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Discover The Environmental Studies and Geography Department

Environmental Studies and Geography, with its major focus on human-environment interaction, is a broad discipline which analyzes the distribution and interrelationships of physical and human phenomena on the earth. It combines subject matter and methodologies from both the natural and social sciences. Since the founding of the Department of Environmental Studies and Geography in 1961, the underlying academic objective of our programme has been to provide to undergraduate students a solid grounding in the study of people and the environment. This focus has been consistent with Bishop's University's overall commitment to undergraduate programmes providing a liberal arts and science education.

Why study ESG at Bishop’s?

In addition to this commitment, which has characterized the course offerings of the Department in the past, a second focal point in the Department's approach to teaching has been the incorporation of as much of a field component as possible into the frameworks of many of our courses. Proximity to a borough of 5,000 people (Lennoxville) and a Census Metropolitan Area of 130,000 people (Sherbrooke) provides much scope for practical projects. At the same time the glacial features of the surrounding Appalachian region, the history of settlement and resource development, and a significant river and drainage basin, each provide a ready field laboratory for the physical and environmental aspects of the programme.

Thus, students entering the Department of Environmental Studies and Geography at Bishop's should be prepared to understand the entire discipline - both human and physical aspects of the environment. You should also be prepared to do original work in the field, ask and answer basic questions about the environment and our impact upon it. Finally, you should be prepared to become a full, active member of a small, personalized Department.

Did you know?

• The Department is associated with the Master's of Environmental Studies programme at the University of Sherbrooke. Students interested in this programme may access it through the provided link: www.usherbrooke.ca/environnement.