Environmental Studies

M.E.S.,  PhD

NB: The new PhD program is now open for registration to start September 2013.

As the market for professionals with environmental-related skills continues to grow, students are demanding post-graduate training in preparation for environmental careers in industry, government and non-governmental agencies. We have developed our program in response to this growing demand.

The Master’s of Environmental Studies program at Queen’s University provides graduate-level training in the field of environmental sustainability by practicing an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the long-term nature and impacts of environmental change, the connections between today's decisions and tomorrow's welfare, and the strong dependence of human wellbeing on environmental quality.

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"It was a real hands-on experience. I was able to work in Northern Labrador on a project with the Inuit population there. It was an incredible opportunity to broaden my horizons and work with people I never would have worked with otherwise."

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Degrees Offered / Length of Program

Master’s of Environmental Studies (MES)
The Research-based MES includes course work and a Master’s thesis. The Course-based MES emphasizes conceptual thinking and analytical and interpretive skills.

• Thesis-based MES: 24 months
• Course-based MES: 16-20 months

Method of Completion

• Research-based MES:4 half-credit courses, thesis, and a formal defense
  
• Course-based MES:6 half-credit courses and a library-based interdisciplinary project or paper
  

Students may transfer from the course-based stream to the thesis stream, or vice versa, in the first year of study.

Degree Level Expectations & Learning Outcomes

MES - view this information as a pdf (105KB)

Supervisors and Fields of Study

We only accept students with a named supervisor or advisor. Please study the faculty areas of interest to see whose research areas may be similar to yours, and contact them directly.

Environmental Chemistry & Toxicology:

• Stephen Brown - Environmental Chemistry
• Peter Hodson - Fish Toxicology
• Heather Jamieson - Environmental Geochemistry.
• Louise Winn - Fetal Toxicity

Ecosystem & Human health:

• Brian Cumming, Director - Aquatic Ecology and Paleolimnology
• Ryan Danby - Ecosystem change and biodiversity conservation
• Louise Winn - Fetal Toxicity

Society, culture & economic sustainability:

• Allison Goebel - Gender and Environment
• Myra Hird - Environmental Studies
• Mick Smith - Environmental Philosophy
• Graham Whitelaw - Environmental assessment and land use planning

Employment Opportunities

Our graduates to date have entered careers in: Environmental Protection – water quality; Conservation & Preservation of Natural Resources – Forestry, Energy, Natural Resources Management; Environmental Sustainability – Education, Communication & Public Awareness, Sustainable Development Management, Policy & Legislation

Funding Information

Minimum funding package: $16,000/year (internal and external scholarships and teaching and research assistantships)

We strongly encourage you to apply for major national (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) and provincial scholarships (OGS) in the year prior to applying to our program. Queen’s automatically issues a $5,000 top-up award to winners of federal government Tri-Council Awards.

Academic Prerequisites

Grades: We consider your grades over the last two years as well as your cumulative average.

To be considered for admission, students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.3/4.3 (75%, B+ standing) or equivalent on a four-year undergraduate degree.

Students have been successful with backgrounds in Environmental Studies, History, Biology, Life Sciences, Engineering, Law and Philosophy, for example, and range from mature students to students who come directly from undergraduate studies.

Other Requirements

Statement of Interest.

Test Requirements

We do not use GRE scores.

International students must have TOEFL scores of at least 600 (paper) or or TOEFL iBT minimum scores of: writing (24/30); speaking (22/30); reading (22/30); listening (20/30), for a total of 88/120. Applicants must have the minimum score in each test as well as the minimum overall score.

Program Profiles

• Joanne Linnay - Around the world and back again: MES student's CIDA funded Cape Town research...
• Floxy Akhuetie - An environmental passion: Nigerian Master's student....
• Ivana Zelenika - Research with real-world implications...
• Atanu Sarkar - came to Queen's with a specific plan in mind...
• Maria Offin - when she was pregnant with her third child that Maria realised she was ready to take on another challenge...
• Paul Carey (alumnist) - knew he wanted his life work to make a difference...