As Natasha Milijasevic writes in “The Genius of the Generalist,” a multidisciplinary education was once essential to participation in public life. People with a wide-ranging education had a variety of tools to draw on when problem solving. Increasingly, such people are being called upon to tackle today’s complex environmental problems. And increasingly those people are graduating from environmental education programs across Canada.
As Natasha Milijasevic writes in “The Genius of the Generalist,” a multidisciplinary education was once essential to participation in public life. People with a wide-ranging education had a variety of tools to draw on when problem solving. Increasingly, such people are being called upon to tackle today’s complex environmental problems. And increasingly those people are graduating from environmental education programs across Canada.
Environmental Studies grads are finding their skills in demand across every sector of the economy. It’s not just that these graduates are passionate and dedicated; it’s not just that they have a broad foundation in natural sciences, economics, law, technology and the arts. It’s that they have been taught the art of building networks and developing the types of meaningful relationships that foster positive social change.
As Milijasevic makes amply clear, an environmental education prepares students to move with ease into the vast variety of sustainability professions that span all sectors of the economy. Their skills not only allow them to cross disciplinary boundaries on the job, but also to think way outside the box when it comes to employment itself. Many environmental grads are creating their own jobs – identifying needs in their communities and formulating innovative problem-solving strategies.
In the 15 years that A\J has been publishing an annual postsecondary education guide, the number of Canadian institutions offering environmental degree options has exploded, as have the range and scope of the programs themselves. From hydrology and climate science to urban design to ecotourism to sustainable food systems, A\J has collected together the most multidisciplinary environmental programs available at Canada’s universities and colleges.
We are particularly proud of our second annual At-A-Glance chart. It provides important, quality-of-life information that is not usually available in one place, such as housing, transportation and tuition costs. Additionally, we listened to our student readers when crafting this year’s version, refining the categories to reflect the details that are most relevant and useful for comparing postsecondary institutions across the country.
Both the chart and the directory are intended as a first step for students when considering the environmental programs available. Use these resources to start your own research odyssey into the wonderful world of environmental education in Canada!
This year, for the first time, we have included colleges in the general directory listings in recognition of the sector’s burgeoning growth.
Dive into the 2014 Environmental Education Guide below
Janet Kimantas is associate editor at A\J with degrees in studio art and environmental studies. She is currently pursuing an MES at UWaterloo. She splits her spare time between walking in the forest and painting Renaissance-inspired portraits of birds.
