Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

at Mount Allison University Canada

Canadian Public Policy is an interdisciplinary program examining public decision-making and policy processes related to environmental, social, health, and economic policy.

The Canadian Public Policy program provides an adaptable and broad knowledge base for students interested in all levels of Canadian-based policy work, giving students a strong foundation in policy analysis and implementation. This involves understanding the public policy process, policy analysis, intergovernmental relations, economic forces and political considerations.

Mount Allison was among the first universities in the country to establish a Canadian studies program. This well-respected program has earned a national reputation for excellence.

Canadian Studies facultyCanadian studies is an interdisciplinary program that seeks to study Canada’s place in the world through Canadian-centred courses in a number of disciplines. Students explore the complexities of the country, including its vast and varied geography and its regional distinctions, as well as the intricacies of issues such as the environment, First Nations, bilingualism, and multiculturalism.

The program benefits from its collaboration with Mount Allison’s Centre for Canadian Studies. An invaluable resource, the Centre supports and extends student learning through an exceptional program of public lectures and extracurricular events.

Mathematics is the foundation of most modern quantitative and qualitative studies. It has many faces, from practical uses of its statistical tools to theoretical studies of abstract relationships.

At Mount Allison, the Mathematics program aims to provide an appreciation of the historical, theoretical, and applied nature of mathematics.

All courses in the curriculum offer a blend of theory and practical applications. The program includes lectures supplemented by weekly labs where you can gain hands-on experience.

Introductory courses* may introduce students to the applications to which calculus may be applied or the practical uses of statistics.
Upper-year courses deal with topics ranging from geometry to game theory.

You will be introduced to mathematical concepts such as:

• The practical uses of statistical tools
• Theoretical studies of abstract relationships
• The applications of calculus
• The use of number theory in modern cryptography

Many of the courses offered include a substantial computational component and students are encouraged to use the mathematical software tools available. You are also encouraged to conduct independent summer research projects or to contribute to faculty research projects as a research assistant.

International relations is the study of the relationships between countries and between governmental and non-governmental organizations. It examines the impacts of economic, social, technological, environmental, military, and political processes, as well as issues of justice, responsibility, and human well-being.

The international relations program at Mount Allison is centred around courses in economics, language, and political science.

In first and second year you will take introductory courses in economics, political science, and international relations.

In third and fourth year you will begin to specialize. International relations is inter and multidisciplinary and in addition to your core courses, you will have the opportunity to choose two streams of study from the following disciplines:

• Political science (politics in Europe, the U.S., Africa, the Middle East; security studies; foreign policy analysis)
• History (war and society in Europe, Japan and modern Asia, environmental history)
• Sociology (social movements, refugee studies, globalization)
• Anthropology (indigenous knowledge systems, social inequality, globalization and social change)
• Economics (game theory, environmental economics, international development)
• Geography and environmental studies (Canadian environmental policy, international environmental affairs, sustainable development)
• English (African literature, Caribbean literature, literary representations of race and culture)
• Religious studies (gender issues in eastern and western religions, contemporary ethical issues)

International relations also has a university-level language requirement. Mount Allison offers courses in French, Spanish, German, and Japanese.

You are encouraged to gain international experience by studying or working abroad or by doing international work in Canada, and to carry out independent research.

Cognitive Science is the scientific study of the mind and its processes. It seeks to understand how the mind works through interdisciplinary studies in psychology, computer science, and philosophy.

Within the Department of Psychology, the Cognitive Science program incorporates perspectives from a variety of fields.

In first and second year you'll take introductory courses, plus courses such as:

• cognitive processes
• biopsychology
• systems programming
• philosophy of science

In third and fourth year you'll add courses in linguistics, while pursuing courses such as:

• sensation and perception
• behavioural neuroscience
• philosophy of mind
• artificial intelligence
• medical physics

You'll also be encouraged to pursue independent summer research projects, directed studies projects, or to contribute to faculty research projects as a research assistant.

Environmental Science provides a strong but diverse scientific foundation required to understand environmental issues from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

Environmental Science is an ideal discipline if you have both a strong interest in science and a concern for the environment. This interdisciplinary program is science intensive and provides you with the foundation necessary to understand environmental issues from many different perspectives.

At Mount Allison, Environmental Science students study issues like:

• the mechanics of weather and climate
• the biological consequences of climate change
• the impacts of environmental degradation
• the effects of climate on the distribution of animals and plants
• the impact of environmental change on freshwater systems

In upper years, you will compliment your major with an in-depth concentration of courses to provide you with a scientific specialty when you graduate.

Concentrations include:

• Aquatic environments
• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental modelling
• Environmental monitoring and management

You also have the opportunity to investigate issues you are passionate about through independent research (honours).

Chemistry is the branch of physical science involving the study of the composition of substances, the ways in which their properties are related to their composition, and the interaction of substances to produce new materials.
The general purpose of studies in chemistry is to increase our understanding of the structure and behaviour of the matter of our environment. A knowledge of chemistry is important to the solution of problems in important areas of the environment, medicine, and the utilization of resources.

The chemistry program at Mount Allison – fully accredited by the Canadian Society of Chemistry (CSC) – is designed to provide students with an education in the main branches of the subject, namely:

• Analytical
• Organic
• Inorganic
• Physical
• Computational

In upper years, students are offered some choice and flexibility with a curriculum that covers advanced courses, including:

• Advanced organic chemistry
• Physical organic chemistry
• Nanoscience and nanotechnology
• Physical chemistry: statistical thermodynamics, computational chemistry
• Inorganic chemistry: organometallics, physical aspects, bioinorganic, structure and bonding in main group chemistry
• Advanced quantum mechanics
• Environmental chemistry

The interdisciplinary nature of chemistry means you may also take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, mathematics, and psychology.

The chemistry and biochemistry department emphasizes experiential learning – you will graduate with 600 to 1,200 hours of lab experience, developing important analytical and presentation skills along the way.

Research is a key component of the department's approach. You will be encouraged to take advantage of faculty-supervised independent research, job opportunities as summer research assistants, and chances to contribute to faculty research projects, which often leads to co-authoring a paper with your professor for publication.

Visual and Material Culture Studies is an interdisciplinary program that studies images, objects, and spaces from various cultural contexts and historical periods.

At Mount Allison, Visual and Material Culture Studies courses are offered in two streams.

• Visual culture — pertains to images, viewership, visual media, and practices of looking.
• Material culture — encompasses all human-made and modified objects from the past and our contemporary world.

Visual and Material Culture Studies offers students innovative programming unique in its multidisciplinary composition, cross-cultural and trans-historical approach, and inclusive focus.

Classics offers the unique opportunity to gain new perspective on our language, literature, culture, and political structure by examining their roots in ancient Greece and Rome.

Classical studies examines the history and culture of ancient Greece and Rome and their contributions to western civilization.

Classics is unique among modern academic disciplines in the breadth of its approach to its subject – it is a field in which you must be simultaneously linguist, literary critic, anthropologist, sociologist, and historian of politics, religion and art.

In classics, you will study all aspects of the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, including: 

• History
• Mythology
• Art
• Archaeology
• Language
• Literature

Introductory courses focus on classical civilization, mythology, and archaeology, while upper year studies specialize in topics like Greek democracy, the Roman emperors, health and medicine, and Greek and Roman drama, poetry, and art.

You also have the opportunity to study classical languages – and even minor in: ancient Greek and Latin.

The study of geography develops an understanding of the principles of ecological and physical systems; of the cultural, social, economic, and political forces acting on those systems; and of the management, planning or scientific tools necessary to meet environmental challenges and opportunities.

Other degree options in the field of geography and environment at Mount Allison:

• BA environmental studies (honours, major, minor)
• BSc environmental science (honours, major, minor)
• Any degree, geographic information systems (minor)

The Mount Allison geography program explores courses in both human and physical geography, and is designed for students interested in the study of social sciences at various spatial and temporal scales.

Geography will often take you outside the classroom to learn through lab work, field study, and library and archival searching. Field trips to locations across the Maritime region and throughout North America have become an increasingly important part of this program.

You are also encouraged to become actively involved in research, either through independent summer research projects or as a research assistant to a faculty member.