Courses eligible for the master of environmental studies degree
*For courses outside of the School of Planning, please contact the instructor for permission to enroll in the course.
PLAN 616 Multivariate Statistics (0.50)
(Cross-listed with GEOG 616)
Theory and application of multivariate statistics, regression and correlation analysis, factor analysis, discriminant analysis and grouping analysis, with emphasis on the use of the computer.
PLAN 619 Analytical Tools for Economic Development (0.50)
(Cross-listed with Geog 619, ECDEV 603)
Critical appraisal of regional economic analysis, projection and decision-making techniques. Problem based study methods commonly used by regional planners, economic developers, and consultants. Identification of leverage sectors, trend analysis, investment decision-making and input/output analysis are discussed. New analysis applications and approaches are explored.
PLAN 639 Health, Environment and Planning (0.50)
A seminar course on the environment sources and causes of disease and illness, the concepts of health, e.g., medical, scientific, economic, political, etc., the health services and facilities and related technologies and the role and responsibilities of (urban and regional) planners in the creation of a more healthful environment. (Note: Estimated additional cost to student: $20.00)
PLAN 654 Spatial Information Technology, Globalization and International Development (0.50)
(Cross-listed with GEOG 605)
This course considers the role of GIS and RS technologies for problem solving and planning decision support in developing countries. Topics covered include the globalisation of information technology and its transfer from developed to developing countries and general aspects of the spatial information technology industry and its relationship to society.
PLAN 657 GIS and Spatial Decision Support for Planning and Resource Management (0.50)
(Cross-listed with GEOG 609)
This course introduces students to key theories, concepts and techniques that have been developed recently to improve the design support capabilities of spatial information systems. Topics covered include participatory GIS, group-based spatial decision support systems, and the integration of multi-criteria analysis (MCA) methods with GIS to facilitate decision-making in planning.
PLAN 660 Foundations in Resource and Environmental Management (0.50)
(Cross-listed with GEOG 660, ERS 660)
Current research and practice in resource and environmental management.
PLAN 661A Applied Studies in Hydrology and the Environment 1 (0.50)
(Cross-listed with GEOG 661A)
This applied hydrology course involves defining, designing and conducting research on the hydrology and/or water quality of a specific environmental setting. Drawing on strengths and interests of students, the field and laboratory activities in this course typically involve collection, analysis and reporting of primary data. The Fall-term (661A) focuses on literature review, problem definition, methodological design and data collection; the Winter-term (661B) includes analysis, interpretation and write-up suitable for publication in a refereed journal. Group work is typically involved.
PLAN 661B Applied Studies in Hydrology and the Environment 2 (0.50)
(Cross-listed with GEOG 661B)
This course is a continuation of GEOG 661A/PLAN661A
Prerequisite PLAN 661A or consent of Instructor.
PLAN 665 Environmental Planning Theory and Practice (0.50)
(Cross-listed with GEOG 665)
An interdisciplinary approach to environmental planning. Focuses on the socio-economic, planning, environmental science, design, and decision-making theories and methods utilized in environmental planning theory and practice. Regional and local case studies and studio projects will be used to demonstrate professional practice issues and techniques. Recommended: A senior level course in ecology, environmental science, landscape architecture or equivalent.
PLAN 666 Ecosystem Approach to Park Planning (0.50)
(Cross-listed with GEOG 666)
An ecological approach to planning national and provincial parks, focusing on system planning, master planning and park administration. Examination of the theory and practice of parks planning, utilizing ecological concepts. Recommended: a senior undergrad or graduate ecology course. Estimated additional field trip cost to student: $30.00
PLAN 669 Landscape Restoration (0.50)
A workshop on landscape restoration and rehabilitation.
PLAN 674 Special Topics in Planning (0.50)
These courses allow for additions to the program on a short-term basis, and for development of future permanent courses (subject to approval of SOP Graduate Officer)
PLAN 675 Special Readings on Selected Planning Topics (0.50)
Study topic to be defined on an individual basis with a faculty member to cover materials not otherwise available in a graduate course offered in this or near-by universities. A specific outline for the course of study is developed in consultation with the professor in charge and is subject to School approval by the Associate Director (Graduate Studies), within 3 weeks of the beginning of term (subject to approval of SOP Graduate Officer)
PLAN 678 Advances in Public Transportation Planning, Operations & Control (0.50)
The historical evolution of transit in cities; the technological innovations which made transit possible; and transit mode definitions. Models of transit vehicle motion are presented; transit travel times under different travel regimes are derived. Transit scheduling methods are shown. System operational characteristics are defined and quantitative measures of effectiveness are introduced. Transit network planning objectives are identified; actual geometries are qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Transit ownership structures and economics are discussed; contemporary ITS applications are presented. Methods for selecting appropriate transit modes are covered.
PLAN 684 Physical Infrastructure and Planning (0.50)
Plan 684 introduces students to the planning of physical infrastructure. The course covers governments' roles in regulating, financing and maintaining public infrastructure such as transportation or water systems. The impacts of infrastructure provision on land use, the environment, economic development and social equity are also addressed. Quantitative methods of predicting infrastructure demand and utilization are presented. The role of private sector in providing and maintaining infrastructure is discussed.
ERS 654 Parks and Protected Areas (0.50)
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 teh exploration of key public policy conservation issues.
ERS 684 Soil in the Environment (0.50)
This course examines the role of soil in the environment and its importance as a natural resource in agricultural and forest productivity and the effects on soil due to mismanagement.
GEOG 600 Foundations in Spatial Data Handling (0.50)
An overview of concepts and methodologies in several aspects of spatial data handling: cartography, geographic information systems, remote sensing, spatial statistics. Analysis of spatial data sets.
GEOG 604 Spatial Statistics (0.50)
An overview of spatial statistics and their use in geographic studies.
GEOG 607 Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (0.50)
Current applications of GIS and related technologies in geographic research and environmental management are examined through discussions and individual student projects. This course is designed for students with previous GIS experience.
GEOG 608 Urban Remote Sensing (0.50)
An overview of high-resolution remote sensing systems and advanced study of image segmentation, data fusion, feature extraction, and change detection algorithms. Topics include 3D city modeling, land use/cover classification, urban heat island study, urban sprawl monitoring, and risk mapping.
GEOG 641 Climate Change: Physical Science Basis (0.50)
The course examines the interactive physical, biological and geochemical processes responsible for and resulting from climate change, including anthropogenic influences on these processes.
GEOG 642 Micrometeorology (0.50)
Advanced study of boundary-later meteorology. Energy balance regimes for complex surfaces are examined. The theory of turbulent and radiant transfer is studied using field data collected during the course.
GEOG 648 Paleolimnology (0.50)
This course examines the use of stratigraphic records from lakes to reconstruct environmental change. Topics include sediment coring techniques, radiometric dating methods, analysis of physical, geochemical and biological indicators, and case studies demonstrating applications to address scientific and management questions. Practical experience is gained from a lake sediment coring field trip and subsequent laboratory analyses.
GEOG 651 Hydroecology for Freshwater Ecosystem Management (0.50)
This course examines the interaction in both space and time between hydrological processes and lacustrine environments. Applications to freshwater ecosystem management are explored.
GEOG 652 Climate Prediction, Modeling and Scenarios (0.50)
Computer models of the physical climate system are essential tools for investigating future climate change. This course will introduce students to the basic formulation of these models, and their strengths and limitations. Inter-linkages between climate modeling and mitigation and adaptation policy agendas is reviewed and critiqued. The types of climate modeling experiments performed with such models and scenarios will be reviewed. The latest projections of future climate on a variety of temporal and spatial scales will be presented and evaluated.
GEOG 653 Land Use and the Carbon Cycle (0.50)
This course examines contemporary theories, approaches, and technologies used to study coupled natural-human systems at the intersection of land-use and land-cover change, land management, and the carbon cycle. Topics covered include measurement and modelling techniques to improve carbon accounting, the effects of land use and land management on carbon storage and flux, and international and national policy frameworks influencing carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.
GEOG 669 Energy Sustainability (0.50)
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.
GEOG 674 Climate Data and Analytics (0.50)
This course examines how weather and climate influence human systems, and the international trend toward improved climate information. The emphasis is on developing competence in using analytical tools to understand the direct and indirect impacts of weather and climate on human activities in economic sectors.
GEOG 676 Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation (0.50)
This course examines the impacts of changing climate on natural and human systems and focuses on the capacity of societies to adjust to, plan for and cope with changing climate and environmental conditions.
GEOG 677 Climate Change, Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction (0.50)
This course explores the complex links between climate change and natural hazards, and related disasters, including disaster risk reduction as an adaptation strategy. Emphasis is placed on examining these concepts in a developing country context.
GEMCC 600 Fundamentals of Climate Change (0.50)
This course will provide students from any disciplinary and professional background with competence on the global climate challenge, including the scientific underpinnings; potential impacts on natural systems, economic sectors, and human societies around the world; and the two broad categories of societal responses, adaptation and greenhouse gas mitigation. Canadian (federal and provincial) and relevant international climate policy is reviewed. This course is to ensure students develop a shared holistic understanding of key concepts/terminology and the developing science that influences the policy environment within which action on climate change occurs.
TOUR 601 Contemporary Perspectives on Tourism (0.50)
This course will introduce participants to a variety of topics and research methods through presentations made by active researchers from Canada and abroad.
Note: Please refer to the Schedule of Classes to determine course offerings
Complete course descriptions are available at the Graduate Studies Calendar.