X. Degree Programs

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

Environmental Sciences (ENVS:C)

School of Environmental Sciences, Ontario Agricultural College

This major combines a foundation in the breadth of environmental science while giving students practical experience in integrating the basic science in environmental problem solving. The integration of biophysical sciences with real-world applications provides students with a unique skill set for engaging with current and future environmental issues. The many opportunities in the major for experiential learning and independent research give students an ability to collect, analyze and interpret environmental data, and propose solutions that account for both the biophysical science and the socio-economic context. The second year core curriculum develops a cross-disciplinary understanding of the biophysical environment, while the third and fourth years allow students to engage more deeply with issues of interest to them. Students will graduate from this major ready to address diverse problems such as pollinator conservation, soil and water conservation, greenhouse gas mitigation, plant disease management and chemical movement in the environment. It provides a solid background for careers in environmental protection, resource management and research, in both the public and private sectors.

Program Requirements

The Co-op program in Environmental Sciences 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.

Environmental Sciences Academic and Co-op Work Term 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

4.50 - Required Courses for the Major

5.50 - Restricted Electives

3.00 - 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 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 Lists C, D, E or F toward their restricted electives.

The recommended program sequence is outlined below.

Major

Semester 1 - Fall
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 - Winter
BIOL*1090 [0.50] Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
CHEM*1050 [0.50] General Chemistry II
COOP*1100 [0.00] Introduction to Co-operative Education
FARE*1040 [1.00] Intro to Environmental Economics, Law & Policy
GEOG*1300 [0.50] Introduction to the Biophysical Environment
Semester 3 - Fall
ENVS*2030 [0.50] Meteorology and Climatology
ENVS*2060 [0.50] Soil Science
ENVS*2240 [0.50] Fundamentals of Environmental Geology
1.00 electives or restricted electives
Winter Semester
COOP*1000 [0.50] Co-op Work Term I
Semester 4 - Summer
STAT*2040 [0.50] Statistics I
2.00 electives or restricted electives
Fall Semester
COOP*2000 [0.50] Co-op Work Term II
Semester 5 - Winter
BIOL*2060 [0.50] Ecology
ENVS*2080 [0.50] Introduction to Environmental Microbiology
ENVS*2310 [0.50] Introduction to Biogeochemistry
1.00 electives or restricted electives
Summer Semester
COOP*3000 [0.50] Co-op Work Term III
Semester 6 - Fall
ENVS*4001 [0.50] Project in Environmental Sciences
One of:
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
1.50 electives or restricted electives
Students wishing to register in BIOL*4350 must substitute BIOL*3450 in Semester 6 for ENVS*3150 in Semester 7.
Semester 7 - Winter
ENVS*3150 [0.50] Aquatic Systems
ENVS*4002 [0.50] Project in Environmental Sciences
1.50 electives or restricted electives
Summer Semester - (Optional)
COOP*4000 [0.50] Co-op Work Term IV
Semester 8 - Fall
2.50 electives or restricted electives
Restricted Electives

Students must take a total of 6.50 restricted elective credits as prescribed by the following lists.

Students must take 0.50 credits from each of List A & B

List A

One of:
ENVS*2330 [0.50] Current Issues in Ecosystem Science and Biodiversity
ENVS*2040 [0.50] Plant Health and the Environment

List B

One of:
PHYS*1070 [0.50] Physics for Life Sciences II
PHYS*1080 [0.50] Physics for Life Sciences
PHYS*1300 [0.50] Fundamentals of Physics

Students lacking 4U Physics or equivalent must take PHYS*1300.

Students are required to choose a minimum of 5.50 credits from Lists C, D, E, and F. Students must take a minimum of 1.50 credits from List C, a minimum of 1.00 credits from List D, and students may not count more than 1.00 credits from List F towards their restricted electives. Students should note that many restricted electives, particularly in List D, require other courses as prerequisites. Students should consult the most recent Undergraduate Calendar for specific requirements.

List C

Students must take a minimum of 1.50 credits from the following list:

BIOL*3130 [0.50] Conservation Biology
CHEM*3360 [0.50] Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
ENVS*2120 [0.50] Introduction to Environmental Stewardship
ENVS*2210 [0.50] Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology
ENVS*2230 [0.50] Communications in Environmental Science
ENVS*3000 [0.50] Nature Interpretation
ENVS*3010 [0.50] Climate Change Biology
ENVS*3020 [0.50] Pesticides and the Environment
ENVS*3040 [0.50] Natural Chemicals in the Environment
ENVS*3050 [0.50] Microclimatology
ENVS*3060 [0.50] Groundwater
ENVS*3080 [0.50] Soil and Water Conservation
ENVS*3090 [0.50] Insect Diversity and Biology
ENVS*3180 [0.50] Sedimentary Environments
ENVS*3210 [0.50] Plant Pathology
ENVS*3220 [0.50] Terrestrial Chemistry
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*3300 [0.50] Introduction to Controlled Environment Systems
ENVS*3310 [0.50] Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function
ENVS*3340 [0.50] Environmental Data Analysis
ENVS*3370 [0.50] Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology
MICR*3220 [0.50] Plant Microbiology
TOX*2000 [0.50] Principles of Toxicology

List D

Students must take a minimum of 1.00 credits from the following list:

BIOL*4350 [0.50] Limnology of Natural and Polluted Waters
ENVS*4000 [0.50] Toxicological Risk Assessment
ENVS*4030 [0.50] Ecohydrology
ENVS*4070 [0.50] Pollinator Conservation
ENVS*4090 [0.50] Soil Management
ENVS*4100 [0.50] Integrated Management of Invasive Insect Pests
ENVS*4160 [0.50] Soil and Nutrient Management
ENVS*4180 [0.50] Insecticide Biological Activity and Resistance
ENVS*4190 [0.50] Biological Activity of Herbicides
ENVS*4210 [0.50] Meteorological and Environmental Instrumentation
ENVS*4230 [0.50] Biology of Aquatic Insects
ENVS*4260 [0.50] Field Entomology
ENVS*4320 [1.00] Laboratory and Field Methods in Soil Biodiversity
ENVS*4350 [0.50] Forest Ecology
ENVS*4360 [0.50] Glacial Environments
ENVS*4370 [0.50] Natural and Anthropogenic Compounds in the Environment
ENVS*4390 [1.00] Soil Variability and Land Evaluation
PBIO*4290 [0.50] Cannabis Production
PBIO*4530 [0.50] Plants and Environmental Pollution

List E

ENVS*4410 [0.50] Introduction to Advanced Independent Research
ENVS*4420 [0.50] Advanced Independent Research
ENVS*4430 [1.00] Advanced Independent Research
ENVS*4510 [0.50] Topics in Environmental Sciences

List F

Students may count up to 1.00 credits from the following list towards their 6.50 credit restricted electives.

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