Note: This is the 2013–2014 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Program Requirements
The option consists of the thesis and comprehensive examination, required courses (9 credits) from Geography and Environment and complementary courses (9 credits) in Environment or other fields recommended by the research committee and approved by the Environment Option Committee.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses
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ENVR 610 Foundations of Environmental Policy (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Analysis of current environmental policies to reveal implicit and explicit assumptions regarding scientific methods, hypothesis testing, subject/object, causality, certainty, deities, health, development, North-South concerns for resources, commons, national sovereignty, equity. Discussion of implications of such assumptions for building future environmental policies.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Brown, Peter Gilbert; Naylor, Robin Thomas; Goldberg, Mark (Fall)
Restriction: Enrolment in the Graduate Environment Option or enrolment in the Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) or permission of the instructor.
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ENVR 650 Environmental Seminar 1 (1 credit)
Overview
Environment : Interdisciplinary environmental research seminars with the goals of appreciating both the breadth and interconnectedness of environmental research questions.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: de Blois, Sylvie (Fall)
Restriction: Open to students registered in Environment Option.
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ENVR 651 Environmental Seminar 2 (1 credit)
Overview
Environment : Environmental seminars and workshops focused on critical thinking, critical review of articles, team work, effective public speaking, grantmanship.
Terms: Winter 2014
Instructors: de Blois, Sylvie (Winter)
Restriction: Open to students registered in the Environment Option.
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ENVR 652 Environmental Seminar 3 (1 credit)
Overview
Environment : Final research seminar.
Terms: Fall 2013, Winter 2014
Instructors: de Blois, Sylvie (Fall) Badami, Madhav Govind (Winter)
Prerequisite: ENVR 650.
Restriction: Open to students registered in Environment Option.
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GEOG 631 Methods of Geographical Research (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : General research seminar in human and physical geography.
Terms: Fall 2013, Winter 2014
Instructors: Coomes, Oliver T (Fall) Lapointe, Michel F; Coomes, Oliver T (Winter)
Complementary Courses
Two courses at the 500, 600, or 700 level selected according to guidelines of the Department.
One course chosen from the following:
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ENVR 519 Global Environmental Politics (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : How the problem of environmental degradation is dealt with at the international level. The scope and nature of global environmental protection issues that cross boundaries, both physical and conceptual. Actors, structures and processes of international society. Consideration of global commons and transnational resources and of environmental externalities.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Ellis, Jaye Dana (Fall)
Prerequisite: ENVR 201 or ENVR 203 or permission of instructor
Restrictions: Open to students in the Environment Graduate Option (available to other students with permission of instructor). (Not open to students who have taken ENVR 580 -- section 001 -- in Winter 2002, Fall 2003, or Fall 2004
Note: This course has been offered three times as a Topics in Environment Course
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ENVR 544 Environmental Measurement and Modelling (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Utility of geographic information systems, remote sensing and spatially-explicit modelling for environmental planning in conjunction with analytical frameworks used in the decision-making process (e.g., cost-benefit analysis, life-cycle analysis and multi-criteria decision making).
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
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ENVR 620 Environment and Health of Species (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : How major environmental problems affect the health of human and non-human species, and how environment and health interact at different spatial and temporal scales and with different components of the ecosystem. Immediate, chronic and evolutionary consequences on health. Uncertainty and causation.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Restriction: Open to students in the Environment Option (available to other students with permission of instructor).
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ENVR 622 Sustainable Landscapes (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Tools and knowledge needed to evaluate landscapes for sustainable management. Processes that shape landscapes, consequences of alternate landscape patterns on ecological flows, implications of management choices on biodiversity and sustainability, and need for social innovations.
Terms: Winter 2014
Instructors: Rhemtulla, Jeanine (Winter)
Restriction: Students registered in Environment Option, or permission of instructor.
Note: An understanding of ecological principles is required to take this course. Comparative case studies will be used.
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ENVR 630 Civilization and Environment (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Considers ways to reduce the human impact on Earth's life support systems through variables such as population size, wealth, technology, and conduct. Critically describes ethical frameworks for judging personal and policy choices, including post-collapse scenarios.
Terms: Winter 2014
Instructors: Brown, Peter Gilbert; Goldberg, Mark (Winter)
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor
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ENVR 680 Topics in Environment 4 (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Seminars and discussion of advanced, interdisciplinary aspects of current problems in environment led by staff and/or special guests.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Restriction: students taking the Neotropical Environment Option.
Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor
or another course at the 500 level or higher recommended by the Advisory Committee and approved by the Environment Option Committee.
Comprehensives
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GEOG 700 Comprehensive Examination 1
Overview
Geography : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.
Terms: Fall 2013, Winter 2014
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
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GEOG 701 Comprehensive Examination 2
Overview
Geography : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.
Terms: Fall 2013, Winter 2014
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
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GEOG 702 Comprehensive Examination 3
Overview
Geography : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.
Terms: Fall 2013, Winter 2014
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Faculty of Science—2013-2014 (last updated Aug. 21, 2013) (disclaimer)