Bioresource Engineering (Non-Thesis): Integrated Water Resources Management (M.Sc.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Degree: Master of Science
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Bioresource Engineering; Non-Thesis - Integrated Water Resources Management program is a one-year professional course-based program, including an internship, which is a central feature of the program. The program provides an essential approach to the sustainable management of our natural watershed resources, and focuses on the biophysical, environmental, legal, institutional, and socio-economic aspects of water use and management, in an integrated context.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Research Project (6 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BREE 631 | Integrated Water Resources Management Project. | 6 |
Integrated Water Resources Management Project. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 To broaden the scope of the IWRM internship experience (BREE 630) in the form of a research paper or 'plan of action' that expands on the water resources management problem(s) or issue(s) examined in the internship. This course is now to be offered both in the Winter semester (new) and the Summer semester (current). | ||
Required Courses (27 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BREE 503 | Water: Society, Law and Policy. | 3 |
Water: Society, Law and Policy. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Water and society and the ramifications at the local, national and international scales with respect to legal and public policy issues related to, for example, drinking water quality, transboundary water management, public involvement, First Nations, agriculture, governance, and institutions relevant to the management of water resources. | ||
| BREE 510 | Watershed Systems Management. | 3 |
Watershed Systems Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A holistic examination of methods in watershed management with a focus on integrated water resources management (IWRM). Topics include: integration, participatory management, water resources assessment, modeling, planning, adaptive management, transboundary management, and transition management. | ||
| BREE 630 | Integrated Water Resources Management Internship. | 13 |
Integrated Water Resources Management Internship. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Placement in a government, or private sector agency for 13 weeks of full-time work on an integrated water resource management project (35 hours per week). Student shall be responsible for defining a mandate, then performing and reporting on the work/research performed. This course is now to be offered both in the Winter semester (new) and the Summer semester (current). | ||
| BREE 651 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 1. | 1 |
Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 To give seminars and participate in discussions. | ||
| BREE 652 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 2. | 1 |
Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 To give seminars and participate in discussions. | ||
| BREE 655 | Integrated Water Resources Management Research Visits. | 3 |
Integrated Water Resources Management Research Visits. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Class visits to various firms and agencies working in the realm of integrated water resources management. | ||
| PARA 515 | Water, Health and Sanitation. | 3 |
Water, Health and Sanitation. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The origin and types of water contaminants including live organisms, infectious agents and chemicals of agricultural and industrial origins. Conventional and new technological developments to eliminate water pollutants. Comparisons of water, health and sanitation between industrialized and developing countries. | ||
Elective Courses (12 credits)
12 credits, at the 500 level or higher, of any relevant course(s) chosen in consultation with the Program Director.