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Physical and Environmental Sciences


Overview | Programs | Faculty | Contact

Faculty Affiliation

University of Toronto Scarborough

Degree Programs Offered

Environmental Science – MEnvSc, PhD

Overview

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/~physsci
Email: dpes-mesc-program@utsc.utoronto.ca or
dpes-phd-program@utsc.utoronto.ca
Telephone: (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 coursework 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:

  • Research
  • Internship
  • 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.
  • An appropriate bachelor's degree 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, coursework consists of 5.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs).
  • 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

Time Limit: 3 years full-time; 6 years part-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 Detection of Microorganisms in the Environment
EES 1105H Soil Contamination Chemistry
EES 1106H Environmental Challenges in Urban Areas
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
EES 1127H Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry
EES 1128H Biophysical Interactions in Managed Environments
EES 1701H Environmental Legislation and Policy
EES 1704H Environmental Risk Assessment

Doctor of Philosophy

Minimum Admission Requirements

Students may be accepted into the PhD program through one of three routes:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 doctoral final 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 (FCEs) as follows: a mandatory 0.5 FCE (ENV 2200H Advanced Seminar on Environmental Research) plus 1.5 FCEs 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 FCEs 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 coursework, a thesis proposal, and a thesis.
  • The degree program has been designed so that it can be completed within:
    • four years for students who have completed a related master's degree.
    • five years from the start of enrolment in the MSc program for students transferring from the master's program.
    • five years for direct-entry students from a bachelor's program.
  • Progress through the PhD program for students admitted with a master's degree:
    • Year I: complete coursework
    • Year II: complete and defend thesis proposal; start thesis research
    • Year III: research and thesis writing
    • Year IV: thesis writing and defense

Normal Program Length: 4 years full-time; 4 years direct-entry

Time Limit: 6 years full-time; 7 years direct-entry

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 Detection of Microorganisms in the Environment
EES 1105H Soil Contamination Chemistry
EES 1106H Environmental Challenges in Urban Areas
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 1127H Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry
EES 1128H Biophysical Interactions in Managed Environments
EES 2201H Advanced Readings in Environmental Science

Graduate Faculty

Full Members

Abbatt, Jonathan - BSc, PhD
Allen, D Grant - BASc, MASc, PhD
Archontitsis, Georgios - BSc, MSc, DSCA
Boonstra, Rudy - BSc, PhD
Campbell, Malcolm - DPhil
Chen, Jing - BSc, PhD
Cowling, Sharon - BSc, MSc, PhD
Desloges, Joseph - BES, MSc, PhD
Diamond, Miriam - MSc, MSc, PhD
Donaldson, D. James - PhD
Edwards, Elizabeth - BEng, PhD
Evans, Gregory - PhD
Eyles, Nicholas - BSc, MSc, PhD, DSc
Ferris, Grant - BSc, PhD
Fulthorpe, Roberta - BSc, MSc, PhD
Gough, William - BSc, MSc, PhD
Howard, Kenneth - BSc, MSc, PhD
Isaac, Marney Elizabeth - BS, MES, PhD
Kronzucker, Herbert - PhD
Miall, Andrew - BSc, PhD
Mitchell, Carl - PhD
Sherwood Lollar, Barbara - PhD
Simpson, Andre - BSc, PhD
Simpson, Myrna - BS, DPhil
Wania, Frank - MPH, PhD
Wells, Mathew - BS, DPhil
Williams, D Dudley - DipEd, BSc, MSc, PhD, DSc
Wortmann, Ulrich - BSc, MSc, PhD

Associate Members

Dittrich, Maria B. - BES, MSc, PhD
He, Yuhong - PhD
Kerman, Kagan - BScPhm, MSc, ScD

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