Elective Course Guide for Undergrads - Fall 2025/Winter 2026
Discover fun and engaging elective courses in food, agriculture and the environment.
Step outside of your comfort zone and use OAC's Elective Guide to discover elective courses in food, agriculture, environment and animals that fit your interests - designed for both OAC and non-OAC students. Dive into real-world topics like planet Earth, nutrition, sustainable food, and climate change—perfect for students from U of G programs including business, arts, sciences, and humanities.
Food Elective Courses
Looking for a course that’s relevant, practical, and thought-provoking? Whether you’re curious about the science of food, passionate about solving global hunger, or interested in sustainable eating, there’s a course for you. Discover course options below:
Learn About Local Ontario Food
ENVS*2130 Eating Sustainably in Ontario
Explore the science behind food-related issues in Ontario’s agriculture and food systems. Study the current food debates and the environmental and health impacts of food production, including organic farming, food waste, and sustainable practices like local food and seafood. Evaluate food production methods, and reflect on your own sustainable food choices.
You’ll like this course if you enjoy: local foods, protecting the environment.
Study the Science of Food and Nutrition
FOOD*2150 Introduction to Food Science (in-person with online resources)
This course introduces the basics of food and nutrition, exploring how food affects our health and how it is processed and preserved. Learn about the nutrients in food, how our bodies use them, and how food can impact safety and nutrition. Classes are in person, with online course materials - no textbook required. Offered only in the fall.
You’ll like this course if you enjoy: nutrition, eating healthy, chemistry basics.
Explore How to Improve Food Security
FARE*1300 Poverty, Food and Hunger
Why do some people have plenty of food while others struggle to find their next meal? Take a deep dive into the challenges of poverty, food security, and hunger—both in our own communities and across the globe. Explore how different countries and organizations tackle these issues and discover ways people are working to create change.
You’ll like this course if you enjoy: global issues, food security, gaining new perspectives.
Environment Elective Courses
Explore the fascinating aspects of our environment: from understanding Earth's geological processes like earthquakes and volcanoes, to studying the profound impacts of climate change on ecosystems and human health. Discover course options below:
Understand Planet Earth
ENVS*1060 Discovering Planet Earth (Online)
Go on a journey to understand the unique characteristics of our planet and the forces that shape it. Explore Earth’s place in the universe, the materials it’s made of, and both natural and human-driven processes that impact its landscapes and systems. Topics include earthquakes, volcanoes, and other geological phenomena, how society depends on Earth’s resources and the importance of sustainability.
You’ll like this course if you enjoy: nature, geology, earthquakes, volcanoes and more.
Study Climate Change
ENVS*2270 Impacts of Climate Change
This course makes climate change personal. Explore how rising temperatures, shifting forests, and heat waves are already transforming Canada—and what’s coming next. Through real-world examples and the latest research, you’ll learn how climate change affects everything from the Boreal forest to human health and how your choices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
You’ll like this course if you enjoy: nature, sustainability, how to do things differently.
Study our Natural World
ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation (Online)
Love the outdoors? This course is your chance to turn that passion into practical skills. Learn how to design and deliver engaging environmental education programs, from creating interpretive materials to leading guided nature walks. Explore creative communication strategies, audience engagement techniques, and the role of interpretation in promoting conservation and sustainability.
You’ll like this course if you enjoy: nature walks, conservation, sustainability
Animal and Insect Elective Courses
Explore a range of fascinating topics, from learning about honey bee biology, hive management, and their critical role in agriculture and food systems, to gaining insights into farm animal anatomy, meat quality, and the science behind food production. Discover course options below:
Study the Importance of Honey Bees
ENVS*2210 Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology (Online)
Explore the fascinating world of honey bees in this engaging online course. Learn about bee biology, hive management, honey production, and the vital role bees play as pollinators in our agriculture and food system. Through interactive lectures, field activities, and hands-on assignments, you’ll gain unique insights into sustainability, ecology, and the challenges bees face.
You’ll like this course if you enjoy: food production, sustainability, bees and pollinators
Study the Science Behind Animal Agriculture
ANSC*2340 Structure of Farm Animals (Online)
Explore the fascinating science behind farm animals in this engaging online course. Perfect for non-agriculture students, you’ll learn about animal anatomy, grading, and factors influencing meat quality, like tenderness. This course provides a unique glimpse into the systems that shape what we eat. Gain practical, accessible knowledge from molecular biology to commercial applications.
You’ll like this course if you enjoy: biology, food production
Arboretum Elective Courses
Discover nature-based learning through hands-on courses in the University of Guelph’s Arboretum. From tree identification to bird behavior, explore how green spaces and biodiversity connect to conservation, human well-being, and global ecological issues. Discover course options below:
Explore Trees, Biodiversity and Conservation
ENVS*2700 Introduction to Trees and Conservation
Gain a deeper understanding of nature through the trees and ecosystems of the U of G Arboretum. Designed for students of all backgrounds, this course covers tree and shrub ID, the ecological role of natural areas, and the health benefits of green space. You'll learn through lectures, discussions, outdoor observations, and hands-on activities—all rooted in local biodiversity and global conservation themes.
You’ll like this course if you enjoy: sustainability, outdoor learning, biodiversity, nature and health
Learn to Identify and Understand Ontario’s Birds
ENVS*2710 Bird Identification and Conservation
This interactive course introduces students to bird species common to southern Ontario, with no science background required. Learn how to identify birds by sight and sound, explore their behavior and conservation, and understand their role in ecosystems and human wellness. Hands-on field observation and group discussion will enrich your connection to the natural world.
You’ll like this course if you enjoy: wildlife, mental wellness, ecology, hands-on learning