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Across the globe environmental professions continue to undergo significant growth and increase in relevance. Our 30 credit totally online Master of Arts in Environmental Practice degree prepares students to advance their career and to contribute positively to finding solutions for environmental problems. The masters degree in Environmental Practice is available as a Master of Arts (MA) in Environmental Practice and as a Master of Science (MSc) in Environmental Practice.
This program is one of a suite of programs offered through the Canadian Centre for Environmental Education (CCEE) which is a result of a partnership between Royal Roads University and the Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada).
ECO Canada has identified three employment sectors: Conservation and Management of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and Environmental Sustainability. The curriculum for both the MA and the MSc degrees in Environmental Practice relates these three employment sectors to the framework provided by the National Occupational Standards used for professional certification of Canadian environmental practitioners by the Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board (CECAB).
The program structure of the Master of Arts in Environmental Practice degree fosters the perspective needed to advance environmental leadership and management. Students will gain foundational experience and in-depth knowledge on two of the employment sectors identified by ECO Canada:
* Conservation and Management of Natural Resources
* Environmental Sustainability
The program structure of the Master of Science in Environmental Practice degree has a similar program structure to the MA, but is science based. This degree option provides in-depth knowledge in the following two employment sectors identified by ECO Canada:
* Environmental Protection
* Conservation and Management of Natural Resources
A unique opportunity for cross-border awareness and for a broader perspective is provided in both programs by access to courses offered by the University College, University of Denver, in their Masters degree program in Environmental Policy and Management.
Outcomes
Graduates of the MA/MSc in Environmental Practice will be able to:
* Relate their knowledge to environmental issues in their work environment
* Assess the environmental and socio-economic elements of sustaining a healthy environment and societal well-being as an environmental practitioner
* Develop and evaluate goals, objectives and strategies, taking a range of perspectives into consideration
* Prepare, communicate and implement action plans
* Make decisions that require a broad understanding of environmental knowledge, policy and regulation, and leadership skills
* Solve problems effectively in differing workplace situations
* Act as a leader who can meet the fundamental challenges of addressing complex environmental issues
* Possess the skills and knowledge to coordinate and integrate different perspectives to aid public and private bodies make informed decisions
* Possess a broad environmental vision and a sound understanding of how environmental issues are addressed under different jurisdictions and the dynamics of both public and private sectors
Competency Domains
The descriptions of competency domains, together with associated learning outcomes and context statements are the foundations for both designing and delivering courses and assessing performance. These are:
Communication
* Effective personal communications (speaking, listening and feedback skills); and,
* Effective preparation and presentation of written and graphic materials.
Knowledge
* Application of sustainable development principles and practices in defining, analyzing and selecting ways to resolve environmental issues and solve environmental problems; and,
* Application of leadership and management skills to the achievement of short- and long-term environmental management objectives.
Leadership and Teamwork
* Leadership in personal learning and decision-making;
* Facilitation of the learning and decision-making ability of others; and,
* Developing and modelling personal and team visions, values and practices.
Critical Thinking
* Application of critical thinking to the integration of objective and subjective knowledge in practice;
* Identification and use of appropriate research, assessment and reporting methods for the investigation and analysis of an issue, problem or project; and
* Identification of and use of values and ethics when formulating solutions and recommendations.
Global Awareness
* Use of disciplinary concepts and links among these to explain how global and local issues are interconnected;
* emonstration of how a global issue can be reflected in local events and vice versa; and,
* dentification of the implications of scale for options, actions and decisions respecting environmental sustainability from historical, disciplinary and governance perspectives.
Courses
Required core courses for all concentrations
* ENVP 500: Developing an Environmentally Sustainable Perspective
* ENVP 550: Research Methods
* Practicum: ENVP 600 (3 credits) orResearch Paper: ENVP 691 (6 credits)
Research Paper option requires one of the following 3 credit courses; Practicum option requires two of the following 3 credit courses:
* ENVR 530: Economics for Decision Making
* ENVR 545: Sustainable Development from Theory to Practice
* ENVR 560: Environmental Accounting and Reporting
* ENVR 571: Legal Aspects of Environmental Management
* EECO 503: Communication for Environmental Communicators
Concentration options (15 credits)
(* indicates a Denver College University course)
In any of the concentrations 6 credits from the following Denver University courses may be included:
* * EPM 4150: Global Environmental Law and Policy
* * EPM 4200: Environmental Protection Law
* * EPM 4390: Environmental Policy Analysis
* * EPM 4710: Environmental Project Management
Natural Resource Management and Conservation (MSc or MA)
* ENVR 505: Ecosystem Science and Management
* ENVR 660: Environmental Management Tools
* * EPM 4108 Impacts of Recreational Use
* * EPM 4220 Endangered Species and Wildlife
* * EPM 4230 Energy Fundamentals
* * EPM 4236 Nuclear and Hydrogen Energy
* * EPM 4237 Renewable Energy
* * EPM 4460 Land and Visual Resources
* * EPM 4461 Assessment of Social Impacts
* * EPM 4464 Nuclear Plant Systems
* * EPM 4705 Land Use Planning
Environmental Sustainability (MA)
* ENVR 545 Sustainable Development from Theory to Practice
* ENVR 530 Economics for Decision Making
* ENVR 571 Legal Aspects of Environmental Management
* EECO 508 Learning Theory and Environmental Program Design
* EECO 586 The Biosphere and Ecological Sustainability
* EECO 510 Worldview, Ethics and the Environment
* ENVR 560 Environmental Accounting and Reporting
* ENVR 626 Leadership and Sustainable Development
* EECO 503 Communication for Environmental Communicators
* * EPM 4140 NEPA
* * EPM 4233 Sustainable Transportation
* * EPM 4238 Water and Food Sustainability
* * EPM 4280 RCRA Permitting and Compliance
* * EPM 4355 ISO 140001
Delivery Model
The Master of Arts/Master of Science in Environmental Practice program consists of 30 credits which, in most cases, will equate to 10 courses. The program is designed to be completed within three years. Each course is delivered entirely online through innovative use of web-based technologies. Participants will draw upon web resources as well as more traditional print media.
Designed for the working professional, the program content reflects the defined needs of the environmental profession and is closely related to supporting the National Occupational Standards established for professional certification as environmental practitioners in Canada.
A 15 credit core of courses is to be taken from an approved list of Royal Roads University courses. This requirement includes the option of either completing a Research Paper on a topic of specific interest to the student or a Practicum which enables the student to apply knowledge gained in the program to a specific, approved topic of relevance to their workplace or agency they may be associated with.
Students will enrol initially in one course (Developing a Sustainability Perspective) but may subsequently increase this load. Courses normally last for a period of 10 to12 weeks, each course requiring an average time commitment of 10 to 20 hours per week. Having completed six or nine credits from the program core students will then proceed to courses in their optional concentration. The choice of elective courses will be determined by the students registration in either the MA or MSc programs. Courses in their concentration may be from Royal Roads University or from University College, the University of Denver. Having completed at least 20 credits, which will include the Research Methods course, students may embark upon either their Research Paper or the Practicum.
Audience
The Masters Degree in Environmental Practice is designed for those seeking a program that is professionally-focused and which has a content related to professional certification. The program is primarily designed for:
* environmental practitioners heading towards professional certification or who are already professional certified as EPs, but who may require updating to retain their active certification and/or career development
* professionals aiming at a managerial level position and seeking advanced degrees
* international university graduates from environmental programs with relevant work experience
* graduates from other CCEE programs
* college graduates who complete the degree completion option through CCEE
* university graduates who graduate from the CCEE Certificate program
Applicants who do not have the formal academic education to qualify for admission may be assessed on the basis of both their formal education and their informal learning, in accordance with the Flexible Admission Policy.
Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.
- ✔️ Flexible study schedule
- ✔️ Experienced teachers
- ✔️ Certificate upon completion
📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.
Royal Roads University Awards
There are a variety of awards, scholarships, and bursaries available to help offset your tuition fees.
Entrance Awards
Apply to a competition that falls before your first day of class
In-Course Awards
Apply to a competition that falls after your program begins
Convocation Awards
Recipients are selected by way of academic performance, application, or peer nomination
Student Research Awards
Major grants to support research training for masters and doctoral students
External Award Postings
Other award notices received by RRU are posted on MyRRU.
Funding Sources
The following external resources offer additional funding opportunities through loans, scholarships, or grants.
Government Student Loans
Information about program eligibility and application procedures
Student Line of Credit
A popular and flexible alternative to government student loans
Lifelong Learning Plan
This plan allows you to borrow from your RRSP's tax-free
Emergency Funding
This program assists students with short-term emergency needs due to unforeseen expenses
Aboriginal/First Nations
Funding resources and the President's Aboriginal Support Bursary
International Study
Links to helpful sites for international students studying in Canada and for Canadians wishing to study abroad
Canadian Forces and DND
Financial assistance is available to employees of the Canadian Forces and their family
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