Environmental Studies

There exists an immense need both within the University and in the wider society for an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental problems, their causes, and possible solutions. The School of the Environment’s Collaborative Specialization in Environmental Studies (CSES) provides graduate students from across all three U of T campuses the opportunity to expand the focus of their research and study to reflect an interdisciplinary approach to thinking about the environment. The CSES is intended to provide a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary dialogue and learning about complex environmental challenges. These challenges demand a serious commitment to enhancing awareness and imagining possibilities that can serve to construct more sustainable and just futures. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

The introductory nature of some of these learning outcomes is often surpassed. 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. 

With students participating from across the university, the core course, ENV1001H Environmental Decision Making, gives students a unique opportunity to engage with faculty and peers coming from a range of academic backgrounds and perspectives.

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.

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.

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 copies of the documents indicated on the How to Apply page by the application deadline established by the degree program admission committee in the home department.
     
  • Applicants should confirm the application deadline with the home department they are interested in applying to, as this can vary between units.
     
  • The School of the Environment also allows potential students to enrol in the CSES beyond the deadline set by their home department, provided that students will be able to complete the specialization 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 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 up to 1.0 full-course equivalent (FCE) and conduct research on an environmental topic. Note that master's students who are not enrolled in a research-stream degree must complete 30% of their coursework within their collaborative specialization. 

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

Requirements in some participating programs vary slightly. Students are encouraged to check the calendar entries of their respective home department programs. The CSES specific requirements can also be found in the Participating Degree Programs section.

Master’s Degrees Coursework Option

  • Complete the mandatory core course ENV 1001H (0.5 FCE).
  • Complete a minimum of one elective course (0.5 FCE) from the School’s list of approved courses (exact number of electives depends on your home degree).
  • Complete an environment-related internship of approximately three months full-time employment (ENV 4444Y+; 1.0 FCE), unless students have an internship requirement included in their degree program.
  • Produce a brief research paper on an environment-related topic, which may be related to the internship experience (ENV 5555Y+; 1.0 FCE), unless students have a research paper requirement included in their degree program.

Master’s Degrees Thesis Option

  • Complete the mandatory core course ENV 1001H (0.5 FCE).
  • Complete one elective course (0.5 FCE) from the School’s list of approved courses.
  • Write a thesis in the home graduate unit on an environment-related topic.

*Students looking to enrol in ENV200HY: Independent Reading and Research Course first need to obtain approval from the School's Director or Graduate Associate Director. To do so, complete and submit the IRR Request Form, along with a brief description of the course and a rationale indicating how this course will compliment your studies to grad.office.env@utoronto.ca. 

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 are strongly encouraged to submit copies of the documents indicated on the How to Apply page by the application deadline established by the degree program admission committee in the home department. Applicants should confirm the application deadline with the home department they are interested in applying to, as this can vary between units. The School of the Environment also allows potential students to enrol in the CSES beyond the deadline set by their home department, provided that students will be able to complete the specialization 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. 

Requirements in some participating programs vary slightly. Therefore, students are encouraged to check the calendar entries of their respective home department programs. The CSES specific requirements can also be found in the Participating Degree Programs section.

  • Complete the mandatory core course ENV 1001H (0.5 FCE), unless already completed at the master’s level.
     
  • Complete one elective course (0.5 FCE) from the School’s list of approved courses.
     
  • Give an oral presentation of their doctoral research as part of the School’s Environment and Health Seminar Series or Research Day, which is held once per year. For the latter, the oral presentation may or may not be done in conjunction with a summary poster, depending on the decided format of the School’s Research Day in any given year.
     
  • 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.
     

*Additional courses may be required by the home unit and/or by the supervisor or supervisory committee, depending on academic and/or career goals of the student, as well as graduate unit regulations.

*A supervisor or supervisory committee may be appointed for each student by the home department and the School of the Environment.

*Students looking to enrol in ENV200HY: Independent Reading and Research Course first need to obtain approval from the School's Director or Graduate Associate Director. To do so, complete and submit the IRR Request Form, along with a brief description of the course and a rationale indicating how this course will compliment your studies to grad.office.env@utoronto.ca.