Honours Geography and Environmental Sciences Co-op (B.Sc.)

Admission

Enrolment in this program is limited and possession of the published minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Selection is based on academic achievement and an interview but requires, as a minimum, submission of the on-line application by the stated deadline and completion of Level II Honours Geography and Environmental Sciences with a Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 and completion of the following courses:

Program Notes

1. Earth and Environmental Sciences at McMaster encompass five major themes: Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry, Earth Sciences, Environmental Hydrology and Climate, Environmental Policy, GIS and Spatial Analysis. It should be noted that each thematic area has its own sequence of courses and prerequisites (See the Course Listings section of this Calendar). Students may elect to take some or all of the upper level courses from different areas. In addition, there is a set of courses encompassing research design, field work, internships, and the senior thesis or review paper. 

   AQUEOUS ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY

   EARTHSC 2L03, 3CC3 , 4CC3 , ENVIRSC 2Q03 , 3O03 , 4N03 

   EARTH SCIENCES

   EARTHSC 2E03 , 2FE3 , 2K03 , 2T03 , 3E03 , 3K03 , 3Z03 , 4G03 , 4J03 , 4P03 , 4T03 , 4VV3 , GEOG 3SR3 

   ENVIRONMENTAL HYDROLOGY AND CLIMATE

   EARTHSC 3CC3 , 3W03 , 4CC3 , 4WB3 , ENVIRSC 2B03 , 2C03 , 2W03 , 3B03 , 3U03 , 4BB3 , 4C03 , 4W03 

   ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

   GEOG 2EI3 , 3EC3 , 3EE3 , 4EA3 , 4ET3 , 4HH3 

   GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS

   GEOG 2GI3 , 3GI3 , 3GV3 , 3SR3 , 4GA3 , 4GS3 , 4GT3 

    

2. Students aiming to meet the academic requirements for professional registration of Geoscientists (PGeo) in Ontario can find additional information on these requirements on the website: https://www.science.mcmaster.ca/geo/undergraduate.html. Students are encouraged to consult with the academic program advisor in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences to ensure proper selection of courses for professional registration. The Honours programs offered by the School of Geography and Earth Sciences may not fulfill professional registration requirements.

3. This is a five-level (year) co-op program which includes two eight-month work terms which must be spent in geography and environmental sciences related placements.

4. Students must be registered full-time and take a full academic workload, as prescribed by Level and Term.

5. Students are required to complete SCIENCE 2C00  and SCIENCE 3C00  before the first work placement and are strongly recommended to complete SCIENCE 2C00  in Level II.

6. Students are strongly encouraged to check prerequisites for upper-level Geography or Earth Sciences courses. Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics prerequisites exist in upper-level Earth Sciences courses. The prerequisites should be considered when selecting your courses.

7. All students are strongly encouraged to meet with an academic program advisor in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences to discuss program requirements and course selections, particularly prior to the start of Level III.

8. All students are strongly encouraged to meet with an academic program advisor in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences to discuss which course is most appropriate between EARTHSC 3RD3  and GEOG 3MA3 , based on their area of interest.

9. The field components of EARTHSC 2FE3 , ENVIRSC 3ME3  and GEOG 3MF3  are normally taken outside of the normal term. Details are announced in December (EARTHSC 2FE3 ) or March (ENVIRSC 3ME3 , GEOG 3MF3 ). All students are strongly encouraged to meet with an academic program advisor in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences to discuss which course is most appropriate, based on the field of interest. All components of field placements must be completed prior to the start of a co-op work term.
10. One of ENVIRSC 4MI3 , GEOG 4ET3 , 4MS3  must be completed in Level V, if none of GEOG 4ET3 , 4MS3 , 4MT6 A/B  were completed in Level IV.
11. Students are not required but may combine courses in Geography and Environmental Sciences into major themes matching their interests, including:

HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

EARTHSC 4WB3 , ENVIRSC 2L03 , 3O03 ,  GEOG 2HI3 , 3HH3 , 3HP3 , 4EA3 , 4HH3  

TRANSPORTATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

GEOG 3GV3 , 3LA3 , 3LT3 , 4GA3 , 4LP3  

URBAN SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY 

GEOG 2EI3 , 2UI3 , 3EE3 , 3ER3 , 3UP3 , 3UR3  

12. Co-op students interested in pursuing GIS-related work placements and/or a Minor in Geographic Information Systems must complete GEOG 2GI3  in Fall Term of Level II and one of GEOG 3GI3  or 3GV3  in Winter Term of Level II. Students are encouraged to consult with an academic advisor to ensure proper course selection. 

Requirements

120 units total (Levels I to V), of which no more than 48 units may be Level 1

Co-op Program Chart