Masters in Environmental Studies (Thesis Based)

at Lakehead University - Thunder Bay Campus Canada

Chemistry is often referred to as the "central science" as it focuses on the behaviour of matter and the basic substance of which all matter is composed. From harnessing Earth's mineral resources, to developing cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, the value and application of chemistry is unparalleled.

As a Chemistry student, you will have the opportunity to explore various areas within the discipline, such as:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Medical Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Polymer Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Theoretical Chemistry 

Our Department of Chemistry is well-equipped for both teaching and research, with small class sizes to ensure you have the support necessary to succeed. In addition to faculty expertise, you will have access to a number of modern research instruments housed in our advanced facilities including the Lakehead University Instrumentation Lab.

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of Chemistry, we encourage you to pursue your interests in the field and the other core sciences. In addition to your Chemistry degree, you may combine your studies with a degree in Biology and/or Education, or a Specialization in Medical Sciences.

If you are interested in a career in the medical applications of chemistry, consider taking advantage of our Specialization in Medical Sciences to give you an added professional edge. Courses such as Bioinformatics, Medical Imaging, and Biological Physics will prepare you for a more focused career path post-graduation, or success in professional schools such as medicine or dentistry.

Modern Natural Resources Management is about people, science and technology. It manages the natural environment for the benefit of society, through the application of both natural and social science. As a student, you will acquire a complement of business skills, scientific expertise, along with practical experience; in fact, everything necessary to create meaningful and lasting solutions environmental challenges of today. You have the opportunity to discover methods that will sustain our forests and ecosystems for generations to come. Should you decide to enrol in Environmental Management, you may choose between three options after your second year of study: Wildlife Conservation and Management, Sustainable Land Use, or Conservation Management and Planning.

As your understanding of the natural environment grows, you will obtain the tools to tackle the current issues that natural resource managers face. You can also engage in the high-tech world of modern management through the use of GPS/GIS technologies, 3-D visualization satellite imagery, genetic research and much more. It's up to you!

Whether you decide to take either the forestry or environmental management degree, the curriculum is common to both programs, for the first two years. By gaining a broad introduction to the topics and issues surrounding the natural world, you will develop a better appreciation of your own role and potential contributions, both personally and professionally.

Each year, employers visit the Thunder Bay campus to recruit, because we have a reputation for providing valuable, hands-on experience to students, making them assets in the work force from the very beginning. Graduates no longer limit themselves solely to "typical" careers in big industry or government; instead, they become planners and facilitators, one who keep in touch with the nature throughout their careers. Our graduates work all over Canada and beyond, with large and small organizations, as entrepreneurs or consultants.

Physics is the study of how matter and energy interact in our everyday lives. Our experienced teachers and researchers will provide you with hands-on training that emphasizes problem solving, and the most advanced technology and mathematical methods.

As a Physics student, you will be exposed to cutting-edge information on the following topics:

• Mechanics and Gravitation
• Lasers and Optics
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Quantum Mechanics
• Solid State Physics
• Medical Physics

The study of Sociology emphasizes the social relationships between people, communities and cultures. By exploring fundamental sociological theories, contemporary thinkers, and a variety of research methods, you will have the opportunity to examine topics including:

• Health and Aging
• Marriage and the Family
• Crime and Deviance
• Media and Popular Culture
• Science and Technology
• Gender and Sexuality
• Education
• Northern Communities
• Discrimination
• Social Change 

Research and hands-on application is at the core of our programs. You will graduate with the necessary skills to facilitate quantitative and qualitative research and to think creatively and inquisitively in order to better understand social patterns, behaviours and issues. 

Our faculty is actively engaged in diverse areas of research such as Gerontology, Education, Health, Demography, Media, Work and Occupations, Social Psychology, and Northern Studies, providing you with well-rounded course options taught by some of the foremost leaders in the field.

It is our goal to enhance your knowledge of the society in which you live and to increase your ability to think independently and critically.  You will graduate with a strong understanding of social interaction, preparing you for success in virtually any profession.

Biology is the study of plants, animals and the diversity of life in an evolutionary context. As a Biology student you will gain insight into how organisms interact, how genes are inherited, how creatures evolve and much more. Our programs are practical and hands-on with research and fieldwork opportunities in almost every course to enhance in-class learning.

You will be exposed to the central aspects of Biology including:

• Form and Function
• Cell and Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Evolution
• Biodiversity
• Systematics
• Ecology and Environmental Biology 

You have the freedom to study Biology in a way that suits your career aspirations. You may choose courses that will prepare you to become a professional biologist, or you can combine your biological studies with a major in Chemistry, Geography, Environmental Studies or Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism.

Physics is the study of how matter and energy interact in our everyday lives. Our experienced teachers and researchers will provide you with hands-on training that emphasizes problem solving, and the most advanced technology and mathematical methods.

As a Physics student, you will be exposed to cutting-edge information on the following topics:

• Mechanics and Gravitation
• Lasers and Optics
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Quantum Mechanics
• Solid State Physics
• Medical Physics

Contrary to popular belief, the study of English is not simply about books. English is a wide-ranging field of study that uses textual analysis to dig deeper into our society and the world around us.

At Lakehead University, the flexibility of our English program encourages you to follow your own interests within the discipline. You’ll learn about the historical development of English language literature - from the Medieval to the contemporary period - as well as different theoretical approaches to the study of literary and cultural texts.

We offer a broad range of courses including:

• Poetry
• Film
• Popular Culture
• Creative, Academic, and Professional Writing
• Gender Studies
• Children’s Literature
• Fiction

As instruments of communication and discovery, languages open a window amidst the diversity of human experience. An understanding of multiple languages will continue to be in high demand well into the future and provide you with a powerful and marketable edge.

Lakehead's Languages program will offer you the chance to major in French as well as the possibility to explore the languages of Classics, Finnish, German, Spanish, Italian, and Native languages. In addition to achieving an advanced level of competency in a second language, you will encounter courses that encourage participation through research reports, oral presentations, and discussion on various socio-cultural and literary topics.

While Language studies are naturally associated with a career in education or interpretation/translation, there is virtually no career or profession in which the abiity to speak another language is not an advantage or necessity. Government agencies, business, health sciences, and industry are becoming increasingly aware of the advantages of hiring candidates who have a competency in two or more languages.

Undergraduate Degrees:

• BA
• BA/BEd
• HBA
• HBA/BEd (French)
• HBA (English and French)
• HBA (French and Philosophy)
• French Minor
• Spanish Minor
• Finnish Minor
• Certificate of French Proficiency
• Aboriginal Languages Specialist's Certificate

The Department of Sociology is committed to fostering the development of socially responsible citizens of the world. We offer a graduate program dedicated to enhancing students' knowledge of the societies in which they live, while increasing their ability to think independently and critically about important social issues.

MA in Sociology: Gerontology Specialization

The Gerontology Program collaborates with five departments including Sociology, to provide students with an innovative, interdisciplinary learning perspective. Students have the opportunity to access multifaceted resources and work together with complementary disciplines.

Research and theory in Gerontology is reviewed, and the thesis or major project taken in the collaborating academic unit will have a gerontological focus.

The Course-based Master’s degree (Master’s in Forest Management) emphasizes professional development in forest management, policy, geomatics, and ecology. The degree entails 4 terms of coursework (16 months).  Three terms are on campus and one term, comprised of an internship and field school, is off-campus. The curriculum of this 16-month programme is given below:

First Term (Fall, 2.0 FCE)

• NRMT 5550: Principles of Research Methods & Experimental Statistics
• NRMT 5135: Applied Geomatics

Two half-course electives:

• NRMT 5138: Restoration Ecology, and
• NRMT 5430: Advanced Forest Pathology

Second Term (Winter, 2.0 FCE)

• NRMT 5132: Foundations of Operation Research
• NRMT 5137: Biodiversity Conservation

Two half-course electives from:

• NRMT 4239: Urban Forestry,
• NRMT 4252: Conservation Ecology,
• NRMT 5134: Complexity Science,
• NRMT 5136: Remote Sensing Applications,
• NRMT 5530: Research Methods II: Experimental Design in Forestry Research,
• NRMT 5610: Genetics: Natural Variation & Selective Breeding,
• NRMT 5770: Management and Marketing Strategies,
• NRMT 5815: Environmental Assessment,
• BIOL 4115: Plant Ecology of Disturbed Habitats,
• BIOL 4117: Advances in Contemporary Ecology, and
• ENST 5030: Qualitative Research Methods

Third term (Spring-Summer, 1.5 FCE)

• NRMT 5094: Field School
• NRMT 5100: Internship

Fourth term (Fall, 2.0 FCE)

• NRMT 5570: Advanced Economics
• NRMT 5133: Indigenous Peoples & Natural Resources Management
• NRMT 5810: Natural Resources Policy
• NRMT 5111: Professional Communication