A minimum of five approved Grade 12 courses, including English Studies 12 (min 70%) or equivalent.
A comprehensive list of all approved Grade 11 and 12 academic courses can be found here. Admission is based on an evaluation of all approved Grade 11 and 12 courses, with greater emphasis on List A courses.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS - Academic or IELTS Indicator) with a minimum overall band score of 6.5 with no part less than 6.0.
Test of English as a Foreign Language internet based test (TOEFL iBT) with an overall score of 88 or better with a minimum score of 20 in each of the four components (listening, speaking, writing, reading)
Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) with an overall score of 70, with no part less than 60.
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) with an overall score of 65, and a minimum score of 60 in the Communicative Skills, including: Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing.
NEW! Duolingo English Test (DET) with an overall score of 125 or better.
*Only accepted from students in countries where no other English proficiency test is available.
Do you like debunking fake news like "climate change isn’t real"? Have you ever wondered if a water source was safe to drink? Are you curious about how to repair contaminated environments?
Pursuing a degree in Environmental Science will have you exploring the relationships between humans and the environment, drawing on a diverse range of disciplines. By examining Earth’s physical, chemical and biological processes, you will learn how to think critically about how the world works, and use science to address environmental problems. You will tailor your degree to your interests, by choosing one of four concentrations: Applied Biology, Environmental Earth Systems, Environmetrics (environmental statistics), and Water Science.
Program Requirements
Students complete 120 units, as specified below.
Students choose one of the following areas of emphasis, and complete all the required courses as listed. Additional upper division units will be required to total a minimum of 44 upper division units.
Visit the program overview for a suggested course sequence and for lists of course groupings.
Course Substitutions
Substitutions of program requirements, including courses deemed equivalent to these required courses, are not allowed without written permission from the program. Such courses taken without approval will not be applied to graduation requirements. Students should consult their academic advisor for details on obtaining permission for substitutions.
Applied Biology Area of Concentration
LOWER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
Students complete all of
BISC 101 - General Biology (4)
BISC 102 - General Biology (4)
BISC 204 - Introduction to Ecology (3)
BISC 205 - Principles of Physiology (3)
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II (2)
CHEM 126 - General Chemistry Laboratory II (2)
CHEM 281 - Organic Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
EASC 101 - Dynamic Earth (3)
EVSC 100 - Introduction to Environmental Science (3)
EVSC 201W - Environmental Science in Practice (4)
GEOG 111 - Earth Systems (3)
MBB 201 - Biochemistry of the Cell (3)
REM 100 - Global Change (3)
and one of
GEOG 253 - Introduction to Remote Sensing (3)
GEOG 255 - Geographical Information Science I (3)
and one of
MATH 150 - Calculus I with Review (4)
MATH 151 - Calculus I (3)
MATH 154 - Calculus I for the Biological Sciences (3)
and one of
MATH 152 - Calculus II (3)
MATH 155 - Calculus II for the Biological Sciences (3)
and one of
PHYS 101 - Physics for the Life Sciences I (3)
PHYS 120 - Mechanics and Modern Physics (3)
and one of
PHYS 102 - Physics for the Life Sciences II (3)
PHYS 121 - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (3)
and one of
STAT 201 - Statistics for the Life Sciences (3)
STAT 270 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)
UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
Students complete all of
EVSC 300 - Seminar in Environmental Science (3)
EVSC 305 - Methods in Environmental Science (4)
EVSC 400 - Environmental Science Capstone (4)
STAT 302 - Analysis of Experimental and Observational Data (3)
and two of
REM 319 - Environmental and Planning Law (3)
REM 320W - Ethics and the Environment (3)
REM 321 - Ecological Economics (4)
REM 356W - Environmental Policy (3)
and two of
BISC 407 - Population Dynamics (3)
BISC 412 - Aquatic Ecology (3)
BISC 414 - Limnology (3)
BISC 420 - Community Ecology (3)
GEOG 315 - World Ecosystems (4)
GEOG 316 - Global Biogeochemical and Water Cycles (4)
and two of
BISC 309 - Conservation Biology (3)
BISC 413 - Fisheries Ecology (3)
BISC 435 - Introduction to Pest Management (3)
REM 311 - Applied Ecology (3)
REM 375 - Ecology and Conservation of Coastal BC (3)
REM 423 - Research Methods in Fisheries Assessment (4)
REM 445 - Environmental Risk Assessment (4)
REM 471 - Forest Ecosystem Management (4)
and one of
BISC 306 - Invertebrate Biology (4)
BISC 316 - Vertebrate Biology (4)
BISC 317 - Insect Biology (3)
BISC 326 - Biology of Algae and Fungi (3)
BISC 337 - Plant Biology (4)
and one of
EASC 305 - Quantitative Methods for the Earth Sciences (3)
GEOG 352 - Spatial Analysis (4)
GEOG 353 - Advanced Remote Sensing (4)
GEOG 355 - Geographical Information Science II (4)
GEOG 356 - 3D GIScience (4)
REM 412 - Environmental Modeling (4)
REM 423 - Research Methods in Fisheries Assessment (4)
STAT 403 - Intermediate Sampling and Experimental Design (3)
and one of
BISC 306 - Invertebrate Biology (4)
BISC 309 - Conservation Biology (3)
BISC 316 - Vertebrate Biology (4)
BISC 317 - Insect Biology (3)
BISC 326 - Biology of Algae and Fungi (3)
BISC 337 - Plant Biology (4)
BISC 407 - Population Dynamics (3)
BISC 412 - Aquatic Ecology (3)
BISC 413 - Fisheries Ecology (3)
BISC 414 - Limnology (3)
BISC 420 - Community Ecology (3)
BISC 435 - Introduction to Pest Management (3)
GEOG 315 - World Ecosystems (4)
GEOG 316 - Global Biogeochemical and Water Cycles (4)
REM 311 - Applied Ecology (3)
REM 375 - Ecology and Conservation of Coastal BC (3)
REM 423 - Research Methods in Fisheries Assessment (4)
REM 471 - Forest Ecosystem Management (4)
Environmental Earth Systems Area of Concentration
LOWER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
Students complete all of
BISC 101 - General Biology (4)
BISC 102 - General Biology (4)
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II (2)
EASC 101 - Dynamic Earth (3)
EVSC 100 - Introduction to Environmental Science (3)
EVSC 201W - Environmental Science in Practice (4)
GEOG 111 - Earth Systems (3)
and one of
GEOG 100 - Our World: Introducing Human Geography (3)
REM 100 - Global Change (3)
and two of
GEOG 213 - Introduction to Geomorphology (3)
GEOG 214 - Weather and Climate (3)
GEOG 215 - The Biosphere (3)
and one of
GEOG 253 - Introduction to Remote Sensing (3)
GEOG 255 - Geographical Information Science I (3)
and one of
MATH 150 - Calculus I with Review (4)
MATH 151 - Calculus I (3)
MATH 154 - Calculus I for the Biological Sciences (3)
and one of
MATH 152 - Calculus II (3)
MATH 155 - Calculus II for the Biological Sciences (3)
and one of
PHYS 101 - Physics for the Life Sciences I (3)
PHYS 120 - Mechanics and Modern Physics (3)
and one of
PHYS 102 - Physics for the Life Sciences II (3)
PHYS 121 - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (3)
and one of
STAT 201 - Statistics for the Life Sciences (3)
STAT 270 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)
UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
Students complete all of
EVSC 300 - Seminar in Environmental Science (3)
EVSC 305 - Methods in Environmental Science (4)
EVSC 400 - Environmental Science Capstone (4)
and two of
REM 319 - Environmental and Planning Law (3)
REM 320W - Ethics and the Environment (3)
REM 321 - Ecological Economics (4)
REM 356W - Environmental Policy (3)
and six of, with at least one from the 400 division
BISC 414 - Limnology (3)
EASC 209W - Environmental Geoscience (4) *
EASC 304 - Hydrogeology (3)
EASC 314 - Principles of Glaciology (3)
EVSC 334 - Earth's Past Climates (4) or REM 334 - Earth's Past Climates (4)
GEOG 310 - Physical Geography Field Course (4)
GEOG 311 - Hydrology (4)
GEOG 313 - River Geomorphology (4)
GEOG 314 - The Climate System (4)
GEOG 315 - World Ecosystems (4)
GEOG 316 - Global Biogeochemical and Water Cycles (4)
GEOG 317 - Soil Science (4)
GEOG 411 - Advanced Hydrology (4)
GEOG 412W - Glacial Processes and Environments (4)
GEOG 414 - Climate Change (4)
GEOG 417W - Advanced Soil Science (4)
and one of
BISC 309 - Conservation Biology (3)
BISC 420 - Community Ecology (3)
REM 311 - Applied Ecology (3)
REM 370 - Global Resource Issues in Oceanography (4)
REM 375 - Ecology and Conservation of Coastal BC (3)
REM 423 - Research Methods in Fisheries Assessment (4)
REM 431 - Climate Change and Environmental Management (4)
REM 445 - Environmental Risk Assessment (4)
REM 471 - Forest Ecosystem Management (4)
and one of
EASC 305 - Quantitative Methods for the Earth Sciences (3)
GEOG 351 - Multimedia Cartography (4)
GEOG 352 - Spatial Analysis (4)
GEOG 353 - Advanced Remote Sensing (4)
GEOG 355 - Geographical Information Science II (4)
GEOG 356 - 3D GIScience (4)
REM 412 - Environmental Modeling (4)
STAT 302 - Analysis of Experimental and Observational Data (3)
* Students who select this course may be required to complete additional upper division units to meet their degree requirements. Please see the Environmental Science Advisor.
Environmetrics Area of Concentration
LOWER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
Students complete all of
BISC 101 - General Biology (4)
BISC 102 - General Biology (4)
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II (2)
EVSC 100 - Introduction to Environmental Science (3)
EVSC 201W - Environmental Science in Practice (4)
GEOG 111 - Earth Systems (3)
MATH 232 - Applied Linear Algebra (3)
MATH 251 - Calculus III (3)
REM 100 - Global Change (3)
STAT 270 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)
STAT 285 - Intermediate Probability and Statistics (3)
and one of
MATH 150 - Calculus I with Review (4)
MATH 151 - Calculus I (3)
MATH 154 - Calculus I for the Biological Sciences (3)
and one of
MATH 152 - Calculus II (3)
MATH 155 - Calculus II for the Biological Sciences (3)
and one of
PHYS 101 - Physics for the Life Sciences I (3)
PHYS 120 - Mechanics and Modern Physics (3)
and one of
PHYS 102 - Physics for the Life Sciences II (3)
PHYS 121 - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (3)
UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
Students complete all of
EVSC 300 - Seminar in Environmental Science (3)
EVSC 305 - Methods in Environmental Science (4)
EVSC 400 - Environmental Science Capstone (4)
STAT 350 - Linear Models in Applied Statistics (3)
STAT 410 - Statistical Analysis of Sample Surveys (3)
STAT 430 - Statistical Design and Analysis of Experiments (3)
and two of
REM 319 - Environmental and Planning Law (3)
REM 320W - Ethics and the Environment (3)
REM 321 - Ecological Economics (4)
REM 356W - Environmental Policy (3)
and one of
STAT 445 - Applied Multivariate Analysis (3)
STAT 475 - Applied Discrete Data Analysis (3)
STAT 485 - Applied Time Series Analysis (3)
plus 12 upper division science based units from the Faculty of Environment or the Faculty of Science with approval from the Director.
Water Science Area of Concentration
LOWER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
Students complete all of
BISC 101 - General Biology (4)
BISC 102 - General Biology (4)
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II (2)
CHEM 126 - General Chemistry Laboratory II (2)
EASC 101 - Dynamic Earth (3)
EVSC 100 - Introduction to Environmental Science (3)
EVSC 201W - Environmental Science in Practice (4)
GEOG 111 - Earth Systems (3)
GEOG 213 - Introduction to Geomorphology (3)
GEOG 214 - Weather and Climate (3)
and one of
BISC 204 - Introduction to Ecology (3)
GEOG 215 - The Biosphere (3)
and one of
GEOG 253 - Introduction to Remote Sensing (3)
GEOG 255 - Geographical Information Science I (3)
and one of
MATH 150 - Calculus I with Review (4)
MATH 151 - Calculus I (3)
MATH 154 - Calculus I for the Biological Sciences (3)
and one of
MATH 152 - Calculus II (3)
MATH 155 - Calculus II for the Biological Sciences (3)
and one of
PHYS 101 - Physics for the Life Sciences I (3)
PHYS 120 - Mechanics and Modern Physics (3)
and one of
PHYS 102 - Physics for the Life Sciences II (3)
PHYS 121 - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (3)
and one of
STAT 201 - Statistics for the Life Sciences (3)
STAT 270 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)
UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
Students complete all of
BISC 414 - Limnology (3)
EASC 304 - Hydrogeology (3)
EASC 315W - Geochemistry of Natural Waters (3)
EVSC 300 - Seminar in Environmental Science (3)
EVSC 305 - Methods in Environmental Science (4)
EVSC 400 - Environmental Science Capstone (4)
GEOG 311 - Hydrology (4)
GEOG 313 - River Geomorphology (4)
GEOG 316 - Global Biogeochemical and Water Cycles (4)
and two of
REM 319 - Environmental and Planning Law (3)
REM 320W - Ethics and the Environment (3)
REM 321 - Ecological Economics (4)
REM 356W - Environmental Policy (3)
and three of, with at least one from the 400 division
EASC 314 - Principles of Glaciology (3)
EASC 405 - Water, Environment, and Climate Change (3)
EASC 410 - Groundwater Contamination and Transport (3)
EASC 415 - Groundwater Modelling (3)
EASC 416 - Field and Lab Techniques in Hydrogeology (3)
GEOG 310 - Physical Geography Field Course (4)
GEOG 314 - The Climate System (4)
GEOG 317 - Soil Science (4)
GEOG 411 - Advanced Hydrology (4)
GEOG 412W - Glacial Processes and Environments (4)
GEOG 414 - Climate Change (4)
GEOG 417W - Advanced Soil Science (4)
REM 370 - Global Resource Issues in Oceanography (4)
REM 375 - Ecology and Conservation of Coastal BC (3)
REM 412 - Environmental Modeling (4)
REM 423 - Research Methods in Fisheries Assessment (4)
REM 445 - Environmental Risk Assessment (4)
The world is changing rapidly and so is the full range of career opportunities that await. Armed with the necessary knowledge and skills, graduates pursue careers in jobs such as:
Agricultural Economist
Cartographer
Coastal Zone Manager
Community Developer
Conservation Officer
Ecologist
Environmental Protection Officer
Geochemist
Geographer
Land Developer
Oceanographer
Resource Analyst
Soil Scientist
Surveyor
Urban and Regional Planner
Insurance-Single: 850 CAD/year
