Fall & Winter Terms, Course Department of Geography & Environme

2026/2027, Fall & Winter Terms, Course-Based Opportunities, Department of Geography & Environment
- Faculty of Science

The Department of Geography & Environment is seeking Contract Academic Staff to teach the following courses at Brandon University for the Fall and Winter terms of the 2026 – 2027 academic year.

Classes run from September 9 to December 11, 2026, with an exam period following.

Classes run from January 5 to April 9, 2027, with an exam period following.

This course is an introduction to the relationship between humans and the biophysical world upon which we live. Traditionally, this relationship has involved humans using different portions of the natural environment to benefit society. Often these activities are detrimental to the environment. In this course, students will learn the ways in which humans impact the natural environment, the issues surrounding the need to minimize negative impacts, and approaches to managing natural resources.

Topics covered include energy flow, ecosystem structure, matter cycling, biodiversity, climate change, protected areas, and wildlife management.

Fall Term;
Slot 3; M, W, F; 10:40 – 11:30 AM

Where we live affects our health and our health affects our experience of where we live. This course provides a foundation in the geography of health and health care, a sub-discipline that studies the relationships between health, place, and space. Course topics include the spread of infectious diseases, health inequalities and the health of vulnerable populations, access to health care, aging, and rural health.

Students will examine the contributions of geographic perspectives to health studies as well as the importance of interdisciplinary perspectives for understanding the geographical dimensions of health and health care in Canadian and international contexts.

Winter Term;
Slot 5; M, W, F; 12:40 – 1:30 pm

This course examines why and how rural places still matter today, focusing on rural and small town Canada. Canada’s rural places are complex and changing; they face both internal and external stresses that continue to bring about significant transformation. Yet the distinct social, economic, environmental, and political issues associated with rural places often receive much less attention than those occurring in urban areas.

This course redresses this imbalance by examining the challenges and opportunities facing rural and small town Canada today. Topics may include economic changes in agriculture, tourism, and resource industries; demographic shifts; technological changes; service access; decolonization; and environmental futures. Students will also consider how rural life is represented, who is included or excluded, and how communities are adapting to these ongoing changes.

Winter Term;
Slot 12; T 11:40 AM – 12:30 PM, Th 11:40 AM – 1:30 PM

This course investigates the principles and concepts underlying the designation, planning, and management of protected areas such as national and provincial park systems, ecological and biosphere reserves, and cultural and historical sites. Topics include the history and philosophy of protected areas, international classifications of wilderness and protected areas, carrying capacity, visitor management, interpretation, and ecosystem integrity. Case studies focused on the Canadian National Parks System will be used to explore these issues.

Winter Term;
Slot 4; M, W, F; 11:40 AM – 12:30 PM

Natural resource management and development often involves the need to accommodate strategies for meeting short time demands as well as long-term ecological sustainability of poorly understood resources. Human philosophies, attitudes, and values towards the environment and natural resources all play important roles in the development of such strategies. The complex problems these…