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Human life and society depend critically on environmental resources we all too often take for granted: air, water, soil and the mineral and organic resources of the earth. With the recent attention to global warming and climate change, there has been a dramatic increase in scientific research and employment opportunities in this area.

McMaster’s Faculty of Science is a scholarly community that is dedicated to integrating education and research, and to enhance learning through hands-on experience. The Environmental & Earth Sciences Gateway program offers problem-based and inquiry learning experiences that will challenge you to think independently and to apply the knowledge you gain.

You will graduate with a broad understanding of scientific methods, a solid grounding in environmental and earth sciences, and general intellectual skills relevant to careers in science and elsewhere.

Whether you know exactly what area of science you are interested in or are still undecided (or change your mind after you arrive!), the structure of our Level I Environmental and Earth Sciences Gateway program will provide you with a range of Level II program options.

While some students continue in a Level II program from the same area of study as their Level I program (for example, selecting Level II Honours Environmental Science after completion of Environmental and Earth Sciences Gateway), others discover a new area of interest and change their original direction (for example, an Environmental and Earth Sciences Gateway student may choose to move into Honours Sustainable Chemistry or Honours Mathematics and Statistics). Regardless of your path, at the end of first year you will rank order and apply to up to four Level II programs.

The School of Earth, Environment & Society offers courses that allow students to fulfill the academic requirements to become a Professional Geoscientist through the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO).

The Minor in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) program fulfills the academic requirements to become a certified GIS Professional (GISP) through the GIS Certification Institute.

Mid to high 80s

Anticipated Admission Average

85

Target Enrolment

The Science Career and Cooperative Education (SCCE) office has a variety of resources to help students research and explore co-operative, experiential education and career opportunities they can pursue during and following their degree. Our vision is to see every McMaster Science student reach their career potential and have a meaningful impact on the scientific community.
Cooperative Education is an integrated “hands-on” approach to higher education that enables highly motivated students to alternate academic terms with paid, relevant work experience.

Current Faculty of Science Co-Op programs, all of which begin at Level III:

  • Actuarial and Financial Mathematics
  • Chemical Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Kinesiology (pending approval)
  • Life Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics (including sub-plans)
  • Medical and Biological Physics
  • Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Physics
  • Sustainable Chemistry

Experiential Education provides students with the opportunity to gain real-world, academically-relevant experience in a community, research or professional setting. This combination of academic and applied learning helps students to further develop the necessary qualities and skills that will be transferable to future career paths. Students in the Faculty of Science can gain experience through Applied Placement courses, Research Practicum courses, or Undergraduate Science Internships.

Visit the Science Career and Cooperative Education (SCCE) website for more information.

The School of Earth, Environment & Society is well equipped with analytical facilities including:

  • Mass Spectrometers
  • X-ray Fluorescence
  • Atomic Absorption
  • Spectrometers
  • Gamma Ray Spectrometer
  • Rock & Mineral Analysis Laboratory

Transmission and scanning electron microscopes with elemental analysis facilities are available and commonly used.

School facilities for Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) have been used in the study of archaeological sites, earthquake recurrence rates, coastal sediments and hominid evolution. There are laboratories for the study of aqueous geochemistry, experimental sedimentology, x-ray diffraction and fluorescence, rock/mineral analysis, radiochemistry, mass spectrometry and fossils.

The School maintains a suite of geophysical equipment for the acquisition of magnetic, gravity and IP/Resistivity data. In addition, an industry-standard computing system is used for the imaging of geophysical and remote sensing information and interpretive modeling of potential field data.

Explore some of these state-of-the-art labs and facilities used daily by undergraduate students here.

Your Classes

What you’ll take:

  • Biodiversity, Evolution and Humanity (BIOLOGY 1M03)
  • Calculus for the Life Sciences I (MATH 1LS3)
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology (BIOLOGY 1A03)
  • Climate, Water and Environment (ENVIRSC 1C03)
  • Earth and the Environment (EARTHSC 1G03)
  • Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (PSYCH 1X03)
  • Introductory Chemistry I (CHEM 1A03)
  • Population, Cities and Development (ENVSOCTY 1HB3)
  • Society, Culture and Environment (ENVSOCTY 1HA3)
  • 6 units of electives 

The structure of our Level I Environmental & Earth Sciences Gateway program will provide you with a range of Level II program options including: 

  • Honours Actuarial and Financial Mathematics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Applied Psychology in Human Behaviour (B.A.Sc.)
  • Honours Applied Psychology in Human Behaviour – Autism and Behavioural Science Specialization (B.A.Sc.)
  • Honours Applied Psychology in Human Behaviour – Early Childhood Education Specialization (B.A.Sc.)
  • Honours Astrophysics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biology – Physiology Core (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biology – Physiology Research Specialization (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biology and Mathematics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biology Core (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Chemical Biology (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Chemistry (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Earth and Environmental Sciences (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Environmental Sciences (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Life Sciences (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Life Sciences – Origins of Disease Specialization (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Life Sciences – Sensory Motor Systems Specialization (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Mathematics and Computer Science (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Mathematics and Physics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Mathematics and Statistics (B.Sc.) (including subplans)
  • Honours Medical and Biological Physics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Molecular Biology and Genetics Core (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Molecular Biology and Genetics Research Specialization (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Neuroscience (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Physics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour – Mental Health Specialization (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour – Music Cognition Specialization (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Sustainable Chemistry (B.A.Sc.)
For a full list of courses that can be available in this program, please consult the academic calendar.

Admissions