Prospective Students
Undergraduate studies
Our undergraduate programs offer flexible, interdisciplinary learning that blends science, policy and community engagement. From day one, you’ll dive into real-world learning like exploring the Salish Sea, participating in local restoration efforts, or joining a field school in France.
Our approach combines hands-on experience with the wisdom of communities, guided by our shared commitments. We aim to work together to empower you with the courage, creativity and hope needed to face the future’s complex challenges.
Why choose us?
- Gain real-world skills and build your resume with co-op placements, internships and community projects.
- Combine your studies with other programs like geography, biology or political science to tailor your learning to your passions.
- Develop skills in: advocacy and public engagement, critical and holistic thinking, learning from and incorporating Indigenous knowledge, collaborative problem solving and communication.
Environmental studies at UVic offers an integrated, experiential and impassioned course-load. The school really balances the despair you get from learning about the state of our global environment and social health with the tools and passion to get out in the world and do something about it.
Graduate studies
Push boundaries. Challenge systems. Create real change.
Our graduate programs empower you to tackle urgent environmental and social challenges through cutting-edge research and collaboration. You’ll explore big questions, develop interdisciplinary solutions and engage with real-world projects that produce meaningful impacts.
- MA in Environmental Studies: study environmental change through a cultural and political lens, working closely with communities and policymakers.
- MSc in Environmental Studies: investigate pressing environmental challenges through scientific research and innovative fieldwork.
- PhD in Environmental Studies: develop research collaborations that challenge assumptions and contribute to global solutions.
Why choose us?
- Work with top researchers, Indigenous communities, policymakers and environmental organizations to build real-world connections.
- Study in a living lab on Vancouver Island, one of the world’s most biodiverse and climate-sensitive regions.
- Join a future-focused, impact-driven research community where your work doesn’t just analyze the world, it helps change it.
The three streams
Our strength is built on three core streams, or focus areas, that help us face environmental issues by seeing the whole picture. This approach sets us apart, giving us the tools and knowledge to make real impact, and allowing students to engage across disciplines to shape their own unique research path.
Ethnoecology explores how people and nature shape each other. Trevor Lantz, Natalie Ban, Darcy Mathews and Gerald Singh study relationships between cultures, ecosystems and environmental change.
Ecological Restoration focuses on understanding and repairing damaged landscapes.Eric Higgs, John Volpe, Brian Starzomski, Nancy Shackelford and Loren McClenachan develop strategies for restoring ecosystems and biodiversity.
Political Ecology examines how environmental issues connect with politics and society. Karena Shaw, James Rowe, Deborah Curran and Sarah Hunt analyze policy, leadership and barriers to change.
Our history
The start of the Environmental Studies Program was thanks to many dedicated people. Marc Bell, Derrick Sewell and other faculty members at UVic suggested ways to tackle environmental issues. They proposed a low-cost and quick-to-implement Environmental Studies Program. In 1972, a detailed plan was shared with the Arts and Sciences faculty for feedback. By 1974, Dean Jean-Paul Vinay formed a committee to put key parts of the plan into action, starting the university-wide experimental Environmental Studies Program.The program was approved with a condition to review it in four years. In 1978, an extensive review took place, and the steering committee made several recommendations. They suggested making ES a regular interdisciplinary program with its own director and steering committee. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the University Senate and the Board of Governors approved these recommendations. In 1979, ES became a regular campus program, eventually growing into the School of Environmental Studies by 1999. Many students and faculty were involved in its early stages, and after 50 years, most of the original goals have been achieved.