York University
AC-4: Graduate Program

The Masters in Environmental Studies (MES) program is self-directed and interdisciplinary. The Faculty of Environmental Studies has taken an interdisciplinary approach to the study of natural, social, and built environments. For this reason, the range of subject matter addressed by students is diverse. The program has established strengths in the areas of urban sustainability, environmental policy, economics and management, climate change, sustainable energy, business and the environment, environmental education, planning, geographic information systems, ecology, gender and the environment, indigenous knowledge, sustainable food systems and culture and the environment. In place of a fixed set of curriculum offerings, MES students create a plan of study. The plan of study anchors a student-centered learning model that allows students to define both substantive areas of study and approach to learning with the support of their faculty advisor.

The PhD in environmental studies was established in 1991. Since then, doctoral students in the Faculty of Environmntal studies have engaged with an extremely diverse array of environmental concerns and approaches related to natural, build, social, cultural, political, economic, organizational, spiritual, philosophical, literary and virtual ‘environments’. This doctoral program follows three stages: the PhD program plan sage, the comprehensive examination stage and the dissertation stage.

This Diploma is open to students in both the MES program and the Schulich School of Business MBA program. Business operates in an increasingly complex setting. Environmental and social concerns are at the forefront of the new issues which are stretching the responsibilities of business and demanding new types of management thinking. These concerns first affected established industries in forestry products, chemicals and mining sectors. Today, however, they are impacting other manufacturers, retailing and service industries, and the financial sector. One of the first of its kind in North America, the Erivan K. Haub Program in Business and Sustainability at Schulich is at the cutting edge of current best practice. The business and sustainability specialization equips students for general management and senior corporate positions, as well as for work in specialist environmental management or consulting posts.