The Experience

Trent School of the Environment students have access to a range of on-campus and communitiy-based career-enhancing experiences. Research projects are hands-on, experience-rich, and take full advantage of local ecology, and international study opportunities that offer a global perspective on all things environmental. The School of the Environment brings together all the environmental expertise to be found at Trent. Where some schools focus on a single aspect of environmental studies, at Trent you can explore the full range of how we experience the environment: through water, air, soil, climate, food and our interactions with all living things. 

Work for Credit: Internships and Placements

Gaining real-world working experience while you study gives you the opportunity to envision your future career and can lead to the development of lasting connections in the workforce. Our ECO Canada-accredited degrees provide dynamic pathways for placements and internships for upper-year and post-graduate students. Here you'll gain program-related experience in a professional work environment for academic credit. Picture yourself working alongside industry leaders at Otonabee Region Conservation Authority, performing data entry and analysis to monitor trends in water quality in cold water streams, or gaining international insight by working with Nature Fiji (through Think Pacific), to learn about conservation in Fiji and producing materials to promote an upcoming shorebird count.

Conduct Research with Faculty Experts

As early as first-year, conduct hands-on research with leading professors and researchers. TSE students have measured carbon dioxide emissions from peatlands in northern Canada, investigated how waste from mining operations can be used to capture and store carbon dioxide, monitored water quality from agricultural run-off, tested samples at our Water Quality Centre and conducted research on microplastic pollution.

Hands-On Field Courses

TSE students have numerous opportunities to enroll in a variety of hands-on field courses in upper years of study. These courses, mostly available in the summer months, allow concentration on an area of study during a time when diverse ecosystems are most active. Learn the practical aspects of agricultural systems; conduct shoreline assessments throughout the Kawartha Lakes Region; take field trips to farms and work with food organizations in the community, or work with community organizations in the Peterborough or Haliburton area on biomonitoring projects in our lakes and forests.

Study the Environment Anywhere in the World

Trent offers several study abroad programs at partner institutions across the world. Find field placements, research projects and intensive language programs to use towards your degree.

Lead a Community Research Project

Make a difference with a project through the Trent Community Research Centre, working with organizations like Peterborough GreenUp, Kawartha Conservation and several lake associations in the region.

On-Campus Work Experience

Access on-campus job opportunities that fit specific interests, schedules and career goals. Jobs include research in faculty labs and positions at Trent Market Garden. Several undergraduate awards provide summer work opportunities to grow professional networks.

More student testimonials on the Careers and Alumni page