Environmental Studies and Sciences
The original Environmental Studies Program was founded in 1970 as one of the first interdisciplinary undergraduate environment programs in Canada, and one of the first few to emerge worldwide. During the last five decades the activities and the functions of the program have grown substantially with seven-degree options available to students.
Following the principles of sustainability, the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences takes an integrated and practical approach to human-environmental interactions and resource and environmental problems. The mission of the Department is to maintain and restore the health of the ecosphere and its people by i) educating and training the environmental leaders of tomorrow, ii) creating and disseminating knowledge, and iii) engaging with communities at local, regional and global levels.
The department offers various degree options. BA students can take either the Sustainable Environmental Resource Systems stream or the Sustainable Urban Environments stream. BSc students can choose from among four streams: Chemistry, Forest Policy and Management, Forest Ecology and Global Environmental Systems. Students also have the opportunity to add on a Business Stream (see the “Science with a Business Stream” section of the Academic Calendar). The joint applied program with Red River College is a 5-year program that includes a full co-operative education work term and students receive both a diploma and a degree.
ECO Canada National Accreditation
The degrees offered by the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences have been accredited by the Canadian Environmental Accreditation Commission and the Environmental Careers Organization Canada. This demonstrates to students, parents, educators and industry that our degrees meet a national standard of quality.
ECO Canada offers following programs and resources:
- ECO Canada Wage Funding Programs (Student Work Placement Program/Co-op program open for applications)
- EPt Student Membership ($50 application fee is waived for students from accredited programs, no annual fee, students can upgrade for free to EPt designation after graduation.
- Labour Market Research
- Environmental Career Profiles
- ECO Canada Job Board
More information on our programs and resources is available on their website: https://eco.ca/
Canadian Institute of Forestry Recognition
The Canadian Institute of Forestry, Canada’s professional organization of foresters and leading voice for the forest industry, has recognized the University of Winnipeg’s Forest Ecology and Forest Policy and Management BSc streams. This highly sought recognition will allow University of Winnipeg graduates the prestige associated with a forestry baccalaureate program, giving students a competitive edge and the specialized skills needed to work in the forest industry or associated profession. University of Winnipeg is the only four-year university program in the province that has earned CIF recognition.