The Sustainability Work Experience Program (WEP) involves a single paid work term in the third year of the ESS program. Students in Sustainability WEP develop professional skills and competencies and explore a career option in an applied experiential learning context. Students graduate with a meaningful work experience that informs career choices and facilitates employment post graduation.
Sustainability WEP is available to students in 120 credit-hour BA, BSc, and BCD degree programs with ESS as a Major/Honours subject (either primary or secondary) and who are not enrolled in another WIL program (Co-op program through WIL Co-op, Management Internship through MCS or International Internship programs). A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for admission and for continuation in the program. Students must be eligible to work in Canada. Sustainability WEP is facilitated by Dalhousie Work-Integrated Learning and Co-operative Education.
Admission to Sustainability WEP
Interested students must complete the second year ESS program requirements and apply in the spring of their second year in ESS. It is recommended that interested students contact the ESS Academic Advisor during their second year. Students must complete the Sustainability Co-op Orientation Seminar (SUST 8890.00) and SUST 3000.03 prior to the first work term which is typically in Winter or Summer of third year.
Community Service Learning Opportunities in Sustainability
SUST 4001.03 and SUST 4002.03 Environment, Sustainability and Society Capstone Parts 1 and 2*
In the ESS Capstone, students work in multidisciplinary groups with community partner organizations to identify real problems and develop meaningful strategies to address them. Groups work with advisors and experts and create detailed plans of action based on strong research and analysis.
This class uses interdisciplinary teamwork to develop strategies to address specific, real-world environmental problems. Students spend three to six contact hours per week in studio/workshop sessions, plus seminars and special lectures. During the first term students and instructors together identify environmental problems and/or opportunities and appropriate community partners; form interdisciplinary student teams; develop broad strategic approaches; undertake research and develop preliminary action plans. During the second term, action plans are refined into specific activities, in concert with the community partners; research is extended in an iterative manner; final recommendations are publicly presented and published; and lessons and opportunities for future projects and methods are identified.
*SUST 4001 and 4002 must be taken in consecutive Fall and Winter terms. Credit will not be granted for SUST 4001 without completion of SUST 4002. Together, ESS Capstone Parts 1 and 2 are 6 credit-hours.
SUST 3002.03 ESS Engagement Project - Satisfies the WIL Requirement for students in a BA/BSc Combined Honours degree only
ESS Engagement Project is a Community Service Learning course which provides students with a hands-on engagement experience to pursue questions of personal and academic interest relevant to the field. In this course, students work on a specific project at an approved community partner, for approximately six to eight hours per week over a 10-12-week period (60-80 hours). This is a 3 credit-hour course offered in fall, winter and summer terms, available to students in any degree with ESS as a Major, Honours, or Minor subject. It fulfills the WIL requirement only for students in BA/BSc Combined Honours. Students must consult with the course instructor in the semester prior to taking the course. Please see the SUST Courses page on the College of Sustainability website for full details and application.
Other Work-Integrated Learning programs
Science Co-op
BSc students whose Primary subject in the BSc Double Major/Combined Honours with Sustainability is a subject that offers Science Co-op may satisfy the WIL requirement for ESS with Science Co-op. For details visit Dalhousie Work-Integrated Learning and Co-operative Education.
Bachelor of Management Internship
1 BMgmt Major in ESS: WIL requirement can be satisfied with MGMT 4896.03 Management Internship 1 and MGMT 4897.03 Management Internship 2. For details visit Management Work-Integrated Learning.
Community Design Internship
2 BCD Honours, Double Major with Sustainability: WIL requirement is satisfied with PLAN 4100.03 Community Design Internship, required for all BCD Honours students.