Courses

This course examines food, land and people from a critical interdisciplinary perspective. It uses food as a lens to examine power, resistance, migration, sustainability and justice within processes of colonialism, neoliberal capitalism, and other forms of oppression. Students can pursue their interests related to food politics, planning, alternative agriculture, human-animal relationships, and ethics, from a local and global perspective. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5011.

This course explores protected area management, which is a form of environmental management focusing on an area of land and/or freshwater/sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means. Integrated with ENVS 4446. Exclusion: Students who already took ENVS 4446. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5016.

This course critically investigates approaches to urban development, redevelopment and intensification. It introduces concepts such as the political economy of land rent, as well as the public good, and applies them to selected examples. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5021.

This course provides students with a critical understanding of key renewable energy options for electricity generation, heating and cooling of buildings and transportation. Students are introduced to a critical analysis of renewable energy as a strategy for climate change mitigation, community empowerment, industrial development, and energy security. Integrated with ENVS 4400. Exclusion: Students who already took ENVS 4400. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5050.

This intensive experiential course is an exploration of climate justice definitions, theory, case studies, and implications for policy and activism. It is organized around field visits and discussions with practitioners involved in various equity-related aspects of climate mitigation and adaptation, the history and evolution of fossil and post-fossil energy, global and local sacrifice zones, the renewable energy transition, and climate justice activism. Integrated ENVS 4350. Exclusion: Students who already took ENVS 4350. [Previously ENVS 6101; approved MES Program Dec 14, 2022, GPASA Jan 19, 2023, EUC Council Feb 16, 2023, York Senate March 03, 2023] This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5055.

This course examines current political, economic and social debates concerning extractive industry, placing these in the context of longer histories of global imperialism and colonialism. Following a review of conceptual approaches to natural resource `extraction`, the course examines contemporary global regulation and resistance to it, focusing upon the state, the corporation, the resource, the affected community, and the (global) social movement as units of analysis. Integrated with ENVS 4310. Exclusion: Students who already took ENVS 4310.

This course addresses fundamentals of general and complex systems thinking (such as general systems theory, complex adaptive systems, chaos theory) major paradigms in systems thinking (functionalist, interpretive, emancipatory, postmodern), and their associated methodologies and applications in environmental studies. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5081.

The mandatory course introduces incoming MES students to a broad range of debates, concepts, and research methods, and interdisciplinary perspectives in Environmental Studies as a basis for the preparation of their Initial Plan of Study. The first part of the seminar includes thematic discussions, guest lectures, peer group activities and presentations. Group advising sessions take place in the last hour. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5100.

Overview of the basic concepts and approaches of feminist analysis, with particular attention to feminist theory and its relevance to environmental issues. The course also examines gender, i.e. hierarchical distinctions between male and female, and conforming or non-conforming genders and sexualities, in its intersections with racism, capitalism and colonialism. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5106.

This course aims to enhance students' ecological economics literacy. It introduces economic concepts and approaches to better understand and resolve environmental issues, with the broad goals of sustainability, efficiency, and equity. Topics include economic growth and market failure, ecosystem services, internalizing/externalizing costs, and human wellbeing in the pursuit of sustainable development. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5115.

This course explores the diverse forms of planning theory and practice. Students examine the complex relationships between planning, politics, and the public interest; analyzing how these elements interact and influence decision-making around environmental and urban change. They also develop an understanding of the challenges inherent in planning (in the Greater Toronto Area) through the lenses of equity, sustainability, and justice. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5121.

This course introduces students to selected data sources, methods of research and spatial analysis, and public engagement and communication techniques applicable to diverse planning scenarios. Students will learn how to locate publicly available data sets, prepare qualitative and quantitative data for analysis, conduct site investigations, develop community consultation strategies, and communicate planning matters professionally to diverse audiences. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5122.

This course introduces concepts, methods, and applications in sustainability analytics, including the measurement, interpretation, and communication of environmental and socio-economic data. Students critically assess analytical frameworks such as the ecological footprint and apply basic computational tools to real-world datasets. This course may serve as preparation for advanced work in environmental informatics.

Youth homelessness is a seemingly intractable problem in Canada. On any given night about 6000 young people experience homelessness, and over a year this number swells to between 35-40,000. To tackle the problem, we must begin by recognizing that youth homelessness is distinct from adult homelessness in terms of it causes and conditions, and therefore so must be the solutions. In this course, we explore the issue of youth hopelessness in Canada, in order to understand the experiences of a marginalized group of young people, how we have responded to the problem, and how we might work differently to have a significant impact on solutions. In particular we will explore the potential role of education and schools in addressing youth homelessness. Crosslisted EDUC 5935. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5135.

This course examines the development and implementation of public policies related to the environment and sustainability in Canada. The focus is on interactions of ideas, societal forces. institutions and landscape factors in the policy process. The course covers the roles federal, provincial, local and First Nations governments, as well as the influence of public opinion, the media, and interest groups. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5178.

Ecosystem approaches to health (ecohealth) is an emerging field that addresses health and wellbeing, recognising that these are embedded within an ecosystem context. The purpose of this course is to cultivate knowledge, skills and attitudes which will enhance the participants' ability to contribute to research, theory, education, policy and the practice of ecosystem approaches to health. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5182.

This course explores the geographies of inequalities, state policies and civil society. We will review a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches that uncover the contested meaning of social policy and interrogate the nature of power in the city. Critical race theory, post-colonialism, and the legacies of imperial systems in the production of urban space are explored.

This course examines current and future options to reduce emissions at different government levels and prospects for multilateral and local collaborations. The course also critically analyzes the design, implementation and performance of domestic and international mitigation policy initiatives.

Grounded in three interrelated foundations-dialectical materialist philosophy, historical materialist social theory, and political economy-Marxist theory forms an organic and coherent theoretical whole. This course provides an introduction to key ideas within the Marxist tradition. It is of interest to students in geography, environmental studies, sociology, political thought, international development, and other cognate fields. Crosslisted with GEOG 5375. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5475.

This course examines the relationships between people and their environments from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century. It considers the global ecological consequences of industrialization and the growing human footprint on Earth from a historical perspective, drawing from the field of environmental history. Crosslisted HIST 5543. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 5543.

In this individualized course, students develop a MES Research Proposal (for Major Paper, Major Project, Portfolio, or Thesis) under the guidance of their Supervisor. The outcome of the course is the MES II-III exam (by the end of the term) for the approval of the final Plan of Study and Research Proposal (including ethics if applicable) by the Advisor and Supervisor. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6102.

In this individualized course, students develop a MES Research Proposal (for Major Paper, Major Project, Portfolio, or Thesis) under the guidance of their Supervisor. The outcome of the course is the MES II-III exam (by the end of the term) for the approval of the final Plan of Study and Research Proposal (including ethics if applicable) by the Advisor and Supervisor. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6102.

In this individualized course, students develop a MES Research Proposal (for Major Paper, Major Project, Portfolio, or Thesis) under the guidance of their Supervisor. The outcome of the course is the MES II-III exam (by the end of the term) for the approval of the final Plan of Study and Research Proposal (including ethics if applicable) by the Advisor and Supervisor. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6102.

An advanced introduction to urban-regional planning, this course is focused on crucial moments in the history of planning urban regions and the networks that connect them to each other. Debates, concepts and practical dilemmas in planning, are explored comparatively and internationally, through case studies from around the world and Canada. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6124.

This course develops advanced computational methods for managing, analyzing, and visualizing environmental data, including database design, data cleaning, geospatial analysis, and modelling. It emphasizes reproducible workflows and data integrity in sustainability applications. The course prepares students for advanced research and applied environmental informatics. Prerequisite: ENVS 5125 Sustainability Analytics or equivalent.

This course examines community planning as a relational, activist practice that mobilizes 'bottom-up' initiatives to advance equity in housing, social services, and infrastructure. The course also explores housing policy design and implementation, the role of planners in mediating state-market dynamics, and the challenges of affordable and safe housing provision amid rising inequalities, governance constraints, and shifting policy landscapes. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6126.

This course focuses on the strategic relationships between land use planning, the environment, economy and transportation planning policies, principles and practices. The course focuses on the interaction of key actors, institutions, policy processes, strategies and techniques relating to transportation planning. Topics include reducing auto dependence, the role of public transit and alternatives modes of transportation in the Canadian transportation planning approach. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6128.

This course explores issues of nature and the environment as they interact with land-use planning. The focus is on planning approaches to identifying and resolving environmental problems in human settlements. Consideration is given to the location, form, and functioning of human communities in relation to the natural environment. Environmental and social justice perspectives and critiques of environmental planning approaches are discussed. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6131.

This course examines the foundations and influences of design theory on the design of human habitats and the role of urban design in creating a healthy and equitable urban environment. Social, ecological, and economic considerations shaping the urban landscape are studied to provide a basis for a proactive and informed approach to its design. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6132.

This course examines theories and practices of environmental education as they relate to formal, informal and experiential education. Definitions and histories of environmental education and their underlying assumptions, as well as current practices, constraints and possibilities in implementation are studied through a series of cases, fieldtrips, and experiences. Alternative visions of a socially critical model of environmental education are explored. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6140.

This course examines theories and practices of environmental education as they relate to formal, informal and experiential education. Definitions and histories of environmental education and their underlying assumptions, as well as current practices, constraints and possibilities in implementation are studied through a series of cases, fieldtrips, and experiences. Alternative visions of a socially critical model of environmental education are explored. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6140.

This course offers a critical overview of popular education and engages with key concepts in critical education, including popular education praxis, critical pedagogy, Indigenous education, feminist and queer pedagogy, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and activist education with a focus on developing practical skills such as facilitation, curriculum development, and community collaboration. Students also examine issues of equity, accessibility, participation, and power relations in education. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6150.

This course offers a critical analysis of theories of 'development' in historical perspective and from both Western and Global South positions. It specifically examines established theories (liberal, neomarxist), recent perspectives (participatory development, postmodernism, postcolonialism, decoloniality) and relevant themes (gender, ecology, racialization, indigeneity, imperialism, cultural politics). This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6156.

This course examines the practice and legal framework of land use planning. It uses case law, case studies, municipal staff reports and current events to develop a strong understanding of provincial legislation (notably the Ontario Planning Act) and statutory tools used by the municipalities. Students review land use tools and their advantages and limitations when developing policy and shaping development. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6165.

This course offers an advanced introduction to politics and its role in planning. It gives students tools to map power: to develop situated analyses of the interplay of institutions, actors, and ideologies within which planning is practiced. For this purpose, the course explores key concepts and multiple perspectives through which to understand state, civil society, and politics in an urbanizing society. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6173.

This course introduces students to the principles of the circular economy and sustainable systems design, focusing on how waste can be transformed into a resource within regenerative economic systems. Students explore sustainable materials management and the transition from linear to circular consumption models, emphasizing the importance of designing systems that achieve optimal economic, social, and environmental outcomes.

This course delves into all aspects of data analytics: from data searching, evaluation, compilation and cleaning, to data visualization and data analysis (including descriptive statistics, regression and modelling techniques) applicable to various problems in environmental studies. It offers an introduction to statistical methods and models, as well as research design techniques, through the use of spreadsheets and statistical software (Excel, R and Python). This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6182.

This course covers how to plan and carry out qualitative fieldwork. It explores various ontological, epistemological and theoretical standpoints, key methods for data collection and analysis (notably qualitative interviewing and analysing interview data), as well as issues of ethics, knowledge mobilization and rigour. Students will be working towards drafting their own qualitative research proposals. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6183

The Graduate Programs in Environmental Studies and Geography jointly hold an annual 2-week summer school where a salient issue within the field of international political economy and ecology is explored under the guidance of a York faculty member and a renowned guest scholar. Each year a different topic is examined in seminar discussions and in a public event. Crosslisted POLS 6282 3.0 and GEOG 5395 3.0. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6275.

This course introduces students to debates and perspectives on Latin American and Caribbean studies and links theory with practice in the field. Supported by numerous CERLAC Fellows from a range of disciplines, students from different graduate programs and areas of study will collaborate together in teams on applied research projects to work on their own research. This core course will provide an opportunity for deeper student engagement in CERLAC and a strong relationship with the work of the researchers and scholars at the Centre. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6300.

The workshop investigates recent urban change in selected North American and European cities using an approach that is informed by recent critical planning practices and urban theory. Each year a different topic is selected as the basis for the workshop project. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6325.

This project-based course examines current planning and development practices in Toronto. Students learn about complex problems that planners typically need to resolve when dealing with significant development projects in major North American cities. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6331.

This course examines natural disasters from an interdisciplinary point of view, particularly considering why there seem to be more natural disasters, and how and why decisions made by people create vulnerable communities. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6401.

This individualized course enables students (normally at the MES II stage) to acquire specific knowledge or skills related to their Plan of Study and not addressed in current course offerings. A detailed description of the work (including complete bibliography if applicable) is developed with a faculty instructor and approved by the Graduate Program Director. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6599O.

This individualized course enables students (normally at the MES II stage) to acquire specific knowledge or skills related to their Plan of Study and not addressed in current course offerings. A detailed description of the work (including complete bibliography if applicable) is developed with a faculty instructor and approved by the Graduate Program Director. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6599B.

This individualized course enables students (normally at the MES II stage) to acquire specific knowledge or skills related to their Plan of Study and not addressed in current course offerings. A detailed description of the work (including complete bibliography if applicable) is developed with a faculty instructor and approved by the Graduate Program Director. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6599B.

This individualized course enables students (normally at the MES II stage) to gain professional or field experience related to their Plan of Study. Enrolment in this course requires a description of the experiential learning, including names of the organization and field supervisor, position title and description, and total time commitment. A report is due to the faculty instructor by the end of the term. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6699 12.0.

This individualized course enables students (normally at the MES II stage) to gain professional or field experience related to their Plan of Study. Enrolment in this course requires a description of the experiential learning, including names of the organization and field supervisor, position title and description, and total time commitment. A report is due to the faculty instructor by the end of the term. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6699 12.0.

This individualized course enables students (normally at the MES II stage) to gain professional or field experience related to their Plan of Study. Enrolment in this course requires a description of the experiential learning, including names of the organization and field supervisor, position title and description, and total time commitment. A report is due to the faculty instructor by the end of the term. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 6699 12.0.

This individualized course enables MES III students with approved research to work on their Major Research (Major Paper, Major Project or Portfolio) under the guidance of their Supervisor. Students take this course for no credit (only MES/JD students may take this course for transfer credits towards their JD degree). This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 7899 12.0.

This individualized course enables MES III students with approved research to work on their Major Research (Major Paper, Major Project or Portfolio) under the guidance of their Supervisor. Students take this course for no credit (only MES/JD students may take this course for transfer credits towards their JD degree). This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 7899 12.0.

This individualized course enables MES III students with approved research to work on their Major Research (Major Paper, Major Project or Portfolio) under the guidance of their Supervisor. Students take this course for no credit (only MES/JD students may take this course for transfer credits towards their JD degree). To change prefix from EU/ENVS to GS/ENVS 7899 6.0.

This individualized course enables MES III students with approved research (and FGS thesis requirements) to work on their thesis under the guidance of their Supervisor. Students take this course for no credit (only MES/JD students may take this course for transfer credits towards their JD degree). This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 7999 0.0.

This individualized course enables MES III students with approved research (and FGS thesis requirements) to work on their thesis under the guidance of their Supervisor. Students take this course for no credit (only MES/JD students may take this course for transfer credits towards their JD degree). This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 7999 0.0.

This PhD research seminar offers an advanced introduction to selected themes and issues in, and approaches to, doctoral work in Environmental Studies. Based in part on student research interests, the seminar is intended to stimulate interaction and discussion of substantive issues, theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, and varied forms of intellectual praxis in Environmental Studies. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 8102.

This course is designed to support PhD students in Environmental Studies as they conceive and develop their PhD dissertation proposals. While it is not a methods course per se, we will discuss, review or workshop particular approaches, methodological issues, and methods based on the interests and needs of those enrolled. Class activities and assignments are directed at students developing, writing (or refining in the case of those with a draft already written) and completing their dissertation proposals and preparing themselves for the dissertation research/writing process. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 8103.

Individual research activities in subject areas not addressed in current Environmental Studies course offerings, devised and carried out under the supervision of a faculty member and arranged to suit the requirements of the student's individual PhD Program Plan. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 8599 3.0.

Individual research activities in subject areas not addressed in current Environmental Studies course offerings, devised and carried out under the supervision of a faculty member and arranged to suit the requirements of the student's individual PhD Program Plan. This course was previously offered as EU/ENVS 8599 3.0.