PD 19Tactics for Workplace Success
- Units
- 0.50
- Subject
- Professional Development
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.
An introduction to strategies for success in the workplace and lifelong learning for co-op engineering students. Students explore the role of professional skills in the workplace, a model for self-reflection, a framework of co-operative education, and strategies to make the most of workplace opportunities and challenges. Topics include professional skills, strategies for workplace success, co-operative education, common workplace issues, typical corporate structures, work term planning, and effective self reflection.
Prerequisites
- Enrolled in a program offered by Faculty of Engineering
Antirequisites
- Not completed any of the following:
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 082 | 7647 | 20 / 2000 | Online or by arrangement |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 082 | 7221 | 825 / 2000 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 701 | 2702 | 5 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
3% liked it90% easy3% useful
From 201 ratings and 35 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
A really... really fucking stupid useless course that is completely unnecessary for any living and breathing human-being that attends Waterloo.
"MIT of the North" 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡Jul 2023 · didn’t like it · 6 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Fuck PD
Jul 2023 · didn’t like it · 6 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
fuck pd
Jul 2022 · didn’t like it · 6 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Cringe
Jun 2023 · didn’t like it · 4 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
fuck pd
Jul 2022 · didn’t like it · 4 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
19 posts and comments in 15 threads mention PD 19, January 2021 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
HOLY FUCKING FUCK PD FUCK PD IM GOING TO FUCKING FUCK PD! FUCK FUCK PD FUCK! PD! FUCK! PD! 273 points, 40 comments
“HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!! WHO MADE THIS??? I will be using my student opinion to voice how I FUCKING DESPISE PD!!! DEAR PD 11 COURSE DEVELOPER CORDINATOR WHATEVER THE MCFUCK: YOU ARE OUT OF TOUCH! …”
u/ConsequenceNo3618: “They wanted a 20-page report, but I gave them a 40-pager and their feedback implied they didn't even read it lol, they complained about figure numbers instead of the actual content”
u/JasonSun20: “How is PD 19 worse than us 😭😭”
u/justanotha_goose: “If PD 19 is the one with the voice mail assignment, then I see why”
u/GeorgeDaGreat123: “I took PD19 but PD11 is so much worse. I'd rather make 2 voicemails than write 20 pages of useless content”
How does PD work exactly 3 points, 2 comments
“I'm in Physics and Astronomy and I start my 2A term this fall, I get to choose one elective. I noticed that I have to take PD 1 this fall as well as my first work term is Winter 2025, but if I choose …”
u/number1bamtori: “… students should be enrolled in PD1 and PD12; Engineering students should be enrolled in PD19 and PD20. …”
What will happen if I fail PD19 2 points, 3 comments
u/wozirut: “And I transfers to math regular next term, so I do not need to do coop”
Winter 2024
basic hygiene course 106 points, 8 comments
“coming back here after exchange has made it all the more apparent of just how poorly maintained some people are at this uni. …”
u/Ramseythegod: “PD19 should be replaced by this course. Nothing we learn in that course is gonna help us if we don’t have the foundation of personal hygiene😹😹😹”
Fall 2023
Appreciation 128 points, 7 comments
“UW students come up with Shit-posts so fast, I am genuinely impressed.”
u/TheKoalaFromMars: “They teach us how to bullshit anyways, PD-19, PD-20, PD12...”
Spring 2023
Anyone wanna proofread my PD19 assignment 1 point, 4 comments
u/TheKoalaFromMars: “I’m really worried that my writing won’t adequately reflect everything I’ve learned from all of the modules in the course. Moreover, I’ve spent 40+hrs working on my work term report because I’m worried that my first co-op Apple machine learning internship isn’t relevant enough …”
u/Rauguz: “PD19 is legit the hardest course bro. My condolences”
Winter 2023
is a 'very good' rating all that bad? 20 points, 19 comments
“basically title. i just finished my first co-op and received a very good rating. now i know that ratings are generally inflated, so this rating feels/looks pretty bad, no? …”
u/tranparancy: “What’s even the point of the rating? Like I hope the coop department knows that the ratings are inflated a lot, and each employer views it differently, just adds unnecessary shit on top of everything like completing pd19 and doing dumbass evaluations and surveys to get a credit”
Spring 2022
How many submissions can I miss/fail in PD 19 without failing the course? 9 points, 1 comment
u/InfiniteLoveNoNachos: “I work early tomorrow, assignments due in 2 hours, and I simply don't want to stay up late doing it lmao fuck pd btw edit: nvm i bullshitted the entire thing in like 30 minutes”
Fall 2021
PD course question 7 points, 1 comment
u/ProfessionalElk5048: “I am debating between taking PD5 and PD19, which one would you say is easier? (I am also kinda worried that PD5 might be a trap)”
Spring 2021
[deleted by user] 36 points, 5 comments
[deleted]: “only pd 1? bro im on pd 19 you are no where near cs 452 level (took it and got a 98)”
Why do we hate PD? 0 points, 30 comments
“Big dumb (soon to be) 2A Bio student here just wondering why we collectively hate PD here. I just started the course and am working on the early access assignments. …”
u/intwhale: “which pd course is this, i want to hear which one is genuinely helpful last term i had to record a voicemail of me telling my imaginary boss that i messed up a project, then, i had to read a guide to …”
u/intwhale: “i wholeheartedly agree with this - however, PD19 does not have any mention of emails, i guess it sort of mentions note taking (you're supposed to interview someone), and independent work is accomplished with any course but school != workplace i think there are certainly a lot of …”
F U C K P D 12 points, 5 comments
“One assignment left baby! But guess what, it’s mandatory that I pass it --. This feels like I was finally about to get the 12” dildo that is PD out of my ass only to realize the head has double the …”
u/harmonyIn3rdsNot4ths: “What PD has it's last assignment this early? Can you sauce so I can be done PD 2 months in next time?”
u/unicorn_whisperer23: “PD19”
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