“Water in a Changing World” Minor empowers the next generation of leaders and environmental stewards to address complex water challenges in Canada and beyond

Urban Water is excited to announce that the TMU Senate has officially approved the new interdisciplinary minor "Water in a Changing World" Spearheaded by Urban Water TMU, the program features core courses team-taught by faculty from across multiple disciplines. This six-course minor integrates scientific, social, economic, and policy perspectives on water resources, equipping undergraduate students from any academic background to pursue careers in the environmental sector or transition into graduate programs like TMU's Environmental Applied Science and Management Program.

Marking the rollout of the minor's core curriculum, UWC 200: The Life of Freshwater is being taught in Fall 2026 by a multidisciplinary team of Urban Water faculty: Drs. Claire Oswald (Dept Geo Environ Stud), Roxana Suehring (Dept Chem Bio), and Rania Hamza (Dept Civil Eng). Designed with no prerequisites to ensure broad accessibility across campus, UWC 200 introduces students to the natural water cycle, human impacts on water quality and quantity, modern approaches to water treatment, public health connections, and freshwater monitoring methods. This foundational course serves as a stepping stone toward the minor's second required core offering, UWC 600: Canadian Water Issues, Law and Policy, along with a selection of 29 interdisciplinary electives.

Reflecting TMU’s commitment to sustainability and aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 6, "Water in a Changing World" addresses urgent global and localwater issues ranging from climate change impacts and emerging contaminants to water governance and infrastructure challenges. By bridging theory and practical application, the new minor empowers the next generation of leaders and environmental stewards to address complex water challenges in Canada and beyond.