A NEW EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES PROGRAM INTEGRATING SUBSTANTIVE CONTENT AND SKILLS-BASED LEARNING

The School of Geography and Geology at McMaster University has introduced a new Honours Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) B.Sc program that replaces former programs in Geography, Geology and Environmental Science. The new program (which also has a 5 year Co-op option) is designed to meet the changing needs of the geoscience and environmental science communities and to allow students to fulfill the academic requirements for professional certification as geoscientists in Ontario.

All students in the program take a series of core courses that integrate a solid grounding in fundamental science (Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Math) with a range of earth and environmental science skills (such as rock and mineral identification, environmental monitoring, GIS, fieldwork) and life-long learning skills (inquiry, problem-solving, written and oral communication, team work). Students also select from a number of earth and environmental science courses of their choice and may enter one of three specialist streams - Geosciences, Biogeosciences or Hydrosciences. The specialist streams are designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge and experience in a specific discipline area and to complement the broad science background obtained from their core program; specialist streams are selected at the end of Level II. Up to 10 students per year may also enter the EES Co-op program at the end of Level II. The EES Co-op program provides students with opportunities to work in industry, government and academic placements during their program of study.

This new Earth and Environmental Sciences program is designed to provide students both with a solid substantive background in the earth and environmental sciences, and in a range of skills that are either subject-specific or considered as life-long learning skills. A future aim is to award students a 'skills acquisition' certificate upon graduation, identifying specific skills obtained during their program.