Course Descriptions
ENVS 1100 Foundations of Environmental Science: Ecosphere, Resources & Sustainability
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course introduces students to key topics in Environmental Science including science literacy, environmental ethics, principles of ecology, evolution, biodiversity, human population growth, soil, agriculture, forestry, and oceans and freshwater systems. Tutorials reinforce and supplement lectures and allow for small group discussion and debate.
FORMAT:
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
EXCLUSIONS: ENVI 1100.06, ENVS 1000.06,
MGMT 1702.03
ENVS 1200 Current Environmental Challenges: Analysis and Solutions
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course introduces current issues and challenges in Environmental Science including air pollution and climate change, non-renewable and renewable energy, waste, urbanization, environmental law, and sustainability and education. Tutorials reinforce and supplement lectures and allow for small group discussion and debate.
FORMAT:
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
EXCLUSIONS: ENVI 1100.06, ENVS 1000.06,
MGMT 1702.03
ENVS 2000 Urban Field School
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This field course offers an introduction to urban environmental science by examining the role of humans in ecosystems and how humans change ecosystem processes and functions within urban areas. Students gain hands-on experience in environmental science techniques during excursions in different urban settings within the Halifax Regional Municipality.
NOTES: Offered in early May. Daily field trips and/or labs. An auxiliary fee is charged to cover field expenses.
FORMAT:
FORMAT COMMENTS: Field intensive
PREREQUISITES: ENVS 1000.06 or
SCIE 1505.18 or
ENVS 1100.03 and
ENVS 1200.03, or equivalent and open only to students in the BSc or BA Environmental Science Programs
ENVS 2100 Environmental Informatics
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Environmental Informatics is the knowledge, skills and tools which enable information to be collected, managed and disseminated to support research in environmental science. Students develop analytical skills using a variety of software including spatial querying in GIS. Identification of fallacies in the media and effective science communication are introduced and applied to current environmental issues.
FORMAT:
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
ENVS 1100.03 and
ENVS 1200.03, and
STAT 1060.03
ENVS 2310 Energy and the Environment
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The physical principles and limitations of renewable energy source utilization and energy conversion. A quantitative introduction to energy conversion and storage systems, including solar power and heating, wind, tidal, geothermal, hydroelectric, nuclear power, hydrogen technology, electrical and mechanical energy storage. The input of these energy options on the global climate and environment will be discussed.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
PHYC 1190.03/1290.03 or
PHYC 1300X/Y.06 or
CHEM 1011.03/1012 and
MATH 1000.03 or
MATH 1215.03 or permission of the instructor.
CROSS-LISTING:
PHYC 2310.03
EXCLUSIONS: Students who have previously taken PHYC 3330 can not take
PHYC 2310.
ENVS 2410 Environmental Issues in Earth Sciences
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Geology underlies many of the environmental problems facing humanity today. Topics include environmental aspects of energy and mineral resource, geologic hazards, geologic connections to pollution and waste disposal, and the role that water plays in its various guises. Canadian examples are incorporated where appropriate. Approved with Canadian Studies.
NOTES: This course is not offered every year. Please consult department in the spring for further information.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES: One of:
ERTH 1080, ERTH/
GEOG 1030, ERTH/
GEOG 1060,
ENVS 1100.03 and
ENVS 1200.03, or ENVS 1000.06,
SUST 1001 with a grade of B or above, or DISP with Earth Sciences
CROSS-LISTING:
CANA 2410.03,
ERTH 2410.03
EXCLUSIONS: This class is not available for Earth Sciences Majors
ENVS 2500 Field Methods in Environmental Science
CREDIT HOURS: 3
A field-based immersion into environmental field sampling methods. Students gain skills in flora and fauna identification and inventory, assessment of ecosystem health, and sampling methods for air and soil. GPS, GIS, and basic remote sensing skills are utilized in sampling design, collection and visualization of results.
NOTES: Includes a number of field trips. An auxiliary fee is charged to cover field expenses.
FORMAT: Lab
LAB HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
ENVS 1100.03 and
ENVS 1200.03, (or ENVS 1000.06)
RESTRICTIONS: Restricted to students in BSc and BA Environmental Science programs
ENVS 3000 Environmental Science Internship
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course allows students to gain hands-on experience while addressing a question of personal and academic interest relevant to the field of environmental science by working as interns for 8 hours a week over a twelve-week period on a specific project at a sponsoring agency.
NOTES: It is the student's responsibility to consult with Environmental Program at least 3 weeks prior to the term in which the internship will take place to arrange for a placement and to make sure that the details of the internship are in accordance with university standards.
FORMAT COMMENTS: Internship
PREREQUISITES: Open ONLY to students in Minor in Environmental Studies, Honours/Major/Double Major/Combined Honours in Environmental Science
ENVS 3001 Environmental Science Field School
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Daily field trips introduce methods used in environmental science and environmental processes at diverse sites within Nova Scotia. Involves full-day trips from Halifax and a multi-day camping trip away from Halifax. Offered during the last 2 weeks before Labour Day.
FORMAT COMMENTS: Full-day and overnight field trips.
PREREQUISITES:
ENVS 2100 and must be an ENVS student
ENVS 3100 Environmental Analytics
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course takes a hands-on approach to data analysis to support environmental conservation. Topics include experimental design, spatial pattern analysis, visualization of 3D data, ecological modelling, and animated mapping of time series data. Emphasis is placed on learning skills directly applicable to conducting environmental research in a variety of settings.
FORMAT:
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
TUTORIAL HOURS PER WEEK: 2
PREREQUISITES:
ENVS 2100.03 and
STAT 2080.03
ENVS 3200 Introduction to Environmental Law
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course will take a look at how environmental law operates in Nova Scotia within the Federal framework and it will illustrate some of the multi-disciplinary aspects which make this area of law part science, part art and part soothsaying.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES: Must be a third year student
ENVS 3225 Plants in the Human Landscape
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The use of plants for human recreation and aesthetic purposes in gardens, public parks, suburban and urban landscapes. Topics include: history of gardens, garden design, plant materials, edible landscaping, plants and human health. The course includes field trips and group work and students complete a design project.
FORMAT:
PREREQUISITES: BIOL 1010.03 or
BIOL 1020.03 (C+ or better) and
BIOL 1011.03 or
BIOL 1021.03 (C+ or better)or DISP or
PLAN 2001.03
CROSS-LISTING: PLAN 3225,
BIOL 3225
ENVS 3226 Economic Botany, Plants and Civilization
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The story of the human use of plants for food, fibre and fuel including the botany, domestication, development, distribution, production, processing, history, economic and social impacts of the major world crops (cereals, fruits, vegetables, flowers and industrial crops) and the importance of plants in medicine and conservation.
FORMAT:
PREREQUISITES: A grade of C+ or higher in
BIOL 1010.03 or (
BIOL 1020.03 or
BIOA 1002.03 or
BIOL 1030.03) and
BIOL 1011.03 or (
BIOL 1021.03,
BIOA 1003.03, or
BIOL 1031.03); or
SCIE 1505.18
CROSS-LISTING:
BIOL 3226.03
ENVS 3300 Contaminated Site Management
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Scientists, engineers and planners should have a basic understanding of the issues surrounding environmental site assessment given the potential environmental and socio-economic impacts. Topics include phased assessments, risk assessment, remediation and monitoring. Case studies, projects, guest speakers and field trips augment the class.
FORMAT: Lecture
FORMAT COMMENTS: occasional field trips
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
CHEM 1011.03 and 1012.03 (or equivalent) AND
ERTH 1080.03; OR permission of the instructor
RESTRICTIONS: Restricted to 3rd year students and above or permission of instructor.
ENVS 3400 Environment and Human Health
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course examines the relationships between the health of populations and health determinants in the context of environmental sustainability. Weekly laboratory exercises will teach students how geomatics (GIS, GPS, and remote sensing technologies) and epidemiological tools can be used to assess the links between the health of human populations and the health of the environment, and how to use these tools for environmental health research.
FORMAT:
FORMAT COMMENTS: Lab 1.5 hours
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES: Must be a third year student or have permission of instructor
CROSS-LISTING:
GEOG 3400.03
ENVS 3500 Geoscience Information Management
CREDIT HOURS: 3
See course description for
ERTH 3500 in the Earth Sciences section of the calendar.
ENVS 3501 Environmental Problem Solving I
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course introduces students to concepts and methods for analyzing environmental problems. Students will learn analytical approaches for problem solving that are appropriate for a wide range of environmental issues and apply these to the analysis of case studies.
PREREQUISITES:
ENVS 1100.03 and
ENVS 1200.03 (with a grade of B- or higher in each) or
SUST 1000.06 or
SUST 1001.06(with a grade of B- or higher). Must be a 3rd year student OR have permission of instructor.
ENVS 3502 Environmental Problem Solving II: The Campus as a Living Laboratory
CREDIT HOURS: 3
In this course the campus serves as a living laboratory for identifying, evaluating and assessing indicators of progress toward greater campus sustainability. Working in groups, students apply problem solving models to case studies using qualitative and quantitative research methods and make recommendations for improvements on campus based on their analyses.
PREREQUISITES:
ENVS 1100.03 and
ENVS 1200.03 (with a grade of B- or higher in each) or
SUST 1000.06 or
SUST 1001.06(with a grade of B- or higher). Must be a 3rd year student OR have permission of instructor.
CROSS-LISTING:
SUST 3502.03
EXCLUSIONS:
MGMT 3701.03
ENVS 3601 Global Biogeochemical Cycles
CREDIT HOURS: 3
An interdisciplinary course that examines example global cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur, and human impacts on these cycles, as manifested in our atmospheric, soil, ocean and freshwater environments. This course involves discussion of the latest developments in this rapidly changing field and will provide a framework for those interested in global change.
PREREQUISITES: An introductory Chemistry class and one of ENVS 1000.06 or
ENVS 1100.03 and
ENVS 1200.03,
SUST 1001.06,
ERTH 1080.03, or
ERTH 1090.03, or OCEA 2000.06, or
OCEA 2001.03 and
OCEA 2002.03
CROSS-LISTING:
ERTH 3601.03
ENVS 3615 Methods in Ecology
CREDIT HOURS: 3
See course description for
BIOL 3615 in the Biology section of the calendar.