Master of Science - Earth System Science

Deepen your understanding of the Earth's complex systems and apply advanced scientific knowledge to real-world environmental challenges. Make a meaningful impact in your work, research, and the planet’s future.

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Program details

The Master of Science - Earth System Science (MSc ESS) is a 30-credit online graduate program. As a student, you will benefit from the flexibility of this multi-disciplinary program that provides a variety of distinctive professional development and research opportunities, along with outstanding academic, career, and personal support. You will be working with and learning from experts in their field.

Students may choose to complete the program with or without a focus area (link to focus area information). Students will have the freedom to specialize in a chosen field of study within the MSc ESS program. As part of the degree, you have 6 focus areas that you can choose from:

  • Environmental Science
  • Quaternary Earth Systems
  • Environmental Analytics
  • Bioinformatics
  • Environmental Space Science
  • Climate Change
Each focus area has a list of specific courses that you may choose from.

Most courses are completed through online grouped study. In these courses, you and your classmates will complete coursework on a fixed schedule. However, some courses are delivered in online individual study mode or online independent study mode. The final capstone component of your program can be completed through a project, or thesis route, these courses are completed through independent study.

You can finish this program in as little as 2.5 years of full-time study or take up to 8 years to complete all requirements.