Explore some of the most critical issues facing the earth today: the climate crisis, the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, waste management, energy consumption and sustainable solutions.
In the Sustainable Environmental Management program, you will investigate how the environment and natural resources are managed, and how we can transition toward more just and sustainable systems. You will learn key problem-solving, innovation and holistic strategies, combined with an understanding of policy, social dynamics with applied aspects of environmental science and technology.
Students will explore these critical issues in environmental and resource management:
- Low-carbon energy transition
- Environmental policy and governance
- Ecological economics
- Climate change science and mitigation
- Urban ecology
- Sustainable and just transitions
- Community energy and planning
- Wildlife conservation
As you learn first-hand about energy, water, biodiversity, food and waste, you will develop the technical skills to analyze, synthesize and evaluate political, economic and social dimensions of environmental problems and develop pathways to sustainability transitions and innovation.
You will benefit from practical experience through hands-on classroom activities, field and lab-based courses, guest lectures, case studies, and community engagement. The program offers educational work placements and opportunities to participate in the Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica. You will develop transferrable skills in critical thinking, communication, leadership, and project management to effectively engage in environmental issues in government, the private sector, and not-for-profit sectors in Canada and abroad, and make positive contributions toward a sustainable future.
At a Glance
4 years of study
Bachelor in Environmental Studies (BES)
Offered full time and part time
Accepts applications for Fall (September), Winter (January), & Summer (May) Entry
Hands-on Learning and Field Studies
Learning in the field is a key component in our program. Your courses will take you on location with field trips to various places in Toronto, across the Ontario and in the work place.
Introduction to Environmental Science
This course will take you into York University woodlots to collect ecological data to develop keys skills for presenting scientific data.
Solutions: Sustainability, Justice, Transitions
This course will use real world case studies to learn about the successes or failures of transitions to new systems.
Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
This course will train you to use GIS software in the lab for real world applications.
Course for degree credit is an option for all Cities, Regions, Planning students with private or public organization, agency or ENGOs.
The environmental sector is one of the fastest growing in the world. With issues of sustainability, climate crisis, and equity at the forefront of the public conscious, more organizations and businesses are looking to hire environmental professionals. By developing technical, hands-on abilities coupled with transferrable skills such as project management, critical thinking, and communication, our graduates are working in both the public and private sector in a variety of fields including business, science and technology, education, government, and more.
To help you succeed, our Experiential Education Coordinator provides a variety of career support services to our students including resume help, interview prep, and career planning workshops, and maintains an exclusive job board just for our students.
- Environmental Outreach and Stewardship Coordinator
- Energy Assessor
- Geographic Information Systems Technologist
- Environmental Educator
- Green Entrepreneur
- Policy Analyst
- Project Coordinator
- Environmental Site Assessor
- Environmental Consultant
We also offer you the opportunity to complete a Global internship with York International.
First Year Courses
- EU/ENVS 1010 3.00 Introduction to Environmental Documentaries
- EU/ENVS 1100 3.00 The land we’re on: Treaties, art and environment
- EU/GEOG 1000 6.00 The World Today: An Introduction to World Geography
- EU/GEOG 1401 3.00 Physical Geography: Weather and Climate
- EU/GEOG 1402 3.00 Physical Geography: Dynamic Earth
- EU/ENVS 1500 3.00 Environmental Science
- EU/ENVS 1400 3.00 Environmental Management
- Plus one or two elective courses of your choice from 100s of courses offered at York U.
Our advising team will assist you with course selection to ensure you are meeting your degree requirements, help you choose your electives, and develop your own unique plan to include your double major, minor or certificate in your degree.
Key Contact Information
|Gregory Thiemann||Associate Professor; Sustainable Environmental Management Coordinator||22621||HNES email@example.com|
|Brittany Giglio||Recruitment & Admission Officer||22671||HNES firstname.lastname@example.org|
|Anne Tsirgielis||Student Success Coordinator||33510||HNES email@example.com|