Environmental Earth Sciences
Examine the climates we live with and how they are changing. Understand and appreciate the landscapes in which we live and work. Discover how we obtain and maintain our water resources. Investigate the movement and fate of toxic substances in the environment and how waste treatment and disposal affect natural, urbanized and agricultural ecosystems. These opportunities and more are available to you when you choose to major in Environmental Earth Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan.
What is Environmental Earth Sciences?
Environmental Earth Sciences is the study of the relationships between the land, the oceans, the atmosphere and the biosphere. Students in this program study the landscapes and climates in which we live and work, the soils we cultivate and the effects of natural and human-induced change upon them, and the rocks we mine and how they are used. Students will also explore issues related to the transport and fate of toxic materials, waste treatment and disposal, and other aspects of environmental management. An important part of the Environmental Earth Sciences program is training in field and laboratory research techniques —investigating and interpreting near-surface environments and the effects of human activities upon them.
I chose the Environmental Earth Sciences program for a number of reasons - the primary reason being my passion for the outdoors. The program is made up of a small number of students; this allows me to become easily acquainted with people who have common interests. The professors are very enthusiastic and encourage a strong student-professor relationship.—Troy Halsall,
Fourth-year,
Hometown: Prince Albert SK
A Stepping Stone...
A degree in Environmental Earth Sciences provides students with the academic background for employment in areas such as natural resource development and management, land reclamation, environmental consulting and impact assessment, and environmental research. It also prepares students for graduate work in environmental science, agriculture, bioresource engineering, and the earth sciences, as well as further study in areas such as business administration and law. Recent revision of the Environmnetal Earth Sciences curriculum will permit graduates of the program to meet the requirements for professional registration as environmental geoscientists-in-training in the Province of Saskatchewan.
Career Opportunities
The growing national and international demand for scientists and professionals equipped to deal with environmental issues means a wide variety of career choices are available for Environmental Earth Sciences graduates. Professional opportunities abound in both government and private sectors. Graduates have found a wide range of employment in Crown corporations such as Sask Water and other government agencies dealing with land, water, natural resources and the environment. In the private sector, many opportunities are available in areas such as forestry and agricultural production, natural resource development and management, hazardous and non-hazardous waste management, and environmental consulting. Graduates also find fulfilling careers in international development work.
The U of S Advantage
The Environmental Earth Sciences program offers a well-rounded curriculum that combines solid classroom and laboratory instruction with a number of field trips that provide hands-on experience. Small class sizes create a quality-learning environment — maximizing interaction between students and professors, and allowing students to become easily acquainted with others who share common interests. Professors are very enthusiastic and very interested in the welfare and concerns of students.
Choose Your Program!
The Environmental Earth Sciences program consists of a core suite of courses in biology, chemistry, geography, geology, mathematics, physics and soil science.
A Major in Environmental Earth Sciences
Students majoring in Environmental Earth Sciences can choose one of the following degrees:
- B.Sc. Four-year
- B.Sc. Honours
Students who begin their studies in other colleges, such as Agriculture, may also enter these programs by transferring to the College of Arts & Science.
A U of S degree in Environmental Earth Sciences offers an entirely new appreciation for the earth, the landscapes of Saskatchewan and humanity's impact on the environment. As a university student you will be challenged to learn and grow in a friendly environment.
The faculty consists of excellent professors and world-class researchers committed to the program by keeping up-to-date with current environmental issues.—Miles Dyck,
B.Sc.
Outstanding Students
- Ms. Morgan Sather was the 2006 academic medallist in the Environmental Earth Sciences program.
- Ms. Jamie Hogan, a 2002 graduate of the Environmental Earth Science program, is currently pursuing research on water resources in Agriculture & Bioresource Engineering. Jamie's research was recognized at the national level by the receipt of a scholarship from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2004.
- Environmental Earth Sciences Most Distinguished Graduate in May 1999, Miles Dyck, is a member of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool President’s Fellowship and the winner of the Canadian Society of Soil Science Book Award in 1999. He has gone on to pursue a Master’s degree in Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan, on a scholarship from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), as a stepping stone to a career in vadose zone hydrology involving risk assessment of ground water contamination.
- Fourth-year Environmental Earth Sciences student Troy Halsall found summer employment with Cameco and Sask Water, gaining value hands-on experience in the field.
Getting Involved!
Join the Environmental Studies Students’ Association, or other student groups, to get involved on campus and get to know other like-minded people.
Research Facilities
The University of Saskatchewan boasts an extensive range of high-calibre facilities, including:
- North America’s largest controlled environment facility
- one of Canada’s leading mass spectrometry facilities
- an advanced computing facility equipped with geographic information system (GIS) software
- an atomic force microscopy laboratory
- laser microscopy and digital imaging laboratory
- gas chromatography laboratory
- stable isotope laboratory
- soil microbiology laboratory
Admission Requirements
The following is a list of high school subjects required for admission. Please select the province/territory where you completed high school.
Additional Information
Related Interests
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