Physical Geography Honours
(for Bachelor of Science degree students)

Entrance requirements

Once a student has completed 90 credits that apply to the Bachelor of Science, including at least 26 credits in geography, with a minimum 3.33 GPA in all courses required for program completion, they are eligible to apply for entry into the physical geography honours program.

Interested students are encouraged to seek out information and advice on the physical geography honours program from Geography faculty or a Science Advisor as early as possible in their coursework, and to apply to the physical geography honours program at the earliest possible entry date.

In order to submit an application, students will need to provide the following:

• A Physical Geography honours program application form (available from the department assistant).
• A completed checklist (available from the department assistant) demonstrating successful completion of coursework in geography.
• A copy of their transcripts (these do not need to be official transcripts).
• A portfolio that includes coursework (laboratory assignments, written papers, etc.) from their completed geography courses. Portfolio guidelines are available from the department.

The purpose of the portfolio is two-fold. First, it provides the student with exercise in developing a presentation of prior work, which may be useful in applying for employment or graduate school. Second, the portfolio is a tool to be used by the student, department's honours advisory committee, and potential faculty project advisor, to identify areas of improvement, potential project topics, as well as writing and research strengths and weaknesses.

Students should submit their application materials to the department assistant. The department's honours advisory committee (HAC) will then identify a potential project supervisor, if one has not already been selected. Students are encouraged to approach a departmental faculty member appropriate to their research interests by the end of the third year of their Geography program. This faculty member can in turn serve as their honours supervisor.

Review

Prior to enrolling in GEOG 492 (Honours Research Project), each honours candidate will need to meet with their honours supervisor to assess their progress in the honours program. At this time, the candidate should submit an updated transcript to their supervisor for review.

Successful completion of a research project is required prior to graduation. This project, which will be developed in consultation with a faculty supervisor, will demonstrate a student’s skill and knowledge in a given area of geographic study. 

Each honours applicant will then be required to present the findings of their research at a professional or university conference or in an existing geography course (in consultation with the instructor of that course). Alternative presentation arrangements may be made in consultation with the honours supervisor and the HAC.

Following project completion and presentation, the honours supervisor will recommend a letter grade. The HAC will choose whether or not to accept this grade based on further review of the student’s work in Geography 492.