| Location | Email Address | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| HNES 129 | eucapply@yorku.ca | yorku.ca/gradstudies/environmental-studies/ |
With more than 50 years of experience in graduate education and a profound commitment to environmental and social justice, the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies contributes to understanding and solving some of the most pressing socio-environmental problems of our times. Within the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, the ES Graduate Program prides itself on an interdisciplinary research approach to intertwined social, cultural, ecological, economic, and political issues. Both the MES and ES PhD programs afford students the opportunity to examine a wide range of issues within a dynamic, flexible, and supportive structure. This structure allows graduate students to bring their own interests to an individually designed program of learning and research, in which passions are nourished and encouraged with the guidance of dedicated faculty members and support personnel.
Admission Requirements
Master in Environmental Studies Program
The Master in Environmental Studies (MES) is an interdisciplinary program where students design their own unique area of concentration in conjunction with their faculty advisor. The program attracts candidates from a broad range of backgrounds including many who are in mid-career. Through an individualized plan of study and research paper, project, portfolio or thesis, students integrate theory and practice with the opportunity to identify and explore socio-environmental problems from an interdisciplinary perspective.
The graduate program offers students the opportunity to:
- pursue their MES degree with a concentration on planning recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners (and student membership to the Ontario Professional Planners Institute); or,
- integrate environmental studies and law through a four-year joint MES/JD program offered through the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies and Osgoode Hall Law School; or,
- complete a Graduate Diploma in Business & the Environment offered jointly with the Schulich School of Business; or,
- complete a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Sustainability/Education offered jointly with the Graduate Program in Education; or,
- complete individually arranged concurrent graduate diplomas with other graduate programs at York University.
Admission Requirements (both part-time and full-time)
To be considered for admission to the MES program, an applicant must normally have an honours (four year) undergraduate degree from an accredited university with an academic standing of at least a “B+” or such factors as significant work or volunteer experience, or participation in other relevant activities, that are determined to be equivalent by the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change. Grade averages are assessed over the last two years (or full-time equivalent) of academic study.
Detailed attention is directed to the Statement of Interest. Preference is given to applicants with experience relevant to their proposed studies in the Faculty and whose chosen field of study is consistent with current Faculty activities.
Candidates for the MES/JD program must apply to and meet the entrance requirements of both the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies and Osgoode Hall Law School. However, full-time entry is required in the MES Program.
Applicants should review the admission requirements at euc.yorku.ca/future-students and/or contact eucapply@yorku.ca.
Doctor of Philosophy Program
Since the PhD Program in Environmental Studies was established in 1991, students have engaged with a diverse array of environmental concerns and developed interdisciplinary research approaches drawing from the life sciences, social sciences, humanities, and creative arts. Focused on developing their own programs of study and research, doctoral students connect disciplines and practices in ways that encourage theoretical and conceptual rigor; community, policy, and political relevance; and creative excellence. Doctoral students are supported by faculty supervisors who are strongly committed to interdisciplinary research, teaching, and mentorship.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the PhD program, an applicant must normally have a Masters degree from an accredited university with an academic standing of at least a “B+” or equivalent.
In the admissions decision, detailed attention is directed to the Research Statement and Personal Statement. Preference is given to applicants with experience relevant to their proposed studies in the Faculty and whose chosen field of study is consistent with current Faculty activities.
Applicants should review the admission requirements at euc.yorku.ca/future-students and/or contact eucapply@yorku.ca.
Degree Requirements
Master in Environmental Studies Program
Candidate for the MES degree must fulfill the following requirements:
The MES degree normally requires six terms of full-time study. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 36 credits of coursework in addition to a major research requirement. A normal full-time course load is 12 credits per term.
The Plan of Study
The plan of study is the central feature of the MES program. Prepared in consultation with a faculty advisor, the plan serves to define and organize the student’s pursuit of knowledge and skills and to provide the framework for integration and synthesis. Students also develop their major research proposal under the guidance of a supervisor. The research proposal becomes part of the plan of study.
Courses
Students are required to enrol in two mandatory courses:
ENVS 5100 3.0: Interdisciplinary Research in Environmental Studies in the first term of the program; and a program-approved method/research design course of their choice in the first three terms of the program. Students are also expected to enrol in ENVS 6102 3.0: MES Research Proposal in the fourth term of their program at the latest if they have not yet advanced to the major research stage. Elective courses in their respective areas of concentration are selected in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor from the list of graduate courses offered by the program.
Coursework is used to expand the student’s knowledge and intellectual grasp of environmental studies. Typically, full time students complete coursework in the first three or four terms. Summer terms require formal registration and can be spent in different ways suited to individual plans of study (coursework, experiential learning, or individual directed studies) or major research. Terms five and six of the second year of the program are normally dedicated to the completion of the major research.
Research Requirement
Candidates must undertake a major research (major paper, project or portfolio or thesis) on an approved topic. Research should comprise original material demonstrating the student’s capacity to independent research, originality and critical analysis. A major paper, major project or major portfolio should be equal to a thesis in academic quality, but is more limited in scope – and should be approximately 15,000 words in length. The major paper, major project or major portfolio is normally supervised by a faculty member from the program. Upon completion, the major research must be defended in an oral examination with a committee comprised of the supervisor and two faculty members from the program. The research thesis is supervised by a supervisory committee to be approved by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and must be defended in an oral examination before an examining committee comprised of the supervisory committee members and one additional examiner from another program.
Acceptable formats for Thesis or Major Research (whether it is a Major Paper, Major Project, or Portfolio) in the MES program are monograph, manuscript, complex digital, or multimodal, in line with Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations.
Formats and length of thesis or Major Research (Major Paper, Major Project, or Portfolio) are detailed in the MES Program Handbook.
Additional Requirements
Candidates enrolled in graduate diplomas or other specializations might have additional requirements. Requirements are available at https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/environmental-studies/current-students/degree-requirements/
Program Entry
The MES in Environmental Studies offers full-time or part-time entry in Fall term only. Full-time entry students are expected to be continuously registered full-time for six terms. Full-time students who require more time to complete the MES program automatically become part-time. Part-time entry students are expected to be continuously registered part-time for 9 terms. Both full-time and part-time students are expected to complete the MES program requirements withing the 12 terms time limit.
Students are expected to remain in the registration status (full-time or part-time) to which they were admitted unless a change of status is approved.
Program Length
For full-time students, the time to completion for the MES degree by thesis or major research (major paper, project, or portfolio) is six terms. Subsequent terms are permitted only as a part-time student. For part-time students, the time to completion for the MES degree by thesis or major research (major paper, project, or portfolio) is nine terms.
Students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of four terms of full-time study or seven terms of part-time study.
All requirements for the MES degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms or four years of continuous registration as full-time and/or part-time student.
Doctor of Philosophy Program
Program Plan
In the first two terms of the program, students develop a Program Plan comprised of their proposed area of research and the definition of their comprehensive areas in consultation with their supervisor and supervisory committee.
Courses
There are two mandatory courses for doctoral students, ENVS 8102 3.0: PhD Research Seminar, in the first term of the program, and ENVS 8103 3.0: PhD Research Design Workshop, usually in term 5 of the program. Students are also strongly encouraged to take other courses relevant to their degree programs in their first year.
Comprehensive Examinations
Through the PhD comprehensive examinations, students review the prevailing themes and debates within their field of study and build their knowledge in subject matter pertinent to their future research and teaching. Fulfilment of the substantive requirement is normally met through written work (or any other forms to be determined in collaboration with the student’s supervisory committee) followed by an oral examination. The comprehensive examinations normally take place in the first two years of the program.
PhD Research Proposal
Following the completion of the comprehensive examinations, students develop their dissertation research proposal on a topic approved by the student’s supervisor and supervisory committee. The required course ENVS 8103 3.0: PhD Research Design Workshop assists students in this process. The dissertation proposal must promise original work and significant contribution to knowledge. The proposal includes submission and approval of appropriate ethics protocols. The dissertation proposal consists of an oral defence before the candidate’s supervisory committee normally no later than the eighth term of the program.
PhD Dissertation
Students then proceed to their dissertation research and writing guided by their supervisor and supervisory committee. All PhD candidates must complete an acceptable dissertation presenting the results of original research. After the formal submission of the dissertation, an oral examination, normally centred on the dissertation and matters related to it, is held.
Acceptable formats of dissertation in the ES PhD program are monograph, manuscript-based, complex digital, or multimodal, in line with Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations. Formats and length of dissertation are detailed in the ES PhD Program Handbook.
Program Entry
The PhD in Environmental Studies starts in fall term. PhD students are expected to be registered full-time for a maximum of 18 terms.
Program Length
Optimal degree completion time for full-time doctoral students is 12 terms (4 years). PhD students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of six terms of full-time registration. All requirements for a PhD degree must be fulfilled within 18 terms (6 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time doctoral student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies. Elective Leave, Exceptional Circumstances Leave, and Family Care Leave are not included in these time limits. In order to ensure timely progression and quality support, students are required to submit and discuss an annual progress report with their supervisor/supervisory committee.
MES/JD Joint Program
Students must meet the academic requirements of each of the MES and JD degrees to graduate from the MES/JD Joint Program. Study in the Joint Program is governed by the MES regulations of the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change and the academic rules of Osgoode Hall Law School. Students should familiarize themselves with both sets of rules.
Osgoode requires students to complete the prescribed Year 1 curriculum plus a total of at least 60 upper year course credits over the second and third years of the JD program. In the upper years, students must enrol in at least 13 and no more than 17 credits per term.
The MES program requires a minimum of 36 credits of coursework aligned with their plan of study. MES/JD students must also complete major research (normally for 12 credits which may count as transfer credits towards their JD degree). Typically, in the Joint Program, students register full-time in the MES program for 5 terms. Sometimes an additional term is required to complete the MES portion of the Joint Program.