Interdisciplinary Cooperation and Collaboration …
411
No explicit “Research” course, i.e., “systematic work with the aim of producing
new knowledge” involving a thesis or research paper (O’Byrne et al. 2015) is included
in the curriculum. As O’Byrne et al. found, this form of course offering is more
characteristic of graduate-level programs.
6 EUS Minor
At Ryerson University, a Minor is an opportunity for a student to study a second
academic theme as a matter of personal interest, or to develop an area of specific
expertise related to the student’s area of study. The curriculum of each goes through
a review process and is approved by the University Senate. Currently, there are 55
Minors, in a wide variety of subject areas, at Ryerson, each consisting of six courses
from a coherent set of required and elective courses. Students do not declare the
Minor until the time that they apply to graduate and the achievement is noted on the
student’s academic transcript.
A Minor can be delivered by a program’s home department using current courses,
and with existing resources, while at the same time embedding the opportunity for
sustainability-based learning across the university. The EUS Minor received Senate
approval in November 2013. The only students ineligible for the Minor are those in
the EUS program itself. Because of duplication between the Minor’s requirements
and courses available as part of their degree requirements students in eight programs
(Architectural Science, Biology, Geographical Analysis, International Economics,
Occupational Health and Safety, Politics and Governance, Public Health and Safety,
Urban and Regional Planning) may require only four courses to receive the Minor.
7 The Realities
EUS application numbers were strong from the start of the program. In its first year,
850 students applied for 82 positions. Application numbers have eased somewhat but
remain robust. Historically, environmental studies programs have tended to attract
engaged and action-oriented students and similarly oriented faculty (Altbach 1997;
Klee 1983). That has been the case with those in the EUS program. For example,
twelve Ryerson students travelled from Toronto to New York City in 2014 for the
People’s Climate March (Jensen 2014). In 2016, motivated by his environmental and
social convictions, eight students and faculty again traveled to New York City to
rally on behalf of the candidate for US Democratic Party leadership, Senator Bernie
Sanders.
EUS students have also been active in embracing the opportunities in Zonebased Learning at the university. Zone learning is a new model of experiential
learning embraced by the university which, through mentorship, workshops, and
entrepreneurial and analytics training, provides opportunities for students to develop
411
No explicit “Research” course, i.e., “systematic work with the aim of producing
new knowledge” involving a thesis or research paper (O’Byrne et al. 2015) is included
in the curriculum. As O’Byrne et al. found, this form of course offering is more
characteristic of graduate-level programs.
6 EUS Minor
At Ryerson University, a Minor is an opportunity for a student to study a second
academic theme as a matter of personal interest, or to develop an area of specific
expertise related to the student’s area of study. The curriculum of each goes through
a review process and is approved by the University Senate. Currently, there are 55
Minors, in a wide variety of subject areas, at Ryerson, each consisting of six courses
from a coherent set of required and elective courses. Students do not declare the
Minor until the time that they apply to graduate and the achievement is noted on the
student’s academic transcript.
A Minor can be delivered by a program’s home department using current courses,
and with existing resources, while at the same time embedding the opportunity for
sustainability-based learning across the university. The EUS Minor received Senate
approval in November 2013. The only students ineligible for the Minor are those in
the EUS program itself. Because of duplication between the Minor’s requirements
and courses available as part of their degree requirements students in eight programs
(Architectural Science, Biology, Geographical Analysis, International Economics,
Occupational Health and Safety, Politics and Governance, Public Health and Safety,
Urban and Regional Planning) may require only four courses to receive the Minor.
7 The Realities
EUS application numbers were strong from the start of the program. In its first year,
850 students applied for 82 positions. Application numbers have eased somewhat but
remain robust. Historically, environmental studies programs have tended to attract
engaged and action-oriented students and similarly oriented faculty (Altbach 1997;
Klee 1983). That has been the case with those in the EUS program. For example,
twelve Ryerson students travelled from Toronto to New York City in 2014 for the
People’s Climate March (Jensen 2014). In 2016, motivated by his environmental and
social convictions, eight students and faculty again traveled to New York City to
rally on behalf of the candidate for US Democratic Party leadership, Senator Bernie
Sanders.
EUS students have also been active in embracing the opportunities in Zonebased Learning at the university. Zone learning is a new model of experiential
learning embraced by the university which, through mentorship, workshops, and
entrepreneurial and analytics training, provides opportunities for students to develop