The guiding objective of the Collaborative Program is to provide graduate students with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and analyze the economic, legal, policy and scientific dimensions of environmental problems, and to employ an evidence-based approach to develop rational policy options for addressing those problems.

The degree awarded specifies the primary program and indicates “Specialization in Environmental Sustainability.”

The program operates within the framework of the general regulations of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS), which are posted on the FGPS website.

Participating Programs

• The MSc in Biology
• The MSc in Earth Sciences
• The MA in Geography
• The MSc in Geography
• The MA in Globalization and International Development
• The MSc in Management
• The MSc in Health Systems

The professors included in the list below are members of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. This means that they are authorized to supervise or co-supervise theses. A complete list of the faculty and staff members associated with the program can be found at http://www.ie.uottawa.ca

CHALIFOUR, Nathalie, Associate Professor
Environmental law and policy; environment and economy; environmental justice environnementale

ELGIE, Stewart, Associate Professor
Environmental and natural resources law and policy

FINDLAY, C. Scott, Associate Professor
Conservation biology, ecosystem management, ecological risk assessment, evolution of resistance, cancer, weight of evidence, scientific uncertainty, traditional knowledge

FORTIN, Danielle, Associate Professor
Biogeochemistry of metals

HEYES, Anthony, Full Professor
Public Economics; Environmental Economics; Environmental Policy; Industrial Organization

JUILLET, Luc, Associate Professor
Environmental policy; Public administration and policy; Canadian political institutions

KERR, Jeremy, Associate Professor
The influence of human activities on spatial patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem function

LANE, Daniel, Full Professor
Decision analysis and support; management science

MARSCHKE REDWOOD, Melissa, Associate Professor
Sustainability; Fisheries and aquaculture; Environmental change; Resource governance; Greater Mekong Region

MCLEMAN, Robert, Assistant Professor
Human vulnerability and adaptation to environmental change; particularly climate change; relationship between environmental conditions and human migration; environment and security; environmental limits to urban growth; sustainable development

PICK, Frances, Full Professor
Behavior, ecology and systematics, algae, algal toxins, lakes, metals, rivers, water pollution, wetlands

SANER, Marc, Associate Professor
Environmental ethics; Governance and ethics of emerging technologies; Risk management and risk governance; Interface between science and policy

Applications for admission to the collaborative program in environmental sustainability at the master's level are normally submitted at the same time as the application for admission to the relevant participating master's program. In exceptional cases, students could commence their specialization in environmental sustainability at the beginning of the second session of registration.

To be accepted into the Collaborative Program candidates must:

• Be admitted to one of the programs participating in the Collaborative Program;
• Provide, in the case of thesis-based programs, a letter of recommendation from a professor confirming that he or she is willing to act as thesis supervisor;
• Submit a cover letter along with the application form indicating what research topic or area the student would like to pursue, and why the student wishes to do so as part of the Collaborative Program.

Master’s program with thesis:

• Satisfactory completion of the Environmental Sustainability seminar (EVD5100 or EVD5500, 3 credits).
• Presentation and defence of a thesis on a topic in environmental sustainability based on research carried out under the supervision of a professor who is a member of the student`s primary program and/or of the collaborative program. The Collaborative Program Committee determines whether or not the topic of the thesis is appropriate for the designation “Specialization in Environmental Sustainability.” At least one of the thesis examiners must be a member of the Environmental Sustainability collaborative program.

Master’s program with research paper:

• Satisfactory completion of the Environmental Sustainability seminar course (EVD5100 or EVD5500, 3 credits).
• Satisfactory completion of one course (3 credits) selected from a list of optional courses for the Collaborative Program in Environmental Sustainability.
• Satisfactory completion of the research paper, which must be on a topic in the area of environmental sustainability, carried out under the supervision of a professor who is a member of the student`s primary program and/or of the collaborative program. The Collaborative Program Committee determines whether or not the topic of the research paper is appropriate for the designation “Specialization in Environmental Sustainability.” The research paper is evaluated by two professors, one of whom is selected by the primary program, and the other by the Collaborative Program Director, on the advice of the Collaborative Program Committee.

Minimum Standards

Cours obligatoires / Compulsory courses

Cours optionnels / Optional courses

Academic Unit Coordinates