Physical & Environmental Geography
Physical and Environmental Geography offers science-based programs for students interested in an integrative approach to understanding the earth’s biotic and abiotic systems, including their spatial dynamics and the ways they are altered by human action. The programs provide a foundation in the subfields of climatology, biogeography, hydrology, and geomorphology. Students gain practical experience in lab and field settings. Technical skills taught also include data analysis, geospatial analytical tools, including GIS and Remote Sensing.
Program Requirements: For the full list of course descriptions, please see the Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar
Specialist Entry Requirements:
This is a limited enrolment program that can only accommodate a limited number of students. Admission will be determined by one of the following:
0.5 FCE’s at the 100 or 200 level with a final mark of 75% or 1.0 GGR FCE’s at the 100 and/or 200 level with a final mark of 70% in each course. Achieving these marks does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year.
Jointly-offered GGR courses will also be considered (e.g. JEG, JGI, JGE).
| Number of courses | Courses | FCEs |
| Introductory courses: Any 6 half courses or the equivalent | GGR100H/ JEG100H1, MAT133Y1/ MAT135H1/ MAT136H1/ MAT137Y1/ MAT157Y1, MAT223H1/ MAT240H1, MAT224H1/ MAT247H1, PHY131H1/ PHY151H1, PHY132H1/ PHY152H1, CHM138H/ CHM136H1, CHM139H/ CHM135H1, CHM151Y1, BIO120H1, BIO130H1, at least two of which must be Math or Phys half courses. | 3.0 |
| Core Courses: Any 4 | GGR201H1, GGR203H1, GGR205H1, GGR206H1, up to one half course from Group H (below) | 2.0 |
| Regional Geography Courses: Any 1 | GGR101H1, GGR240H1, GGR246H1, GGR254H1, GGR341H1, GGR342H1, GGR343H1 | 0.5 |
| Methods Courses: All 4 | GGR270H1, GGR272H1, GGR337H1, GGR390H1 | 2.0 |
| Applications: Any 7 | GGR273H1, GGR301H1, GGR305H1, GGR307H1, GGR308H1, GGR310H1/ FOR310H1, GGR314H1, GGR373H1, GGR347H1, GGR348H1, GGR416H1, (but no more than one of GGR273H1, GGR373H1), GGR493Y1 (based on internship), any GGR course from the list for Core Courses and Fourth Year Courses not already used; up to three half courses from Group I. No more than one of GGR273H1, GGR373H1. | 3.5 |
| Fourth Year Courses: Any 2 | GGR401H1, GGR405H1, GGR413H1, GGR414H1, GGR491Y1, GGR493Y1 (0.5 FCE can be used based on internship), GGR498H1, 400-series in Group I, but the total number of half courses from Group I (including 300-series courses) must not exceed 3. | 1.0 |
| Total | 12.0 |
Major Entry Requirements:
This is a limited enrolment program that can only accommodate a limited number of students. Admission will be determined by one of the following:
0.5 GGR FCE’s at the 100 or 200 level with a final mark of 67% or 1.0 GGR FCE’s at the 100 and/or 200 level with a final mark of 63% in each course. Achieving these marks does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year.
Jointly-offered GGR courses will also be considered (e.g. JEG, JGI, JGE).
| Number of courses | Courses | FCEs |
| Introductory Courses: Any 4 half courses or the equivalent | GGR100H/ JEG100H1, MAT133Y1/ MAT135H1/ MAT136H1/ MAT137Y1/ MAT157Y1, MAT223H1/ MAT240H1, MAT224H1/ MAT247H1, PHY131H1/ PHY151H1, PHY132H1/ PHY152H1, CHM138H/ CHM136H1, CHM139H/ CHM135H1, CHM151Y1, BIO120H1, BIO130H1, at least two of which must be Math or Phys half courses. | 2.0 |
| Core Courses: Any 3 | GGR201H1, GGR203H1, GGR205H1, GGR206H1 | 1.5 |
| Regional Geography Course: Any 1 | GGR101H1, GGR240H1, GGR246H1, GGR254H1, GGR341H1, GGR342H1, GGR343H1 | 0.5 |
| Methods Courses: All 3 | GGR270H1, GGR272H1, GGR390H1 | 1.5 |
| Applications: Any 4 | GGR273H1, GGR301H1, GGR305H1, GGR307H1, GGR308H1, GGR310H1/ FOR310H1, GGR314H1, GGR337H1, GGR373H1, GGR347H1, GGR348H1, GGR416H1, GGR493Y1 (based on internship), any GGR course from the list for Core Courses and Fourth Year Courses not already used; any one half course from Group I (below). No more than one from GGR273H1, GGR373H1. | 2.0 |
| Fourth Year Course: Any 1 from | GGR401H1, GGR405H1, GGR413H1, GGR414H1, GGR491Y1, GGR493Y1 (0.5 FCE can be used based on internship), GGR498H1 | 0.5 |
| Total | 8.0 |
Minor Entry Requirements:
There are no entry requirements for this program
| Number of courses | Courses | FCEs |
| First Year Geography Courses: Any 2 | GGR100H1/JEG100H1 (recommended), GGR101H1, GGR107H1, GGR112H1, GGR124H1 | 1.0 |
| Core Courses: Any 2 | GGR201H1, GGR203H1, GGR205H1, GGR206H1 | 1.0 |
| Methods Courses: 2 | One of ( GGR301H1/ GGR305H1/ GGR308H1) and one of ( GGR272H1/ GGR337H1) | 1.0 |
| Applications: Any 2 | Two half courses from GGR201H1, GGR203H1, GGR205H1, GGR206H1, GGR301H1, GGR305H1, GGR307H1, GGR308H1, GGR310H1/ FOR310H1, GGR314H1, GGR347H1, GGR348H1, GGR390H1, GGR401H1, GGR405H1, GGR413H1; GGR414H1 | 1,0 |
| Total | 4.0 |
Physical & Environmental Geography Groups
Group H: Faculty of Arts & Science courses
Group I
Course Clusters
Students may wish to choose courses from among one or more of the following clusters if they wish to concentrate in a particular area within Physical & Environmental Geography (Science). These are not POSt requirements, but rather suggestions for students seeking guidance on how to navigate our course offerings.
Climate System and Climatic Change: GGR203H1, GGR314H1, ENV346H1
Land Surface Processes: JEG100H1 (formerly GGR100H1), GGR201H1, GGR205H1, GGR206H1, GGR301H1, GGR305H1, GGR413H1
Environmental Physical Geography: GGR101H1, GGR201H1, GGR203H1, GGR205H1, GGR206H1, GGR301H1, GGR308H1, GGR314H1, GGR405H1, GGR413H1
Students contemplating graduate studies are strongly urged to combine their Physical & Environmental Geography Major or Specialist with a Minor in Mathematics (involving calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations) and a Minor in a field of science related to their particular interests in physical geography (biology, chemistry, geology, or physics).
Groups H and I list courses from outside the Geography Department that can be applied to the requirements for the Physical and Environmental Geography Major (one course only) or the Specialist (up to 3 courses only); these courses are an option only for students that have the required pre-requisites.
(Last updated: May 7, 2018)