Environmental Studies

Program Overview

In our rapidly changing world, students will need to develop a working knowledge and understanding of the range of scientific, technological, political, legal, ethical, health and occupational perspectives on environmental issues post‐graduation. The CSES enhances students’ educational experience by virtue of the breadth of the specialization and the opportunity for exposure to multiple approaches in environmental studies. The CSES is designed to provide students and faculty with an intellectually stimulating framework for the development and exchange of ideas. The CSES adds value to students’ educational experience by providing exposure to people, ideas, and methods outside the disciplinary boundary of the home unit. 

The main objectives of the CSES are to:

  • Introduce students to the world of graduate‐level interdisciplinary research in environmental studies;
  • Enhance student learning in the home unit, by providing opportunities to interact with students and faculty from other units who are also interested in environment;
  • Develop students’ communication skills on environmental issues across disciplinary boundaries.

Upon completion of the CSES requirements, students are expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:

  • To understand and apply both disciplinary and interdisciplinary analysis to environmental issues;
  • To have an introductory understanding of the worldviews, values, interests, and information
  • that go into environmental decision‐making at different levels;
  • To achieve an introductory understanding of one or more other approaches within environmental studies from the required elective course;
  • To develop the ability to understand and analyze factors necessary for resolving environmental problems;
  • To be able to effectively communicate the results of their research findings to a broad interdisciplinary audience.

Students admitted to a graduate degree program in a participating degree-granting unit can apply to the CSES and pursue coursework and research on topics related to the environment. The purpose is to complement the discipline-based learning and research focus of their home units by providing students an interdisciplinary forum to examine, discuss, and address environmental issues. Learning takes place in both the formal courses offered by the School (or electives in other units) and through informal interactions and engagements with other students and faculty at seminars and School events, such as the annual Research Day event where doctoral students present their dissertation work. 

Upon successful completion of the degree requirements of the participating home graduate unit and the CSES, the notation “Completed Collaborative Specialization in Environmental Studies” will appear on your transcript. 

Participating Graduate Degree Programs

Below you will find an up-to-date list of CSES requirements by each participating degree program for master’s students in the coursework and thesis options, as well as doctoral degree students. If your unit has a partnership with Environmental Studies, there is a pathway for you to complete the collaborative specialization requirements. Contact us if you have questions/concerns about completion. 

Graduate students from home departments not listed below can apply to enroll and pursue our CSES under a special ad hoc agreement. For more details, please contact the Graduate Administrator at the School of the Environment.

 

Environmental Studies Master's Program

Admission Requirements

  • Students who wish to enrol in the Collaborative Specialization in Environmental Studies (CSES) offered by the School of the Environment must first apply to and be accepted into a master’s program in a degree-granting unit, also called a home department or home unit. Information about applying to a master’s program can be found on the School of Graduate Studies’ website as well as on the respective websites of participating degree-granting units.
     

  • Prospective students who are planning to enrol in the CSES are strongly encouraged to submit the Collaborative Specialization Enrolment Form, found on the How to Apply page after receiving their letter of acceptance or at the start of their program of study. Students are able to join the CSES beyond the start of their degree, provided they are able to complete the CSES requirements by the time they are ready to graduate from their degree program.

Specialization Requirements

The requirements for the specialization are listed under "Participating Graduate Degree Programs" and must be completed in combination with that expected for the master’s degree program of the home department. These are normally counted as electives toward the degree program requirements of the student’s home graduate unit. Typically, students complete a minimum of 1.0 full-course equivalent (FCE) and conduct research on an environmental topic. Note that master's students who are enrolled in a course-based degree must complete 30% of their coursework within their collaborative specialization. 

The School of the Environment also offers students course-based master’s programs the opportunity to complete an internship in fulfilment of the CSES, unless they have an internship component built into their degree program. 

Please note that requirements for participating programs vary slightly. Therefore, students are encouraged to check the SGS Calendar entry for their respective home department programs. The CSES specific requirements can also be found above in the Participating Degree Programs section.
Environmental Studies PhD Programs

Admission Requirements

  • Students who wish to enrol in the CSES offered by the School of the Environment must first apply to and be accepted into a doctoral program in a degree-granting unit, also called a home department or home unit. Information about applying to a home graduate unit can be found on the School of Graduate Studies’ website as well as on the respective websites of participating degree-granting units.
     
  • Prospective students who are planning to enrol in the CSES are strongly encouraged to submit the Collaborative Specialization Enrolment Form, found on the How to Apply page after receiving their letter of acceptance or at the start of their program of study. Students are able to join the CSES beyond the start of their degree, provided they are able to complete the CSES requirements by the time they are ready to graduate from their degree program.

Specialization Requirements

The requirements listed below must be completed in combination with the PhD degree program requirements of the student’s home unit. These are normally counted as electives toward the degree program requirements of the student’s home unit. Typically, students complete up to 1.0 full-course equivalent (FCE) and conduct research on an environmental topic. 

  • Complete the mandatory core course ENV 1001H (0.5 FCE), unless already completed at the master’s level (if this is the case, an alternative elective is required).
  • Complete one elective course (0.5 FCE) from the School’s list of approved courses. Students from programs with limited elective spots are encouraged to select a cross-listed elective course.
  • Give an oral presentation of their doctoral research as part of the School of Environment's Research Day, which is held once per year in the Spring. 
  • Complete a thesis on an environmental topic in the home department. It is recommended that the thesis committee membership will include a supervisor (from the student’s home unit who is a member of the core faculty of the Collaborative Specialization and a member of the graduate faculty in the School of the Environment) and at least one other member from a collaborating unit. If the student’s primary thesis supervisor does not hold a graduate faculty membership (GFM) at the School of the Environment, the School’s Director will initiate the process of assigning a GFM to the primary supervisor.
  • A copy of the final thesis must be submitted to the School of the Environment prior to graduation.

Please note that requirements for participating programs can vary slightly. Therefore, students are encouraged to check the SGS Calendar entry for their respective home department programs. The CSES specific requirements can also be found above in the Participating Degree Programs section.