Environmental Studies (GG/ES)
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies offers eight different degrees in Physical and Human Geography, as well as a degree in Environmental Studies. Regardless of the individual degree pursued, all of the degree programs prepare students to establish themselves in a variety of stimulating careers ranging from environmental consulting to teaching, from planning to intelligence work, and from public administration to development work overseas. Because of their considerable breadth of theoretical and applied knowledge, geographers are frequently part of multidisciplinary teams working in the natural sciences, business and industry, and public service: geographers are 'generalists' in the best sense of the word!

To deepen their professional preparation, our students also focus on one or several fields of expertise: Physical Geography, Human Geography, GIS and Geomatics, Health Geography, Tourism, and Environmental and Resource Management. Students looking for a further specialization are able to advance their studies with our internationally respected faculty. For example, the department plays a leadership role in the Cold Regions Research Centre, a world leader in polar and mountain research, including northern and paleohydrology. In addition, our faculty are linked with researchers in Faculty of Science through the Laurier Institute for Water Science (LIWS).

Similarly, in the field of Human Geography, students can pursue four different specializations: Urban and Economic Spaces, Landscapes and Identity, Tourism and Travel Behaviour, and Regional Geographies of Canada, each with their dedicated set of courses from first to fourth year level.

For students of all specializations, the department offers a variety of field courses, as well as the opportunity for co-op studies.

Honours BA, Minor and ES Courses:

Department Information on this page
 
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

Full-Time Faculty

 
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Program Information

 
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ES Course Notes

For the purposes of teachers' college applications, any course from the following list is considered a Canadian content course: NO201/GG201, GG232, GG250, GG256, GG350, GG354, GG453, GESC494.

 
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GESC Courses

Scroll down below the following ES courses for the complete listing of GESC courses:

 
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Course Offerings
Course #TitleCredits
ES101 Introduction to Environmental Studies 0.5
ES102 Environmental Problems and Approaches 0.5
ES110 Environment, Sustainability and Society 0.5
ES295 Ecotourism and the Environment 0.5
ES296 Introduction to Sustainability 0.5
ES297 Climate Change and Collective Action [1] 0.5
ES357 Greening the Campus 0.5
ES371 Indigenous Environmental Knowledges 0.5
ES392 Environmental Impact Assessment 0.5
ES393 Environmental Migration 0.5
ES394 Social-Ecological Systems Approaches 0.5
ES401 Theory and Practice of Ecosystem-Based Management 1.0
ES496 Theory and Practice of Sustainability 0.5
ES498 Environmental Thought 0.5
GESC251 Cartography 0.5
GESC254 Geographic Information and Analysis 0.5
GESC258 Geographical Research Methods 0.5
GESC290 Environmental Concepts and Approaches 0.5
GESC291 Development and the Environment 0.5
GESC297 Geography of Water Resources - Canada 0.5
GESC360 Research Methods and Thesis Preparation 0.5
GESC362 Global Food Systems 0.5
GESC391 Wildlife and Rural Land Resources Management 0.5
GESC397 World Water Environment and Development Issues 0.5
GESC398 Parks and Protected Areas 0.5
GESC399 Third Year Field Studies 0.5
GESC450 Thesis 1.0
GESC451 Field Studies 0.5
GESC465 Capstone Urban Sustainability Project 1.0
GESC493 Problems in Land Resources Management 0.5
GESC494 Northern Resources and Environments 0.5
 
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Senate/Editorial Changes

  1. Senate Academic Planning Committee Revisions February 26, 2019: ES297 New course; effective September 1, 2019.