The Master of Environment
The Master of Environment is an opportunity for students to engage in research that addresses the relationship between humans and our natural environments. Students in our program have a wide range of backgrounds and build an interdisciplinary research project that often draws from the physical, biological and social sciences.
The program is student led with the expectation that students will draw from across the university to build their expertise.
Research
Students and faculty in the Master of Environment program study environmental concerns from a variety of perspectives. Some of this research develops a scientific understanding of the environment, including the negative and positive feedbacks of natural and anthropogenic processes on the environment. Social science research in the program deals with the consequences of anthropogenic change, including the production of inequality, on a range of communities and social circumstances.
Research facilities
- The Ultra-Clean Trace Element Laboratory UCTEL is one of the most advanced ultra-trace analytical facilities in the world. The chemistry and biogeochemistry, of trace elements in the environment are studied.
- The Stress Ecology in Aquatic and Riparian Habitats Laboratory SEARcH has a mix of controlled environment and field facilities to support the investigation of contaminants on ecosystem structure and function as well as their persistence and degradation in these environments.
- The Environmental Conservation Lab focuses on the interface between biological and social sciences and conducts community-centered research, education, and outreach across North America and in the Global South. Research incorporates extensive fieldwork, spatial analysis and participatory video-making.
- Master of Environment students also have access to the research facilities of the Centre for Earth Observation Science.
Program details
Expected duration: 2 years
Tuition and fees: Program fees are assessed in the first two terms of study, followed by a continuing fee in the third and any subsequent terms. (refer to Graduate tuition and fees)
All students must complete and orally defend a thesis that makes a distinctive contribution to the fields of environment and/or geography.
Students must present their thesis research at a seminar offered and advertised at the department level prior to their defense.
Students are also encouraged to present at an academic or a professional conference or seminar as approved by their advisory committee.
Sample course offerings
- GEOG 7010: Ecotoxicological Risk Characterization
- GEOG 7010: Understanding Environmental Effects Monitoring
- GEOG 7010: Global Climate Change
- GEOG 7872: Advanced Methods in Geomatics
- GEOG 7940: Sea Ice in the Arctic Marine System
- GEOG 7930: Oceanography: Chemical
- GEOG 7010: Data Science with R for Environmental Research
- GEOG 7010: Aquatic Chemistry
For full course descriptions, please visit the Academic Calendar.
Admission requirements
The following are minimum requirements for entry into the Master of Environment program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Students with an honours degree or equivalent, including a 4-year advanced degree in Geography, Environmental Sciences, and/or Environmental Studies or related areas will be considered.
The requirement for admission is a minimum GPA of 3.25 in the last 60 credit hours of course work.
Applicants must be accepted by an advisor prior to submitting an application to enter the program. Please review the academic listing and communicate directly with those whose research most closely matches that of your own interests.
In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online and must include the following before they will be reviewed by the admissions committee:
- $100 application fee (non-refundable)
- Statement of intent
- Supervisor support
- Completed student-advisor application checklist
- 2 letters of recommendation from academic sources different from supervisor
Please read the Faculty of Graduate Studies online application instructions before beginning your application.
Statement of intent information
The statement of intent should be between 1 and 2 pages and will briefly describe your intended research project, including your previous research or experience, the proposed topic, preferred methods and potential contributions.
Letters written in the format of a research proposal are strongly preferred. Applicants are encouraged to consult the graduate scholarship application instructions of their appropriate Tricouncil Agency (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) for guidance.
The statement of intent must be approved by your proposed program advisor prior to submitting to the online system.
Application deadlines
Learn more
Contact us
Admission and application inquiries
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Room 500 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
graduate.admissions@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-9377
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Program Inquiries
Celia Mellinger
Graduate Program and Alumni Coordinator
Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources
Room 440 Wallace Building
125 Dysart Rd
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2M6
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)