Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 71.89
Liaison Isabel Savransky
Submission Date Nov. 14, 2023

STARS v2.2

Ontario Tech University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Majors, degrees and certificate programs

Does the institution offer at least one ​sustainability-focused​ major, degree, or certificate program for undergraduate students?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program:
Energy Systems Engineering

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program:
Students in the Honours Bachelor of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering program will learn the skills to design and develop tomorrow’s energy systems. This degree program is the first stand-alone program of its kind in Canada. The program was developed to meet the rapidly increasing demand for graduates with the knowledge and skills required to help Canada and the rest of the world meet the terms of the Kyoto agreement, while ensuring that the growing consumption of energy can be satisfied economically and with minimal impact on the environment.

The curriculum provides students with an understanding of the principles and applications of the full range of energy systems and technologies, from traditional fossil-fuelled energy systems to alternative energy technologies. This includes the production, storage, distribution and utilization of energy.

Website URL for the undergraduate degree program:

Additional degree programs (optional) 

Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Political Science

None
A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Implement strategies for creating sustainable community development policies, which target improved quality of life and address important community justice and planning issues.
This program promotes social justice through an interdisciplinary approach to:
• Community internships and service learning
• Research
• Teaching

How do we explain the paradox of great wealth amidst widespread poverty?
Why does racial inequality persist in so many areas?
How do we protect the environment from our lifestyles?
Why do women still get paid less than men?
How should government prioritize funding for social services?
Why do people support or protest against free trade agreements?
Why do we listen to and obey—or confront and resist—political authority?
How can understanding these issues make the world a better place?

Website URL for the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
Applied Biotechnology

None
A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
Pursue an area of Biological Science that is rapidly growing and which applies to many day-to-day applications, such as health, agriculture and industry.

Website URL for the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
None
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program(s):
---

Minors and concentrations

Does the institution offer one or more sustainability-focused minors or concentrations for undergraduate students?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration:
Minor in Sustainability Studies

A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration:
The purpose of the Minor in Sustainability Studies is to provide foundational knowledge and skills related to the emerging discipline of sustainability and to prepare students to become innovators within their diverse fields. The minor seeks to educate students in the concepts and best practices in sustainability, and to teach them to consider all factors: economic, environmental and social, both in the short term and in the long term in making decisions. Intended as a complement to core fields of study, the minor draws from courses across all Faculties, and enhances and reflects each student's individual academic and career interests.

Website URL for the undergraduate minor or concentration:

Additional minors and concentrations (optional) 

Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration (2nd program):
Health Physics minor

A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration (2nd program):
This minor is designed for our university undergraduates who may want to increase their knowledge in radiation protection science to better position them in the Ontario nuclear industry job market.

Refurbishment and decommissioning of nuclear facilities and nuclear power plants scheduled for the coming decades will bring with it an increasing need for all employees in this industrial sector and associated regulators to have an enhanced appreciation and awareness of radiation protection and health physics practices and the underlying scientific basis of these practices.

The purpose of the minor is to provide the fundamentals of radiation protection science related to applied nuclear technology and the medical applications of ionizing radiation. Topics covered in this minor include interaction of radiation with matter, radiation detection, dosimetry, biophysics, shielding, radioisotopes, medical applications of radiation, and environmental effects of radiation.

Website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
Biology minor

A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
Biological science is the study of life at its most fundamental level. The foundational areas of cell biology, genetics and molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry and developmental biology are mastered in the Biological Science Program. Students can study within the broad scope of the Complementary Studies stream, or choose to specialize in Environmental Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, or, for those interested in pursuing medical school or related health science careers, the Life Science Specialization. Specializations have common courses during the first two years, allowing for flexibility and transfer between streams.

Website URL for the undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused undergraduate minors and concentrations:
---

Optional Fields  

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.