Why study Environment, Sustainability and Society at Dal?
Change is in your hands
Complex issues like water and energy security, climate change and environmental degradation touch virtually every person, in every profession, in every part of the world. Studying Environment, Sustainability and Society (ESS) at Dalhousie will allow you to explore the links between complex environmental issues and poverty, globalization, consumption and urbanization. You’ll gain skills that will make you a leader and change-maker in your chosen career path.
Degree overview
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science (Bsc), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Management (BMgmt), Bachelor of Community Design (BCD) and Bachelor of Journalism Honours (BJH)Faculty: College of Sustainability
Campus: Studley Campus, Halifax
Program Length: 4 years
Program Start: Dependent on degree choice
What will I learn?
You’ll combine your major in ESS with a second major depending on your undergraduate degree of choice.
Dalhousie’s ESS program has an interdisciplinary approach, allowing you to explore how ESS topics relate to other industries you may be interested in. The core ESS courses will help you analyze and understand a wide range of concepts relating to energy, water, climate change, population and more.
First-year students begin by taking general introduction courses to the concepts of Environment, Sustainability and Society. These courses will give you the background for more in-depth studies in topics such as environmental decision-making and global environmental governance.
This new type of education will change the way you think when you’re in the workplace. You'll examine conflicting positions on humanity’s place in the natural world. And you’ll identify, research, and address real-world problems—making you better prepared to meet the challenges of virtually any job in our complex society.
Sample courses:
- Humanity in the Natural World: An Introduction to Problem-based Learning
- Environmental Decision-making
- Environment, Sustainability and Governance: A Global Perspective
Visit the Academic Calendar to view degree options and course details.
Careers and future study
The unique interdisciplinary approach of the ESS program prepares you for jobs in virtually any area across society: public service, industry, not-for-profit, and the private sector. Depending on the program you combine your ESS major with, your career options may include:
- urban planner
- architect
- sustainability or corporate social responsibility (CSR) consultant
- marine biologist
- teacher or educator
Due to the flexibility of combining majors in the ESS program, you’ll have a variety of options for future study. This may include pursuing a Master of Science (MSc) or Master of Arts (MA) in topics such as environmental law, management, or sustainable materials architecture. You may also choose to go on to complete a PhD.
Admission requirements
Undergraduate admission requirements vary based on your previous education and your intended program of study at Dalhousie. Learn about our admissions requirements, book a campus tour, or connect with an advisor if you have questions about your eligibility for admission.