Bachelor of Commerce in Government, Economics and Management (Co-op)

at University of Guelph Canada

The Child Studies major examines the ways that children learn, develop and grow; the psychological, physiological, and social aspects of development are considered, and ways of working with children in diverse and inclusive settings are explored. You will gain both theoretical knowledge and applied skills through coursework and guaranteed practicum placements—completing over 500 hours of practical experience working with children in a variety of settings. When you graduate, you are eligible to apply for membership in the College of Early Childhood Educators.

Understanding how we conserve organisms within an ecosystem by understanding the role they play in the ecosystem. 

Wildlife Biology and Conservation focuses on both the ecological and evolutionary factors that influence the sustainability of species and communities and an understanding of how these factors can be used to manage natural systems or species that are at risk or invasive.

The objective of the Wildlife Biology and Conservation major is to provide students with an integrated foundation in three disciplines necessary to understand the origins, interactions, and protection of plant and animal diversity: evolution, ecology, and conservation biology. The Wildlife Biology and Conservation curriculum reflects the current interdisciplinary nature of the study of plant and animal diversity that builds on the depth and breadth of expertise in the Department of Integrative Biology.

This major will provide students with a unique interdisciplinary opportunity to study the causes, consequences, and conservation of plant and animal diversity. There is currently no other major in Canada that explicitly integrates ecology, evolution, and conservation into a 4-year major. This major also builds on the University of Guelph’s long-standing reputation in the areas of biology and natural resources management. Although there are a series of required courses associated with each of the ecology, evolution, and conservation core themes, the major offers a significant amount of flexibility from years 2-4 that allows students to focus on 1 or 2 streams. In their 4th year, students will take a 1.0 credit capstone course (BIOL*4110 Ecological Methods) that focuses on the development and execution of a research problem by building of the different skills students have acquired in each of these streams.

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Recognize the origins and current methods of protection of plant and animal diversity.
• Develop detailed knowledge of ecological and evolutionary factors that influence the persistence of species and communities.
• Understand how to manage natural and impacted systems (e.g., invasive species, species at risk) and apply scientific approaches to adaptive management strategies in wildlife conservation.
• Assess the complex interplay between science, socioeconomic factors and public opinion in the forging of public policy decisions and the value of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding complex problems in wildlife biology.
• Gain “hands on” experience in the field working with plants and animals in a variety of ecosystems.

Explore the music, literature, cinema, art and politics of France, Quebec and the Francophone world. Do an internship teaching French in a local school, contribute to international research or support organizations in need of translation services. Exercise your knowledge in a small classroom environment, spend a semester in France and become bilingual and acquire intercultural skills.

Sample Careers:

• Communication officer
• Language editor
• French teacher
• Technical writer

The Management Economics and Finance major is designed to offer students an appreciation of business and economic problems particularly in the area of finance.

The major provides a suitable education for a career in the business world or in the public service. It also constitutes a useful preparation for more advanced studies, including graduate studies in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Industrial Relations, Law, and Public Policy. The major is administered by the Department of Economics and Finance and students are urged to consult the faculty advisor.

A principal aim of the Co-op program in Management Economics and Finance is to facilitate the transition of students from academic studies to a professional career by enhancing the integration of theory and practice.

Co-op
The Co-op program in Management Economics and Finance is a five year program, including five work terms. Students must complete a Fall, Winter and Summer work term, and must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below:

To be eligible to continue in the Co-op program, students must meet a minimum 70% cumulative average requirement after second semester, as well as meet all work term requirements. Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to work term performance grading, work term report grading and program completion requirements. 

This major combines a foundation in the breadth of environmental science while giving students practical experience in integrating the basic science in environmental problem solving. The integration of biophysical sciences with real-world applications provides students with a unique skill set for engaging with current and future environmental issues. The many opportunities in the major for experiential learning and independent research give students an ability to collect, analyze and interpret environmental data, and propose solutions that account for both the biophysical science and the socio-economic context. The second year core curriculum develops a cross-disciplinary understanding of the biophysical environment, while the third and fourth years allow students to engage more deeply with issues of interest to them. Students will graduate from this major ready to address diverse problems such as pollinator conservation, soil and water conservation, greenhouse gas mitigation, plant disease management and chemical movement in the environment. It provides a solid background for careers in environmental protection, resource management and research, in both the public and private sectors.

Co-op
The Co-op program in Environmental Sciences is a four and a half year program including four work terms. Students must complete a Fall, Winter and Summer work term, and must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below.

To be eligible to continue in the Co-op program, students must meet a minimum 70% cumulative average requirement after second semester, as well as meet all work term requirements. Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to work term performance grading, work term report grading and program completion requirements. 

The Bachelor of Indigenous Environmental Science and Practice (BIESP) is an interdisciplinary science degree that focuses on the development of leaders in areas of environmental science, land-use and policy development who are grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and being. This science degree emphasizes the respectful and consensual braiding of Indigenous and Western knowledge systems to address complex environmental issues and challenges. It focuses on the responsible use and protection of the natural environment through practices based on Indigenous ways of knowing and doing and the practice of Indigenous land ethics grounded in Indigenous epistemologies, ontologies, traditions and aspirations. By explicitly recognizing the inherent validity and value of Indigenous ways of knowing and doing, this interdisciplinary program offers a critical, yet constructive, view of environmental science, grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems, methodologies, priorities and values and oriented towards concrete action. In addition to their studies of natural and applied science, students will examine the historical and contemporary relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada and the legal, political and economic context of environmental science and practice.  

Experiential learning is incorporated into each year of study through opportunities to interact and work directly with Indigenous communities and organizations supporting cross-cultural learning and practice. In the final year, students will conduct a group project that focuses on a current environmental issue and provides the opportunity to obtain realistic experiences within the interdisciplinary context of practicing environmental science with Indigenous communities. The BIESP is also offered as a co-op option. 

Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the BIESP degree will have demonstrated they can:

• Build awareness of Indigenous cultural frameworks of environmental science including the role of traditional knowledge keepers, right relations, multi-generational environmental stewardship, and inclusion of non-human beings. 
• Consider the implications of historical and contemporary relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in influencing governance, practices, policies, interactions and decision making in environmental science and practice. 
• Apply a critical and decolonial lens to the existing approach to environmental science and practice in Canada through the exploration of Indigenous principles, aspirations and practices while cognizant of the historical and ongoing legacy of colonization, land dispossession, and intergenerational trauma. 
• Apply the evolving legal frameworks of Indigenous and non-Indigenous environmental science, which include Indigenous People’s inherent, treaty and constitutionally-protected rights, historic and contemporary lands, the minimal standard of free, prior, and informed consent, duty to consult and Indigenous-led practices of protection and restoration of special places and community well-being, to environmental stewardship.  
• Bridge and braid Indigenous and Western knowledge systems to propose and evaluate answers and solutions to environmental questions.  
• Formulate relevant and testable research questions, develop and implement an effective method of inquiry and perform appropriate quantitative and qualitative analyses for use in evidence-based environmental planning, policy development and implementation across different knowledge systems from Indigenous and Western research paradigms and methodologies.  
• Utilize techniques and skills including mapping and GIS, data classification, spatial analysis, map design, Indigenous research methodologies and environmental risk assessment practices to analyze environmental management issues across different knowledge systems. 
• Demonstrate project management skills (leadership, negotiation, communication, problem-solving, decision-making, time and task management, and budgeting) to effectively work within a team to complete multifaceted projects related to environmental management, research, and community engagement. 
• Communicate ideas, arguments and analyses to Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences accurately and effectively, recognizing the role of language, personal values, strengths and limitations, and respecting diverse perspectives.  
• Demonstrate moral maturity and intercultural competency by considering diverse perspectives on environmental issues and Indigenous world views when acting as a professional and community member in decision making processes related to topics of land use, conservation, sustainability and environmental remediation and restoration. 
• Critically reflect on their personal values, academic and professional goals and determine how they can continue to respectfully engage and sustain relationships with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to address environmental challenges utilizing both Indigenous and Western scientific knowledge systems and ethical protocols. 
• Appreciate and support the needs and priorities of Indigenous communities to promote respect, protect and sustain Indigenous knowledge and practice in Indigenous communities.

Co-op
The Co-op program in Indigenous Environmental Science and Practice is a five-year program including four work terms. Students must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below (also found on the Co-operative Education website: https://www.recruitguelph.ca/cecs/). 
Indigenous Environmental Science and Practice Academic and Co-op Work Term Schedule

Explore the ways writing can drive social justice and environmental awareness. Create meaning through your writing and storytelling. You will take courses in speculative fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting and writing for the inclusive stage. You will develop a body of creative work that includes writing exercises, short creative pieces and a portfolio. 

Students will study elements of physics including the exotic aspects of the universe, such as black holes and subatomic particles, or be involved in the development of exciting modern devices such as particle accelerators and gamma-ray spectrometers.

With an emphasis on hands-on lab work, the physics major covers the fundamentals of mechanics, electromagnetism, and quantum physics, grounding students in foundational physics while preparing them for more specialized study in upper years. The strong analytical, computational, and lab skills developed during the degree provide the flexibility to pursue a broad range of careers upon graduation.

The major builds upon nationally recognized expertise in teaching and research with many of our faculty members having received both national and international awards. Students take an integrated MATH and PHYS course in first year along with the chemistry and biology taken by other science students. Second through fourth year, students will focus on physics specialty courses with an emphasis on hands-on, laboratory learning. Unique to the University of Guelph, students will also take a Science Communications course where they develop activities to help people understand the concepts of physics.

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Demonstrate mastery in advanced Electricity and Magnetism, Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, Optics, and Quantum Mechanics
• Apply Intermediate level Mathematics techniques to enhance understanding in the aforementioned major subject areas
• Demonstrate advanced laboratory skills in order to practically realize concepts in Electricity & Magnetism, Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Quantum Physics, Optics, Nuclear Physics, Spectroscopy, and Electronics and apply these skills in self-directed learning
• Apply modern computational techniques to investigate various physical phenomena and demonstrate proficiency in mathematical software such as Maple, MatLab, and/or Mathematica

Co-Op Options
Physics co-op is a five-year program, which includes five work terms. Below is an example of how the academic and work sequence will look for a Physics major.*

*Please note this sequence may change. The current undergraduate calendar will house the most accurate sequence that students must follow. 

Students in this co-op major complete a course, COOP*1100, in the fall semester of second year.  This course helps students prepare for their work term by developing professional attitudes and skills for the workplace. This course also provides students with a toolkit of resume and cover letter writing as well as interview skills, which helps students to apply, interview and secure their work term positions.

Anthropology explores human societies and cultures within contemporary global structures. Students complete courses such as Kinship, Family, and Power; Culture, Rights and Development; and the Anthropology of Health, and gain a critical understanding of multiculturalism and the globalization of our daily experience and explore diverse contemporary questions and debates within Canadian and international contexts, including environment and resource use, food, agriculture, and agribusiness, indigenous issues, labour and work, youth and homelessness, indigenous issues, police and society, and social movements in developing countries. The program offers a solid foundation for a wide variety of careers in policy, development, government, and community sectors.

WHY CO-OP?
As a co-op student, you will be able to gain relevant work experience, build professional networks, and develop essential transferable skills needed to succeed in the workplace, all while getting paid and earning your university degree. Guelph’s co-op program is unique due to the exceptional level of support provided to students, including a job search preparatory course, a personal connection with a Co-op Coordinator to assist you during the employment process, and targeted work term reports to help you develop relevant skills.

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental academic discipline that allows students to Pursue questions that have stimulated thinkers across eras and cultures. How should we live? What is it to be a person? Explore these and other questions through modern issues in artificial intelligence, politics, sexuality, and the environment in small seminars and field courses. You will acquire skills in reasoning, communication, critical thinking, intellectual independence, and the ability to understand others’ viewpoints and assumptions.