Environmental Management Co-op Student Information
About The Program
The Environmental Management (EM) co-op major focuses on the development of leaders in the areas of environmental science and technology. The EM program will provide you with a solid background in environmental science and management with business, using a mix of theoretical and applied study. EM students have a broad range of interests and skills that can be applied in many workplaces, including consulting, private industry, all levels of government and non-profit organizations. Through the co-op program, you will build transferrable skills in work environments that will contribute to your work readiness and career prospects upon graduation.
Why Co-op?
As a co-op student, you will be able to gain relevant work experience, build professional networks, and develop essential transferable skills needed to succeed in the workplace, all while getting paid and earning your university degree. Guelph’s co-op program is unique due to the exceptional level of support provided to students, including a job search preparatory course, a personal connection with a Co-op Coordinator to assist you during the employment process, and targeted work term reports to help you develop relevant skills.
Course Sequencing
| YEAR | FALL | WINTER | SUMMER |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE | Academic | Academic | Off |
| TWO | Academic | Academic | Work |
| THREE | Academic | Academic | Work |
| FOUR | Work | Work | Off |
| FIVE | Academic | Academic |
Acquired Knowledge & Skills
Communication
Well-developed written and verbal communication, and interpersonal competencies.
Application
Strong background in science, economics and business, mixing theoretical and applied study. Management and decision-making skills for the application of scientific knowledge and industry-related data to environmental problems, and the evaluation of appropriate environmental policies.
Leadership
Enhance your leadership skills through role models in the workplace and also through taking the opportunities to show leadership when presented with the opportunity.
Collaboration
Advanced skills in group work and presentation delivery.
Sample Jobs
Energy Management Student
The successful candidate will be responsible for the development, implementation and reporting for public sector Green Act Reporting, including the development of a customer reporting template, an implementation process for gathering and submitting reports, and communication of the reporting requirements to end users. The student will research and summarize Federal and Provincial conservation and demand management programs and incentives and will make recommendations that are most beneficial to clients. Finally, the student will work with various departments to draft and implement a new Utility Dashboard to communicate and illustrate utility data to address carbon emission reporting in Ontario and other reporting requirements.
Sustainability Summer Student
The successful candidate will provide analytical, administrative and data management support for the control brand sustainability team. This will include a seafood sustainability project to collect relevant sustainability information from various sources to enable reporting and support compliance efforts. Exposure to various other sustainability initiatives may include packaging, palm oil and animal welfare.
Environmental Quality Guidelines Assistant
The co-op student will support the derivation of environmental quality guidelines developed through Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan and/or the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. The student may develop a guideline in whole or in part for either a metal or an organic substance through data collection, critical evaluation of toxicity information, data synthesis, statistical analyses, identification of data gaps, report writing, peer review, and revision.
Employer Sectors
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Durham District School Board
- ECNG Energy
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Loblaw Companies Limited
- WSP Group
*This shows a sample of recent co-op employers and will vary depending on employer recruitment needs. During a job search, students are encouraged to be actively engaged and are supported in establishing and maintaining their own personal contacts.
Salary Information
Students receive compensation from their employer for co-op work terms. The rate of pay will vary depending on a number of factors including the industry, the student’s program of study, and work term level. For your reference, a Co-operative Education Salary Guide is available on our website, which provides hourly rates (averages and ranges) for each degree program.
