The Department of Environment and Resource Studies offers both an Honours Regular Academic Plan and an Honours Co-operative Academic Plan. These two Honours degree Academic Plans are oriented towards study of the many dimensions of human inter-relationships with various environments, including natural and managed landscapes, buildings and cities, small groups, communities, and whole societies. Through problem- and issue-oriented inquiry into such complex relationships, along with related study in contributing academic disciplines, ample scope is provided for acquiring a broad-based education as well as technical knowledge and skills.
The current emphases in research and scholarship among the faculty fall into four major thematic areas:
- Sustainable Environmental and Resource Systems
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
- Natural Area Management
- Sustainable Communities
Many of the positions held by graduates of the Department can be described by one of these headings.
An even more important goal of the Academic Plan offered by the Department is the development of abilities to think and to analyse which are not artificially constrained by conventional boundaries of academic disciplines. The importance of the ability to analyse environmental situations from a broad perspective derives from the recognition that the complex interrelated problems of the contemporary world and of the future will be resolved only through this type of approach. These problems require attention from people who not only have specialized technical abilities, but also have increased perspective, awareness, and understanding. They must also have the ability to work effectively in cooperation with others and to take responsibility for the human, social, and environmental implications of the results.
The Environment and Resource Studies Academic Plans are flexible and do not concentrate on one technical or pre-professional field to meet specifications for particular jobs. Rather, by presenting a wide range of subjects and problems inherent in the theme of human-environment relationships, the Academic Plan allows students to see for themselves what the needs of society are. Through selection of topics for study within required courses, through selection of electives, and through summer work experiences in the Regular Academic Plan and work-term experiences in the Co-operative Academic Plan, students can equip themselves for careers which will meet those societal needs.
Some graduates of the Department of Environment and Resource Studies further enhance their qualifications through graduate study.
Graduates holding the BES degree in Environment and Resource Studies have found employment in a range of government agencies in fields such as natural resources management, pollution control, social services planning, and urban affairs as well as with private corporate and consulting firms in the communications industry and environmental design; with other universities as full-time teaching or research personnel; and with community agencies in various social programs. Many also dedicate themselves to considerable voluntary work with environmental and community-based organizations. Others who have graduated from Environment and Resource Studies have gone on to post-graduate work in programs such as urban and metropolitan studies, natural resources administration, regional planning, environmental engineering, law, systems design, teacher training, adult education, and communications studies.
The Department is fortunate in having a multidisciplinary faculty whose formal education and experience range over a number of disciplines in the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. They bring to the Academic Plan qualifications in such fields as agriculture, ecology systems, environmental planning, communications, economics, geography, law, mathematics, physics, political science, and sociology, as well as a variety of experiences in such diverse areas as ecological research, economic studies, urban affairs, technology assessment, and work with international organizations.
For the approach used in Environment and Resource Studies, considerable academic innovation has been desirable. Besides lectures and labs, the Academic Plan emphasizes open-door, personal contact among students and faculty members; student-selected projects and community work; field trips to environments other than lecture halls; team teaching; a regular flow of visitors from outside the University; and workshop instruction to help develop techniques and skills relevant to environmental studies. Students in both the Regular and Co-operative Environment and Resource Studies Academic Plans are encouraged to relate aspects of their Academic Plan to summer or work-term employment, involvement with community organizations or other self-generated activity. Students often incorporate this experiential learning into the university-based educational process. For many students a "theme"-oriented Academic Plan of this kind offers a more satisfying undergraduate education than traditional alternatives.
More information may be obtained from the Undergraduate Officer, Department of Environment and Resource Studies.