Environment and Resource Studies

Environment and Resource Studies (ERS) offers two options for the Master of Environmental Studies degree: the Thesis Option and the Major Research Paper (MRP) Option.

The degree requirements for each of these options are outlined in the table below.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must possess an Honours Bachelors degree or its equivalent in some environmentally related field, with at least a 75% average in the last two years. The equivalent of at least one year of related work experience is strongly recommended. Acceptance into the program will depend on academic standing, letters of reference, the student's subject area of interest in relation to expertise which can be offered through the MES program, and the availability of financial assistance if such is needed. Applications should be made as early as possible in the academic year for which admission is sought. The deadline for submission of an application is February 1 of the same year for Fall admission. Later applications may be considered if openings remain.

International Students - English Language Proficiency

Applicants who have not completed three or more years of post-secondary work at a Canadian institution or at an institution at which English was the primary language of instruction, or have not been employed for a similar period of time in a position in which English was the primary language of business will be required to provide certification of English language proficiency.

Accepted Examinations and Required Scores

Internet-based TOEFL: minimum score of 100, with minimum skill scores of 26 in each of speaking and writing;

Paper-based TOEFL: minimum of 600 overall is required and 5.0 on the TWE;

IELTS (International English Language Testing System): minimum score of 7.5;

MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery): minimum score of 90;

CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment): minimum score of 70 is required with 70 in writing and 70 in speaking;

EFAS (English for Academic Success [Renison University College, University of Waterloo]): 80% overall in level 400.

Degree Requirements

MES Thesis Option

The program degree requirements for the Thesis option are as follows:

• Completion of 3 required core courses (ERS 670: MES Research Development, ERS 680:Sustainability Foundations, ERS 681: Sustainability Applications)
• Completion of 2 one-term elective courses
• Maintenance of an academic average of at least 75%
• Completion of the Initial Research Proposal Milestone
• Completion and successful defence of a Master's thesis

The minimum period of full-time enrolment in the thesis option is three terms (one year) or its equivalent. Normally degree requirements are to be completed within a maximum of six terms (two years) for full-time study or within 15 terms (five years) for part-time study. Most full-time students complete their course requirements within their first two terms and are prepared for thesis research in their third term. Continuous enrolment is required.

MES Major Research Paper (MRP) Option

The program degree requirements for the Major Research Paper Option are as follows:

• Completion of 4 required core courses (ERS 669: Research Design and Methods, ERS 680: Sustainability Foundations, ERS 670: MES Research Development, ERS 681: Sustainability Applications)
• Completion of 3 elective courses, at least one of which must be in ERS
• Maintenance of an academic average of at least 75%
• Completion of the initial research paper agenda statement milestone in first term
• Acceptance of a major research paper to be evaluated by the student’s advisor and one committee member

The minimum period of full-time enrolment is three terms (one year) or its equivalent. Normally degree requirements are to be completed within a maximum of four terms. Most full-time students complete their course requirements within their first two terms and are prepared to begin Major Research Paper research in their third term. Continuous enrolment is required.