STV 205Cybernetics and Society
- Units
- 0.50
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 1 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Cybernetics is the study of the interfaces between humans and machines. This course will present an overview of cybernetics from automation and robotics to prosthetics and wearable computing. The roles of men and women in a post-human era will be discussed along with related themes dealing with gender, cyberspace, politics, and popular culture.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Reviewed on UW Flow
64% liked it85% easy48% useful
From 42 ratings and 13 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
As far as impact electives go, this course is easy, not too pretentious, and occasionally brings up some interesting ideas. Classes are pretty chill; we watched lots of videos and TV show episodes. The course mark is given on the basis of two essay assignments and two non-cumulative in-class tests. Getting 80+ is very easy but getting 90+ is very hard.
Apr 2017 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Requires very little attention to get a decent grade, and also the content is kind of interesting (a lot of philosophical hypothetical in the vein of 'what if cyborgs').
Jul 2016 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The course in one sentence: Technology is affected by society and society affects technology. And the TA Keith Rebello is absolute dogshit.
The course defines cybernetics as a feedback loop and lectures consist of watching videos from the beginning of technology. Could totally be an online course but you can choose to go to classes, which took place in E7 4417.
Onto why Keith is shit: the marking is incredibly biased, whatever he's feeling in the moment, and Mark Morley will sit back and watch. On one essay he'll ask to you be more technical and focus on course content, then say that your writing wasn't creative or interesting enough. Or ask for more in depth explanation and on another…Sep 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
I would highly recommend this course to any engineers looking for a list A elective. Marking was 40% weekly quizzes and short responses which were very doable if you paid any attention in lecture. The remaining 60% was 3 essays spread evenly throughout the term. Although this may sound daunting, I found the grading to be fair and the topics interesting to talk about. The content was surprisingly interesting as it covers the more general philosophy of technology and problem-solving rather than harping on cybernetics too specifically.
Jul 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
I enjoyed this course. It is a philosophy-centred course on automation with a light workload. Learning and writing about problem-solving and the history of cybernetics. The lectures were a welcome refresher from my engineering degree.
I recommend it if you enjoyed courses like English in high school.Jun 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
36 posts and comments in 24 threads mention STV 205, May 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.
Winter 2024
CEs who've completed the AI Option, what courses did you take? 2 points, 4 comments
u/ivythe1st: “Based off of these courses (https://ugradcalendar.uwaterloo.ca/page/ENG-Artificial-Intelligence-Engineering-Option), I'm taking STV 205 next term (which fulfills the List 1 requirement), and I want to take MSCI 446 and ECE 475B to fulfill the List 2 requirements. …”
u/torido314159: “ok hey fellow ECE, I am also doing this option and will be taking STV 205 next term. You can take CO 367 which has CO 250 and a calculus 2 course as pre-requisites. CO 250 is offered online and its pretty easy so thats a big plus, the calculus 2 can be met by MATH 119.”
u/ivythe1st: “I'm also taking STV 205 next term lol, see you in class. Do you think they'd be able to provide an override for the calculus 2 requirement then, since we have math 119? …”
Spring 2023
It's time for an update: what's the easiest LIST A CSE for engineering? 5 points, 4 comments
“The last time this was asked on this subreddit was many years ago, and since then many of the CSEs have changed, so I think it's time for an update. …”
u/TyrantEris: “STV 205. There were 3 1000 word essays spread out throughout the term. There was one lecture a week only with a weekly learn quiz (easily ctrl+F-able from slides) & survey (literal free marks). At the end of each of the three modules, you watch a movie in class.”
Winter 2022
STV 202 or 205? 0 points, 0 comments
u/Q-And-A-Session: “How was your experience with STV 202 or 205 and which one would you recommend taking? If anyone can post the grade breakdown that would be appreciated.”
Fall 2021
What are your favourite classes at UW 56 points, 87 comments
u/Mysterious_Glass_798: “ENGL 208B - I love science fiction STV 205 - I love science fiction, but it was also cool to get a little bit of a (very high level) history of control theory and automation also ECE 358 - It was really interesting to learn how the lower layers of the internet (after the …”
Winter 2020
List of Bird Courses with no exams 12 points, 15 comments
“Hey guys! Is there a list of courses that are considered easy that don't have midterms/finals?”
u/coopguap: “phil252, stv205”
Winter 2019
List A CSE for engineering? 6 points, 3 comments
“Any suggestions for elective courses that fall under the list A category? Preferably a course that you found really easy and/or interesting :) UW Flow and previous Reddit posts only give me so much...”
u/Beautiful_Psychology: “PLEASE DO NOT TAKE STV 205. You can go for STV 202/210”
Fall 2018
STV 205 or MUSIC 246 for 4B CSE? 3 points, 0 comments
u/evilcubed: “Need 1 more CSE for 4B ECE and debating between STV 205 and MUSIC 246. Which one is the better combination of easy + interesting? Trying to have a chill 4B term with 2 TE's and 2 CSEs (already enrolled in HRM 200) Also i've also taken MUSIC 140 before. Thanks!”
STV 202 or 205??? 0 points, 2 comments
u/STVQuestion: “Need to take one of these for a health informatics option: STV 202 - Design and Society STV 205 - Cybernetics and Society Has anyone here taken one of these classes? If so, how was it?”
u/involutes: “… I've heard good feedback about STV 205 but I never took it myself.”
Spring 2018
CSE for 2A tron - STV 205 2 points, 2 comments
u/BlacSun: “Is it a good course that's easy to get marks and that will be interesting?”
Fall 2017
PSA: Course selection has started 47 points, 45 comments
“Course selection is open from now until next Tuesday. For first years: this is NOT first come first serve. Take the time to look through and consider what you want to take. …”
u/LPFR52: “People in eng, which of the list A electives would you recommend/not recommend? Currently looking at STV205/202 just to get the requirement fulfilled.”
u/uw_badsocial: “going into 4B with CS 452, CS 489 (neural networks), PHYS 234, STV 205, ENGL109 and FYDP”
Spring 2017
Has anyone taken STV 203? Thoughts on the course? 0 points, 1 comment
u/onepissman: “Was it easy? interesting? how does it compare to stv 202/205?anything you have to say about the course is welcome”
Winter 2017
Easiest Engineering List A CSE 5 points, 10 comments
“What's the easiest list A CSE to get a high mark in?”
u/set-yourself-on-fire: “STV 205”
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