Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Master of Environmental Studies in Geography program offers a comprehensive understanding of the world, bridging social science, environmental information technology, and physical science to enhance the protection and sustainable use of both natural and built environments.

Program Details

• Department/School: Geography and Environmental Management
• Faculty: Faculty of Environment
• Admit term(s): Fall (September - December), Winter (January - April)
• Delivery mode: On-campus
• Program type: Joint, Master's, Research
• Length of program: 24 months (full-time; thesis option), 12 months (full-time; master's research paper option)
• Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
• Study option(s): Thesis, Master's Research Paper

Research Fields

• Environmental and Resource Management
• Environmental Science
• Geomatics
• Human Geography

Research Project Opportunities

• 'Blackwards' to the Future: Past, present, and futures of the African American community of South Phoenix, AZ
• Spatial Data Sharing Between Government and the Private Sector

Application Deadlines

• February 1 (for admission in September)
• June 1 (for admission in January of the following year)

Admission Requirements

• An honours undergraduate degree or equivalent with at least a 75% average
• Normally, the undergraduate degree will be in Geography, but applications are welcomed from superior students regardless of background
• Students must demonstrate that they have the necessary background to pursue graduate work in their field of specialization
• A supervisor is required for admission, and it is strongly recommended to contact professors to discuss the possibility of supervision and funding

Degree Requirements

• Review the degree requirements in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that you can anticipate taking as part of completing the degree
• Check out Waterloo's institutional thesis repository - UWspace to see recent submissions from the Department of Geography and Environmental Management graduate students

Application Materials

• Resume
• Statement of interest: A statement of maximum 500 words explaining your interest in and fit for the program you’re applying to
• Transcript(s)
• References: Three references are required, unless a professional reference is specified
• Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable: TOEFL 100 (writing 26, speaking 26), IELTS 7.5 (writing 7.0, speaking 7.0)

Tuition and Fees

• Visit the graduate program tuition page on the Finance website to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for your program
• Review living costs and housing
• Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students

Program Description

The MES program offers two study options:

• The thesis option allows you to conduct research in your chosen topic (environmental and resource management, environmental science, geomatics or human geography), and produce an academic contribution to the field of Geography.
• The research paper option allows you to explore a broad range of topics in human geography, physical geography and geomatics, often within an applied context. This option is normally completed in one year through coursework.

Career Opportunities

Our graduates work in many different sectors including the professional, scientific and technical services, public administration, educational services, and social advocacy organizations.