PD 20Strategies for Career 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 critical thinking and communication in the workplace for co-op engineering students. Students will practise general critical thinking and communication skills to assess evidence, interpret textual and visual information, and work through ethical and professional situations. Topics include the role of self-reflection in successful professional development, admitting ignorance to develop improved knowledge, understanding arguments, evaluating evidence, communicating conclusion and findings, recognizing and avoiding bias, and application to professional conduct.
Prerequisites
- Enrolled in a program offered by Faculty of Engineering
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 082 | 7628 | 820 / 2000 | Online or by arrangement |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 082 | 7203 | 896 / 2000 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 701 | 2690 | 0 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
10% liked it83% easy13% useful
From 211 ratings and 23 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Eating glass would be more pleasant tbh
Feb 2025 · didn’t like it · 4 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
This course is an absolute embarrassment to the University of Waterloo. It exists purely to make a quick buck off of the poor students on coop term, and provides zero value to there lives. This course should've never existed and instead students should have the option to take course that they believe are interesting or useful.
Do better UWNov 2025 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
At least this course takes less time to complete than PD 19.
Jan 2024 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
F PD
Apr 2021 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
It is like Penn and Teller's bullshit but academic and boring... but thinking critically is good and the class does try to do that.
Jul 2013 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
104 posts and comments in 85 threads mention PD 20, June 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.
Spring 2024
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: “… should be enrolled in PD1 and PD12; Engineering students should be enrolled in PD19 and PD20. …”
Winter 2024
WUSA 2024 General Elections: Candidate AMA 36 points, 64 comments
“Your Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association is back with the annual Election AMA (Ask Me Anything)! The campaign period has officially begun and candidates are ramping up their communications. …”
u/wusa-elxn-watch: “Do you have any examples of past experiences on campus advocating for improvement of issues impacting students?”
u/TarnInvicta: “… to help people find jobs (DS&A workshops, company partnerships) - I used to be part of the PD20 working group (couldn't delete it, sorry). …”
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...”
Fall 2022
PD is my favorite course and I love to see how much effort is put into those questions 163 points, 8 comments
u/pooptagupta: “PD 20 moment”
u/416_tz: “PD 20 moment.”
Spring 2022
How do you send mass email to your cohort? 3 points, 6 comments
“Hi everyone, I’m starting my masters of environmental studies in September and I was looking for roommates to potentially sign a lease with. …”
u/Yolo_Swaggins_Yeet: “Don’t it’ll just annoy everyone and could start a reply all shit show”
u/Severaxe: “Never forget the 1200 person 2018 PD20 "reply all" incident...”
Winter 2022
grade to effort ratio for PD 20? 0 points, 2 comments
Studying for PD20? 1 point, 0 comments
Fall 2021
Work Term Report 1 point, 4 comments
“I just finished my 2B term for Computer Engineering and am currently on my third coop. Do I have to submit a work term report? It is not a requirement for my PD course. My graduating year is 2024.”
u/Correct_Location: “If this is a serious question: From your info, I'm gonna assume you're in stream 8. This website has the information on submitting work term reports in the ECE department. …”
u/Lone_Wolfffff: “… Also, since I did a work term report for PD20 and for PD21, does this mean I have to only submit one more work term report? Also, do I have to enrol in the WKRPT course in order to have a work term report marked? …”
u/Correct_Location: “… I've also done both PD 20 and 21, and do not recall doing reports for either of them. Work term reports are not related to the PD courses, I'm pretty sure. When I said you have 3 reports overall - I meant purely WKRPT ones (again, refer to the website I linked above). …”
Winter 2021
Mechatronics acceptance chance 0 points, 8 comments
“hello waterloo 🤗 My brother applied to mechatronics this year and wanted to know his chance of getting accepted with a 93 avg and decent AIF Tysm 😊✨ Wishing everyone the best outcomes for their …”
u/thekidfromthenorth: “50 50 Either he gets in or not”
u/1000Ditto: “thats the only thing pd 20 taught me”
I take it back, these lockdowns are tyrannical 352 points, 117 comments
“Last week I was arguing with some people about lockdowns and how we should not be considering them as tyrannical. Well kudos to you, turns out you were right. …”
u/john1dee: “Parks, tennis courts and golf courses are closed, but all essential (which means all that already have a permit) construction is allowed to continue. …”
u/FiniteFishy: “LOL at the manitoba comment. I think the government needs to take PD20 : Developing Reasoned Conclusions because the amount of bias they bring into their policies is insane”
I just submitted my last PD assignment ever 85 points, 10 comments
“AMA”
u/superuwu1000: “1. How does it feel? 2. How many hours did you think you spent on PD, total? 3. Did you learn anything worthwhile? 4. Rank all your PD Courses 5. …”
u/kawhiberry: “… Last: PD20 - forced to take it and had way too many assignments. 5. Well I gotta kill Hitler and Stalin obv. I’ll let the US gov deal with saddam. For my final bullet I’ll be killing PD5, along with our good friend Janet from the WAC car part company. …”
How bad is PD22 really? 0 points, 7 comments
u/superuwu1000: “… compared to PD 20 & PD 21?) And would you recommend it?”
u/IcyProfit03: “… EDIT : Also yeah I preferred PD 20 and PD 21 over PD 22 but this is just my take on it The assessments for PD 22 (unless it changes yearly)is all Quiz oriented if that helps”
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