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Note: This is the 2012–2013 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Note: This is the 2012–2013 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
This 30-credit certificate program is very similar to the Minor program and is designed to focus on the principles underlying the practice of ecological agriculture. The certificate may be of special interest to professional agrologists who want further training, as well as formal recognition that they have completed a coherent program of courses beyond their B.Sc. studies.
Students holding a B.Sc. in agriculture or a related area are eligible to register for this program provided that they are otherwise acceptable for admission to the University. Students who have completed the Minor or specialization in Ecological Agriculture are not permitted to register for this program.
Academic Adviser: Dr. Caroline Begg
Raymond Building, Room 2-028a
Telephone: 514-398-8749
To obtain a certificate in Ecological Agriculture, students must complete a minimum total of 30 credits from the courses as given below.
1. Most courses listed at the 300 level and higher have prerequisites. Although instructors may waive prerequisite(s) in some cases, students are urged to prepare their program of study to ensure that they have met all conditions.
2. Students using AGRI 310 toward the requirements of the Specialization/Minor/Certificate are limited to an experience on farms or other enterprises that are organic, biodynamic, or practising permaculture. The placement must be approved by the academic adviser for the specialization/Minor/certificate.
Agriculture : Through case studies and field trips, students will examine the problems and constraints within the Canadian agro-ecosystem, including the interrelationships among food production, the environment, agricultural policy and social issues. Research in this field of study will also be introduced.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Begg, Caroline B; Cue, Roger I (Fall)
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PLNT 215.
This course carries an additional charge of $50 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips to agricultural enterprises. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
Agriculture : Focus on low-input, sustainable, and organic agriculture: the farm as an ecosystem; complex system theory; practical examples of soil management, pest control, integrated crop and livestock production, and marketing systems.
Terms: Winter 2013, Summer 2013
Instructors: Begg, Caroline B (Winter) Begg, Caroline B (Summer)
3 lectures and one 2-hour seminar
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken AGRI 250
Religious Studies : Environmental potential of various religious traditions and secular perspectives, including animal rights, ecofeminism, and deep ecology.
Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013
Instructors: Rosenberg, Eliza (Fall) Rosenberg, Eliza (Winter)
Fall: Macdonald Campus (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue). Winter: Downtown Campus.
21 credits chosen from the following, in consultation with the Academic Adviser for Ecological Agriculture.
Agricultural Economics : Examination of North American and international agriculture, food and resource policies, policy instruments, programs and their implications. Economic analysis applied to the principles, procedures and objectives of various policy actions affecting agriculture, and the environment.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Henning, John C (Winter)
Winter
3 lectures
Prerequisites: AGEC 200 or equivalent
Agriculture : Internship on working farms or in other appropriate businesses of the agri-food/environment industries.
Terms: Fall 2012, Summer 2013
Instructors: Begg, Caroline B (Fall) Begg, Caroline B (Summer)
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken AGRI 201D1/D2.
Agriculture : International development and world food security and challenges in developing countries. Soil and water management, climate change, demographic issues, plant and animal resources conservation, bio-products and biofuels, economic and environmental issues specially in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Globalization, sustainable development, technology transfer and human resources needs for rural development.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Monardes, Humberto (Winter)
Winter
Two 2-hour conferences
Agriculture : Management of soil and water systems for sustainability. Cause of soil degradation, surface and groundwater contamination by agricultural chemicals and toxic pollutants. Human health and safety concerns. Water-table management. Soil and water conservation techniques will be examined with an emphasis on methods of prediction and best management practices.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Madramootoo, Chandra A; Stämpfli, Nicolas (Fall)
Fall
3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
This course carries an additional charge of $13 to cover the cost of transportation with respect to a field trip. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
Entomology : Modern concepts of integrated control techniques and principles of insect pest management, with emphasis on biological control (use of predators, parasites and pathogens against pest insects), population monitoring, and manipulation of environmental, behavioral and physiological factors in the pest's way of life. Physical, cultural, and genetic controls and an introduction to the use of non-toxic biochemical controls (attractants, repellents, pheromones, antimetabolites).
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Winter
Restriction: Not open to students who have previously taken ENTO 452
3 lectures
Environmental Biology : Interactions between organisms and their environment; historical and current perspectives in applied and theoretical population and community ecology. Principles of population dynamics, feedback loops, and population regulation. Development and structure of communities; competition, predation and food web dynamics. Biodiversity science in theory and practice.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Buddle, Christopher (Winter)
Winter
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken WILD 205
Environmental Biology : Biotic and abiotic processes that control the flows of energy, nutrients and water through ecosystems; emergent system properties; approaches to analyzing complex systems. Labs include collection and multivariate analysis of field data.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Fyles, James W (Fall)
Fall
Prerequisites: ENVB 222, AEMA 310 or permission of instructor
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken WOOD 410
This course has an additional charge of $15 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
Microbiology (Agric&Envir Sc) : The ecology of microorganisms, primarily bacteria and archaea, and their roles in biogeochemical cycles will be discussed. Microbial interactions with the environment, plants, animals and other microbes emphasizing the underlying genetics and physiology. Diversity, evolution (microbial phylogenetics) and the application of molecular biology in microbial ecology.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Driscoll, Brian T (Winter)
Winter
Restriction: Not open to students who have successfully completed NRSC 331
Nutrition and Dietetics : An overview of the use of herbal medicines and food phytochemicals and the benefits and risks of their consumption. The physiological basis for activity and the assessment of toxicity will be presented. Current practices relating to the regulation, commercialization and promotion of herbs and phytochemicals will be considered.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Johns, Timothy A (Fall)
Plant Science : Ecology, management, and physiology of forage crops with emphasis on establishment, growth, maintenance, harvesting, and preservation; value as livestock feed in terms of nutritional composition and role in environmental conservation.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Seguin, Philippe (Fall)
Plant Science : Investigates of the complex interactions between plants and their environment, focusing on the mechanisms underlying plant physiological processes. Plasticity of plants to their ecological environment; topics include phytoremediation, plant stress responses, plant-symbiosis and plant-insect interactions.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Bede, Jacqueline (Winter)
Plant Science : A study of the biology of undesirable vegetation as related to the principles of prevention and physical, biological, managerial and chemical control. Emphasis on the environmental impact of the different methods of weed control.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Watson, Alan K (Winter)
Plant Science : Theory and practice of plant ecology with an emphasis on the interaction between patterns and ecological processes and the dynamics, conservation and management of plant populations and communities over a range of temporal and spatial scales.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: de Blois, Sylvie (Fall)
3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
Prerequisite: AEMA 310 or permission of instructor.
This course carries an additional charge of $25 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
Soil Science : Soil processes responsible for soil formation will be studied and the impact of changes to the physical and chemical environment will be discussed.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Hendershot, William H (Fall)
Fall
3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
Prerequisite: A previous course in soil science, geography, geology or permission of instructor.
Soil Science : The physical and chemical environment of soil organisms; survey of soil microflora and fauna; processes and optimal agronomic systems of management consistent with the goals of ecological agriculture.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Soil Science : The need for using organic fertilizers to produce certified organic crops. Soil biology, nutrient requirements and fertilizers for organic crops; nutrient management and the soil foodweb; biocontrol opportunities.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Whalen, Joann Karen (Fall)
Fall
web-based course (offered online)
Soil Science : A sustainable, agroenvironmental approach to nutrient management planning at the farm scale, consistent with guidelines and laws governing fertilizer use in Quebec and other jurisdictions.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Whalen, Joann Karen; Benslim, Hicham (Winter)
Winter
Prerequisite: SOIL 315.
Resource Development : Invertebrate and vertebrate behaviour; innate behaviour, learning, motivation, agonistic behaviour, rhythms, social organization, mating systems and communication.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Bird, David M (Winter)
Winter
2 lectures, one 3-hour lab
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ZOOL 311