Program Overview

Certificate in Environmental Conservation

Overview

The Certificate in Environmental Conservation is designed to expand students' capacity and appreciation for environmental protection, conservation, preservation, education, and research. This program offers a variety of courses, allowing students to customize their studies to their area of interest or profession. The University of Guelph, a leading institution in Environmental Sciences, provides a fresh and future-oriented outlook through its School of Environmental Sciences.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Articulate the general trends in global environmental changes, along with the mechanisms by which local processes influence global processes and vice versa.
• Identify the factors that influence the vulnerability of a community or a region to global environmental change.
• Conduct a simple environmental inventory and understand their own regional landscape.
• Reflect on the ethical implications of environmental stewardship and sustainable development at both global and local levels, and develop a personal environmental ethic.

Careers

Potential career paths for graduates include:

• Environmental Project Coordinator
• Conservation Coordinator
• Wildlife Specialist

Details

Delivery Method

The program is delivered online in an asynchronous format.

Program Type

This is a degree-credit program.

Admission

• The program is intended for adult learners who are at least 18 years of age.
• Enrolment is done on a course-by-course basis; there is no certificate application process.
• Some courses have an approval process that must be completed prior to confirming enrolment.
• Course availability changes each semester; students are recommended to submit notification requests for each course in the program to be informed when registration opens.
• Course registration closes four days after the start of the semester.

Earning Your Certificate

To earn the certificate, students must complete one required course and five electives, including at least two at the 3000 or 4000 level. The courses may be taken in any order, as long as prerequisite requirements are met. Students can request their parchment through the SCS Student Portal once all requirements are met.

Time to Completion

It takes approximately two years to complete the program.

Cost

The price per course is as follows:

• Ontario Tuition Fee: $683.39
• Non-Ontario Tuition Fee: $815.35
• International Tuition Fee: $3,787.68 Course prices are subject to change and are not guaranteed. The total cost of the program may vary.

Additional Information

There is a residency requirement of 70% for degree-credit certificates and diplomas. Participants may substitute one course from another institution that can be used toward the certificate requirements. To start the substitution process, students should contact the Learner Success Advisor. Additional information can be found on the Advanced Standing/Prior Learning Assessment policy page.

Courses

Required Courses

• ENVS*2120 Introduction to Environmental Stewardship

Electives

A minimum of 1.00 credits of 3000 and 4000 level courses is required.

• Choose two or three of the following courses:
  • ENVS*1060 Discovering Planet Earth
  • ENVS*2060 Soil Science
  • ENVS*2250 Geology of Natural Disasters
  • ENVS*3080 Soil and Water Conservation
  • GEOG*1220 Explaining Environmental Change
• Choose two or three of the following courses:
  • BIOL*2060 Ecology
  • ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation
  • ENVS*3040 Natural Chemicals in the Environment
  • GEOG*2210 Environment and Resources
  • GEOG*3020 Global Environmental Change
  • GEOG*3210 Indigenous-Settler Relationships in Environmental Governance