Physical and Environmental Sciences
Contact | Overview | Programs: DegreeFaculty Affiliation
University of Toronto Scarborough
Degree Programs Offered
Environmental Science – MEnvSc, PhD
The graduate Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences offers opportunities for graduate studies in Environmental Science, leading to the degrees of Master of Environmental Science (MEnvSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Environmental Science. These programs provide an interdisciplinary approach to environmental science that includes internship or research opportunities. Faculty members are cross-appointed from several departments including physical sciences, biological sciences, engineering, health sciences, forestry and social sciences.
Research and teaching are focused on the interfaces between traditional disciplines in dealing with fundamental scientific issues. Research is clustered into six major categories:
1. Contaminant Flux Through Surface and Subsurface Environmental and Biochemical Cycles
2. Urban Geoscience
3. Remediation and Restoration of Degraded Environmental Systems
4. Great Lake Ecosystems
5. Climate Change and the Environment
6. Environmental Science and Transitional Economies
Contact and Address
Web:
www.utsc.utoronto.ca/envsci/menvsci/
www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~physsci/
E-mail: menvsc@utsc.utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 416-287-7357
Fax: (416) 287-7204
Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences
University of Toronto Scarborough
1265 Military Trail
Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4
Canada
Degree Programs
Environmental Science
Master of Environmental Science
The department offers a 12-month course work Master of Environmental Science (MEnvSc) degree program. Courses within the program fall within the
designated field of study: Biophysical Interactions in Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems. Although the program base is broad, a major focus for training professionals is understanding the flux of contaminants through surface and sub-surface environments and the methods/solutions needed to remediate contaminated or damaged environmental systems. The program is committed to the development of well-trained practitioners in environmental science to meet the needs primarily of industry and government.
The MEnvSc program offers three streams:
1. Research
2. Internship
3. Part-time studies
Minimum Admission Requirements
- Students are expected to satisfy all requirements for entry into the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto within a competitive selection process. Applicants educated outside Canada should pay particular attention to the English language competency requirements.
- Four-year University of Toronto bachelor's degree, or its equivalent from a recognized university, either in science or engineering with a minimum mid-B grade average in the last two years of the undergraduate program. Ideal applicants will have a science background consisting of two half courses or one full course in each of chemistry, physics, calculus, and biology.
- Applicants must submit a written statement explaining their objectives for entering the program and the suitability of their background. Appropriate postgraduate work experience, such as in industry, will be considered as part of the admission application.
Program Requirements
- In all three streams, course work consists of 5.5 full-course equivalents (FCE).
- It is anticipated that students will complete all instructional courses in two sessions and will complete field and research-focused courses as well as the internship during the summer.
Normal Program Length
- 3 sessions (full-time)
Course List
EES 1100H Advanced Seminar in Environmental Science
EES 1101Y Research Paper in Environmental Science
EES 1102H Analytical Chemistry for Geoscientists
EES 1103H Air and Water Quality Sampling and Monitoring
EES 1104H Methods for the Detection of Pathogens
EES 1105H Soil Contamination Chemistry
EES 1106H Geology and Geophysics of the Shallow Subsurface
EES 1107H Remediation Methods
EES 1108H Environmental Science Field Camp
EES 1109H Advanced Techniques in Geographic Information Systems
EES 1110H Sediment and Contaminant Transport in Aquatic Systems
EES 1111H Freshwater Ecology and Biomonitoring
EES 1112H Boundary Layer Climates and Contaminant Fate
EES 1113H Groundwater Hydrochemistry and Contaminant Transport
EES 1114H Directed Readings in Environmental Science I
EES 1115H Directed Readings in Environmental Science II
EES 1116Y Internship
EES 1117H Climate Change Impact Assessment
EES 1118H Fundamentals of Ecological Modelling
EES 1119H Quantitative Environmental Analysis
EES 1120H The Dynamics of Contaminant Dispersal in Fluids
EES 1121H Modelling the Fate of Organic Chemicals in the Environment
EES 1122H Global Environmental Security and Sustainable Development
EES 1123H Environmental Regulations
EES 1124H Environmental Project Management
EES 1125H Contaminated Site Remediation
EES 1126H Environmental Tracers
Doctor of Philosophy
Minimum Admission Requirements
Students may be accepted into the PhD program through one of three routes:
- Following completion of the MEnvSc degree, an MSc degree in environmental science, or a related discipline, or the MASc degree in environmental engineering or related discipline, or equivalent from a recognized university with a minimum of B+ average in all work completed in the master’s program.
- By requesting transfer from a suitable master’s program (see above); students may reclassify from the master’s program after 12 months of full-time study.
- In the case of exceptional students, by direct entry, that is, after completing an honours BSc degree in a bachelor’s program in a related discipline with a minimum UofT average of A- or equivalent.
Program Requirements
- The execution of an original piece of research in environmental science carried out under faculty supervision and presented in thesis form. The program requires successful defence of a thesis proposal, a departmental oral examination of the completed thesis, and a second oral examination carried out under the auspices of the School of Graduate Studies involving examination by an appropriate at-arms-length examiner
- A total of 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCE) as follows: a mandatory 0.5 FCE (ENV 2200H Advanced Seminar on Environmental Research) plus 1.5 FCE from an approved course list in the graduate program. The courses are required to provide background for the student’s research. Courses selected must be approved by the graduate coordinator/program director.
- Students may apply to take a number of PhD-level courses taught by the core faculty both within the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences (DPES) and outside DPES that can be considered for the PhD degree (see examples in the Course List section below) as part of their 1.5 FCE credits for the degree; however, all courses for PhD degree credit must be approved by the graduate coordinator/program director.
- During admission, if a student’s preparedness is assessed as being insufficient, the student will be required to take additional courses. It is expected that graduates of the MEnvSc research stream, or other graduate programs listed above, normally will have sufficient background at the time of admission.
- The degree requirements consist of successful completion of course work, a thesis proposal, and a thesis.
- The degree program has been designed so that it can be completed within:
o four years for students who have completed a related master’s degree.
o five years from the start of enrolment in the MSc program for students transferring from the master’s program.
o five years for direct-entry students from a bachelor’s program.
- Progress through the PhD program for students admitted with a master’s degree:
o Year I: complete course work
o Year II: complete and defend thesis proposal; start thesis research
o Year III: research and thesis writing
o Year IV: thesis writing and defense
Course List
Core Course
EES 2200H Advanced Seminar in Environmental Science
Elective Courses
EES 1102H Analytical Chemistry for Geoscientists
EES 1103H Air and Water Quality Sampling and Monitoring
EES 1104H Methods for the Detection of Pathogens
EES 1105H Soil Contamination Chemistry
EES 1106H Geology and Geophysics of the Shallow Subsurface
EES 1107H Remediation Methods
EES 1109H Advanced Techniques in Geographic Information Systems
EES 1110H Sediment and Contaminant Transport in Aquatic Systems
EES 1111H Freshwater Ecology and Biomonitoring
EES 1112H Boundary Layer Climates and Contaminant Fate
EES 1113H Groundwater Hydrochemistry and Contaminant Transport
EES 1117H Climate Change Impact Assessment
EES 1118H Fundamentals of Ecological Modelling
EES 1119H Quantitative Environmental Analysis
EES 1120H The Dynamics of Contaminant Dispersal in Fluids
EES 1121H Modeling the Fate of Organic Chemicals in the Environment
EES 1122H Global Environmental Security and Sustainable Development
EES 1126H Environmental Tracers
EES 2201H Advanced Readings in Environmental Science