The study of environmental Earth science provides a broad understanding of the physical, chemical and environmental processes that create the habitat in which we live. It also examines the influence of human activity on natural systems. Set in the context of the geology, geography, and ecosystems of Ontario, and the resource industries of the North, the program addresses both the land and aquatic components of watersheds.
- Four-year program leads to an honours bachelor of science in environmental Earth science
multidisciplinary program includes courses in geology, biology, geography, and other sciences such as chemistry.
- Program is flexible and designed to help students become familiar with the basic concepts of the three main disciplines and also tailor the program to emphasize either the earth science or the biological components, depending on their interests.
- Also available: graduate diploma in science communication and bachelor of arts in Earth science
Prospects: commercial laboratories, engineering companies, environmental consulting, environmental or geological science, government agencies and ministries, graduate studies, mining companies, teaching…
Offered in English.
Admission requirements
Ontario secondary schools
- 1 grade 12 4U English
- 1 grade 12 4U mathematics
- 2 grade 12 4U sciences
- 2 other grade 12 4U/M courses
It is recommended that students have taken grade 12 4U biology and chemistry. Students who have not taken this chemistry course must normally take CHMI 1041 before enrolling in the required 1st-year chemistry course.
See Admissions for other requirements.
General Information
See "Earth Science" for information on the Bachelor of Arts in Earth Science.
The 4-year Environmental Earth Science program is multidisciplinary and combines environmental and earth science courses from the geology, biology, geography and chemistry programs. The breadth of knowledge allows students to appreciate the complexity of the natural environment and the effects of human activity on the surface processes and life on Earth.
Graduates are well prepared for careers with consulting companies, municipal, provincial and federal government agencies, and industries requiring environmental or environmental geoscience expertise. The program also provides a solid academic base for graduate studies at the master’s or Ph.D. level.
Students are required to complete the core courses, but then have considerable flexibility in designing the remainder of their program according to their personal interests.
Students who choose their electives carefully can qualify for either the Environmental Biology Certificate (see Biology) or the Certificate in Applied Geography (see Geography).
Alternatively, careful selection of courses from the Earth Sciences (ERTS), and inclusion of a university-level calculus and a physics course, may provide sufficient specialization in the geosciences for graduates to qualify for professional registration as Environmental Geoscientists by the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO).
Students should plan each year of study in consultation with the program coordinator.
The program is administered through a Coordinating Committee consisting of representatives from each of the departments. The committee is responsible for the direction and operation of the program through the coordinator, who reports to the dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
For the purpose of this program only, courses are designated ERTS (Earth Science) or ENVS (Environmental Science). These acronyms are not used in other programs nor for other purposes.
Students must complete all core courses, compulsory courses and elective courses to meet the following requirements:
- min. 72 credits from science and engineering
- min. 54 credits from those designated ERTS (with at least 30 GEOL credits)
- min. 27 credits from those designated ENVS
- min. 39 credits taken from 3000- or 4000-series courses
Program
Course descriptions
See appropriate sections for course descriptions not listed here.