ENVS 278Applied Statistics for Environmental Research
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Environment
- Subject
- Environment
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course examines further techniques for collecting, evaluating, and using data-based evidence in environmental research. It builds upon ENVS 178, with a focus on inferential statistics, including sampling distributions, confidence intervals, parametric and nonparametric hypothesis tests, and linear regression models. It further develops skills in using statistical software for data analysis and modelling of environmental data.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed the following:
- ENVS178 - Environmental Applications of Data Management and Statistics (0.50)
- Enrolled in a program offered by the Faculty of Environment
- Must have completed the following:
Antirequisites
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
- ARTS280 - Statistics for Arts Students (0.50)
- ECON221 - Statistics for Economists (0.50)
- PSCI314 - Quantitative Analysis (0.50)
- PSYCH292 - Basic Data Analysis (0.50)
- REC371 - Quantitative Data Analysis and Mobilization (0.50)
- SDS250R - Social Statistics (0.50)
- SOC280 - Social Statistics (0.50)
- STAT202 - Introductory Statistics for Scientists (0.50)
- STAT206 - Statistics for Software Engineering (0.50)
- STAT211 - Introductory Statistics and Sampling for Accounting (0.50)
- STAT221 - Statistics (Non-Specialist Level) (0.50)
- STAT231 - Statistics (0.50)
- STAT241 - Statistics (Advanced Level) (0.50)
Leads to
- BIOL 361
- BIOL 456
- BIOL 457
- BIOL 458
- BIOL 490A
- BIOL 490B
- BIOL 490C
- BIOL 490D
- BIOL 498A
- BIOL 498B
- ECON 290
- ECON 458
- GDS 318
- GDS 481
- GEOG 316
- GEOG 318
- GEOG 319
- GEOG 391
- GEOG 392
- GEOG 428
- GEOG 481
- MSE 422
- PLAN 320
- PLAN 350
- PLAN 351
- PLAN 353
- PLAN 416
- PLAN 418
- PLAN 468
- PLAN 478
- PLAN 481
- PLAN 606
- SMF 400
- SMF 404
- SMF 494
- SMF 496
- SMF 499A
- SRF 400
- SRF 404
- SRF 494
- SRF 496
- SRF 499A
- STAT 316
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5591 | 149 / 165 | T 12:30–14:20 Th 16:30–17:20 |
| TUT 101 | 5728 | 54 / 55 | W 16:30–17:20 |
| TUT 102 | 5729 | 40 / 55 | T 15:30–16:20 |
| TUT 103 | 5730 | 55 / 55 | T 14:30–15:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5358 | 0 / 224 | T 10:30–12:20 Th 10:30–11:20 |
| LEC 701 | 2123 | 202 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 5477 | 0 / 56 | W 15:30–16:20 |
| TUT 102 | 5359 | 0 / 56 | W 08:30–09:20 |
| TUT 103 | 5413 | 0 / 56 | W 10:30–11:20 |
| TUT 104 | 5478 | 0 / 56 | W 14:30–15:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
38% liked it36% easy68% useful
From 161 ratings and 35 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
This class should not be a requisite for ENBUS. Really uninteresting class. All is fine up until R and then it's like that old saying "You can lead a horse to water but you still need a step ladder to fuck it in the ass"
Nov 2024 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Quite different from 178. 178 focused on more practical and relatively commonly used statistical approaches, while this course is much more research-focused and really throws a lot of random statistical tests at you. I absolutely would not have taken this course if I didn't have to as it isn't remotely relevant fo my field of study, unlike 178.
Apr 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I loved this course! The course is really useful with easy material to grasp. Some topics can be challenging but if your have Prof. Fletcher, you'll do great as he provides you with his own notes on the course (so you don't need to read the textbook), provides answers to HW questions, gives you a breakdown of what you need to know for the exam, and gives students previous exams to study off of. He also provides plenty of bonus marks to increase your grade. One major component is to physically come to class and take good notes, which improves your mark greatly. Overall, an easy course with a final that I wish was worth less but wasn't as hard as expected. The TAs were all amazing which made…
Dec 2017 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
If you did well in ENVS 178, don't expect to do well in this course as well. This course requires effort if you want to do well. I highly recommend keeping up with the readings and lectures and doing the practice questions because trying to cram for each test and the final is going to be brutal.
Dec 2017 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Worst course EVER. Hated it.
Apr 2015 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
51 posts and comments in 47 threads mention ENVS 278, 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.
Spring 2024
Question for Planning Students 3 points, 3 comments
“Good afternoon guys, I'm an incoming UWaterloo Planning student and I was wondering what I could do/learn or start learning during the summer before the school year starts. …”
u/Interesting-Bird7889: “… If you want to prepare for the upcoming semester, i would suggest you look into some basic statistics as most students struggle the envs178 and 278”
anyone who took ENVS178 or ENVS 278 has any tips on what topics do they test? 2 points, 4 comments
u/Objective-Variety843: “my math is trash so i wanan headstart a bit in the holidays. i can’t seem to access the latest syllabus for these 2 modules. thanks!”
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 …”
Winter 2024
is pearson still used in classes? 1 point, 1 comment
“im wondering how ubiquitous it is used and in what capacity (e.g.; proctoring, online assessments, educational resources) now that chatgpt is a thing. …”
u/Ill-Republic7777: “Yep, we still use it in some courses. From my experience, ENVS 178 & 278 both use MyLab for HW practice and short weekly assessments”
Courses related to LiDAR or Photogrammetry? 7 points, 5 comments
“Are there courses related to LiDAR, SLAM, or Photogrammetry? Interested in knowing but what I know so far is prob ECE 495, MTE 544, STAT 443 (Kalman Filtering?), have no clue for Photogrammetry”
u/WestonSpec: “Definitely look into some Geography department courses for that! GEOG 271 (Earth from Space Using Remote Sensing) and GEOG 371 (Advanced Remote Sensing Techniques) GEOG 310 (Geodesy and Surveying) …”
u/WestonSpec: “… Analysis), but I think they're usually limited to ENV students because you have to take ENVS 278 as a prerequisite.”
Selling ENVS 178/278 Textbook 1 point, 1 comment
u/One-Supermarket-9948: “In good condition, bought from FEDS used books. No highlighting or writing. Can be used for both classes since they use the same textbook. Comment if interested.”
Fall 2023
which course is the most useful/useless of ur major? 24 points, 44 comments
u/canadianleef: “envs 278”
Environment, Resources and Sustainability- Info for Incoming Students 16 points, 1 comment
u/Extra-Ad-7289: “… into grad school, I would strongly recommend you take all these courses): ENVS 178 -> ENVS 278; ERS 403A -> ERS 403B Environment and Business courses are really excellent regarding operationalizing sustainability and I would strongly recommend that every ERS student take at …”
Got assigned to ta a class I’m unqualified for 1 point, 10 comments
“Hi I’m a first year graduate student starting classes next week. As part of my funding package I am required to do a teaching assistantship. …”
u/badderexample: “If it's ENVS 178 or 278, they arent bad to TA, and can help with your own research. It's questionable advice, but as long as you're 1-2 weeks ahead of the students in the textbook, you'll be fine. I was successful in getting a TA swap once, but I don't think it's common.”
u/Wrong_Mongoose6829: “Envs 178/278 is super introductory level of stats, and I think math students aren’t even allowed to take any of that, you’ll be fine”
Winter 2023
Biggest disaster of a course you have ever been in and why? 82 points, 30 comments
u/Secure-Lake5784: “… Mine isn’t super bad but ENVS278 this semester lost 1/3 of the class between first and second midterm, first had 147 students second had 90. …”
u/DaTheta: “I took ENVS278 this term with the new prof. It was labelled hybrid from course selection. People switch out of courses all the time. This course & and the prof was really easy going. She gave multiple resources/ opportunities for students to learn in different ways. …”
Winter 2021
ENBUS softwares 0 points, 7 comments
“I'm a future ENBUS undergrad student curious as to what software is used in class. I'm thinking basic excel and google docs obviously, but are there any other ones that would affect the capability of …”
u/InterestingChange3: “You will be using statistical software SPSS for ENVS 278. It’s not too much hard to use as long as you listen to your prof on how to play around with it :)”
Fall 2020
ENVS 278 2 points, 0 comments
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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