Environmental and Urban Sustainability
Understanding and managing socioecological systems and the environment is one of the defining challenges of our generation. The Environmental and Urban Sustainability program gives you the tools to understand challenges, analyze behaviours and the role of corporations and governments in safeguarding our futures.
Degree earned:
Bachelor of Arts Honors*
Program options:
4 year, or 5 year co-op*
Areas of focus:
Environmental policy, communities and sustainability, environmental studies, environmental/sustainable design, environmental management
From theory to the field: key courses
Through coursework, lab-based learning, fieldwork and co-ops, you’ll learn how people, corporations and governments play distinct roles in environmental challenges and solutions, with a unique focus on cities and our campus location as a living laboratory.
Course name: GEO 311, Indigenous Geographies
Mode of delivery: Active learning classroom
Term: Second year
Using active learning methods and tools, you’ll engage with Indigenous peoples and traditional knowledge, exploring how it reorients geographical land stewardship toward a more holistic understanding of people in place.
Course name: EUS 701, Field Studies in Urban Environmental Science
Mode of delivery: Classroom, lab, field
Term: Fourth year
Visit parks, ravines, streams, and established neighbourhoods to gain practical experience with the tools and data used to tackle environmental challenges. This innovative course turns Toronto into a laboratory and culminates in an independent research project.
Course name: EUS 801, Senior Professional Project
Mode of delivery: Lecture, seminar, group work
Term: Fourth year
Build collaboration and research skills while working with real-world sustainability organizations on environmental governance. This course includes a culminating research project and serves as an invaluable stepping stone to graduate studies or professional practice.
Academic journey and program structure
Build interdisciplinary and applied expertise to address complex environmental and urban challenges through community engagement, research, fieldwork, and policy analysis.
Core goals/highlights of the curriculum:
- Learn from social and natural sciences to gain a holistic view of environmental issues
- Focus on practical solutions for city-based challenges, such as sustainable infrastructure, waste management, and green space planning
- Study on-campus or participate in an international exchange
New and returning students in Environmental and Urban Sustainability Studies can access a wide range of program-specific awards and scholarships in addition to Faculty and TMU awards.
You may be eligible for:
- $250 to $500 Best Overall Performance in First Year
- $250 to $500 Best Overall Performance in Second Year
- $250 to $500 Best Overall Performance in Third Year
- Many more awards!
Build the skills public and private sector employers are looking through undergraduate co-op placements or internships.
Highlights
- Environmental and Urban Sustainability (BA, Honours): 5-Year Co-op
- Learn while building a professional resume
- Graduate with real-world experience
Connect classroom learning to real-world challenges through work-integrated study, capstone courses, international field trips, or by designing your own research project.
Student opportunities
- Conduct coursework in labs and field work through case studies and projects
- Engage with practitioners and community members for real world experiences
- Participate in local and international field trips
Applied learning and student engagement
Experiential and applied learning opportunities
Get career-ready for life after graduation. Through project-based capstone courses and community-based learning, TMU offers hands-on experiences that help you apply what you’ve learned to real-world challenges.
Get involved
Join our vibrant and active community! Follow departmental student groups for networking opportunities and special events, find student resources and more.
Get help
At TMU, you’re never alone. Whether you need help with a course or assignment, mental health support, or have questions about your student insurance plan, we’re with you from orientation week to graduation day.
Chart your way to a promising future
Where your degree leads
A degree in Environmental and Urban Sustainability does more than deepen your knowledge of critical issues facing natural and built environments. Your degree serves as a prerequisite for a wide range of exciting and innovative academic pathways, each designed to prepare you for roles and careers in a variety of industries.
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