About the Program
Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary study of complex environmental problems involving the natural world and human impacts. Students can tailor the scientific focus of the program to their own interests, by choosing courses from Geographical and Earth Science perspectives; Biological/Ecological perspectives; and Physical/Chemical perspectives. Courses on Social and Policy perspectives are also part of the program; no matter which pathway is followed, some courses on Social and Policy Perspectives are required. The premise is that those who will develop our scientific knowledge and technological capacities must also have a basic understanding of environmental management, policy, and the human-environment relationship. The Environment programs at UTM are all ECO Canada accredited. Graduates of major and specialist programs get a head start with an integrated environmental Professional-in-Training designation (Ept).
Honours Bachelor of Science
After completing your first year, you'll be asked to confirm what program(s) you wish to study – your Programs of Study. They can be integrated in unique ways to obtain your U of T degree, but must be one of the following three combinations: one Specialist; or two Majors; or one Major and two Minors. You don't need to worry about that now, but if you'd like to learn more about this process, watch our handy video (7 min).
Admission Requirements
You apply to an admission category, which is a collection of similar programs. Once you've accepted an offer of admission to our campus, we go into greater detail about specific program and course selection options.
At the end of your first year, you will choose your program(s), which means that your first year is an excellent opportunity to explore the full breadth of offerings.
Regardless of what you study, remember that you will receive a prestigious University of Toronto degree when you graduate that tells everyone that you are ranked among the best in the world!
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The admission average is calculated with English (ENG4U) plus the next best five Grade 12 U or M courses. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee you admission to the University. Admission is subject to space availability and competition.
The content in this section is based on requirements in the Ontario curriculum.
Find requirements to other common curricula:
- Canadian High School
- International Baccalaureate
- U.S.-Patterned Education
- British-Patterned Education
- French Baccalaureate
- Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE)
Please visit the Admissions section of our site for full requirements.
Discover Your Potential
There may come a time when the next blouse or pair of gym shorts you buy are made of banana peels, rotten tomatoes, coffee grounds or mouldy bread. It’s not as gross as it sounds. And in fact, the future of fashion depends on the use of biodegradable and carbon-neutral materials, says Avneet Ghotra.
A University of Toronto Mississauga student who is a passionate environmental advocate has been acknowledged with a Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award. Muhammad Qureshi, a fourth-year chemistry and environmental science student, founded EnviroHub, a group of environmental or eco-minded clubs at UTM working to make campus events more sustainable.
Something unexpected is happening at U of T Mississauga. The ground has started to rumble with increasing frequency, shaking buildings, rattling desks and leading to mounting concern and confusion.
Student Experience
Courses You Would Love
This course provides an introduction to the principles and concepts of geomorphology, the study of the processes that shape the surface of the earth. The course adopts a process-oriented approach to the study of the variety of landforms found in the natural environment.
This hands-on course introduces students to field methods and integrative problem solving in environmental sciences. Topics will include sampling methods and protocols employed in terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric assessment and monitoring, etc.
This course will examine the complex nature of minerals and crystals from a geological, physical and chemical perspective and will introduce the petrology of volcanic rocks, intrusive plutonic rocks, metamorphic rocks, and sedimentary rocks.
Planning Ahead
Whether you want to land your dream job, conduct groundbreaking research, or start your own business, we can get you there. Here are resources to help you explore your career options.
Career Options
Created by our Career Centre, the Careers by Major database identifies some potential career fields, how to gain related skills and experience, and useful resources and job samples. But always remember, your program of study doesn't have to determine your career!
Program Plans
Program Plans are quick and accessible overviews of the many academic and co-curricular opportunities available to help you get the most out of your UTM experience.
Tip Sheets
The Career Centre offers dozens of tip sheets with helpful information about topics related to searching for work, planning your career, and pursuing further education.
View to the U: An eye on UTM research
View to the U is a podcast that features U of T Mississauga faculty members from a range of disciplines who will illuminate some of the inner-workings of the science labs and enlighten the social sciences and humanities hubs at UTM.
On this episode, Professor Lindsay Schoenbohm talks about her work that uses the landscape to read tectonics, with tectonics being the process that affect the properties and the structure of the Earth’s crust and its evolution over time. We also cover some of the faraway locales she has travelled to in order to conduct her fieldwork – venturing most commonly to ‘seismically active parts of the world,’ where earthquakes can occur – as well as some of the more exciting and memorable trips that have occurred over the course of her academic career.
Learn More About this Program
Other Programs to Consider
Astronomical Sciences
Astronomical Sciences studies the vast universe beyond Earth, discovering objects and phenomena that do not exist on Earth or in the solar system, such as planets orbiting other stars, black holes and forms of mass and energy that cannot be seen even though they form 95% of the universe. To study these objects, astronomical sciences integrates the methods and knowledge of all the other sciences.
Geography (HBSc)
The Geography BSc offers a broad perspective on physical geography. In-depth studies include climatology, hydrology and ecosystems, with possible specialization in biogeochemistry, arctic regions, landscape ecology, natural resources and urban climate. The curriculum stresses the integrative nature of the discipline as well as the development of skills in geographical information analysis.