Environmental Studies Major
WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES?
Environmental Studies is concerned with the interactions between human beings and the environment. It is interdisciplinary in the sense that the field is related to many branches of the natural and human sciences and environmental studies graduates go on to address many interdisciplinary problems.
Topics in Environmental Studies include: sustainability and development; environmental justice; biological conservation; environmental theology; natural and environmental history; environmental ethics; environmental thought; environmental sociology and psychology; human ecology; social movements and political ecology; environmental education and communication; risk policy and perception; environmental policy and law; native studies; animal rights and welfare; technology and cultural studies; gender, labour, race and the environment; international development; public participation; ecocriticism; deep ecology; and environmental literature.
Have questions? See our FAQ page.
WHAT KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES DEGREES DOES KING’S OFFER?
BA in Environmental Studies
A B.A. in Environmental Studies combined with a humanities or Social Science concentration (Business Administration, English, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Social Science Group, Sociology or Theology) will appeal to students interested in pursuing further study or careers in, for instance, environmental policy, journalism, law, education, tourism or business.
Specific Concentrations:
BSc In Environmental Studies
A B.Sc. in Environmental Studies combined with a Biology or Chemistry concentration will appeal to students interested in pursuing further study or careers in, for example, environmental science, the chemical industry, toxicology, forestry, impact assessments, fish and wildlife or parks and recreation.
With a Specific Concentration In:
Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Courses Available Include (not a comprehensive list, as this major is interdisciplinary in studies):
for full course descriptions, see the registry pages here
environmental management, environmental chemistry, environmental modelling, environmental economics and theology of creation
ENVS 300 - Humankind and the Biosphere
ENVS 410 - Resource Planning and Environmental Management
ENVS 450 - Environmental Impact Assessment
ENVS 478 - Environmental Modeling
ENVS 490 - Internship
ENVS 491 - Internship Reflections and Issues
ECON 315 - Ecological Economics
GEOG 310 - Landscapes and Human Settlements
GEOG 350 - Geographical Information Systems
PHIL 320 - Philosophy of the Environment
POLI 327 - Public Policy Analysis
THEO 370 - All Things: Theology of Creation (formerly THEO 324)
Related Links
Course Schedule | Environmental Studies Department | Potential Careers
Humankind and the Biosphere, Every Year, Fall 3(3-2-0)
This course is a discussion of humankind's place in nature and of its responsibility for other organisms, the environment and resources.
Prerequisites: Three credits of natural science.
Resource Planning and Environmental Management, 2008-09, Winter 3(3-0-0)
Study of decision processes used to conserve, develop and manage environmental resources. Consideration of approaches to the evaluation of resources, including economic, environmental and social assessment techniques. Selected Canadian and Alberta case studies of resource management issues and problems. This course is considered a Canadian Studies course for purposes of King's B.Ed. (AD).
Prerequisites: ENVS 300 and GEOG 310
Environmental Impact Assessment 2009-10, Winter 3(3-0-0)
Examination of the EIA process from both institutional and scientific perspectives. Consideration of legislative and policy aspects. Survey of EIA methods. Contemporary issues in EIA, including cumulative effects and post-auditing. Monitoring of, or participation in, contemporary Canadian or Alberta cases. This course is considered a Canadian Studies course for purposes of King's B.Ed. (AD).
Prerequisites: ENVS 300, GEOG 310
Environmental Modeling, 2008-09, Winter 3(3-0-3)
An introduction to techniques and software programs used to model biological, chemical, physical or environmental phenomena. Laboratory work will be tailored to students' interests and needs. Same as BIOL 478.
Prerequisites: MATH 200 or STAT 300 or BUSI 320; GEOG 350 recommended
Internship, Every Year, Summer 3 (0-3-0) (pass/fail)
A 13-week placement in the workplace, normally between years three and four. Student interns, with University College assistance, will be placed in government, industry or nongovernment agencies to apply their environmental skills and gain valuable employment experience. Students are eligible for an environmental internship if they have satisfactorily completed an interview with the Director of the Environmental Studies Program to assess progress in their program of study, ascertain preparation and readiness for an internship, and evaluate ability and commitment to completion of year four of the degree program.
Prerequisites: Admission to year four of ENVS program with an overall GPA of 2.50
ENVS 491 - Internship Reflections and Issues, Every Year, Fall 3(0-3-0)
Student presentations on their internships. Seminar discussion, readings and assignments on reports, experiences and issues arising from internships.
Prerequisites: Completed internship in Environmental Studies
Ecological Economics, 2009-10, Winter 3(3-0-0)
This course will focus on a number of aspects of the relationship between economics and the environment, including: determining the nature of and need for sustainability in economic processes; examining the linkages between development and the environment; examining the causes of and policy responses to resource and environmental degradation; introducing ways to measure the environmental impact of economic processes; and examining international and transfrontier environmental issues.
Prerequisites: ECON 201 or 202.
Landscapes and Human Settlements, Every Year, Winter 3(3-0-3)
The relationship between the natural environment and development of settled landscapes from a geographic perspective. Spatial distribution of biophysical landscapes and location analyses of agricultural, urban and industrial systems in Canada and elsewhere. Introduction to landscape interpretation using maps and aerial photographs. This course is considered a Canadian Studies course for purposes of King's B.Ed. (AD).
Prerequisites: One of POLI 200, 201, ECON 201, 202, GEOG 201
Geographical Information Systems, Every Year, Fall 3(3-0-3)
An introduction to the principles and applications of GIS. Hands-on lab assignments focus on data input and manipulation, spatial problem solving, and map presentation using GIS software on micro-computers. Students complete a GIS-based project.
Pre- or Corequisite: Three credits in computing science or STAT 300 or consent of instructor.
Philosophy of the Environment Every Year, Winter 3(3-0-0)
A historical and systematic study of the structure and normed character of the various relationships between human beings and their environment. The ethical, aesthetic, or metaphysical ramifications of certain major environmental problems such as pollution, overpopulation, or resource exhaustion will be considered.
Prerequisites: PHIL 230
Public Policy Analysis, 2009-10, Winter 3(3-0-0)
This course is an introduction to themes and methods in policy studies. The course examines the practical and normative problems facing Canadian governments in initiating, formulating, enacting, and implementing public policies. Special attention will be given to several contemporary policy issues. This course is considered a Canadian Studies course for purposes of King's B.Ed. (AD).
Prerequisites: POLI 200 or 201
All Things: Theology of Creation (formerly THEO 324), Every Year, Fall 3(3-0-0)
A study of the Christian theology of creation which addresses the issues of: the integrity of the universe as God's creation; humankind's place and task in creation; the honouring and care of creation as intrinsic to knowledge of God as Creator and the world as God's creation. Special attention will be paid to how the central Christian doctrines of the Trinity, Christology, the imago dei and the eucharist shape the theology of creation, and to how such a theology influences and is influenced by the aims and practices of environmental stewardship.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
