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Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences [B.Sc.(Env.)]

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Environmental Sciences (ENVS)

School of Environmental Sciences, Ontario Agricultural College

This major provides a foundation in the life and physical sciences, combined with economic, legal and policy aspects of environmental issues. Students gain understanding of environmental processes at the surface of the Earth, where complex interactions involving soils, rocks, water, air and living organisms regulate ecosystems and provide life-sustaining resources. Beginning in the second year, students are able to choose from a range of courses that tailor learning to their individual interests. This major presents opportunities for hands-on experiential learning in both lab and field, as well as independent research and study courses. It provides a solid background in the environmental sciences setting the stage for careers in environmental protection and resource management in both the public and private sectors.

Major

Semester 1
BIOL*1070 [0.50] Discovering Biodiversity
CHEM*1040 [0.50] General Chemistry I
ENVS*1030 [1.00] Introduction to Environmental Sciences
MATH*1080 [0.50] Elements of Calculus I
Semester 2
BIOL*1090 [0.50] Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
CHEM*1050 [0.50] General Chemistry II
FARE*1040 [1.00] Intro to Environmental Economics, Law & Policy
GEOG*1300 [0.50] Introduction to the Biophysical Environment
Semester 3
ENVS*2230 [0.50] Communications in Environmental Science
ENVS*2310 [0.50] Current Issues in Earth Surface Processes
ENVS*2330 [0.50] Current Issues in Ecosystem Science and Biodiversity
One of:
ECON*2100 [0.50] Economic Growth and Environmental Quality
FARE*2700 [0.50] Survey of Natural Resource Economics
0.50 electives or restricted electives from List A
Note: ENVS*2230 may be taken in either Semester 3 or 4.
Note: 1.00 credits from: (ENVS*2310, ENVS*2320, ENVS*2330, ENVS*2340) must be taken by the end of Semester 4. ENVS*2310 and/or ENVS*2330 may be substituted for ENVS*2320 and/or ENVS*2340, which would be taken in Semester 4.
Note: GEOG*3210 may be substituted for ECON*2100 or FARE*2700 and would be taken in Semester 5.
Semester 4
ENVS*2230 [0.50] Communications in Environmental Science
ENVS*2320 [0.50] Current Issues in Microbial and Molecular Science
ENVS*2340 [0.50] Current Issues in Agriculture and Landscape Mgmt
STAT*2040 [0.50] Statistics I
0.50 electives or electives from List A
Note:ENVS*2230 is taken in Semester 4 if not already taken in Semester 3.
Note: 1.00 credits from: (ENVS*2310, ENVS*2320, ENVS*2330, ENVS*2340) must be taken by the end of Semester 4. ENVS*2320 and/or ENVS*2340 may be substituted for ENVS*2310 and/or ENVS*2330, which would be taken in Semester 3.
Semester 5
2.50 electives or restricted electives from List A
Semester 6
2.50 electives or restricted electives from List A
Semester 7
ENVS*4001 [0.50] Project in Environmental Sciences *
2.00 electives or restricted electives from List A
Semester 8
ENVS*4002 [0.50] Project in Environmental Sciences *
2.00 electives or restricted electives from List A

* An Independent Research course may be substituted for ENVS*4001/2.

Restricted Electives

Students are required to choose a minimum of 8.00 credits from the following list, including at least 1.00 credit at the 4000-level. The list has been divided into sections however students may choose courses from any of the sections provided that they have the necessary prerequisites for the upper level courses they plan to take. Students are encouraged to seek advice on their choices from their faculty advisor and are reminded that 6.00 credits of the B.Sc.(Env.) degree must be at the 3000-4000 level.

Note: Students should note that many restricted electives require other courses as prerequisites. Students should consult the most recent Undergraduate Calendar for specific requirements.

List A

The following courses have as prerequisites courses from the first-year curriculum and/or courses within the list. Students are responsible for ensuring that they have the necessary pre-requisites for courses they wish to take.

Aquatic Science:
BIOL*3450 [0.50] Introduction to Aquatic Environments
BIOL*4350 [0.50] Limnology of Natural and Polluted Waters
ENVS*2320 [0.50] Current Issues in Microbial and Molecular Science
ENVS*2330 [0.50] Current Issues in Ecosystem Science and Biodiversity
ENVS*3150 [0.50] Aquatic Systems
ENVS*3190 [0.50] Environmental Water Chemistry
ENVS*3290 [0.50] Waterborne Disease Ecology
Atmospheric Science:
ENVS*2030 [0.50] Meteorology and Climatology
ENVS*2310 [0.50] Current Issues in Earth Surface Processes
ENVS*3050 [0.50] Microclimatology
ENVS*4110 [0.50] Physical Meteorology
ENVS*4210 [1.00] Meteorological and Environmental Instrumentation
PHYS*1070 [0.50] Physics for Life Sciences II
PHYS*1130 [0.50] Physics with Applications
Ecological and Environmental Toxicology:
BIOC*2580 [0.50] Introduction to Biochemistry
CHEM*3360 [0.50] Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
ENVS*2320 [0.50] Current Issues in Microbial and Molecular Science
ENVS*2330 [0.50] Current Issues in Ecosystem Science and Biodiversity
ENVS*3020 [0.50] Pesticides and the Environment
ENVS*3040 [0.50] Natural Chemicals in the Environment
ENVS*4130 [0.50] Chemical Ecology: Principles & Practice
MICR*3220 [0.50] Plant Microbiology
MICR*4180 [0.50] Microbial Processes in Environmental Management
PBIO*4530 [0.50] Plants and Environmental Pollution
TOX*2000 [0.50] Principles of Toxicology
Ecosystem Sciences and Biodiversity:
BIOL*2060 [0.50] Ecology
ENVS*2210 [0.50] Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology
ENVS*2310 [0.50] Current Issues in Earth Surface Processes
ENVS*2320 [0.50] Current Issues in Microbial and Molecular Science
ENVS*2330 [0.50] Current Issues in Ecosystem Science and Biodiversity
ENVS*3000 [0.50] Nature Interpretation
ENVS*3010 [0.50] Climate Change Biology
ENVS*3090 [0.50] Insect Diversity and Biology
ENVS*3150 [0.50] Aquatic Systems
ENVS*3210 [0.50] Plant Pathology
ENVS*3230 [0.50] Agroforestry Systems
ENVS*3250 [0.50] Forest Health and Disease
ENVS*3270 [0.50] Forest Biodiversity
ENVS*3290 [0.50] Waterborne Disease Ecology
ENVS*3370 [0.50] Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology
ENVS*4040 [0.50] Behaviour of Insects
ENVS*4230 [0.50] Biology of Aquatic Insects
ENVS*4260 [0.50] Field Entomology
ENVS*4350 [0.50] Forest Ecology
Geoscience:
ENVS*1050 [0.50] Geology and the Environment
ENVS*2060 [0.50] Soil Science
ENVS*2200 [0.50] Glacial Geology
ENVS*2310 [0.50] Current Issues in Earth Surface Processes
ENVS*2320 [0.50] Current Issues in Microbial and Molecular Science
ENVS*2400 [0.50] Sedimentary Environments
ENVS*3060 [0.50] Groundwater
ENVS*3260 [0.50] Field Methods in Geosciences
ENVS*4280 [0.50] Geomicrobiology
GEOG*2000 [0.50] Geomorphology
GEOG*3420 [0.50] Remote Sensing of the Environment
GEOG*3480 [0.50] GIS and Spatial Analysis
GEOG*3610 [0.50] Environmental Hydrology
GEOG*4150 [0.50] Catchment Processes
PHYS*1070 [0.50] Physics for Life Sciences II
PHYS*1130 [0.50] Physics with Applications
Plant Health and Pathology:
ENVB*4070 [0.50] Biological and Cultural Control of Plant Diseases
ENVS*2040 [0.50] Plant Health and the Environment
ENVS*2320 [0.50] Current Issues in Microbial and Molecular Science
ENVS*3140 [0.50] Management of Turfgrass Diseases
ENVS*3210 [0.50] Plant Pathology
ENVS*3250 [0.50] Forest Health and Disease
ENVS*4100 [0.50] Integrated Management of Invasive Insect Pests
ENVS*4180 [0.50] Insecticide Biological Activity and Resistance
ENVS*4190 [0.50] Biological Activity of Herbicides
MICR*3220 [0.50] Plant Microbiology
PBIO*4000 [0.50] Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Plant-Microbe Interactions
Soil Science:
ENVS*2060 [0.50] Soil Science
ENVS*2310 [0.50] Current Issues in Earth Surface Processes
ENVS*2320 [0.50] Current Issues in Microbial and Molecular Science
ENVS*2340 [0.50] Current Issues in Agriculture and Landscape Mgmt
ENVS*3080 [0.50] Soil and Water Conservation
ENVS*3310 [0.50] Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function
ENVS*4090 [0.50] Soil Management
ENVS*4160 [0.50] Soil and Nutrient Management
ENVS*4320 [1.00] Laboratory and Field Methods in Soil Biodiversity
ENVS*4390 [1.00] Soil Variability and Land Evaluation
Stewardship:
BIOL*3130 [0.50] Conservation Biology
BIOL*4150 [0.50] Wildlife Conservation and Management
ENVS*2120 [0.50] Introduction to Environmental Stewardship
ENVS*2310 [0.50] Current Issues in Earth Surface Processes
ENVS*2330 [0.50] Current Issues in Ecosystem Science and Biodiversity
ENVS*2340 [0.50] Current Issues in Agriculture and Landscape Mgmt
ENVS*3030 [0.50] Conservation Field Course
ENVS*3080 [0.50] Soil and Water Conservation
ENVS*3140 [0.50] Management of Turfgrass Diseases
ENVS*4390 [1.00] Soil Variability and Land Evaluation
The following courses are guided independent study courses. The semester prior to enrolling in one of these courses the student must arrange for a faculty supervisor and develop a course proposal in consultation with that supervisor.
ENVS*3100 [0.50] Internship/Externship in Environmental Sciences
ENVS*3410 [0.50] Independent Research I
ENVS*3420 [0.50] Independent Research II
ENVS*3430 [1.00] Independent Research
ENVS*3510 [0.50] Independent Study I
ENVS*3520 [0.50] Independent Study II
ENVS*3530 [1.00] Independent Study
ENVS*4410 [1.00] Advanced Independent Research I
ENVS*4420 [1.00] Advanced Independent Research II
ENVS*4430 [2.00] Advanced Independent Research
ENVS*4510 [0.50] Advanced Independent Study I
ENVS*4520 [0.50] Advanced Independent Study II
ENVS*4530 [1.00] Advanced Independent Study
Credit Summary (20.00 Total Credits)

7.00 credits - Environmental Sciences core

1.50 credits - Required Courses for the Major

8.00 credits - Restricted Electives (List A)

3.50 credits - Free electives

Students are encouraged to seek advice from their faculty advisor and are reminded that 6.00 credits of their B.Sc.(Env.) degree must be at the 3000-4000 level. With prior approval, students may be able to use courses not on List A toward their restricted electives

University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120