Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental and Resource Studies

at Trent University Peterborough Canada

Study in one of the only Environmental Careers Organization(ECO)-Canada accredited environmental science programs in the country, choosing from the broadest range of environmental courses available at any Canadian university.

Make your mark on this world in a thoughtful and sustainable way. You’ll acquire the knowledge essential to understanding our environment and creating a greener future. Choose to complete a B.A. degree and explore sustainable solutions to environmental challenges in courses such as environmental law and global environmental policy. With the B.Sc. option, you’ll obtain an advanced scientific understanding of the environment, addressing everything from environmental chemistry to restoration ecology.

Accelerated Master's Degree:-
Earn your M.Sc. in Environmental & Life Sciences (ELS) in only 12-16 months after graduating from your B.Sc.

Resume Boosters:-

• Conduct hands-on research in Trent’s 12 on-campus nature reserves
• Develop practical field and laboratory skills working with internationally recognized environmental scientists
• Spend a year studying abroad in a multitude of international research placements

International Development Studies at Trent aims to equip students with the tools to understand and analyze societal transformation, and to act in ways that contribute to progressive social and political change. Here, you will learn from a range of experts, including anthropologists, political scientists, and economists, as you take courses that fuse theory and practical learning. You’ll explore wide-ranging themes such as global poverty, food systems, hunger, conflict, ecological degradation, industrialization, and cultural identity, as you better understand the sources and consequences of human development around the world. Your studies will pay particular attention to the world’s most vulnerable populations and their complex relations with states, corporations and international organizations.

Specialization in Latin America Studies
Study the complex history, politics, and biodiversity of Latin America while you explore and discover new approaches to understanding democracy, human rights, and sustainable development in the world’s most urbanized regions. Adding a specialization to your IDS degree is a great way to showcase your expertise and develop your Spanish language skills.

Resume Boosters:

• Experience life in Latin America by studying and living abroad through Trent’s Study Abroad program
• Join the Student Association for International Development and contribute to the student-run Community Movements Conference
• Study and graduate from a program that is recognized for its leadership on a global scale

More than simply the study of numbers, mathematics is a powerful tool that is crucial for helping us make sense of the world around us. In this program, you’ll learn about the fundamental structure of the universe and the limits of human reason. The expertise and skills developed in this program are in high demand in the job market, as mathematical science careers are estimated to be one of the fastest growing occupation sectors in the coming decade.

Resume Boosters

• Test your math skills and knowledge in our Math Resource Room accessing mathematical and statistical software, such as Maple and MatLab
• Work alongside leading professors through summer research opportunities
• Take advantage of part-time employment opportunities available in marking and tutoring
• Become a member of our Society of Undergraduate Mathematics Students (SUMS) and join in events and workshops related to all things math

Get ready for a career that is both challenging and highly rewarding. As a social worker, you’ll witness the struggles people face with difficult issues like poverty, drug abuse, crime or sexual assault. You’ll also truly make a difference in people’s lives, providing essential support and leaving a positive impact on your community. Through our interdisciplinary curriculum grounded in social justice, human rights, and cultural humility, you’ll develop a strong foundation of clinical knowledge, critical thinking skills, and social responsibility. If you apply and succeed in entering Trent’s competitive professional (third and fourth) years, you’ll have the opportunity to focus exclusively on social work theory and practice.

Resume Boosters:-

• Complete 700 hours of hands-on placement in the professional years program, working with mental health, sexual assault, community counselling, and social services organizations
• Make your mark through the social and community events that take place on campus every day or by joining the Trent Social Work Society
• Meet leading thinkers and social activists in the field through a variety of on-campus lectures and workshops

International Development Studies at Trent aims to equip students with the tools to understand and analyze societal transformation, and to act in ways that contribute to progressive social and political change. Here, you will learn from a range of experts, including anthropologists, political scientists, and economists, as you take courses that fuse theory and practical learning. You’ll explore wide-ranging themes such as global poverty, food systems, hunger, conflict, ecological degradation, industrialization, and cultural identity, as you better understand the sources and consequences of human development around the world. Your studies will pay particular attention to the world’s most vulnerable populations and their complex relations with states, corporations and international organizations.

Resume Boosters:

• Study and work in a developing country through the Trent in Ghana program – includes a 12-week placement with a development organization
• Translate learning into experience through our community-based research course, conducting an evaluation of a community organization in Peterborough or Haliburton
• Join the Student Association for International Development and contribute to the student-run Community Movements Conference

This degree provides the perfect path for students who wish to find solutions to large-scale challenges such as pollution, climate change or rising sea levels. The program integrates the disciplines of geology, biology, chemistry and geography, and gives you an opportunity to study at one of the top 100 green campuses in the world.  As an Environmental Geoscience student, you’ll study the interaction between human activities and our planet while discovering environmental solutions alongside some of the world’s leading environmental researchers and scientists.

Imagine studying the structure of galaxies, developing new technology in high-speed communications, or contributing to the advancement of medical science. As a student of Trent’s Physics program, you’ll learn to bring abstract yet powerful concepts to life, ask important questions about the most basic particles and forces in nature, and apply what you learn to complex systems such as novel quantum materials and celestial bodies. With a Physics B Sc. degree, you can potentially help shape and advance our understanding of the world as we know it.

Resume Boosters:-

• Put your knowledge into action through hands-on research in courses, a senior thesis or summer research project with a leading faculty member
• Join (or lead) the Trent Physics Club and expand your Physics knowledge and skill through lab tours, events, and participating in the annual Canadian Undergraduate Physics Conference
• Take your education global through Trent’s Physics Study Abroad program

An important field of study particularly in today’s social media-focused world, Sociology helps us achieve a greater understanding of the complex yet simplistic nature of humankind, and the societies in which we choose to organize ourselves. Rooted in the social sciences and inspired by a passion for social justice, Trent’s Sociology program engages students in understanding and acting on the consequences of social change. Through this degree, you’ll explore and question a diverse range of social topics, completing your studies with a heightened understanding of human relationships and society. A sociology degree is an excellent foundation for law school, teachers college, social work or similar programs.

Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies (Specialization):-

Small classes sizes allow you to make connections with professors and open doors to hands-on, undergraduate research opportunities studying homelessness, the criminalization of women, restorative justice, or the impact on Indigenous peoples.

For students pursuing an Honours Sociology degree, this standout specialization explores the study of crime and punishment, the influence of social inequality as a cause of crime, and how criminals and victims are treated by the criminal justice system. You’ll apply your sociological knowledge and potentially perform independent research on homelessness, the criminalization of women, restorative justice or the impact on Indigenous peoples.

This specialization is available to students pursuing a single or joint-major Honours degree in Sociology.

Resume Boosters:-

• Gain a solid foundation in legal research methodology and theoretical application that will prepare you for success in a variety of workplace settings
• Streamline and personalize your degree with a focus on crime and society
• Familiarize yourself with case law research by learning from and working with practising legal professionals
• Take a prison-based course that explore restorative justice in all contexts

Trent is the only university in Canada to offer students the chance to combine your study of forensics with one of several different academic disciplines. Choose a joint major in forensics in combination with a vast array of complementary areas of study in either the arts or the sciences. Interested in a career in forensics specializing in ballistics? A joint degree with Physics could come in handy. Want to analyze the mental state of criminals, or become a criminal profiler? Combine your Forensics degree with a B.A. in Psychology. The emerging field of computer forensics means a joint major with Computing Systems can help you stand out from the crowd. No matter what your forensic career ambitions are, you have plenty of options at Trent.

Resume Boosters:

• First-hand investigative work with bloodstain pattern analysis, fingerprinting, and evidence recovery in mock crime scenes at Trent’s on- campus Crime Scene House
• Opportunities to research and work directly with scientists in the lab and professionals in the field
• A third-year work placement in a subdiscipline of your choice, including Federal government internships with Border Services, RCMP, Health Canada, Food Inspection Services
• Direct access to leading experts in DNA profiling, and forensics at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Have a passion for dismantling patriarchal systems and structures, and a desire to lead the creation of a more equitable future? This Gender & Social Justice specialization supports students to gain a deeper understanding of intersectional feminism exploring theory, principles, ethics and activism, and decolonization, and courses that cross disciplinary boundaries. Students gain the skills and expertise needed to lead the way forward and succeed in careers in a diverse range of fields – everything from policy and psychology to advocacy and academia.

Resume Boosters:

• Gain a foundational understanding of feminist theory and principles and learn how to apply in real-world scenarios
• Develop expertise to become a leader in advocacy, activism and decolonization.
• Sharpen an analytical skillset and learn to articulate ideas and concepts in the workplace