STV 302Information Technology 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.
The course has been designed to provide a framework or set of intellectual tools to help students understand and evaluate technological change. These tools will be applied to the development of information technology, its interaction with society, and possible future scenarios. Selected topics include understanding digitization as culture, visions of the future and the perils of prediction, as well as issues related to application areas such as the home, manufacturing, office work, design and services, education, and law. The course will also consider some of the privacy and personal dignity issues associated with information technology.
Prerequisites
- Students must be in level 2A or higher
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 8209 | 48 / 50 | W 18:30–21:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
88% liked it70% easy63% useful
From 8 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Great class, no exams and discussions the entire class.
Dec 2012 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
There is no structure in this course. No hard deadlines, no rubrics, no word limits, no grade breakdown, nothing. Instead of individual assignment weights, your grade is "rolling" based on your performance on your last assignment. You never know what assignment you're going to get next, and it's always at pretty short notice. Personally, I need structure, so finding time to work on this course under the pressure of 5 difficult and time-consuming core engineering courses was really stressful. We got four mandatory research papers to write (expected 1000-2000 words) and a mini assignment, all centered around the impacts of technology on society. Two of the research papers were take-home and…
May 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
8 posts and comments in 8 threads mention STV 302, February 2013 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 2021
mirror mirror on the wall, who's the birdiest of them all? [serious, please help] 55 points, 21 comments
u/Edguy2016: “STV302 (Information technology and society) is a great course. Lots of interesting class discussions, and although there’s Weekly assignments, all of them are quite small, so if you can write quickly, you’ll be fine.”
Fall 2020
Non-Math course recommendations needed 10 points, 13 comments
“I'm majoring in actsci and for next term, I can only do 4 of the required courses and do not meet the prerequisites for any other courses, so now I'm gonna have to do a non math elective. …”
u/som31-on-reddit: “STV302 information technology and society) If you’re comfortable with essay writing, the coursework it’s self isn’t too difficult, and the small class size/seminar style of teaching makes for some really interesting lectures and in-class discussions. …”
Alum/4th year students of UW, are there any professors/courses that you recommend every student should take? 11 points, 16 comments
u/som31-on-reddit: “STV302 information technology and society) If you’re comfortable with essay writing, the coursework it’s self isn’t too difficult, and the small class size/seminar style of teaching makes for some really interesting lectures and in-class discussions. …”
Fall 2018
Opinions on STV 302 (info, tech & society) or STV 305 (tech, society & modern city)? 3 points, 3 comments
u/notsurewhatmynamesho: “Trying to find an elective that is semi-interesting and not too difficult. Anyone know what the grade breakdown is like and what the courses are actually about?”
Anyone taken STV 302 (info, tech & society) of STV 305 (tech, society & the modern city)? 1 point, 0 comments
Winter 2015
STV 202 and/or STV 100 2 points, 9 comments
“Wondering if anyone has taken STV 202 and/or STV 100 before as their CSE. Would love to get some information about the course and course outline”
u/AndroidZero: “Taking STV 100 right now. The course content is as useful as nipples on a breastplate. Also the female TA doesn't do her job properly. …”
u/Tangmeister: “… Because we all know that STV 100, 202 and 302 are going to be hotspots for years to come. …”
Winter 2013
Engineers of uWaterloo, which List A CSEs have you taken and what are your thoughts about them? 2 points, 11 comments
u/kineticflow: “STV 302 Absolute worst time of my entire university career.”
Has anyone taken STV202 or STV205 before? 3 points, 3 comments
“How was it?”
u/movermeyer: “… (As opposed to STV 302). In both, you will discuss basic design / technology concepts (essentially Neil Postman's criticisms of technology), then spend each week discussing a various theme topic. There are a handful of newspaper articles to read before each class. …”
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