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ERS 300Social Ecological Systems Analysis

Units
0.50
Faculty
Environment
Subject
Environment, Resources and Sustainability

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 provides an opportunity to learn and begin to apply systems-based tools in the context of an interdisciplinary research problem defined by the student in co--operation with the teaching team. Students are provided with an introduction to the conceptual tools of systems thinking and resilience that help understand the dynamics of social change and social innovation. These conceptual tools will then be applied by students to provide a framework for interdisciplinary research and to develop a richer understanding of a case study of fostering social change and building adaptive capacity.

Prerequisites

Antirequisites

None listed.

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 001563839 / 55M 12:30–14:20
TUT 101574722 / 27M 16:30–17:20
TUT 102574817 / 28T 14:30–15:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

67% liked it54% easy50% useful

From 9 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • An overwhelming course, loaded with a ridiculous of useless information presented by a professor who does not engage the class. Be prepared to be bored, ask no questions, and shut up for a couple hours.

    Sep 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This class is 50-50 for me. It is not difficult, however the lectures can be a little boring. Most of my classmates agreed that they also struggled to see the point of the lectures. Social ecological systems are very important and I think employers would love to hear if you took a class on this topic, though it is tough to find the value in what is taught each class. I often left lectures wondering what was said. Not difficult coursework-wise though. You get a lot of freedom when it comes to the assignments so you can explore a system that interests you and achieve a good mark for analyzing it. The final analysis assignment for the course is quite heavy in terms of word count though, so…

    Nov 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Smurph is a good prof and I think this is a good course. it's basically one big 3-part assignment plus a take home exam. You get to choose a topic to research and follow it throughout the course.
    I don't know why ERS400 exists, if it's just the exact same thing as this course.

    Nov 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

3 posts and comments in 3 threads mention ERS 300, October 2017 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 2023

Winter 2019

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: “… 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 335 ERS 346 ERS 375 ERS 403A ERS 403B ERS 454 ERS 475 ERS 484 ERS 615 ERS 619 ERS 654 ERS 675 ERS 680 ERS 684 ERS 701 FILM 333W FILM …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar