Trent University’s Bioenvironmental Monitoring and Assessment (BEMA) graduate program now holds the distinction of being the first in Canada to receive accreditation for its online course-based Master’s and Graduate Diploma programs from ECO Canada, a national organization championing the end-to-end career development of environmental professionals. 

“This is an impressive accomplishment that reflects Trent’s strong commitment to environmental education across programs and degree types,” says Dr. Craig Brunetti, dean of Graduate Studies at Trent.   

Established in 2018, BEMA offers both professional Masters and Graduate Diploma streams, with flexible part-time options that appeal to early and mid-career professionals. The suite of online courses, professional placement, and an in-person capstone course prepare students for the environmental jobs of the future in industry, government, or non-governmental organizations.  

“The BEMA program really stood out as a means to fill a lot of gaps I had left from my undergrad and after working for a few years,” said Alex Legere, a recent M.BEMA graduate. 

Speaking to how the environmental sector is an emerging area of higher employment in Ontario and Canada, Dr. Tom Hossie, acting director of BEMA, adds “this accreditation reflects the program’s unique curriculum and strengths in giving aspiring environmental professionals the tools they need to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving job market.” 

Learn more about the BEMA graduate program.  www.trentu.ca/bema.