STV 100Society, Technology and Values: Introduction
- Units
- 0.50
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 the interaction of the technologies developed by a culture with the values and social organization of that culture. The course exposes students to various definitions of society, technology and values, and it presents alternative views about how the three interact. These views are then applied to a number of spheres of influence, including patterns of employment and the role of work; medicine and health; polity and economy; sustainable development and the environment.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 7223 | 0 / 80 | T 18:30–21:20 |
| LEC 701 | 2700 | 70 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Resources
Around the web
Found by uwloo’s link finder, which checks that each page names STV 100.
- stv100 s12 syllabus Course outline · Spring 2012 · eng.uwaterloo.ca · posted on r/uwaterloo Apr 2014 Remove
Reviewed on UW Flow
53% liked it81% easy17% useful
From 93 ratings and 24 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
This course if quite easy if you just attend lectures (about 15% of your grade is from in-class activities, anyway). There is quite a bit of writing involved for the tests (expect to write 6-9 pages of answers and essays), so do keep that in mind too, if that is something that alerts you.
Apr 2014 · liked it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Course was quite interesting. There wasn't actually a lot of content to this course, so studying for tests is mostly about knowing how to apply concepts to case studies. The required textbook (Technology Matters) isn't actually important for passing, but it's really helps give you another perspective to the subject if you're interested in getting a good mark.
Assignments don't seem that hard, but they can require a lot of thinking, or alternatively, bullshitting. In-class "participation marks" actually require a bit of thinking, but it's not unreasonably difficult (you and a group of people get together to answer some questions from the slides). There are two major (25%) tests which…Oct 2015 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Although I found this course mostly boring, there were one or two topics that actually changed or reinforced some of my viewpoints on the world and technology. It made me abhor consumerism more than I already did.
Grading consists of 3 (short and easy) essays and 2 in-class written tests. Easy participation marks as well.Dec 2013 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
A bird course with a lot of engineers in it. Need to attend lectures because lecture slides are in this format: "The Bronze Frog: *insert Picture*" (then the prof tells you the story)
Jan 2013 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Overall - interesting topics. It can be difficult to get high marks though, I feel like the assignments have really strict expectations. Some free participation marks here and there.
Dec 2012 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
48 posts and comments in 31 threads mention STV 100, November 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
Light courses 1 point, 4 comments
u/Rauguz: “Clas 104 bet 100 stv100 psych101 Econ101”
Spring 2023
Help me pick 3 Bird Courses 4 points, 9 comments
u/Spiritual-Dirt2538: “… I should consider) is much appreciated: BET210 GEOG219 CLAS104 PHIL145 PSYCH101 SDSR131 STV100 GEOG207 LS101 \\Also please mention when you took the course since course structures tend to change often”
u/howmanyfathoms: “psych 101 is not a low-effort 80, neither is ls 101, but both resulted in an 80+ when i took them online. i am also v curious ab stv 100”
u/Master_Inspector3718: “STV100 was easy but it was in person classes every Monday night for 3 hours. More open ended assignments but easy to do well with minimal effort”
Spring 2022
CSE Help 3 points, 2 comments
“Im starting 2A in mech eng this fall and im scheduled to take a CSE this term but the course i want to take isnt on their list of CSEs. …”
u/YuckieBoi: “You can reach out to one of your academic advisors to get the course approved as a CSE. It'll depend on the course and hinges on the prof agreeing but worth trying. If it doesn't work I would just take a CSE like STV100 or something easy.”
Spring 2021
birdiest electives to take 2 points, 5 comments
“Im looking for both CSE's and TE's to take! Looking for bird courses about anything for CSE's, and looking for the "easiest" TEs to take as well”
u/colaroga: “Easy TE? CIVE596 and CIVE343. My CSE's were STV100 and PSYCH101. I mainly choose electives based on whether or not they are actually offered or fit in my term schedule, not because I find them interesting.”
Winter 2020
What are some elective that I should take online during co-op that required the least amount of work? 2 points, 8 comments
u/colaroga: “PSYCH101 had 3 midterms, 1 essay, 1 final exam, in-class questions and research experience this term - I'm expecting to get >80 without even doing any textbook readings.”
u/colaroga: “Yeah quite easy in fact, midterms and exam M/C but we got 90 mins to do 80 questions. I took STV100 in 1A and that course had "quiz" midterm/final with just straight essay questions like in high school English.”
STV 100/202 and GSJ 3 points, 3 comments
u/PM_ME_PICS_OF_YA_MOM: “The time has come to pick an elective and I'm considering taking an STV course, specifically STV 100 or STV 202. I looked stuff up but they were old posts and I was wondering if there were more recent thoughts on these courses. …”
u/solder_code_drink: “Took stv 100 last term. it's super easy, but it's also a very lame course. Mostly full of first year engineers. You really wont learn very much by taking it. edit: when I say last term, I mean the summer term.”
Fall 2019
ECE 3B - How is it? How do I survive? Maybe even thrive? 2 points, 12 comments
u/minecraftraytracing: “… Shahrukh Athar Also debating between taking RS 121 Online, PSYCH 101 Online, ECON 101, STV 100, or something else for my elective, something that is easy to do well in with some effort. …”
STV 100 test/midterm 1 2 points, 0 comments
u/namomontbleau: “How are people studying for this test/midterm on Tuesday? I've written enough notes and practiced on the few questions we have, it just seems there's nothing else for me to do (which wasn't much, to begin with). …”
Spring 2018
Bird Electives List 21 points, 39 comments
“Please list a few bird courses you have taken. Thank you.”
u/colaroga: “STV100 list a cse”
50 upgeese, and I'll include the top comment into my work report! 266 points, 49 comments
“Imma karma whore EDIT: I don't like where this is going... EDIT: Just like Uber Eats, I deliver: https://prnt.sc/k4kowm”
u/EGWilhelm: “The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race.”
u/Dewless125: “r u STV100?”
Need List A CSE 3 points, 3 comments
“Looking for an engineering ethics course in list A CSEs, preferably one that has no final exam. Any ideas?”
u/JustAnotherTrapHere: “STV100 has no final exam and was easy.”
Winter 2018
ERS 215 4 points, 5 comments
“After reading reviews online, I decided to take ERS 215. Huge regret, not really the course for me. Long drab lectures and most of the materials are from readings. …”
u/bromdenki: “Damn and i just enrolled into this. Might consider switching out now”
u/WhiteAvery: “… STV 100 was interesting, the lecturer did his best with bland topic. He still had better organization and enthusiasm than my ERS 215 class. I have Dan McCarthy for ERS 215. There are normally other profs that also teach it, but I heard they're just as bland. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
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