Environmental Studies Courses (ENVS)

1200.1(.2) Environmental Challenges

This course is an interdisciplinary introduction to environmental studies. It considers scientific methods, the scale and magnitude of environmental variables, societal pathways and impediments to solving environmental problems, and critical thinking about environmental issues. Topics include: hypothesis testing, social and scientific causation, linear and non-linear processes, temporal and spatial scales, feedback cycles, biodegradation and accumulation, and the social and organizational context of environmental activities.

Classes 3 hrs and lab 3 hrs a week. 1 semester.

1203.0 Biology and the Human Environment (for non-science students) [BIOL 1203.0]

The importance of biology in today’s world is discussed with particular emphasis on human ecology and the impact of human activity on other living things. This course will not include laboratory work, but rather two lecture hours per week, and discussion sessions averaging one hour per week where demonstrations will sometimes be presented.

Note:  This is a natural science course intended for Arts students and does not fulfill the “other science” category for Science students.

2100.1(.2) Green Chemistry [CHEM 2100.1(.2)]

Prerequisite:  six (6) credit hours in CHEM at the 1000 level.

Green chemistry, or environmentally benign chemistry, is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.  This course will examine the chemical principles and processes in the development of technology and in the effects that this technology has on the environment.  The course will avoid traditional approaches that only consider the treatment of pollution after it was created, and will focus on alternative routes that limit the production of waste.

Classes 3 hrs and lab 3 hrs a week. 1 semester.

2300.1(.2) Environmental Science: Populations & Ecosystems

Prerequisite:  ENVS 1200.1(.2) (which may be taken concurrently); BIOL 1202.1(.2); one university-level chemistry course or permission of the Environmental Studies Program Coordinator.

This course provides a scientific introduction to environmental problems and their solutions. The emphasis is on biological and ecological processes and their importance to global sustainability.  Labs include hands on experience sampling local environments, participation on real research projects, and field trips to local environmental industry facilities.

Classes 3 hrs. and lab 3 hrs. 1 semester.

2310.1(.2) Environmental Science: Energy, Resources and Pollution

Prerequisites: ENVS 2300.1(.2).

This course expands the scientific introduction to environmental problems and their solutions to the atmospheric and geophysical realms.  Topics include evolving patterns of resource identification, exploration, and consumption, environmental pollution, climate change and their implications for the dynamics of human-environment relations from the local to the global scale.  Labs offer a hands-on approach to concrete environmental problems, including the practical evaluation of patterns of environmental change based on real data.

Classes 3 hrs. and lab 3 hrs. 1 semester.

3310.1(.2) Field Course in Environmental Studies

Prerequisite:  ENVS 1203.0, or ENVS 2300.1(.2), or ENVS 2310.1(.2).

An examination of natural, urban and industrial ecosystems based on integrative study from the biological, geological, geographical, management, social and economic perspectives.  Relationships among the physical environment, biota, and human population will be illustrated and discussed.  Sampling design and techniques, treatment of data, and interdisciplinary approaches to resource management will be incorporated in field work, labs, lecture-discussion, and projects.

Presented at Acadia University and in the Halifax Metropolitan Area this course is being offered in cooperation with the B.Sc. Environmental Science Program at Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

Classes 72 hrs., including lab and field work.  Normally this course is offered in the spring.

3410.1(.2) Environmental Impact Assessment

Prerequisite:  ENVS 1203.0, or ENVS 2300.1(.2), or ENVS 2310.1(.2).

This course describes the legislative background and techniques for the prediction of impacts on biophysical and socio-economic environments.  This course will cover screening, scoping, baseline studies, impact prediction, mitigation, monitoring and auditing.

Classes 3 hrs. and lab 3 hrs. 1 semester.

3420.1(.2) Environmental Monitoring and Auditing

Prerequisite:  ENVS 1203.0, or ENVS 2300.1(.2), or ENVS 2310.1(.2), and 45 credit hours.

This course describes the principles and applications of environmental auditing and monitoring. Techniques for environmental audit of facilities, organizations and projects will be covered, together with the design of monitoring programs and techniques for atmospheric, biological, hydrological, and socio-economic monitoring.

Classes 3 hrs. and lab 3 hrs. a week. 1 semester.

3430.1(.2)  Environmental Information Management

Prerequisite:  ENVS 1203.0, or ENVS 2300.1(.2), or ENVS 2310.1(.2), and 45 credit hours.

This course provides concepts, methods, and practical training with respect to environmental information acquisition, interpretation and processing, and environmental communication.  It concentrates on qualitative and quantitative environmental data handling, sign systems detection and interpretation, geographical pattern identification, context-adapted information preparation, graphical representations, and interdisciplinary interactions.  Laboratory sessions will include practical pattern evaluation, case simulations, and real-world applications. Students will thus develop information management skills which are required for an effective approach to environmental problems.

Classes 3 hrs., and lab 3 hrs a week 1 semester.

4430.1(.2) Directed Research

Prerequisite:  ENVS 2300.1(.2), or ENVS 2310.1(.2), and 45 credit hours.

Students will pursue a short term research project in such areas as: oceanographic sampling and analysis, policy development or environmental impact assessment. Students must identify an appropriate supervisor; provide a project proposal; and at the end of the project, submit a written report.

Lab 6 hrs. a week. 1 semester. 

4440.1(.2) Environmental Policy

Prerequisite: Prerequisite:  ENVS 1203.0, or ENVS 2300.1(.2), or ENVS 2310.1(.2), and 45 credit hours.

This course focuses on environmental and natural resource policy in Canada and the world. Attention is paid to all scales at which policy is developed - local, provincial, national and international.  The process of policy making is examined, including aspects of legislation and regulations, participatory and stakeholder approaches, and conflict resolution.  Interactions between policy, management measures and compliance are explored, including the role of standards and environmental management systems, and the circumstances under which organizations and businesses comply with regulations concerning environmental impacts and natural resource use.

Classes 3 hrs. and lab 3 hrs. a week.  1 semester.

4450.1(.2) Natural Resource Management [GEOG 4424.1(.2)]

Prerequisite: Prerequisite:  ENVS 1203.0, or ENVS 2300.1(.2), or ENVS 2310.1(.2), or GEOG 3304.1(.2), and 45 credit hours.

This interdisciplinary course examines the management of natural resource industries such as fisheries, forestry, mining and energy, focusing on interactions between biophysical, ecological, socioeconomic, and technological components.  The course will cover such topics as sustainable development and environment-economy interactions in the resource sector; approaches to integrated natural resource development; theoretical and practical aspects of managing resources and resource industries; economics of sustainable resource use; methods for analyzing the impacts of resource use.

Classes 3 hrs. and lab 3hrs. a week. 1 semester.

4460.1(.2) Methods of Environmental and Natural Resource Analysis [GEOG 4444.1(.2)]

Prerequisites: ENVS 1203.0, or ENVS 2300.1(.2), or ENVS 2310.1(.2), or GEOG 3304.1(.2), and one of MATH 1207.1(.2) or GEOG 3326.1(.2) or MGSC 2207.1(.2) or BIOL 2308.1(.2).

This interdisciplinary course provides a “tool-kit” of methods for planning and evaluation in natural resource and environmental management.  Emphasis is placed on methods to assess dynamics of change in biophysical, ecological, socioeconomic, and technological aspects of resource and environmental systems, and for analyzing the impacts of management interventions.  Topics to be covered include computer-based techniques to acquire and manage information; bio-economic and simulation models; statistical and forecasting methods; economic valuation and ecological economics; sustainability indicators in resource and environmental systems; analysis of real-world case studies.

Classes 3 hrs. and lab 3 hrs. a week.  1 semester.

4499.0 Seminar in Environmental Science

Prerequisite:  ENVS 2300.1(.2), or ENVS 2310.1(.2), and 45 credit hours. Restricted to students in the honours program or permission of the Environmental Studies Program Coordinator.

The course deals with selected topics in environmental science. Specific topics vary depending on current issues, new developments, availability of speakers and the interests of students and instructor.

Seminar 3 hrs. a week. 2 semesters.

4599.0 Honours Research Project

Prerequisite: Honours standing in Environmental Studies.

Honours students will work with a research advisor who will guide the students in the formulation of research proposals, the methodology to be followed during the course of the research, and in the analysis and write-up of the research findings. The thesis will also be presented orally.

Lab 6 hrs. (minimum) per week. 2 semesters.

4876.1(.2) - 4899.1(.2) Directed Studies in Environmental Science

Prerequisite: Restricted to students in the honours program or permission of the Environmental Studies Program Coordinator.

The course provides an opportunity for ENVS honours students to study a particular subject in detail.  It requires independence and initiative from the student.  It involves discussion of research papers and lab work.  This course is intended particularly to meet the special needs and interests of honours students.  Major students may be admitted with permission of the Environmental Studies Program Coordinator.

Classes and labs 6 hrs. a week.  1 semester.