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GEOG 294Approaches to Research in Physical Geography

Units
0.50
Faculty
Environment
Subject
Geography and Environmental Management

When it runs

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

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Introduces skills for conducting research in physical geography. Selected techniques used in climatology, hydrology, geomorphology, and/or biogeography research will be demonstrated and the principles behind the techniques will be explained. Students get hands on experience in research design, field and laboratory techniques, data assembly, and the interpretation of data.

Prerequisites

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Reviewed on UW Flow

56% liked it56% easy68% useful

From 34 ratings and 7 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Enjoyable course which is relatively easy. Labs were fun and interesting and make up most of the marks which was nice. The term paper project is a bit hard to know exactly what they're looking for, but overall wasn't too hard either.

    Dec 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Overall decent course. Lectures focused around a long research proposal with randomized groupmates over a subject of your choosing culminating with a pitch video. The prof was very enthusiastic about us having "fun" in the course, which is appreciated, but heavily weighs on your group and personal interest in the course content (which there wasn't much). The labs were actually pretty interesting, though the lab exam was absolutely brutal, expecting you to remember everything from each lab and to answer questions that were optional, so I guess that was fine. Prof did not decide to curve the obviously low exam average, instead opting for awarding bonus marks to those who attended lectures…

    Jan 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Very useful labs for the skills gained from them. The report was on the more difficult side, and the TAs marked the labs the hardest of all the classes I have taken with labs.

    Aug 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This class is the most boring class I have ever taken, I really wish it wasn't mandatory

    Sep 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Great course! Took it online so it was not very engaging but we were put into groups and had to write a proposal which I really enjoyed. Labs were also easy and fun. Although it was online I got to sample vegetation, measure rainfall for about 10 weeks in my backyard and analyze pre-existing weather data. If you love physical geography, take this. It also helps prepare you for GEOG 391

    May 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

9 posts and comments in 9 threads mention GEOG 294, February 2015 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 2023

Spring 2021

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: “… GEOG 102 GEOG 181 GEOG 187 GEOG 201 GEOG 203 GEOG 215 GEOG 222 GEOG 233 GEOG 281 GEOG 293 GEOG 294 GEOG 303 GEOG 309 GEOG 310 GEOG 311 GEOG 316 GEOG 319 GEOG 340 GEOG 356 GEOG 371 GEOG 374 GEOG 387 GEOG 404 GEOG 405 GEOG 428 GEOG 453 GEOG 474 GEOG 490A GEOG 490B GEOG 600 GEOG …”

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GEOG 294 2 points, 0 comments

u/goose_ferry: “Can someone help me with the slides? I have no access to my Learn at the moment, So I was wondering if someone taking the course now (or during previous terms) has them available?”

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GEOG 294 0 points, 0 comments

u/Jay_North: “Can somebody send me notes or slides for the Soils lecture (i believe it is in week 4, although I could be wrong), please. Before any of you says something like I should email the learn instead, I've taken the course in Spring, just need that particular lecture now.”

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Spring 2017

Easiest/Most Bird GEOG Courses (Mainly for Fall 2017) 1 point, 10 comments

“Hello, So I'm currently looking for about 1-2 GEOG courses (above the 200 level) to take as some electives for the Fall 2017 term. Any suggestions? I was thinking GEOG 203 so far”

u/Waterwoogem: “… GEOG 294 is generally considered more interesting GEOG 381 formatted similar to 387 Below (281 as prereq) GEOG 387 assumes the individual has taken 281 (as it is a prereq) and is generally 4x20% Labs + Final Test”

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Winter 2015

I'm considering switching out of the Faculty of Environment because I don't feel like it gives me enough qualifications. 6 points, 14 comments

“Hi /uwaterloo, lurker turned newbie here. TLDR - ERS is too easy for me, not sure if I can get the career that I want. I'm in 2A Env and Resource Studies. …”

u/Quock: “… What will qualify you is a minor in bio (or just some courses), relevant field courses (ERS 340/341, ENVS 200, GEOG 294, and others), and a masters in biology. This is an entirely feasible route for you to take. …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar