Master of Climate Change (MCC)

The program information below was valid for the spring 2017 term (May 1, 2017 - August 31, 2017). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Program type 
  • Master's
  • Professional
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Master's Research Paper
  • Coursework

• Minimum requirements 
  • Students must have completed a four‐year honours Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a humanities, social science, health, engineering, science, or business discipline with an overall average of at least 75% in the final 20 courses (or last 2 years).
  • In some instances, students with a three‐year degree are accepted into a "qualifying period" whereby they take one or two terms of prescribed undergraduate courses and then, if grades on these are high enough (usually 75%), the student is allowed to proceed into the MCC program. Please contact the Department Coordinator for more information on qualifying years.
• Application materials 
  • Résumé
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    normally from academic sources, but may be from professional sources.

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Master's Research Paper option:

The Master’s Research Paper option requires the successful completion of 5.0 units of credit comprised as follows:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• 3 required courses (1.5 units):
  • GEMCC 601 Climate Change: Physical Science Basis
  • GEMCC 602 Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation
  • GEMCC 603 Climate Change Mitigation
• 3 climate change electives (1.5 units):
  • Students are able to tailor their program of study based on their individual interests by completing 3 elective courses from the following list of designated climate/climate change focused electives. The availability of MCC designated electives varies year‐to‐year, including newly approved courses.
    • ENBUS 621 Enterprise Carbon Management (online delivery)
    • GEMCC 610 Climate Prediction, Modeling and Scenarios
    • GEMCC 620 Climate and Society
    • GEMCC 621 Advanced Climatic Change Adaptation
    • GEMCC 622 Climate Change, Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction
    • GEMCC 630 Land Use and the Carbon Cycle
    • GEMCC 640 Climate Policy, Law and Institutions
    • GEMCC 642 Climate Compatible Development
    • GEOG 601 Environmental Change and Remote Sensing
    • GEOG 603 Remote Sensing and Earth System Science
    • GEOG 642 Micrometeorology
    • GEOG 648/EARTH 646/BIOL 646 Paleolimnology
    • GEOG 669/INDEV606 Energy and Sustainability
    • INDEV 603 Global Health (online delivery)
    • PLAN 674 Site Planning and Design Studio
    • SUSM 650 Environmental Finance
• 2 open electives (1.0 units) selected in consultation with academic advisor from other areas of specialization within the program or from partnering programs (suitable courses can be drawn from any other academic program that is willing to allow the student to enroll in a course).
• Failure to maintain a course average of 75% or better results in an automatic review of the student's status in the program. The review committee will consist of the Program Director and the Graduate Officer. The review committee may require that the student withdraw from the program.

Link(s) to courses

• Climate Change (GEMCC) courses

Master’s Research Paper

• The Master's Research Paper (1.0 unit) will normally be completed in the Spring (third) term. Each student undertaking the research paper option will identify a topic and a suitable advisor in the first two terms in the program. The student will develop a research proposal for approval by their advisor. The research paper should be approximately 12,000 words/50 pages in length, and include clearly defined sections on 1) problem statement, 2) status of research, 3) research procedure, 4) findings, and 5) conclusions. The research paper is evaluated by the advisor and one reader designated by the Program Director.

Coursework option:

The Coursework (Graduate Studies Practicum/Professional Internship) option requires the successful completion of
5.0 units of credit comprised as follows:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• 3 required courses (1.5 units):
  • GEMCC 601 Climate Change: Physical Science Basis
  • GEMCC 602 Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation
  • GEMCC 603 Climate Change Mitigation
• 3 climate change electives (1.5 units):
  • Students are able to tailor their program of study based on their individual interests by completing 3 elective courses from the following list of designated climate/climate change focused electives. The availability of MCC designated electives varies year‐to‐year, including newly approved courses.
    • ENBUS 621 Enterprise Carbon Management (online delivery)
    • GEMCC 610 Climate Prediction, Modeling and Scenarios
    • GEMCC 620 Climate and Society
    • GEMCC 621 Advanced Climatic Change Adaptation
    • GEMCC 622 Climate Change, Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction
    • GEMCC 630 Land Use and the Carbon Cycle
    • GEMCC 640 Climate Policy, Law and Institutions
    • GEMCC 642 Climate Compatible Development
    • GEOG 601 Environmental Change and Remote Sensing
    • GEOG 603 Remote Sensing and Earth System Science
    • GEOG 642 Micrometeorology
    • GEOG 648/EARTH 646/BIOL 646 Paleolimnology
    • GEOG 669/INDEV606 Energy and Sustainability
    • INDEV 603 Global Health (online delivery)
    • PLAN 674 Site Planning and Design Studio
    • SUSM 650 Environmental Finance
• 2 open electives (1.0 units) selected in consultation with academic advisor from other areas of specialization within the program or from partnering programs (suitable courses can be drawn from any other academic program that is willing to allow the student to enroll in a course).
• Failure to maintain a course average of 75% or better results in an automatic review of the student's status in the program. The review committee will consist of the Program Director and the Graduate Officer. The review committee may require that the student withdraw from the program.

Link(s) to courses

• Climate Change (GEMCC) courses

Graduate Studies Practicum

• A research or policy/planning focused internship/Graduate Studies Practicum (1.0 unit) is available for students to integrate theoretical and practical knowledge and experience they gain and reflect upon it in a written report that will be evaluated by the advisor. Requests to undertake the four‐month internship must be approved by the Program Director. It is the student’s responsibility to identify potential organizations with which to undertake their internship. Students will prepare an internship proposal, outlining how the work of the organization relates to the student’s area of concentration and the professional experience sought through the internship. A letter of support from the organization indicating the role and location of the internship and willingness of the direct supervisor to mentor the intern will be submitted to the Program Director. Upon completion of the internship, the student will submit a written report (no more than 25 pages) to the Program Director that summarizes the work experience gained (day to day activities, specific projects and key accomplishments) and reflects on linkage to the program curriculum and professional development goals.