X. Degree Programs
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences [B.Sc.(Env.)]
Ecology (ECOL:C)
Department of Integrative Biology, College of Biological Science
This program provides a solid foundation in the principles of ecology, training in both pure and applied aspects of ecology and an introduction to economic, legal and policy issues related to the management of the environment. From the 2nd year on, students increasingly augment the core in ecology and policy with extensive restricted electives choices that allow the student to tailor the program to their interests. The major provides a sound science background for careers in conservation, resource management, ecological consulting, or nature interpretation used in teaching, government, non-government or the private sector; or for further post-graduate training in fundamental ecology, environmental biology and environmental management or policy.
Program Requirements
The Co-op program in Ecology is a four and a half year program including four work terms. Students must complete a Fall, Winter and Summer work term, and must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below (also found on the Co-operative Education website: https://www.recruitguelph.ca/cecs/). Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to adjusting this schedule.
| Year | Fall | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academic Semester 1 | Academic Semester 2
COOP*1100 |
Off |
| 2 | Academic Semester 3 |
COOP*1000 Work Term I |
Academic Semester 4 |
| 3 | COOP*2000 Work Term II | Academic Semester 5 | COOP*3000 Work Term III |
| 4 | Academic Semester 6 | Academic Semester 7 | COOP*4000 Work Term IV |
| 5 | Academic Semester 8 | N/A | N/A |
To be eligible to continue in the Co-op program, students must meet a minimum 70% cumulative average requirement after second semester, as well as meet all work term requirements. Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to work term performance grading, work term report grading and program completion requirements.
For additional program information students should consult with their Co-op Co-ordinator and Co-op Faculty Advisor, listed on the Co-operative Education web site.
Credit Summary (21.50 Total Credits)*
7.00 - Environmental Sciences core
5.00 - Ecology Required courses
5.50 - Ecology Restricted electives
2.50 - Free electives
1.50 - Co-op Work Terms
Note: A minimum of three Co-op work terms including a Summer, Fall, and Winter are necessary to complete the Co-op requirement. *COOP*4000 is optional and if completed the total number of credits will equal 22.00.
Students are reminded that 6.00 credits of their B.Sc. (Env.) degree must be at the 3000-4000 level.
Students are encouraged to seek advice on their choices from their faculty advisor. With prior approval, students may be able to use courses not on these lists towards their Ecology restrictive electives.
The recommended program sequence is outlined below.
Major
Semester 1 - Fall
Semester 2 - Winter
Semester 3 - Fall
| BIOL*2060 | [0.50] | Ecology | ||||||
| One of: | ||||||||
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| One of: | ||||||||
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| 1.00 electives or restricted electives | ||||||||
| Note: Students lacking 4U physics or equivalent must take PHYS*1300. Students with 4U physics or equivalent must take PHYS*1080. PHYS*1130 may be substituted for PHYS*1080. | ||||||||
| Note:GEOG*2210 may be substituted for ECON*2100 or FARE*2700 and would be taken in semester 4. | ||||||||
Winter Semester
| COOP*1000 | [0.50] | Co-op Work Term I |
Semester 4 - Summer
| BIOC*2580 | [0.50] | Introduction to Biochemistry |
| 2.00 electives or restricted electives | ||
Fall Semester
| COOP*2000 | [0.50] | Co-op Work Term II |
Semester 5 - Winter
Summer Semester
| COOP*3000 | [0.50] | Co-op Work Term III |
Semester 6 - Fall
| BIOL*3010 | [0.50] | Laboratory and Field Work in Ecology | ||||||
| ENVS*4001 | [0.50] | Project in Environmental Sciences | ||||||
| One of: | ||||||||
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| One of: | ||||||||
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| 0.50 electives or restricted electives | ||||||||
| Note:ZOO*2700 may be substituted for BOT*3410 or ZOO*2090 and would be taken in semester 7. | ||||||||
Semester 7 - Winter
Summer Semester (Optional)
| COOP*4000 | [0.50] | Co-op Work Term IV |
Semester 8- Fall
| 2.50 electives or restricted electives |
Restricted Electives
Students are required to take 5.50 restricted credits in Ecology as noted below. Of these, at least 1.00 credits must be at the 4000 level.
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A minimum of 0.50 credits from:
BIOL*4150 [0.50] Wildlife Conservation and Management CIS*1500 [0.50] Introduction to Programming GEOG*2420 [0.50] The Earth From Space GEOG*2480 [0.50] Mapping and GIS GEOG*3420 [0.50] Remote Sensing of the Environment * GEOG*3480 [0.50] GIS and Spatial Analysis * GEOG*4480 [1.00] Applied Geomatics * Additional prerequisites are required. -
Students in the Ecology Major are required to take an additional 5.00 restricted elective credits from the following lists. Some courses may require other courses from the list as prerequisites. Ecology ANSC*3180 [0.50] Wildlife Nutrition BIOL*3450 [0.50] Introduction to Aquatic Environments BOT*3050 [0.50] Plant Functional Ecology ENVS*2030 [0.50] Meteorology and Climatology ENVS*3010 [0.50] Climate Change Biology ENVS*3270 [0.50] Forest Biodiversity ENVS*3290 [0.50] Waterborne Disease Ecology ENVS*4350 [0.50] Forest Ecology GEOG*2000 [0.50] Geomorphology GEOG*2110 [0.50] Climate and the Biophysical Environment GEOG*3000 [0.50] Fluvial Processes GEOG*3610 [0.50] Environmental Hydrology NUTR*3210 [0.50] Fundamentals of Nutrition ZOO*4570 [0.50] Marine Ecological Processes Conservation BIOL*4120 [0.50] Evolutionary Ecology BIOL*4150 [0.50] Wildlife Conservation and Management BIOL*4350 [0.50] Limnology of Natural and Polluted Waters ENVS*2040 [0.50] Plant Health and the Environment ENVS*2330 [0.50] Current Issues in Ecosystem Science and Biodiversity ENVS*3000 [0.50] Nature Interpretation ENVS*3010 [0.50] Climate Change Biology GEOG*2480 [0.50] Mapping and GIS GEOG*3020 [0.50] Global Environmental Change GEOG*3110 [0.50] Biotic and Natural Resources GEOG*3210 [0.50] Management of the Biophysical Environment GEOG*3480 [0.50] GIS and Spatial Analysis GEOG*4110 [1.00] Environmental Systems Analysis GEOG*4230 [0.50] Environmental Impact Assessment GEOG*4480 [1.00] Applied Geomatics Policy, Law and Management BIOL*4500 [0.50] Natural Resource Policy Analysis ECON*2100 [0.50] Economic Growth and Environmental Quality FARE*2700 [0.50] Survey of Natural Resource Economics GEOG*2210 [0.50] Environment and Resources GEOG*4210 [0.50] Environmental Governance GEOG*4220 [0.50] Local Environmental Management PHIL*2070 [0.50] Philosophy of the Environment POLS*3370 [0.50] Environmental Politics and Governance Independent Research and Field Courses BIOL*4410 [0.75] Field Ecology BIOL*4700 [0.50] Field Biology BIOL*4710 [0.25] Field Biology BIOL*4800 [0.50] Field Biology BIOL*4810 [0.25] Field Biology ENVS*4410 [0.50] Introduction to Advanced Independent Research ENVS*4420 [0.50] Advanced Independent Research ENVS*4430 [1.00] Advanced Independent Research IBIO*4500 [1.00] Research in Integrative Biology I IBIO*4510 [1.00] Research in Integrative Biology II IBIO*4521 [1.00] Thesis in Integrative Biology IBIO*4522 [1.00] Thesis in Integrative Biology ZOO*4300 [0.75] Marine Biology and Oceanography