Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

• Can I pursue the M.A. in Environmental Policy on a part-time basis?
• What is the difference between the Thesis and Research Paper options?
• What is the length of the Internship? What type of Internship possibilities exist?
• Where can I expect an Internship placement?
• Are Internship placements competitive?
• Can I source out my own Internship placement?
• I have more questions about the M.A. in Environmental Policy program. Who can I talk to?

ADMISSIONS

• Do I have to have a background in public policy or environmental studies/science to apply?
• How do I apply for the M.A. in Environmental Policy?

FINANCES

• How much is tuition for the M.A. in Environmental Policy?
• Do most students get funding?
• Do I have to apply for funding or is my application automatically considered?
• Do I get paid for the work completed as part of the Internship?

OTHER QUESTIONS

• Will I get office space?

ABOUT CORNER BROOK

• How do I get to Corner Brook?
• How big is Corner Brook?
• Will I need a car to get around?
• What is the weather like in Corner Brook?
• What kinds of outdoor activities are there to do in the Corner Brook area?

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

• Can I pursue the M.A. in Environmental Policy on a part-time basis?
  
• The Thesis-based option may be completed part-time over the course of 3-4 years. The Research Paper-based option may be completed part-time over 2-3 years.

 

• What is the difference between the Thesis and Research Paper options?

• Students have the choice of pursuing the Thesis or Research Paper-based options and must indicate their choice by mid-Fall of their first year. The Thesis-based option is an in depth piece of research that situates an original research question within the literature, details the methodologies followed to answer the question, presents and analyzes the data and concludes with final observations relating the results to the broader literature, the limitations of the research findings and details future research avenues. The Research Paper-based option is more limited in scope often focusing on an extensive literature review to uncover gaps in the literature. It was previously believed that the Thesis-based option prepared students to pursue doctoral studies while the Research Paper-based option was better suited for people wanting to enter the workforce directly. Today, opinions are mixed on this interpretation and a student’s choice to pursue either option may hinge more on their curiosity and the depth of study they wish to pursue—a lot on a specific topic (Thesis) or a broader overview (Research Paper). With either option, students must complete a 12 week Internship.

 

• What is the length of the Internship? What type of Internship possibilities exist?
  
• 12 weeks. Internship placements will vary from year to year. Placements include those with government departments and agencies (local, provincial, federal), businesses, and environmental non-governmental organizations (local, regional, provincial, national, international).
  
• Where can I expect an Internship placement?
  
• Internship placements vary and may be local (e.g., Corner Brook and Western Newfoundland), provincial (across Newfoundland), regional (e.g., Atlantic Canada), somewhere else in Canada or internationally (e.g., USA, Europe).


• Are Internship placements competitive?
  
• Yes. Students must attend the Pre-Internship Workshop [live link] to review requirements and processes in December of each year. Students apply for Internship placements in April of the following year. Internship placements begin in May and finish in July of every year.


• Can I source out my own Internship placement?
  
• Yes. Students may arrange for their own Internship placement and must obtain written approval from the Internship Placement Officer in consultation with the Graduate Program Coordinator 60 days prior to the Internship start date.


• I have more questions about the M.A. in Environmental Policy program. Who can I talk to?
  
• For further information about the program, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator 

ADMISSIONS

• Do I have to have a background in public policy or environmental studies/science to apply?
  
• No. Applications are welcomed from students in different fields of study. Interdisciplinary study in the program is encouraged by the university. Applicants with an interdisciplinary background or whose background combines two or more fields of study (e.g., political science, public policy, environmental studies, geography, resource management, environmental science, public administration) would be an excellent fit for this program. Extra coursework may be required of students who lack a background in a particular area and depending on their needs and is to be decided in consultations among the student, the student’s graduate supervisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator. Final decisions for extra coursework rest with the Graduate Program Coordinator in consultation with the student’s graduate supervisor.


• How do I apply for the M.A. in Environmental Policy?
  
• Admissions are guided by the School of Graduate Studies procedures and regulations. Online applications are recommended. In addition, students are to follow and meet program specific admission procedures and qualifications as shown below.

FINANCES

• How much is tuition for the M.A. in Environmental Policy?
  
• Information on tuition is available from the School of Graduate Studies.


• Do most students get funding?
  
• Yes, most students receive funding with recent students offered funding packages approximately $12,000 - $15,000 in value. However, there is no guarantee of funding as offers of financial support are made during the application process..


• Do I have to apply for funding or is my application automatically considered?
  
• Applications are automatically considered for funding.


• Do I get paid for the work completed as part of the Internship?
  
• While all efforts are made to secure paid internships for students, no guarantees are made that internships will be paid. In some cases, internship opportunities may exist that provide students with unique and excellent experiential learning opportunities yet are unpaid. Consideration should be given to a student’s overall learning experience.

OTHER QUESTIONS

• Will I get office space?
  
• Graduate students are guaranteed shared office space on campus.

ABOUT CORNER BROOK

• How do I get to Corner Brook?
  
• Corner Brook is located in Western Newfoundland and Labrador, CANADA. You can get to Corner Brook via either plane or ferry. See How to Get Here.


• How big is Corner Brook?
  
• The City of Corner Brook has a population of approximately 21,000 people and growing. About another 20,000 people live within the immediate vicinity.


• Will I need a car to get around?
  
• This depends on your personal preference but generally NO. Corner Brook has a public transit system that services the broader community including the Grenfell Campus. In addition, given the size of the city, people can get to most places within a 15-30 minute walk.


• What is the weather like in Corner Brook?
  
• The climate of Corner Brook can be described as semi-maritime and is well-suited to a wide variety of outdoor activities. Summers are warm but not hot with July mean temperatures averaging 17 °C. This is perfect for active sports like hiking, mountain biking or sea kayaking. Fall brings cooler temperatures and vibrant autumn colours which are in their prime around mid-October. Winters are cool and snowy. According to Canadian Geographic Magazine, Corner Brook gets more snow than any other sizeable community in the country (averaging 400 cm). Mid-winter temperatures average around -6 C. Combined with the abundant snow, this means that downhill and cross-country skiers and snowmobiliers can start their activities in mid-December and continue them until early to mid-April. Corner Brook's total precipitation is about 110 cm with most of it falling in the fall and winter. The spring and summer are the driest times of year in Corner Brook. At 49 °N, Corner Brook has 16 hours of sun at the summer solstice and 8 hours on December 21. Check the Weather Office for Corner Brook's current and long-term forecast conditions.


• What kinds of outdoor activities are there to do in the Corner Brook area?
  
• The Corner Brook area is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise offering many excellent outdoor activities exist in the Corner Brook area. These include the following:
• kayaking
• canoeing
• fishing
• golf (Blomidon Golf & Country Club)
• swimming
• snowshoeing
• skiing - downhill (Marble Mountain Resort) - cross country (Blow Me Down Ski Club)
• snowmobiling
• hiking trails (e.g., Corner Brook Stream Trail, International Appalachian Trail, Copper Mine Trail, parks (Gros Morne National Park, Margaret Bowater Park, Blow Me Down Provincial Park and Trail)