ERS 600s


ERS 604 Advanced Topics in Global Environmental Governance (0.50) SEMCourse ID: 001205
(Cross-listed with GGOV 620, PSCI 604)
This course examines the ways in which environmental challenges are being addressed by means of 'global governance' - that is, international organizations and institutions intended to deal with these environmental challenges. Concepts are investigated both to help analyze the relative strengths and weaknesses of existing structures and to suggest ways in which alternative forms of global governance might advance sustainability. Specific organizations and other actors presently active in global environmental governance are given particular attention, as is the management of selected global environmental challenges.

ERS 606 Governing Global Food and Agriculture (0.50) LECCourse ID: 012710
This course examines the international rules and organizations that have emerged to govern the increasingly global system of food and agriculture. Specific themes to be covered include governance issues related to the rise of global food coporations, agricultural trade liberalization and the WTO, food aid distribution, international agricultural assistance, the global agro-chemical industry and agricultural biotechnology.

ERS 606 Governing Global Food and Agriculture Systems (0.50) SEMCourse ID: 012738
(Cross-listed with GGOV 621, PSCI 606)
This course examines the international rules and organizations that have emerged to govern the increasingly global system of food and agriculture. Specific themes to be covered include governance issues related to the rise of global food corporations, agricultural trade liberalization and the WTO, food aid distribution, international agricultural assistance, the global agro-chemical industry, and agricultural biotechnology.

ERS 615 Community Economic Development (0.50) SEMCourse ID: 001842
(Cross-listed with GEOG 615, LED 615, PLAN 615)
Community Economic Development is a field of theory, process and practice that is concerned with understanding the forces shaping communities and finding sustainable local solutions to economic needs. This seminar course will examine topics such as capacity-building, asset-based strategies, social capital, poverty-alleviation, social enterprises and co-operatives, and comprehensive community initiatives, using international and local examples and case studies.

ERS 619 Energy Sustainability (0.50) LEC,RDG,SEMCourse ID: 012666
(Cross-listed with GEOG 669, INDEV 606)
Renewable and non-renewable energy supply systems are compared using economic and environmental measures. Consumption trends, conservation options and choices are considered at the household, community and global scales. Projects are used to demonstrate the economic and environmental challenges in the design of sustainable energy systems. *eligible for MES.

ERS 622 Biosphere Reserves as Social-Ecological Systems (0.50) LEC,RDG,SEMCourse ID: 014738
The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve is one of 16 UNESCO biosphere reserves in Canada, and is used as a setting to learn about sustainable community development, adaptive resource management, and social and ecological resilience. The main objective is to link practical experience "on the ground" with some of the theoretical concepts related to sustainability and complex social ecological systems.
Department Consent Required

ERS 650 Topics in Governance and Sustainable Communities (0.50) LEC,RDG,SEMCourse ID: 014119
Topics in Governance and Sustainable Communities is a course that considers various contemporary socio-ecological issues and challenges in urban and rural communities. The course focuses on effective local approaches to environmental governance and decision-making. Topics will vary from year to year. Examples include integrated water, food, or energy systems, ecological design and restoration, biosphere reserves, green infrastructure, sustainable livelihoods, ecological democracy and environmental justice. Course requirements include weekly readings and discussants, a term paper and presentation related in some manner to a student's thesis work.
Prereq: ERS Grad Students Only
1 Sust'ble Communities 21st Cent

ERS 654 Parks and Protected Areas (0.50) LEC,RDG,SEMCourse ID: 014739
Government decisions to conserve rather than develop natural resources are nationally and internationally significant, but are often controversial. This course examines public policy objectives, issues and diverse perspectives related to the conservation of marine and terrestrial environments through the establishment and ongoing management of parks and protected areas. Lectures, seminar discussions and assignments engage students in the exploration of key public policy conservation issues.
Department Consent Required

ERS 660 Perspectives in Resource and Environmental Management (0.50) SEMCourse ID: 001210
(Cross-listed with GEOG 660, PLAN 660)
Current research and practice in resource and environmental management. *eligible for MES.

ERS 669 Research and Design Methods (0.50) LECCourse ID: 001213
This course will examine different ways of knowing and modes of research design relevant for interdisciplinary environmental research. Students will also be introduced to an array of quantitative and qualitative research methods in the natural and social sciences and will explore methods relevant to their research through class discussions and assignments.

ERS 670 MES Research Development (0.50) RDG,SEMCourse ID: 011630
The goal of the course is to ensure that all students will have a completed proposal by the end of term. The course will help students design and implement an appropriate research project and communicate results.
ERS MES Students

ERS 674 Special Topics in Environment and Resource Studies (0.50) SEMCourse ID: 012340
These courses allow for additions to the program on a short-term basis, and for development of future permanent courses.
1 EcoHealth Perspectives
2 Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve
3 Env. Issues in Texas
4 Sustainable Cities - 21st c.
5 ENV Green Building Projects
6 Social Marketing
7 Political Ecology

ERS 675 Special Readings and Seminars on Selected Topics in Environment and Resource Studies (0.50) RDGCourse ID: 010430
Particular offerings may be initiated by a faculty member in consultation with interested students. In all cases instructor consent is required.
Instructor Consent Required

ERS 680 Sustainability Foundations (0.50) LECCourse ID: 011631
This course is intended to help students establish a reasonable working base from which to explore different fields of interest related to the pursuit of sustainability in a world of complex socio-ecological systems. The course focuses on the nature and implications of the intertwined theories, concepts and principles that are foundational to studies and applications in the transdisciplinary MES program.
Prereq: ERS 680 or ERS MES

ERS 681 Sustainability Applications (0.50) LEC,RDG,SEMCourse ID: 014364
The course examines how societies can respond in practical ways to complexity, change and uncertainty, Social and ecological theory is blended with examples of applications and strategies (local/global) to support management and governance in social-ecological systems. Emphasis is placed on how individuals and societies can transcend disciplinary thinking to build our capacity to foster sustainability.
Department Consent Required

ERS 684 Soil in the Enviornment (0.50) LEC,RDG,SEMCourse ID: 014740
This course examines the role of soil in the environment and its importance as a natural resource in agriculterial and forest productivity and the effects on soild due to mismanagement.
Department Consent Required

ERS 700s


ERS 701 Sustainability in Complex Socio-Ecological Systems (0.50) SEMCourse ID: 013380
Consideration of transdisciplinary theoretical and methodological frameworks for analysing issues that arise from the complex interactions among human decision making, communities and biophysicial systems at various scales. The frameworks chosen are applicable to broad environment and resource issues as well as to a wide range of more specific topics.
ERS PhD - All others require instructor consent

ERS 702 Critical Analysis and Advance Research in Environmental Studies (0.50) SEMCourse ID: 013381
Examination of the process leading from design of critical transdisciplinary research to publication of findings and other outreach to the broader community. The course will include examination of doctoral research design in ERS, the nature of potential findings and means of dissemination of findings, including the diverse academic literature in environmental studies.
Department Consent Required
Prereq: ERS 701 or ERS PhD