Admission and program requirements

We encourage students to declare their ES Major and Minor as early as their second year of study to partake of the full range of courses and student activities.

Major and Minor curriculum

ES Majors and Minors: We have made some changes to the requirements for a Major or Minor in Environmental Studies. Don't panic, though: the changes should make it easier to complete your degree. Also note, if you have already begun to complete your degree, you have the option to complete under the old requirements or to switch to the new ones: it's up to you. The new requirements are detailed below; you can find the old ones in the UVic Calendar for the year you began the program. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact the ES Undergraduate Advisor: esadvise@uvic.ca

Note: You still need to combine your ES Major or Minor with a Major in another subject.

Requirements for an ES Major

1. At the first and second year level:
   • ES 200: Introduction to Environmental Studies.
     This is a prerequisite for all upper-level ES courses. You must achieve a minimum of a B- in this course in order to declare a Major in Environmental Studies.
   • ES 240: Ecological Processes.
     This is a prerequisite for ES 341. However, you do NOT need to take it if you have taken BIOL 215: Principles of Ecology.
2. The Core Courses:
   • ES 301: Political Ecology
   • ES 321: Ethnoecology
   • ES 341: Ecological Restoration
3. 10.5 units of upper-level courses in Environmental Studies.
   • With the approval of the ES Undergraduate Advisor, up to 4.5 of these units can be taken from other departments or schools.

Requirements for an ES Minor

1. At the first and second year level:
   • ES 200: Introduction to Environmental Studies.
     This is a prerequisite for all upper-level ES courses. You must achieve a minimum of a B- in this course in order to declare a Minor in Environmental Studies.
   • ES 240: Ecological Processes.
     This is a prerequisite for ES 341. However, you do NOT need to take it if you have taken BIOL 215: Principles of Ecology.
2. The Core Courses:
   • ES 301: Political Ecology
   • ES 321: Ethnoecology
   • ES 341: Ecological Restoration
3. 4.5 units of upper-level courses in Environmental Studies.

For additional information please see the University calendar.