Science Academic Plans

Advisor: See Faculty of Science, academic advisors.

The Honours Environmental Sciences, Ecology Specialization program provides students with knowledge in the fields of biology and earth sciences to address environmental challenges such as climate change, habitat destruction and invasive species. Graduates will be prepared for employment in areas relating to environmental concerns, conservation and ecological monitoring within government and the environmental consulting industry. 

Continuing in Honours Co-operative Environmental Science (Ecology Specialization) requires a cumulative overall average of 60% and a cumulative Science average of 60%.

Successful completion of this program requires:

1. 21.25 units distributed as follows:
   
   • 6.25 BIOL units: BIOL 110, BIOL 120, BIOL 150, BIOL 165, BIOL 239, BIOL 240, BIOL 240L, BIOL 350, BIOL 351, BIOL 354, BIOL 359, BIOL 361, and BIOL 457
   • 0.5 BIOL unit from: BIOL 456 or BIOL 458
   • 2.0 CHEM units: CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, CHEM 123, CHEM 123L, and CHEM 266
   • 0.5 CHEM unit from: CHEM 233 or CHEM 237
   • 3.0 EARTH units: EARTH 121, EARTH 121L, EARTH 122, EARTH 122L, EARTH 123, EARTH 223, and EARTH 342
   • 0.5 PHYS unit: PHYS 111
   • 2.0 BIOL units from: BIOL 309, BIOL 310, BIOL 321, BIOL 323, BIOL 325, BIOL 335L, BIOL 346, BIOL 370, BIOL 371, BIOL 383, BIOL 414, BIOL 426, BIOL 439, BIOL 447, BIOL 448, BIOL 450, BIOL 452, BIOL 455, BIOL 461, BIOL 462, BIOL 470, BIOL 479, BIOL 485, BIOL 488, BIOL 489, BIOL 490A, BIOL 490B, BIOL 490C, or BIOL 499A and BIOL 499B with the following condition:
     
     • 0.5 BIOL unit must be at 400-level
   • 0.5 EARTH unit from: EARTH 321, EARTH 333, EARTH 358, EARTH 421, EARTH 440, EARTH 458, or EARTH 459
   • 0.5 BIOL or EARTH elective unit from: BIOL 211, BIOL 241, BIOL 309, BIOL 310, BIOL 321, BIOL 323, BIOL 325, BIOL 335L, BIOL 346, BIOL 370, BIOL 371, BIOL 383, BIOL 414, BIOL 426, BIOL 439, BIOL 447, BIOL 448, BIOL 450, BIOL 452, BIOL 455, BIOL 461, BIOL 462, BIOL 470, BIOL 479, BIOL 485, BIOL 488, BIOL 489, BIOL 490A, BIOL 490B, BIOL 490C, or BIOL 499A and BIOL 499B; EARTH 221, EARTH 232, EARTH 235, EARTH 238, EARTH 281, EARTH 321, EARTH 333, EARTH 358, EARTH 421, EARTH 440, EARTH 458, or EARTH 459
   • 0.5 ERS unit: ERS 215
   • 0.5 MATH unit: MATH 127
   • 0.5 STAT unit: STAT 202
   • 0.5 SCCOM unit: SCCOM 100
   • 3.5 elective lecture course units
2. Co-operative education requirements that include:
   
   • A minimum of four work terms
   • Four WatPD (professional development) courses that must include PD 1, PD 11, and two PD elective courses
   • Four work-term reports:
     • One completed as part of PD 11
     • Three completed in required WKRPT courses: WKRPT 200S, WKRPT 300S, and WKRPT 400S

Additional Program Conditions

Notes

1. Students must select ENGL 109 as an elective if they wish to gain membership in the College of Applied Biology of British Columbia (e.g. Registered Professional Biologist, R.P. Bio.); this designation is an employment requirement for certain Ecological and Environmental Science positions in British Columbia.
2. Many positions in Ecology and Environmental Science require knowledge of environmental law. Students are encouraged to select ENVS 201 (Introduction to Canadian Environmental Law) as an elective.
3. One 400-level BIOL field course is recommended. Field courses are intensive two-week courses held at off-campus locations during the spring term. Enrolment in field courses works differently than regular course enrolment.

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Recommended Course Sequence

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Year One

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Fall

Winter

BIOL 165 Diversity of Life
CHEM 123/CHEM 123L Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics/Chemical Reaction Laboratory 2
EARTH 122/EARTH 122L Introductory Environmental Sciences/Introductory Environmental Science Laboratory
MATH 127 Calculus 1 for the Sciences
SCCOM 100 Communication in the Sciences

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Year Two

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Fall

Spring

BIOL 239 Genetics
BIOL 240/BIOL 240L Fundamentals of Microbiology/Microbiology Laboratory
BIOL 354 Environmental Toxicology 1
CHEM 233 Fundamentals of Biochemistry or CHEM 237 Introductory Biochemistry
One elective (0.5 unit)

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Year Three

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Winter

BIOL 120 Introduction to Plant Structure and Function
BIOL 351 Aquatic Ecology
BIOL 359 Evolution 1: Mechanisms
BIOL 361 Biostatistics and Experimental Design
One elective (0.5 unit)

Fall

BIOL 350 Ecosystem Ecology
EARTH 342 Geomorphology and GIS Applications
One BIOL elective 300-level or higher (0.5 unit) - specifically for Ecology Specialization
One BIOL or EARTH elective (0.5 unit) -specifically for Ecology Specialization
One elective (0.5 unit)

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Year Four

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Fall and Winter

BIOL 456 Population Biology or BIOL 458 Quantitative Ecology (Fall)
BIOL 457 Analysis of Communities (Winter)
ERS 215 Environmental and Sustainability Assessment I
Two BIOL electives 300-level or higher (1.0 unit) - specifically for Ecology Specialization
One BIOL elective 400-level (0.5 unit) - specifically for Ecology Specialization
One EARTH elective 300-level or higher (0.5 unit) - specifically for Ecology Specialization
Three electives (1.5 units)