Current Course Offerings

ES8801 Facility Siting & Env. Risk Assessment
This course explores the theory and practice of public facility siting and the role that risk analysis and risk assessment play in the siting process. The course will examine the nature of facility siting conflicts, the effects of objective and perceived risks, the methods used in risk analysis and assessment, and the means
presently employed in environmental management practice to analyze and manage risks that are the unavoidable consequences of many large-scale public undertakings. Antirequisite: PLE815. 1 Credit

ES8901 Chem and Biological Pathways
This course is devoted to the examination of fundamental and applied aspects in chemical and bio- geochemical processes in the environment. It will primarily deal with the mechanisms which affect the dispersion of naturally occurring and xenobiotic compounds in soils and water. The use of such information and its incorporation into environmental models will be covered. The effect of environmental impacts on chemical and biological processes will be emphasized. The course will include a combination of lectures, student-led seminars and case studies, and a computer-modeling workshop/laboratory. (Platform Course) 1 Credit

ES8903 Pollution Prevention
The course examines a number of industry-environment interactions. It discusses pollution prevention and industrial ecology, and it presents a survey of environmental concerns including material and energy budgets, life-cycle assessment, and industrial process wastes and their minimization. Design for environmental quality is discussed including energy use and design for energy efficiency. The course explores the future of industrial activity with regard to the environment and it reviews studies in selected industrial applications. (Platform Course) Antirequisite: ME8149. 1 Credit

ES8904 Waste Management
This course describes the development of solid waste management in response to legislative requirements for waste transport and disposal. To know when solid waste is a resource or a disposal problem requires its analysis and classification. Processing and handling of solid waste demands the proper application of available technology and basic engineering principles. These will be explained and followed by more advanced principles related to separation (including recycling), processing, and transformation of solid waste. Hazardous waste and hazardous materials, as well as federal and provincial regulatory processes governing hazardous wastes, will also be examined. Waste stabilization and solidification, land disposal of waste, environmental site and subsurface characterization will be discussed. Physical conversion of waste including incineration technologies, chemical and biological conversion technologies as well as successful combinations of the three will be described. The course will conclude with a brief review of the main issues in integrated solid waste management. (Platform Course) Antirequisite: CV8207. 1 Credit

ES8906 Surface Water Pollution Analysis
A quantitative analysis of surface and subsurface water pollution pathways is crucial to the development of water pollution prevention and control plans. This course discusses the point and non-point pollution sources in urbanized areas with emphasis on modeling approaches and analysis techniques. It examines the surface pollution processes. Topics include: surface hydrology, municipal water use cycle, urban drainage systems, point and non-point pollution sources and pollution control and treatment strategies for sanitary, storm, combined sewer systems. Antirequisite: CV8202 1 Credit

ES8907 Wastewater Engineering
The course is an advanced description of the unit operations in wastewater engineering. It includes physical, chemical and biological processes. In the first case, filtration, sedimentation and clarification of solids will be discussed. Liquid-liquid and gas-liquid separations will follow. Chemical operations will include neutralization, precipitation, chemical redox and ion exchange. The last part of the course will cover fixed and suspended growth biological processes. 1 Credit

ES8908 Soil Remediation
This course overviews the design and operation of processes for soil remediation. Contaminants of interest include halogenated and non-halogenated volatiles, halogenated and non-halogenated semi-volatiles, fuel hydrocarbons, pesticides and inorganics. Seven groups of technologies will be examined: (1) excavation and off-site disposal, (2) soil venting, (3) bioremediation, (4) thermal technologies, (5) chemical technologies, (6) mechanical flushing and washing, and (7) natural attenuation. Antirequisite CV8204.
1 Credit

ES8909 Environmental Biotechnology
This course, as a series of lectures and student-led discussions, covers the application of biologically-based technologies in bioenergy and bio-remediation. Areas of application covered include biologically-based remediation of air, soil, solid waste, wastewater, bio-energy, and biofuels. The relevant technologies are discussed along with the potential positive and negative impacts which may be associated with the use of biotechnologies in the environment. 1 Credit

ES8910 Energy and the Environment
A review of thermodynamic fundamentals is provided including combustion, electricity generation, co- generation, heating, cooling and incineration. Energy utilizing technologies in the residential, commercial, institutional, industrial and transportation sectors and their impacts on the environment are examined. Methods and technologies for controlling and reducing the environmental impacts of energy technologies are discussed. The course covers the design of energy technologies for environmental management. (Platform Course) 1 Credit

ES8911 Ecotoxicology
The course examines the fate and transport of the major inorganic and organic contaminants in the biosphere. Their properties, release, environmental destiny, and impact on ecological systems will be studied. Included will be the molecular basis of pollutant toxicity, progressing to consequent effects at higher levels of organization including cellular, whole organism, population, community, and ecosystem. From lower levels of ecological structure to global effects, including geopolitical ramifications, it provides perspectives on this multidisciplinary science. 1 Credit

ES8912 Applied Ecology
This course will address fundamental principles and approaches in ecology and illustrate how they are applied to current environmental problems. We will cover topics such as application of regression analysis in natural resource management; landscape ecology and global change; fisheries management; multivariate descriptive techniques (ordination); and ecological processes structuring biological communities in space and time. Emphasis will be placed on application of ecological theory in practice, and on addressing current natural resource management concerns. 1 Credit

ES8913 Special Topics: Env Applied Science
This course provides the opportunity for the program occasionally to offer a course in response to special non-recurring circumstances. The content will relate to specific topical areas related to environmental applied science that are not covered by existing courses. The particular timing, theme, and structure of the course will vary. 1 Credit

ES8914: Principles of Hydrology
Hydrology is the science dealing with water on Earth. It considers the distribution and circulation of water, its physical and chemical properties, and its interaction with ecological and human systems. This course will cover the principles of how water moves between the atmosphere, Earth’s surface and subsurface, its role in the transport of chemicals and materials, its interactions with ecological systems, and the impacts of unsustainable human behaviours on water quantity and quality. 1 Credit

ES8920 Environmental Policy and Mgmt
This course focuses on existing notions of policy formation by drawing on a range of policy theories and environmental policy case studies. It examines the relationship between public policymaking and environmental issues, and reviews major themes such as risk, complexity, evidence, expertise, technology, and institutions. This course is interdisciplinary in nature and examines a range of environmental policy studies that help to explain how environmental awareness and scientific evidence affect the policy process. 1 Credit [restricted to Masters level students]

ES8921 Environmental Law
The field of environmental law in Canada continues to have a dramatic evolution. This course covers major topics of environmental law, including constitutional division of powers, relevance of administrative law, endurance of common law and importance of civil litigation, as well as the role of science in standard setting for regulatory law. Course materials emphasize the substantial contrasts between: common law, criminal law and regulatory law approaches to environmental issues, covering many significant Canadian cases. 1 Credit

ES8922 GIS for Environmental Mgmt
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used to examine the spatial dimensions of environmental data and provide capabilities for data analysis in managing environmental problems. GIS systems are being increasingly recognized for their environmental modeling capabilities. This course indicates the uses of GIS in support of site evaluations, effects monitoring, policy development and decision making. Environmental management research opportunities are explored through lectures, case studies, seminars and hands-on activities using major GIS software packages. 1 Credit

ES8923 Environmental Assessment
This course provides an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to the application and evaluation of current biophysical, social and economic impact assessment. It examines environmental assessment as an environmental decision making instrument in provincial, federal and international contexts and it reviews methods to predict, evaluate and mitigate impacts in both human and natural environments. The course reviews the technical and scientific concepts that must be addressed in a comprehensive assessment of project impacts on complex, interacting physical and human systems. This is complemented by a critical appraisal of institutional structure and decision making in environmental management. Evaluation methods and practical applications are emphasized. 1 Credit

ES8926 Environmental Economics
Environmental economics considers economic tools and analyses and their application in understanding environmental issues. Key economic concepts such as opportunity cost, marginal benefits and costs, and consumer and producer surplus are applied in examining the relationship between economic activities and the environment. The equimarginal principle, the Coase theorem, and the central concepts in cost- effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses are discussed. Case studies are used to illustrate the role of economics in evaluating environmental policies and regulations. The course also examines how business managers are meeting the environmental challenge. The question of how environmental problems and policies affect different groups within society is a central focus of the course. 1 Credit

ES8927 Risk Assessment in Environmental Mgmt
This course examines the application of risk analysis and assessment in environmental management. It reviews the methods of estimating probabilities and consequences of risks in the environment including new technologies, chemicals, biological agents and risk generating facilities. Risk analysis includes risk identification, risk pathways, exposure models and dose-response relationships. The course also sets out the principles of risk management and the process by which risks are perceived and communicated in making environmental decisions. A critical evaluation of risk assessment in environmental decision making is supported by a review of selected cases. 1 Credit

ES8928 Special Topics: Environmental Management
This course provides the opportunity for the program occasionally to offer a course in response to special non-recurring circumstances. The content will relate to specific topical areas related to environmental management that are not covered by existing courses. The particular timing, theme, and structure of the course will vary. 1 Credit

ES8929 Responding to Climate Change
This course provides an examination of the complex nature and underpinnings of the international discussion on anthropogenic climate change. The course reviews the technical and social concepts that must be addressed in a comprehensive understanding of the evolving response to the changing climate system, particularly within the context of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change. 1 Credit

ES8930 Seminar: Env Appl Sci and Mgt
This course introduces students to a range of communication strategies relevant to environmental problems and the way they are being studied. Students will prepare and deliver multiple research/project presentations, and practice their communication to a variety of stakeholder audiences. It is expected that students will have a supervisor and program approved proposal, and have conducted research or project work prior to enrolling.1 Credit

ES8931 Management Fundamentals for Environmental Professionals
This course is an introduction to the principles of management and their application to business in the context of environmental management. Students are taught about the various functional areas of an organization, the strategic process, and environmental management systems. Topics include leadership and organization, accounting and finance, marketing, operations, risk management, strategic planning, and responsible business. Case studies are an integral part of the course. 1 Credit

ES8932: Sustainable Transportation
Transportation systems need to move more people and cargo, more efficiently, safely, and equitably in the cleanest ways to mitigate local pollution, emissions, and other types of environmental damage. This course considers the sustainability of transportation from within and beyond cities to aviation and shipping. In this integrative project-based case analysis course, students creatively apply modern solutions, including academic and professional transportation planning tools, to envision the future of sustainable transportation systems. 1 Credit

ES8950 Independent Study Env Sci Mgmt, Masters
Individual directed study of subject areas in environmental applied science and management not addressed in the current curriculum will be carried out under the supervision of a faculty member. A program of supervised, advanced study related to the student’s area of concentration will be negotiated on an individual basis with the supervising faculty member. The independent study course is normally intended for students in the final semesters of study. 1 Credit

ES8951 International Environmental Field Research
Emphasis in this course is on the broadening of a student’s perspectives by incorporating field experience in an international setting. The course provides an opportunity to undertake an individual (or group) research project under the direct supervision of a faculty member in the field. A program of supervised research will be developed collaboratively. 1 Credit

ES9001 Adv Studies in Env Policy Mgmt
This course provides an advanced and critical analysis of the relationship between public policymaking and environmental issues. Drawing from a range of theories and case studies, students will develop the skills to evaluate and understand how challenging and controversial themes in environmental science such as risk, complexity, evidence, expertise, technology, and institutions, shape and are shaped by the policymaking process. It is an interdisciplinary course that will require students to engage in critical discussion of a range of literature that has direct bearing on explaining how environmental issues, scientific evidence, and the policy process converge. 1 Credit.

ES9002 Research Methods: Env App Sc and Mgt
This seminar course involves study and application of methods appropriate to research in the environmental sciences and environmental management studies. It focuses on the challenges of engaging in research in a multi-disciplinary environment where students examine the conventions of research in their study areas. The purpose is to enable students to identify valid questions open to research and to introduce the methods needed to answer the question in ways that are unambiguous and supportable. 1 Credit

ES9950 Independent Study Envir Sci and Mgmt, PhD
Individual directed study of subject areas in environmental applied science and management not addressed in the current curriculum will be carried out under the supervision of the doctoral student’s principal faculty supervisor. A program of supervised advanced study will be negotiated on an individual basis with the faculty supervisor. A proposal will require the approval of both the faculty supervisor and program director before enrollment. 1 Credit

ES8957: Anti-colonial research methodologies
This course examines the risks and rewards of researching in marginalized communities, taking into account the complicated histories and power differences that shape communities' relationships to research and researchers. Using decades of literature on anti-colonial theory and methodologies this course will guide students toward more equitable, ethical, and justice-focused research by considering the topics of intersectionality, decolonization, reciprocity, relationality, comradeship, and Indigenous methodologies. 1 Credit.

ES8953: Climate Change and Food Systems
Food production contributes substantially to climate change and environmental degradation. The food system is also vulnerable to climate effects. As such, the way the system functions puts food production at risk. Moreover this food system vulnerability is experienced inequitably by different groups. This transdisciplinary course explores these food challenges and unpacks the social, political, and historical context for them while considering evidence-based solutions and innovations that could lead to a more just food system. 1 Credit

ES8954:Power & Equity in Env. Practice
Managing the environment involves many stakeholders with diverse interests (equity-seeking groups, NGOs, industry, government, scientists). We examine how science and politics intersect, shaping who is included/excluded in research, management and decision-making and related equity and justice implications. We consider colonial legacies underpinning research and management institutions and how knowledge, authority, and ‘best-practice’ is being challenged and evolving within and outside such institutions in an attempt to foster more equitable environments. 1 Credit

ES8955: Environmental Forensics
Environmental forensics investigations allow us to bridge the gap between contamination in the environment and its source. This understanding can be used to hold polluters accountable, identify measures to reduce contamination, and enforce regulation. In this interdisciplinary course, students will learn the fundamental theoretical concepts as well as hands-on skills to plan and conduct environmental forensic investigations ranging from analytical chemistry to the investigation of historical records, and data science. 1 Credit

ES8956: Sustainable Product Design
Whether it be fashion or packaging - the production and overconsumption of “fast” products is depleting our natural resources, perpetuating inequality and contributing to environmental damage. This course bridges the science of sustainability with the needs of society and the environment through design. From innovative technologies - to metrics - to policy, case studies are used to appreciate life-cycle thinking, stewardship and strategic frameworks governing sustainable design. 1 Credit