course (literally! u get to see fun bird :D)
Dec 2023 · liked it · 5 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The labs are the best part of this course. Being outside is refreshing change from traditional courses. The lecture component is very different from the lab though and there is a disconnect between the material of the two. Take this course in the Spring if you can - the labs are so much fun (minus the mosquitos). You need to buy the textbook though for the online quizzes. Beware of buying the online version though as it can be difficult to flip through sections of the book when completing quizzes.
If you like nature and want to know more about how ecosystems work - take this course. It is not a bird course though since the lab report due is a lot of work. Do the first lab (you pick 1/3)…Nov 2016 · liked it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I love birds now. Labs can be tiring. Assignments can feel unnecessary. Enjoyable class tho I love animal
Nov 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
pretty useless as a planning student and Fedy isn't really a great prof he also doesn't provide review material for exams
Dec 2024 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Labs are very fun. The course is mostly memorizing stuff about ecosystems. It's useful if you're doing something environment related but pretty useless as a Planning student not planning to go into environmental planning.
Dec 2024 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
128 posts and comments in 97 threads mention ENVS 200, October 2011 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
envs200 with christine barbeau in winter? 1 point, 8 comments
u/Objective-Variety843: “how is it like? is she a strict marker? i’m aiming for an 80 for the course so i can have a good GPA to transfer into a programme i want OH, also, this will be my first winter in Canada. How bad do the labs get? Like are u out for 3 hours in the wild with the wind and all? …”
u/Oaktree481: “… It's definitely doable to get an 80 in ENVS 200, but you have to keep up with the readings. There are weekly quizzes based on the readings, so keeping up is important. Overall, the readings are manageable (though some weeks, there's a lot). …”
u/One-Supermarket-9948: “Seconding the part about the readings. ENVS200 Heavily focuses on readings and your grades can easily slip if you lose marks on the reading quizzes.”
taking 2 labs in 1 semester? 1 point, 1 comment
u/Objective-Variety843: “is it wise to take 2 courses w labs in 1 semester? how time consuming is that? am thinking if i should take GEOG209 and ENVS200 in the same semester. Thanks!”
Easiest geo or env courses? 1 point, 4 comments
“I need to take 2 geo or 1 geo and 1 env course, what are the easiest ones aside from geo 225 and geo 100 which I’ve already taken?”
u/Interesting-Bird7889: “Envs 200 and geog 207”
u/Greedy-Sherbert8007: “geog 233, maybe envs 200 but can be a hit or miss based on the prof, geog 219”
Spring 2024
200+ bird course fall 2024 3 points, 8 comments
“saw my course schedule and i didnt get clas 201 so i wanna have a replacement in the case that i cant enroll into it next week. …”
u/Interesting-Bird7889: “Envs200”
Easy Electives 1 point, 8 comments
“Hello, I am committed to UWaterloo General Sciences Honours Co-op Undergrad starting in the fall of 2024. I get to select an elective for the first two academic semesters. …”
u/Extra-Ad-7289: “if you like nature check out envs 200 and ers/geog courses.”
What are the fun profs/courses that you are currently taking and would recommend for future terms? 4 points, 9 comments
u/One-Supermarket-9948: “Envs 200. If you can do weekly readings and you somewhat enjoy the outdoors/nature, I think this would be a cool course. Prof Brendan Larson is super passionate about what he teaches. Labs can be interesting/engaging too.”
2nd year course selection for Planning 1 point, 2 comments
u/Canadian1girl: “… 2A term – Fall PLAN 210 – Urban Planning Design and the Environment ENVS 200 – Field Ecology ENVS 278 – Applied Statistics for Environmental Research 2B term - Winter PLAN 203 – Transportation Planning & Analysis PLAN 233 – People and Plans PLAN 261 – Urban & Metropolitan …”
Easiest Science / Sustainability Elective 2 points, 1 comment
u/ArbitraryAxolotl: “… EARTH270 - Disasters and Natural Hazards ENVS200 - Field Ecology SCI200 - Energy - Its Development, Use, and Issues SCI201 - Global Warming and Climate Change BIOL489 - Arctic Ecology”
u/Interesting-Bird7889: “Envs200 is probably the easiest and funniest course”
Fall 2023
Has anyone taken ERS 215, GeoG 306, or Envs 195? 2 points, 13 comments
“If so what was the work load like? Did you like the class?”
u/Extra-Ad-7289: “… If you’re looking to learn more about sustainability ENVS 200 and 205 and GEOG 207 may also be good options.”
Environment, Resources and Sustainability- Info for Incoming Students 16 points, 1 comment
u/Extra-Ad-7289: “… Respectively: policy (ERS 201, ERS 215) science (ENVS 200, ERS 202), technical solutions (ENVS 178, ERS 215, to an extent) and environmental thought (ERS 300, 301, and 400). …”
does anyone know some easier elective courses with labs (0.25) 3 points, 2 comments
“does anyone know some easier elective courses with labs (0.25)?”
u/ultraviolet12323: “ENVS200 was pretty chill (just don't take it in winter, otherwise it will be Too Much Chill)”
Does my life end tomorrow 1 point, 11 comments
“Tomorrow I wont be passing by campus like I have been my whole life, I’ll be on campus cooped up inside a building with a bunch of nerds. …”
u/Pixel_exe: “… I can't really give any in-depth advice like the others since I'm not much of an outdoors person (except mountains) but from what I'm reading I think you'd like ENVS 200 - Field Ecology, which is a requirement for Planning. …”
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
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