Last updated: February 14, 2023 @ 04:54PM

Environmental Sustainability

Director
Ryan Plummer

Professor
Ryan Plummer

Associate Professor
Julia Baird, Jessica Blythe, Marilyne Jollineau

Faculty Affiliates
Christine Daigle (Philosophy), Adam Dickinson (English Language and Literature), Diane Dupont (Economics), Xavier Fazio (Education), David Fennel (Geography & Tourism Studies), Kiyoko Gotanda (Biological Sciences), Todd Green (Marketing, International Business and Strategy), Timothy Heinmiller (Political Science), Magnus Hultman (Marketing, International Business and Strategy), Garrett Hutson (Recreation and Leisure Studies), Vaughn Mangal (Chemistry), Francine McCarthy (Earth Sciences), Gary Pickering (Biological Sciences), Michael Pisaric (Geography & Tourism Studies), Kevin Turner (Geography and Tourism Studies), Liette Vasseur (Biological Sciences)

Adjunct Professors
Amy Bowen, Gillian Dale, Sherman Farhad, Angela Guerrero, Jennifer Holzer, Amy Lemay, Bradley May, Darby McGrath, Janani Sivarajah, Timothy F. Smith

Co-operating Centres and Departments:
Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Economics, Geography and Tourism Studies, Health Sciences, History, Labour Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Recreation and Leisure Studies, Sociology, Studies in Arts and Culture, Visual Arts, and Women's and Gender Studies.

General Information

Co-ordinator, ESRC
Erin Daly

ensu@brocku.ca
Theal House

Sustainability, as a dynamic process involving social-ecological systems, presents urgent challenges as well as opportunities for innovation.

Faculty in the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) and those who contribute to the program come from diverse disciplines and units at Brock University. They share a common interest in environmental sustainability. Brock University is an ideal place to study environmental sustainability as it is located in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - a site seeking to reconcile social, economic and biophysical challenges confronting societies around the globe.

The Minor in Environmental Sustainability program provides students with an opportunity to study foundational concepts, fields of application and contemporary issues in this field. Recognizing that the pursuit of sustainability requires going beyond traditional disciplinary barriers, the Minor takes a transdisciplinary orientation to encourage connections among ideas and prepare students to engage with a dynamic and complex world.

Application and approval to carry a minor is required. Students wishing to obtain a Minor in Environmental Sustainability must complete and submit the application form available on the ESRC website.

The Environmental Sustainability Research Centre also offers a Micro-certificate in Environmental Sustainability designed for person who already have a degree or do not wish to pursue a degree. The program consists of required courses which introduce students to conceptual and applied aspects of environmental sustainability. Prospective students should consult with the Academic Advisor before beginning a Micro-certficiate program.

Certificate and Micro-certificate Programs

Micro-certificate in Environmental Sustainability

The Micro-certificate in Environmental Sustainability is awarded upon completion of the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:
·   ENSU 2P01 and 2P02

Minor in Environmental Sustainability

Students can obtain a Minor in Environmental Sustainability within their degree program by completing the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:
·   ENSU 2P01, 2P02 and 3P90
·   two and one-half credits from ENSU 3P91, ENSU 3P92, ENSU 3P95, ENSU 3P92, ENSU 3V90-3V99, BIOL 1P27, 1P28, 2Q04, 3P71, 3P72, 3P85, 3P96, 4P05, 4P25, CLAS 4P67, 4P69, ECON 2P28, 2P29, 3P27, 3P28, 3P29, EDUC 3P51, ERSC 1P01, 1P02, 1P92, 2P05, 2P15, 2P16, 2P61, 3P03, 3P25, 3P35, 3P85, 3P91, 4P31, 4P46, 4P61, 4P85, GEOG 1F90, 1F91, 2P03, 2P05, 2P06, 2P07, 2P08, 2P13, 2P66, 3P04, 3P05, 3P07, 3P08, 3P09, 3P13, 3P14, 3P25, 3P45, 3P50, 3P56, 3P57, 3P66, 3P80, 3P83, 3P85, 3P95, 4F99, 4P07, 4P12, 4P26, 4P50, 4P66, 4P80, 4P83, HIST 3Q97, 3Q98, HLSC 4P03, 4P04, LABR 2P80, 3P93, PHIL 3P80, POLI 3P66, RECL 3P26, 3Q16, 3P06, 4P86, SCIE 1P50, 1P51, SOCI 2P73, 2P80, 2P85, 3P52, 3P64, 3P80, 3P95, STAC 3P96, TOUR 1P92, 2P30, 2P32, 2P33, 2P94, 3P33, 3P34, 3P93, 3P95, 4P32, 4P34, VISA 3P50, WGST 2P96, 3P92

Course Descriptions

Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable term timetable for details.
# Indicates a cross listed course
* Indicates a primary offering of a cross listed course

Prerequisites and Restrictions

Students must check to ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.

ENSU 2P01
Introduction to Environmental Sustainability
Concepts and importance of environmental sustainability. Causes for the contemporary state of the environment. Manner in which human actions impact the environment, novel environmental practices and the frontiers of environmental sustainability.
Note: this course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term.

ENSU 2P02
Environmental Sustainability in Practice
Introduction to the practice of environmental sustainability in a variety of fields. Topics may include sustainable agriculture, sustainable transportation, ecotourism, green energy, eco-health, corporate social responsibility and the use of geospatial technologies.
Note: this course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term.

ENSU 3P90
Contemporary Environmental Issues
Contemporary topics in environment and sustainability.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to ENSU minors until date specified in Registration guide. Students must have a minimum of 12.0 overall credits or permission of the instructor.
Note: ENSU 2P01 and 2P02 strongly recommended. This course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term.

ENSU 3P91
Leadership in Environmental Sustainability Internship
Specific environmental sustainability problems or tasks identified by a community group, organization or agency. Working under the supervision of the group, organization, agency and the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre.
In class, 10 hours; 90 hours internship placement.
Restriction: permission of the Centre.
Prerequisite(s): ENSU 2P01, 2P02 and 3P90.
Note: this course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term.

ENSU 3P92
Environmental Psychology
(also offered as PSYC 3P92)
Introduction to the field of Environmental Psychology. Theoretical and applied aspects of the discipline, with an emphasis on understanding the human response to today’s most pressing environmental challenges. Topics may include history and theory of environmental psychology, psychological and social barriers to change, risk perception, change strategies for pro-environmental behaviour, sustainability education and communication, and research methods.
Lecture, seminar, 3 hours per week
Prerequisite(s): one of NEUR 2P36 , PSYC 2P20, or PSYC 2P35; PSYC 1F90
Note: this course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term.

ENSU 3P93
Building Sustainable Communities
Conceptual and practical overview of how to effectively engage actors as a key aspect of building sustainable communities.
Lecture, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: Open to ENSU minors until date specified in Registration guide. Students must have a minimum of 12.0 overall credits or permission of the instructor.
Note: This course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ENSU3V90.

ENSU 3P95
Directed Readings
Specialized study in environmental sustainability on an individual basis to examine a significant topic in a student’s area of concentration.
Restriction: permission of the centre. This course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term.
Note: ENSU 2P01 and 2P02 strongly recommended. This course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term.

ENSU 3V90-3V99
Special Topics in Environment and Sustainability
Topic in sustainability science and society that will vary by instructor.
Restriction: open to ENSU minors until date specified in Registration guide. Students must have a minimum of 12.0 overall credits or permission of the instructor.
Note: ENSU 2P01 and 2P02 strongly recommended.