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Home » Undergraduate Programs » Ecosystem Management (BES) With Fleming College

Ecosystem Management (BES) With Fleming College

Learn how we can sustain and revitalize our natural environments through the conservation and restoration of our ecosystems. Explore the basic concepts of ecology, ecosystem management, policy and the social, economic, legal and political nature of environmental issues. Participate in hands-on, in class, and field studies  to complete this dual credential program, achieving both a 4-year Bachelor’s with Honours degree from York University and a 3year Advanced Diploma with Fleming College in just 5 years.

Topics of study include:

  • Restoration/conservation of ecosystems
  • Habitat assessment
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Ecological research
  • Rural and urban planning
  • Environmental protection
  • Urban ecology
  • Sustainable and just transitions

The Ecosystem Management program brings together the Sustainable Environmental Management (BES) program offered by the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change with the Ecosystem Management Technology program offered by Fleming College. In this unique dual credential program, you can choose to begin your studies at York U’s Keele Campus in Toronto, ON or at Fleming’s Frost Campus in Lindsay,ON, offering you the opportunity to learn in both an urban and rural setting to gain a better understanding of the various ecosystems. Your studies will take you beyond the classroom to provide you hands-on training and skill development in diverse environments including urban parks and city spaces, as well as rivers, lakes, and other watersheds, forests and fields.

Grey Heron

At a Glance

5 years of study
at York University and Fleming College

Bachelor in Environmental Studies (BES) and Advanced Diploma

Offered full time and part time

Accepts applications from high school applicants (Fall only) and from college or university transfer and mature applicants (Fall and Winter)

Option to choose start location at York University’s Keele Campus or Fleming College’s Frost Campus

Application Process

Our programs are open for students direct from high school, with previous post-secondary studies, international students, exchange students and mature applicants.

Learn more about our admission requirements

Tuition and Fees will be paid to York University. Please see the Undergraduate Tuition and Fees information on the Future Students Website.Entrance Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries are available each year to support your education.

We recommend reviewing funding available exclusively for our students and the funding available for all York University students

  1. Complete an Online Application Form.
  2. Pay the application fee.
  3. Submit supporting documents through the York University online portal, MyFile.
    • Within four business days of application, you will receive a confirmation email with your nine-digit student reference number, which will allow you to access your MyFile account and upload your documents.
    • It is important to check your MyFile regularly for any documents you are required to submit and updates to the status of your application.
    • More information about supporting documents, document processing times and decision processing times is available on the I’ve Applied page.

Important Note: Deadlines for each entry period (Fall, Winter & Summer) can be found on the York University Future Students website.

Hands-on Learning and Field Studies

Learning in the field is a key component in our program. Your courses will take you on location with field trips to various places in Toronto, across Ontario and in the work place. 

students working in a forest

Introduction to Environmental Science

This course will take you into York University woodlots to collect ecological data to develop keys skills for presenting scientific data.

Solutions: Sustainability, Justice, Transitions

This course will use real world case studies to learn about the successes or failures of transitions to new systems.

Electric vehicle charged with solar power
Planet Earth

Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

This course will train you to use GIS software in the lab for real world applications.

Work Placement

Course for degree credit is an option for all Cities, Regions, Planning students with private or public organization, agency or ENGOs.

worker installing a solar panel

Career Possibilities

The environmental sector is one of the fastest growing in the world.  With issues of sustainability, climate crisis, and equity at the forefront of the public conscious, more organizations and businesses are looking to hire environmental professionals.  By developing technical, hands-on abilities coupled with transferrable skills such as project management, critical thinking, and communication, our graduates are working in both the public and private sector in a variety of fields including business, science and technology, education, government, and more.

To help you succeed, our Experiential Education Coordinator provides a variety of career support services to our students including resume help, interview prep, and career planning workshops, and maintains an exclusive job board just for our students.

Sample Careers

  • Environmental Outreach and Stewardship Coordinator
  • Land Use Auditor
  • Geographic Information Systems Technologist
  • Habitat Assessor
  • Green Entrepreneur
  • Policy Analyst
  • Project Coordinator
  • Environmental Consultant

Overseas Placements

Going global is optional in this program. You can choose to Study Abroad on an international Exchange program or take courses on our Semester Abroad at the Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica.

We also offer you the opportunity to complete a Global internship with York International.

Las Nubes Campus

Program Curriculum

Attached has TWO pathways – starting at York or starting at Fleming

Start at York

Degree Requirements for York University Students going to Fleming College

ENVS 1400 3.00 Environmental management

ENVS 1500 3.00 Introduction to environmental science

EU/GEOG 1401 3.00 (cross-listed to SC/GEOG 1401 3.00) Physical Geography: Weather and Climate

EU/GEOG 1402 3.00 (cross-listed to SC/GEOG 1402 3.00) Physical Geography: The Dynamic Earth

EU/ENVS 1010 3.00 Introduction to Environmental Documentaries

EU/ENVS 1100 3.00 The land we're on: Treaties, Art and Environment

EU/GEOG 1000 6.00 The World Today: An Introduction to World Geography

6.00 credits electives (6.00 Math is strongly recommended if not completed in High School)

EU/ENVS 2403 3.00 Solutions: Sustainability, Justice, Transitions

EU/ENVS 2410 3.00 Environmental Governance and Policy: Ideas, Interests and Institutions EU/ENVS 2420 3.00 Ecology & conservation science

EU/ENVS 2510 3.00Economics for the Anthropocene

EU/ENVS 3010 3.00 Qualitative Methods in Environmental Studies

EU/GEOG 2340 3.00 Introduction to Geomatics

EUGEOG 2420 3.00  (cross-listed to SC/GEOG2420 Cr=3.00) Introductory Statistical Analysis in Geography 

9.00 credits electives

EU/ENVS 3226 3.00 Sustainable Urbanism: Environmental Planning and Design or EU/ENVS 4225 3.00 Designing sustainable cities

EU/ENVS 3230 3.00 Urban Habitats and Restoration Ecology

EU/ENVS 3420 3.00 Environmental law

EU/ENVS 3505 3.00 Business and sustainability

EU/ENVS 4215 3.00 Globalization and Indigenous Peoples or EU/ENVS 4311 3.00 Indigenous Environmental Justice

EU/GEOG 2500 3.00 Introduction to Vegetation and Soils (prerequisite GEOG 14013.00 and 1402 3.00)

EU/GEOG 3340 3.00 Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (prerequisite EU/GEOG 2340 3.00)

EU/GEOG 3440 3.00 Remote Sensing for Earth Observation (prerequisite EU/GEOG 23403.00)

6.00 credits electives

Start at Fleming

Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change Dual Credential with Fleming 2021-22 Degree Requirements for Students Enrolling at York after Completing their Advanced Diploma in Ecosystem Management Technology (EMX)

EU/ENVS 1400 3.00 

EU/ENVS 2403 3.00 

EU/ENVS 2410 3.00 

EU/ENVS 2420 3.00 

EU/ENVS 2510 3.00 

EU/ENVS 3010 3.00 

12.00 credits electives

12 credits must be at the 3000 level and 18 credits must be at the 4000-level chosen from among:

EU/ENVS 3130 3.00

EU/ENVS 3400 3.00

EU/ENVS 3403 3.00

EU/ENVS 3405 3.00

EU/ENVS 3406 3.00

EU/ENVS 3430 3.00

EU/ENVS 3511 3.00

EU/ENVS 3511 3.00

EU/ENVS 4227 3.00

EU/ENVS 4310 3.00 (integrated to EU/ENVS 5070 3.00)

EU/ENVS 4442 3.00

EU/ENVS 4400 3.00 (integrated to EU/ENVS 5050 3.00)

EU/ENVS 4401 3.00 (integrated to EU/ENVS 5051 3.00)

EU/ENVS 4402 3.00

EU/ENVS 4421 3.00 (integrated to EU/ENVS 5061 3.00)

EU/ENVS 4440 3.00

EU/ENVS 4430 3.00

EU/ENVS 4445 3.00

EU/ENVS 4446 3.00 (integrated to EU/ENVS 5016 3.00)

EU/ENVS 4523 3.00 (integrated to EU/ENVS 5081 3.00)

EU/GEOG 3340 3.00

EU/GEOG 4150 3.00

Students entering the Dual Credential Program in Environmental Studies from FC will be exempted from the following courses: ENVS 1500 3.0, EU/ENVS 3230 3.00, EU/ENVS 3226 3.00, EU/ENVS 3401 3.00, EU/ENVS 3420 3.00, EU/ENVS 3505 3.00, EU/ENVS 4215 3.00, EU/ENVS 4225 3.0, EU/ENVS 4311 3.0, EU/GEOG 2420 3.00 (cross-listed to SC/GEOG 2420 3.00), EU/GEOG 2340 3.00, EU/GEOG 2500 3.00 (cross-listed to SC/GEOG 2500 3.00) , EU/GEOG 3340.3,00; EU/GEOG 3440 3.00, EU/GEOG 4440 3.00

Key Contact Information

NameTitle ExtensionOffice No.Email
Brittany GiglioRecruitment & Admission Officer22671HNES 125eucapply@yorku.ca
Anne TsirgielisStudent Success Coordinator33510HNES 137BEUAdvise@yorku.ca