Master of Science, Specialization in Environmental Sciences

at University of Prince Edward Island Canada

The Biology Department at UPEI has a strong tradition of helping people realize their potential through deep consideration of the biological world. A scientific understanding of the plants and animals is, in many ways, its own reward. But it is also a pathway to a large number of exciting and fulfilling career opportunities. A biology program is a common route toward the health professions (human and veterinary medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, etc.), for which we offer strong pre-professional programs. It can also lead to careers in environmental analysis, biotechnology, laboratory diagnostics, and many other things. Biology graduates also often establish other sorts of careers (lawyer, business professional) for which the knowledge of biology can be a strong personal and professional asset.

The strength of our educational programs derive from the strength of our scholarly activity and research. Our faculty hold grants from the Natural Sciences and Research Council of Canada, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Atlantic Innovation Foundation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and Prince Edward Island Health Research Institute, among others. Our faculty have research programs in neurobiology, arctic insect ecology, cancer cell biology, watershed ecology, pollination biology, coastal habitat ecology, animal habitat fragmentation, heart and stroke physiology, aquatic toxicology, plant ecological genetics, among others.

The MBA in Global Leadership is a cohort-model MBA program that can be completed in 12 months. Students complete 14 courses as well as an MBA Skills Orientation Module at the beginning of the program. The cohort model enables students to progress through the applied program together as a community of learners, providing a strong support network for students to achieve their personal and academic goals. 

The School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (SMCS) is built on a strong foundation of core Mathematics and Computer Science programs that have existed at UPEI for many years. The SMCS is unique in Atlantic Canada for offering a comprehensive suite of majors in the quantitative disciplines.

Mathematical and computational sciences are experiencing a “boom”, as many industries and sectors need people with the skills to manage, analyze, and extract useful information from data. This is what mathematicians, statisticians, and computer scientists are trained to do. Analytics (sometimes called “data science”) is at the intersection of mathematics, statistics, and computer science, and is the hottest area of job growth right now.

The MSc degree of the University of Prince Edward Island requires the demonstration of a reasonable mastery of a concentrated field of study. The latter is attested by the achieving of satisfactory standings in the minimum number of graduate courses required by the respective Faculty, the completion of a research project, and the writing of a thesis based upon the research. There will be considerable interaction and co-operation among the departments/faculties to provide courses and research facilities to meet the needs of individual students and their research projects.

The Applied Communication, Leadership and Culture program explicitly connects the communication skills and leadership training of a Liberal Arts education to successful post- graduation employment. This program is defined by its focus on the transferability of the written, oral and visual communication skills, the critical thinking, and the cultural awareness acquired during a Liberal Arts education to the world beyond academia. Technical skills, work-integrated learning (internships, cooperatives, workplace-generated projects), and career-related mentoring are key components of its design.

The Faculty of Business is committed to providing students with a high quality, integrated business education in a personalized learning environment. It is structured to provide the broad-based, cross-functional business education required for leaders of business, government, and not-for-profit organizations. The Faculty's personalized learning environment provides opportunities for extensive interaction between students, faculty and practitioners.

The Faculty of Business holds a unique position within the province’s education system. As the only university school of business, it is committed to intellectual leadership, and to excellence in developing new knowledge and conveying that knowledge to its students and to the public. In order to attract, develop and retain students, faculty and staff, the Faculty recognizes that it must sustain an intellectually stimulating environment.

The Faculty views its students not as customers, but rather as partners in the development of a high quality business education. Graduates are expected to have developed competency in integrating the core functional business disciplines; ethical, social, historical and global awareness; critical thinking and problem solving; quantitative analysis; communication skills and leadership; team work as well as personal initiative; technological application in business; and using business research to support evidence-informed practice.

The degree program in the Faculty of Business is designed to fulfill this mission and to provide the educational breadth and depth needed by business leaders.

Organizational Management (specialization):

The leadership and management of organizations can promote or undermine organizational effectiveness, the well being of organizations’ members, and outcomes for other stakeholders. Management-related courses such as organizational behaviour, human resource management, and leadership and management skills are important components of the core BBA program.

The specialization in organizational management allows students to delve deeper into the broad, interdisciplinary domain of management and organizational studies by combining additional management courses with relevant courses in social science and liberal arts. Substantive issues relating to organizations as well as social and behavioural research methods are features designed to help students take an evidence-based approach to management.  This specialization promotes development of thoughtful, ethical, and productive members, managers, and leaders of organizations.

The Co-op option is available to full-time students in any specialization within the Faculty of Business. Applications to the Co-op Education Program are normally made after completion of the first year of study. Students who successfully complete all the requirements of the program will have the notation entered on their transcripts and on the graduation parchment.

Mathematics is the study of quantity, structure and space. While mathematics is important in understanding and influencing the physical world around us, mathematics can also be curiosity-driven and enjoyed without the requirement of a particular application. The Bachelor of Science with a major in Mathematics provides students with a solid foundation in both pure and applied mathematics, preparing them for graduate studies and professional programs. Students interested in graduate studies in mathematics should consider the Bachelor of Science with honours in Mathematics.

The Bachelor of Business Studies (BBST) program is a post-diploma degree. It will require a minimum of two years of academic study at UPEI, the curriculum of which will consist primarily of core courses and a few electives.

To be eligible for program admission, students must have already completed a two-year business diploma in specified programs at a recognized college and have achieved an overall average of 70%. Students must meet the UPEI admission requirements for this degree. In the BBST, students must obtain grades of at least 60% in at least 12 of the 16 required business courses in order to qualify for the degree. Students are subject to all of the Academic Regulations of the University.
 

Physics is recognized internationally as a great foundational degree for many careers including in science, industry, education, business, law, and medicine. Physics explores many of the deeper mysteries of the universe and can lead to a wide range of intriguing career and employment opportunities.

A key focus of UPEI's physics programs is on experiential learning, including opportunities to work with companies and organizations in PEI and across Canada (co-op program) or to work with physics faculty on campus in summer research positions (major and honours programs). These positions are all paid and they give you a chance to experience different types of jobs, workplace settings and employers, and gain important transferable skills, all while you are a physics student at UPEI.