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Faculty of Science

School of Earth, Environment & Society

Undergraduate Programs

The School of Earth, Environment & Society offers undergraduate degree programs in both the Faculties of Science and Social Sciences:

B.Sc. Programs

Students who register in the Science programs offered by the School of Earth, Environment & Society may choose 1 of 3 honours programs and may apply for co-op options. We also offer a 3-year B.Sc. program.

Expandable List

This program is designed to meet the changing needs of the geoscience and environmental science communities and may allow students to fulfill the academic requirements for professional certification as geoscientists in Ontario. Specific course requirements for courses can be found here: APGO Requirements – Environmental Geoscience (pdf).

All students take a series of core courses that integrate a solid grounding in fundamental sciences including Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Math, with a range of geoscience and environmental science skills including geographic information systems (GIS), fieldwork, laboratory analysis, remote sensing and personal skills development (inquiry, written and oral communication, group work, time management and numeracy).

Students may follow a basic program which includes courses in earth history, remote sensing, field methods, soils, environmental assessment, earth surface processes, environmental geochemistry and surface water hydrology (see Course Outlines). Students in this program can select a number of elective courses of their choice. Please refer to the program Progress Chart for further details. To maximize the focus of their elective choices, students may choose to focus their selection of elective courses by choosing courses in a specific concentration in upper years. These concentrations are:

Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry
Earth Sciences
Environmental Hydrology and Climate
Environmental Policy
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Analysis

These concentrations provide students with in-depth knowledge and experience in a specific area and complement the broad science background obtained from their basic program. Students who choose to concentrate their course selection in Earth Sciences take courses in earth surface processes, environmental mineralogy, structural geology, environmental geophysics, plate tectonics and ore deposits, and geochemistry. Those students who concentrate in Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry select courses in aqueous geochemistry: contaminants, freshwater, isotope, microbial; as well in hydrogeology, contaminants hydrogeology, and surface climate processes. In the Environmental Hydrology and Climate concentration, students select courses from surface climate processes and environmental interaction, physical hydrogeology, watershed ecosystem biogeochemistry, advanced physical climatology, physical and chemical processes in freshwater ecosystems, hydrologic modeling and contaminant hydrogeology. In the Environmental Policy concentration students select courses discussing the environmental impacts of human activities. Students in the Geographic Information Systems select courses in geographical information science.

Resources:

B.Sc. Honours Earth & Environmental Sciences Progress Chart

Admission Requirements

First Year Courses

Please see the Faculty of Science Programs in the Undergraduate calendar for details.

For students who registered in the Honours in Earth and Environmental Sciences prior to 2010-2011, please see the Faculty of Science Programs in the Undergraduate calendar for details.

Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario – Environmental Geoscience

Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario – Geology

Co-Op Option:

Enrolment in the co-op program is limited and possession of the published minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Selection is based on academic achievement and an interview but requires, as a minimum, submission of the on-line application by the stated deadline and completion of Level II Honours Earth and Environmental Sciences with a Cumulative Average of at least 6.0 and completion of several courses. Please see admission requirements.

Admission Requirements

First Year Courses

Please see the Faculty of Science programs in the Undergraduate calendar for details.

The Honours Environmental Sciences is a flexible program providing a solid foundation in environmental sciences while achieving interdisciplinarity, by including select courses in ecology, ecology of inland waters, and plant biodiversity. At Level II, students have a choice of courses including earth history, soils, earth surface processes, environmental geochemistry, surface climate processes and surface water hydrology. At Level II and IV, students may select courses including surface climate processes and environmental interaction, physical hydrogeology, watershed ecosystem biogeochemistry, advanced physical climatology, contaminants geochemistry, freshwater processes, isotope and microbial geochemistry, hydrologic modeling and contaminant hydrogeology. The program also provides a foundation in environmental assessment and policy. Please refer to the program Progress Chart for further details:

Resources:

B.Sc. Honours Environmental Sciences Progress Chart

Admission Requirements

First Year Courses

Co-Op Option:

Enrollment in the co-op program is limited and possession of the published minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Selection is based on academic achievement and an interview but requires, as a minimum, submission of the on-line application by the stated deadline and completion of Level II Honours Environmental Sciences with a Cumulative Average of at least 6.0 and completion of several courses. Please see Admission requirements.

Resources:

Admission Requirements

First Year Courses

Please see the Faculty of Science programs in the Undergraduate calendar for details.

Honours Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences is a flexible program that focuses on interdisciplinary studies among these two fields. Jointly offered by the Department of Biology and the School of Earth, Environment & Society, this program enables students to select courses according to their interests; to develop broad knowledge, and understanding of the linkages between biological and environmental processes; and to apply these to questions of biological, biomedical or environmental interests. This program prepares students for graduate studies, and careers in industry or academic research laboratories. Please refer to the program Progress Chart for further details.

Resources:

B.Sc. Honours Biodiversity & Environmental Sciences Progress Chart

Admission Requirements

First Year Courses

Please see the Faculty of Science programs in the Undergraduate calendar for details.

The B.Sc. Environmental Sciences is a flexible program that allows students to choose courses from a wide selection of geoscience courses, according to their interests. It is usually intended for students interested by careers in highly interdisciplinary fields, combining environmental sciences and geoscience with another subject, which will require the combination of this degree to another one.

This program is usually completed in three-years; however, students are encouraged to pursue a 4-year honours program if they qualify. Students who successfully complete the first 3 levels of a relevant Honours B.Sc. degree (Honours Earth and Environmental Sciences, Honours Environmental Sciences, Honours Geography and Environmental Sciences) may request permission from the Office of the Associate Dean of Science to transfer to graduate with the three-level B.Sc. Environmental and Sciences degree. Students are advised to seek academic counseling to ensure that their course selections are appropriate. Please refer to the program Progress Chart for further details:

Resources:

B.Sc. Environmental Sciences Progress Chart

Admission Requirements

First Year Courses

Please see the Faculty of Science programs in the Undergraduate calendar for details.

B.A Programs

Students who choose to register in the Social Science programs offered by the School of Earth, Environment & Society may choose 1 of 3 options:

 

Expandable List

The Honours Environment & Society degree program equips students with the knowledge needed to understand the dynamic relationships between human societies and the environments (built, social, economic and natural) they inhabit, and the skills necessary to pursue careers in urban planning, Geographic Information Science, environmental management and sustainability and many other fields.

This interdisciplinary program combines insights and skills from Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Geographic Information Science, Human Geography, and Urban Studies to deliver a rigorous yet flexible program of study.

Experiential in nature, Environment & Society offers a range of hands-on educational and training opportunities. These include in-course fieldwork, intensive field courses, internship opportunities, community-based learning, as well as independent study and undergraduate research opportunities. Our courses are organized around several distinct themes:

  • Environmental Challenges & Solutions
  • Urban Studies & Planning
  • Economic Development
  • GIS & Spatial Analysis
  • Transportation & Mobility
  • Health & Population

Each theme has its own sequence of courses and prerequisites (see the Course Listings section in the Social Science Undergraduate Calendar). Students can elect to take some or all of the upper level courses from different subfields. In addition, there is a core set of courses encompassing research design, data collection and analysis, field work, and the senior thesis or review paper.

In addition to the core program, students can earn one or more additional credentials, enhancing their skillset and competitiveness for employment and graduate study:

  • Concurrent Certificate in Geographic Information Science (GIS)
  • Concurrent Certificate in Urban Studies & Planning
  • Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainability

You can contact ugadmin@mcmaster.ca for more information regarding our courses and programs.

Resources:

This Combined Honours program allows students to bring together the core knowledge and expertise of the Honours Environment & Society program with the insights and skills offered by another program on campus. There are many exciting combinations; students often combine our program with Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science and Sociology among others.

As with our Honours Environment & Society program, the Combined Honours provides many hands-on educational and training opportunities. These include in-course fieldwork, intensive field courses, internship opportunities, community-based learning, as well as independent study and undergraduate research opportunities. Our courses are organized around several distinct themes:

  • Environmental Challenges & Solutions
  • Urban Studies & Planning
  • Economic Development
  • GIS & Spatial Analysis
  • Transportation & Mobility
  • Health & Population

Each theme has its own sequence of courses and prerequisites (see the Course Listings section in the Social Science Undergraduate Calendar). Students can elect to take some or all of the upper level courses from different subfields. In addition, there is a core set of courses encompassing research design, data collection and analysis, field work, and the senior thesis or review paper.

In addition to the core program, students can earn one or more additional credentials, enhancing their skillset and competitiveness for employment and graduate study:

  • Concurrent Certificate in Geographic Information Science (GIS)
  • Concurrent Certificate in Urban Studies & Planning
  • Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainability

You can contact ugadmin@mcmaster.ca for more information regarding our courses and programs.

Resources:

 

The Environment & Society degree program provides students with a foundational understanding of the relationships between human societies and the environments (built, social, economic and natural) they inhabit.

This interdisciplinary program draws from Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Geographic Information Science, Human Geography, and Urban Studies to provide a flexible program of study.

The 3-year program in Environment & Society offers opportunities for in-course fieldwork and community-based learning. Our courses are organized around several distinct themes:

  • Environmental Challenges & Solutions
  • Urban Studies & Planning
  • Economic Development
  • GIS & Spatial Analysis
  • Transportation & Mobility
  • Health & Population

Each subfield has its own sequence of courses and prerequisites (see the Course Listings section in the Social Science Undergraduate Calendar). Students can elect to take some or all of the upper level courses from different subfields. In addition, there is a core set of courses encompassing research design, data collection and analysis, field work, and the senior thesis or review paper.

You can contact ugadmin@mcmaster.ca for more information regarding our courses and programs.

Resources:

Certificates

Expandable List

The Concurrent Certificate in Environmental Sustainability (ES) will provide students with an opportunity to develop expertise in the related fields of environmental studies, environmental science, and sustainability.

Completion of the ES Certificate provides students the opportunity to earn an additional academic credential that signals an in-depth knowledge of environmental sustainability and enhances their opportunities for graduate studies and careers in growing employment fields.

The ES Certificate may be taken by students pursuing any undergraduate degree and requires completion of 18 units of course work.

For more information, please review the Academic Calendar.

You can contact ugadmin@mcmaster.ca for more information regarding our courses and programs.

The Concurrent Certificate in Geographic Information Science (GIS) provides training in the use and application of geographic information systems and remote sensing relevant to a breadth of disciplines, including environment and earth sciences, geography, biology, anthropology, civil engineering, health science and business.

The Certificate offers a comprehensive and rigorous academic credential that will enhance students’ employability, as well as their qualification for future graduate studies.

The GIS Certificate may be taken by students pursuing any undergraduate degree and requires completion of 18 units of coursework.

For more information, please review the Academic Calendar.

You can contact ugadmin@mcmaster.ca for more information regarding our courses and programs.

The Concurrent Certificate in Urban Studies & Planning (USP) develops expertise in the related fields of urban geography and urban planning. Available courses cover topics ranging from urbanization and urban systems in the global north and the global south, the social geography of cities, urban planning, and sustainable urbanism.

Completion of the USP signals an in-depth knowledge of urban issues, enhancing students’ opportunities for graduate studies and employment in urban planning and related fields.

The USP Certificate may be taken by students pursuing any undergraduate degree and requires completion of 18 units of course work.

For more information, please review the Academic Calendar.

You can contact ugadmin@mcmaster.ca for more information regarding our courses and programs.

Minor Programs

The School of Earth, Environment & Society offers 4 minor options. These options are open to students enrolled in any honours undergraduate program at McMaster. The minor options are:

Expandable List

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Please contact ugadmin@mcmaster.ca for more information regarding our courses and programs.