Course Descriptions

The purpose of this course is to introduce graduate students to theoretical and practical issues in geographical research. Its specific objective is to demonstrate and promote professional practices in geography culminating in a research plan that will serve as the basis for developing a graduate research proposal.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours
Note: Required for M.A., M.Sc. and Ph.D. students.

Geographic Information Science is the systematic study and theory of digital representations of the Earth, and the processes that can be applied to that information. Students will explore contemporary theory and research in GIScience to better understand how technology can be used for geographic inquiry.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): Training in GIS, Cartography, or related technical or theoretical area.

There are three major parts to this course: class discussion, field data collection, and a research project. A topic is assigned for weekly in-class discussion. One time field data collection will be arranged including using spectroradiometer and LAI-2000 instruments. Each student must finish a research project.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 2 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 423 or permission of the department.

This course will provide the understanding and tools necessary to develop and apply hydrological models across a broad range of landscapes. Students will learn how to represent process understanding in hydrological models, how to devise meaningful model experiments, and how to evaluate model experiments in a systematic way.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours

This course presents the quantitative relationships that encapsulate our understanding of hydrological processes most relevant to western and northern Canada. Three principal themes are explored: (1) the physical concepts and major conceptual and practical challenges in hydrology; (2) surface-atmosphere water and energy exchange; and (3) water movement over the landscape.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours

This course aims to describe and explain the physical principles and processes that govern hydrology with special reference to Canadian conditions and with an emphasis on the application of coupled mass and energy balance calculations in hydrology. Students will learn the primary Canadian hydrological processes, assess the effects of variable boundary conditions on these processes, and apply coupled energy and mass balance equations to calculate hydrological flows.

Weekly hours: 1 Lecture hours and 2 Seminar/Discussion hours

This short course emphasizes integrative science and professional practice for NSERC CREA TE for Water Security students.

Weekly hours: 1 Lecture hours and 1 Seminar/Discussion hours and 1 Practicum/Lab hours
Permission of the instructor required

This course explores the dynamic and reciprocal interplay between hydrological processes and ecological pattern and processes.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours
Restriction: An undergraduate degree in a natural resources field plus permission of the instructor.

The course focuses on the theory and methods of indigenous community planning in reserve, rural, urban, northern, and international contexts. Students will apply course content in classroom discussions and to produce a research essay. Guest lectures from practitioners and a field trip are additional highlights to the learning experience.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Note: Students with credit for PLAN 445 will not receive credit for this course.

This course explores the feedback mechanisms between hydrological and social systems, the implications for sustainable water management and sustainable societies, and the theoretical frameworks that have emerged at this interface.

The course introduces the emerging land use and transportation planning issues, policies, trends, modelling, and analytical tools. It focuses on the areas of land use and transportation systems integration, public transport planning and operations, and planning for active transportation and shared-mobility options. Students will understand and learn how to adapt evidence-based approaches to evaluate land use and transportation systems performance.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours
Note: This course is a hybrid course with PLAN 481.3, and this course cannot be taken for credit after previously taking PLAN 481.3.

Professional skills development for the environmental planner. A focus on personal and professional capacity development in a variety of professional skills including Indigenous engagement and ethical conduct, policy, plan, and program evaluation, environment and planning legislation and regulation, and principles of data management. Students complete a series of self-guided modules.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours

A graduate course providing topics relating to water planning and management in Canada. Concepts and theory will be augmented with practical, applied learning to prepare students to engage as practitioners in the field. Themes covered include water law and governance, planning process models, watershed assessments, source water protection, innovation in urban stormwater management, Indigenous water issues and integrated water resource management.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours

A project-based course focusing on emerging concepts and broader applications of environmental assessment principles and practices. Course topics varying from year to year following developments in the field, and may include such topics as cumulative effects assessment, strategic environmental assessment, project scooping, assessment methods and techniques, monitoring and follow-up.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 386; or 6 credit units in advanced environmental management; or permission of the instructor.

A reading course for graduate students focusing on areas for which there is no regular graduate course or for making up the deficiencies in the research program.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours
Note: There are costs in addition to tuition fees. Please contact the department for information.

Offered occasionally in special situations. Students interested in these courses should contact the department for more information.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours