Applied Ecology

The food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, many of the materials we use, and much of the recreation and culture we enjoy are products of ecological systems.

We manage ecosystems to provide us with these benefits, and our use and misuse can have grave impacts. Problems like pollution, over-harvesting, acid rain and climate change often arise because we fail to understand our ecosystems properly.

In this specialization/minor, you can develop your understanding of how ecosystems function. You'll build foundational knowledge of living and non-living components of ecosystems, and how they interact. You can also learn to apply systems thinking to the challenges that come with managing ecosystems for agriculture, forestry, fisheries, protected areas and urban development. Upon graduation, you will be able to harness concepts and tools that can help you deal with the complexity that an ecosystem perspective brings.

If taken as a specialization, it must be combined with a major in the B.Sc(AgEnvSc). The suggested major is Environmental Biology

Accepted international credentials

Applicants are reviewed on their high school transcript with particular emphasis on yearly averages and results in prerequisite subjects (prerequisite subjects must have been completed during the last two years of high school).

Bologna-signatory countries

The Applied Ecology program will help prepare you for a number of careers. You could conduct environmental impact assessments and develop regulations to combat pollution or protect threatened species, write briefs on agriculture or environment for executives in industry or government, conduct field research, and more. 

You could become a professional:  

• Policy advisor
• Field researcher
• Museum curator
• Ecological educator