Program Description The Department of Environment and Geography offers a wide variety of courses focusing on the intersection of humans and the natural environment. In order for a complete understanding of the human-environment interactions, people need to understand the science of the natural world, and the impacts humans are having on their environment, whether they be at a local, regional or global scale. We must understand how and why the environment is changing. Global warming, acid precipitation, ozone depletion, waste management and water conservation are issues which require thorough examination in or that proper decision-making processes can be implemented by leaders in government, industry and non-governmental organizations. We carefully and systematically examine all aspects of the environment so that our graduates can play an important role in the future of our environment.
Bishop’s location in the midst of an area of great economic, cultural and physical diversity provides many opportunities for students to take part in practical fieldwork and applied projects. Such studies are integral parts of several courses, especially those relating to elements of physical geography and human impact on the environment. Students enrolling in Environment and Geography courses should be prepared to devote time to fieldwork outside of normal class time. Details of field studies will be discussed within individual courses. The Eastern Townships Collection of the Bishop’s University Library provides an important source of research materials for local area studies dealing in particular with the geography of southern Quebec.
