Saint Mary's University

I. CONTACTS FOR UNIVERSITY AND DEPARTMENTS

University Address
Saint Mary's University
923 Robie Street
Halifax, NS
B3H 3C3

Primary Contacts

RICHARDSON, David, Ph.D. (Dean of Science)
Phone: (902) 420 5493
E-mail: david.richardson@stmarys.ca

List of Course with Length Indicated

A. Undergraduate degree courses

Course Title Course Description Hours/week Credits Year(Duration)
BIOLOGY
BIO 325 Biology of Protists An introduction to the protistan phyla (protozoa and algae): protist morphology and diversity; physiology and reproduction; ecology and applied aspects; evolution and the origins of multicellularity. 3 h  lecture + 3 lab 0.5 2/3 (1 term)
BIO 326 Diversity of Non-vertebrate Animals A study of free-living, non-vertebrate animals including the radiates, acoelomates, pseudocoelomates, crustaceans, arthropods and echinoderms. Laboratory exercises provide the student with the opportunity to experiment with certain living animals and to dissect and examine a variety of preserved specimens. 3 h  lecture + 3 lab 0.5 2/3 (1 term)
BIO 411 Animal Parasitology I The relationship between parasites and their hosts, emphasizing the taxonomy and life history of protists and helminths of vertebrates, including man. Laboratory work is on living and prepared materials, maintenance of life cycles and infectivity to vertebrates. 3 h  lecture + 3 lab 0.5 3/4 (1 term)
BIO 424 Life History of Fishes The study of fishes, their classification, life history and global distribution. The laboratory portion of the course familiarizes the students with representatives of world taxa and the fishes of Nova Scotia. 3 h  lecture + 3 lab 0.5 3/4 (1 term)
BIO 425 Ecology of Fishes Growth and development, population biology, the role of fishes in aquatic communities, and the influence of human activities on fish, are studied. 3 h  lecture + 3 lab 0.5 3/4 (1 term)
BIO 447 Aquatic Biology in Bermuda Field trip to Bermuda.   0.5 3/4 (2 wk)
BIO 448 Biology Field Course The design and practice of biological study of communities under field conditions at selected sites in Nova Scotia. The main emphasis is on how ecologists document the abundance of organisms and quantify the structure of a community.   0.5 3/4 (2 wk)
BIO 449 Aquatic Parasitology A two-week, field course held in the summer at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Both marine and freshwater invertebrates and vertebrates are examined for their parasite fauna. Selected protozoan as well as metazoan parasites are examined live prior to appropriate processing for identification. Students will learn to recognize common parasitic Protozoa, Turbellaria, Monogenea, Digenea, Cestoda, Nematoda, and Crustacea found in the aquatic hosts as well as to understand their ecology and host/parasite relationships.   0.5 3/4 (2 wk)
BIO 499 Directed Study in Biology These courses are intended to supplement the course offerings in biology and allow students to delve deeper into a subject of particular interest to them. Students must show some initiative and be willing to work independently.   0.5 3/4 (2 term)
BIO 500 Research Thesis Research project carried out by the student under the supervision of a member of the Department. The student will submit a thesis and present it orally. 6 h lab 0.5 3/4 (2 term)
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
ENV 410 Environmental Impact Assessment This course describes the legislative background and techniques for the prediction of impacts on biophysical and socio-economic environments. This course will cover screening, scoping, baseline studies, impact prediction, mitigation, monitoring and auditing. 3 h lecture + 3 lab 0.5 3/4 (1 term)
ENV 420 Environmental Monitoring and Auditing This course describes the principles and applications of environmental auditing and monitoring. Techniques for environmental audit of facilities, organizations and projects will be covered, together with the design of monitoring programs and techniques for atmospheric, biological, hydrological, and socio-economic monitoring. 3 h lecture + 3 lab 0.5 3/4 (1 term)
ENV 440 Environmental Policy and Compliance This course focuses on environmental policy in Canada and the world and how organizations comply with environmental regulations through standards and environmental management systems. The aspects of legislation and environmental regulations are also examined. 3 h lecture + 3 lab 0.5 3/4 (1 term)
GEOGRAPHY
GPY 305 The Oceans: A Physical Geography This course begins with a study of the role of the oceans in the global environment. It considers the origin, nature, and distribution of ocean relief features, the principles and patterns of water circulation, and factors affecting the distribution and abundance of marine life. The implications of global climatic changes such as the Greenhouse effect on the oceanic environment will be considered, as well as the effects of the physical geography on human use of the oceans. 2 h lecture + 2 h lab 0.5 2/3 (1 term)
GPY 315O cean Use and Management A geographical study of the present and future uses of the oceans. Examination of the development and spread of new and traditional oceanic uses will focus attention on management issues. Course will include mineral and energy exploitation, fish production, fish "ranching" and mariculture, shipping, recreational uses, military uses, and ocean dumping. Regional case studies will be used to illustrate evolving concepts of oceanic management, including the use of computerized information systems. 3 h lecture 0.5 2/3 (1 term)
GPY 343 Weather and Climate An investigation of weather and climate systems on Earth across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Topics include: the atmosphere, energy balances, microclimates, regional weather, and global climate processes. The focus is on describing and explaining current weather and climates, but past Earth climates will also be examined. 3 h lecture 0.5 2/3 (1 term)
GPY 364 Geography of Shipping The course considers the spatial dynamics of the world shipping industry. Topics for discussion include: theories of international trade, oceanic shipping's importance to world trade, bulk trade patterns, general cargo trade patterns, the changing time-space relationships associated with increasing ship size and new types of ships and the importance and development of the world's merchant fleet with particular emphasis on Canada. 3 h lecture 0.5 2/3 (1 term)
GPY 386 Concepts in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) The course continues the introduction to GIS begun in GPY 206.1(.2). Further consideration is given to GIS data structures, data input, storage and editing, spatial analysis, and output. The course stresses raster-based GIS, but vector-based GIS are also considered. 2 h lecture +2 h lab 0.5 2/3 (1 term)
GPY 413 CoastalGeomorphology This course discusses both the physical processes that operate in the coastal zone and the resulting landforms. The actions of waves, tides, currents, sea level changes, wind, and humans in the formation of coastal features are considered. Additional topics include the long-term development and classification of coasts. 2 h lecture +2 h lab 0.5 3/4 (1 term)
GPY 414 Integrated Coastal Zone Management Spatial approaches to the integrated planning and management of the coastal zone within a sustainable development framework will be discussed and analyzed using case studies from intensively developed coastal zones in Europe, the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and North America. Emphasis will be placed on the use of geographical information systems as management and planning tools. 2 h lecture +2 h lab 0.5 3/4 (1 term)
GPY 433 Fluvial Geomorphology This course examines processes and landforms associated with rivers. Topics include channel processes and morphology, sedimentology and depositional environments. Case studies of human impacts on river systems are also presented. 2 h lecture +2 h lab 0.5 3/4 (1 term)
GPY 454 Bay of Fundy: Environments and Issues This interdisciplinary course examines physical, biological and human environments, processes and issues in the Bay of Fundy region from both a historical and a contemporary view. Topics include physical and biological processes such as tides and biological productivity, ecosystems such as tidal flats and saltmarshes, settlement patterns, and resource use. Emphasis is placed on current issues and solutions. 2 h lecture +2 h lab 0.5 3/4 (1 term)
GEOLOGY
GEO 206 Global Change This course examines global changes in the Earth's crust, oceans, biota and atmosphere caused by natural processes and human activity. Topics covered include the reconstruction of ancient environments, some of which were dramatically changed by meteorite impacts, volcanic activity and glaciation, and the evaluation of accelerating environmental change caused by phenomena such as ozone depletion and greenhouse gas emissions. 3 h lecture 0.5 2 (1 term)
GEO 340 Surface and Groundwater Hydrology The course examines the fundamentals of hydrology, including the precipitation, infiltration and storage of water. It emphasizes practical approaches to the examination of water supply, the movement of groundwater through various geological materials, groundwater exploration, contaminant modelling and water resource management. 3 h lecture + 3 lab 0.5 2/3 (1 term)
GEO 465 Sedimentology Dynamics of fluid flow and transport of sediment by air, water and ice. Analysis of modern sedimentary environments including terrestrial, lacustrine, marginal marine, and marine systems. Analysis of ancient sedimentary facies and their environmental interpretation, with emphasis on clastic sediments. 3 h lecture + 3 lab 0.5 3/4 (1 term)


B. College certificate courses

C. M.Sc. Courses

D. Modular courses

Selection Procedures

Credits and Accreditation

Language of Delivery

Facility and Equipment

Recent Canadian Foundation for Innovation/ Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency-funded facilities (~$2 million), including:

Special Features

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