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Bachelor of Environment and Society (Environmental Studies)

Faculty of Arts & Sciences Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies

Credential
Bachelor

Duration
4 year(s)

Program Highlights

The Bachelor of Environment and Society (Environmental Studies) degree program at CapU will help you develop the skills, knowledge and understanding to work in environmental advocacy across multiple public and non-profit sectors and industries.

At CapU, we offer two degree options for students interested in the Environment & Society program: Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies.

If you choose the environmental studies degree, you'll take courses in various subjects, including anthropology, biology, ecology, economics, First Nations and Indigenous Peoples, geography, history, ethics, political science and statistics. 

You'll have the advantage of studying in small classes and receiving mentorship from expert instructors who combine theory with practical, applied learning.

Work with local partners

You'll also work with community partners on environmental issues, helping build a sustainable balance between the needs of our region's economy, society and environment.

One of our most critical collaborative partnerships is with the Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere region, which works toward ensuring the biodiversity of Howe Sound is protected and sustainable.

You'll combine the concepts of innovation, experiential learning, teamwork and leadership as you gain the confidence to tackle more complex projects.

With the training and skills you'll pick up in this bachelor's degree, you'll graduate ready to become an environmental leader.

  • Locate, analyze, and integrate information from natural and social sciences to build an evidence-based understanding of environmental problems and solutions.
  • Support the Calls for Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and gain competency in First Nations, Inuit and Métis history, and contemporary Indigenous perspectives including traditional ecological knowledge, and apply to work in cross-cultural environments.
  • Employ systems thinking and ethical and critical analysis to design inquiries that incorporate perspectives of interested parties in approaching environmental challenges.
  • Apply foundational knowledge, quantitative reasoning, and evidence-based analysis encompassing ecological, economic, and social frameworks to identify, address, and mitigate environmental issues.
  • Use regional-integrated and problem-based approaches that amplify the partnership between Indigenous and Western knowledge.
  • Model effective communication practices for relaying and interpreting environmental data and issues to a variety of audiences and for cooperating with interested parties.
  • Embrace roles and identities as mindful, eco-literate citizens, practitioners, and environmental leaders in delivering and designing solutions in a complex, interconnected world.

Admission Requirements

English language requirements

English is the language of instruction at CapU. All applicants are required to demonstrate competence in the English language prior to admission.

If English is not your first language or you’ve received your education in a language other than English, you must meet our English Language Requirements.

Basic requirements

  • High school graduation
  • A minimum grade point average of 2.0 (60%) calculated on English Studies 12 or English 12 or English First Peoples 12 and two academic Grade 12 courses

Program Requirements

Lower-Level Requirements

Total credits: 42.00

Choose 4.00 credits from the following list:
GEOG 112Physical Landscapes I4.00 credits
GEOG 114Weather and Climate I4.00 credits
Choose 3.00 credits from the following list:
AHIS 250Art and Nature Now: Environmental Crisis3.00 credits
ANTH 202Anthropology and the Environment3.00 credits
POL 202Government and Politics of British Columbia3.00 credits
POL 203International Organizations3.00 credits
POL 204Canadian Public Policy3.00 credits
Choose 3.00 credits from the following list:
ANTH 206First Nations of British Columbia3.00 credits
ANTH 208Indigenous Peoples of North America3.00 credits
HIST 209History of Indigenous Peoples in Canada3.00 credits

 

Upper-Level Requirements

Total credits: 18.00

 

Upper-Level Modules

Total credits: 24.00

Required:

Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits of coursework from the module options listed below - either 2 modules, 1 module plus 12 credits, or 24 credits of coursework selected from any of the module options.

Module Requirements24.00 credits

 

Electives

Total credits: 36.00

Required:
ENGL 100University Writing Strategies3.00 credits
CMNS 250 Introduction to Technical Writing OR ENGL 220 Research Voices: Clarity and Style for the Academic Writer3.00 credits
Electives 100-level or higher27.00 credits
Electives 300-level or higher3.00 credits

 

Applied Ecology Module

Required:
BIOL 401Applied Population Ecology4.00 credits
BIOL 402Applied Ecosystem Ecology4.00 credits
GEOG 325GIS Applications in Natural Resource Management4.00 credits
Required:

Select 3.00 credits

BIOL 409Global Change Biology3.00 credits
GEOG 316Climate Change: From Science to Sustainability3.00 credits

 

Biodiversity and Conservation Module

Required:
BIOL 308Conservation Biology3.00 credits
BIOL 408Ecosystem Restoration4.00 credits
BIOL 409Global Change Biology3.00 credits
Choose from the following list:

Select 3.00 credits

BIOL 350Natural History of BC3.00 credits
BIOL 351Global Biogeography3.00 credits
ENSO 301Traditional Systems of Resource and Land Use3.00 credits
GEOG 330Water Changes Everything3.00 credits
PSYC 340Psychology of Environmental Sustainability3.00 credits

 

Climate Change - Mitigation & Adaptation Module

 

Urban Sustainability Module

Required:
BIOL 305Ecological Principles for Sustainability3.00 credits
GEOG 355Urban Ecology3.00 credits
GEOG 455Green Infrastructures and Community Networks3.00 credits
Choose from the following list:

Select 3.00 credits

ENSO 301Traditional Systems of Resource and Land Use3.00 credits
GEOG 350Cities in the Global South3.00 credits
SOC 330Sociology of the City: Issues and Processes of Exclusion3.00 credits

 

Total program credits: 120.00

Program Notes

Students pursuing a baccalaureate degree must meet Cap Core graduation requirements in addition to their program requirements. In their final two years, students will further specialize their degree by completing a minimum of 24 credits of coursework associated with modules dedicated to Applied Ecology, Biodiversity & Conservation, Climate Change, and Urban Sustainability.

Contact

Have questions about this program?

Student Information Services


604 984 4900
604 984 1798 (fax)
Library Building, room LB152
registration@capilanou.ca