The Department of Bioresource Engineering is home to an interdisciplinary program that integrates engineering, design, and the biological sciences. We apply engineering principles to the enhancement and sustainability of the world’s natural resources. Bioresource engineers work to steward the environment and natural resources (water, soil, plants, animals), create systems to produce crops, livestock, and biomass, and transform agricultural commodities and biomass into food, fibre, fuel, and biochemicals.
Master of Science (M.Sc.) Bioresource Engineering (Thesis)
This option for the M.Sc. degree is oriented toward individuals who intend to develop a career in bioresource engineering research. The research areas include: plant and animal environments; ecological engineering (ecosystem modelling, design, management and remediation); water resources management (hydrology, irrigation, drainage, water quality); agricultural machinery, mechatronics and robotics; food engineering and bio-processing; post-harvest technology; waste management and protection of the environment; bio-energy; and artificial intelligence.
Bioresource Engineering (Thesis) (M.Sc.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Degree: Master of Science
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
This option for the M.Sc. degree is oriented toward individuals who intend to develop a career in bioresource engineering research.
Required Courses (36 credits)
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 651 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 1. | 1 |
|
| BREE 652 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 2. | 1 |
|
| BREE 699 | Scientific Publication. | 3 |
Scientific Publication. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Review and critique papers that are published in field of the candidate. Prepare draft paper(s) following the format of leading journals in field of study undertaken. See course page for more information |
Thesis Courses
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 691 | M.Sc. Thesis 1. | 4 |
|
| BREE 692 | M.Sc. Thesis 2. | 4 |
M.Sc. Thesis 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Written and oral presentation of thesis proposal to the research Supervisory Committee. See course page for more information |
| BREE 693 | M.Sc. Thesis 3. | 4 |
|
| BREE 694 | M.Sc. Thesis 4. | 4 |
|
| BREE 695 | M.Sc. Thesis 5. | 4 |
|
| BREE 696 | M.Sc. Thesis 6. | 4 |
|
| BREE 697 | M.Sc. Thesis 7. | 4 |
|
| BREE 698 | M.Sc. Thesis 8. | 3 |
|
Complementary Courses (9 credits)
500-, 600-, or 700-level courses in bioresource engineering and other fields to be determined in consultation with the Research Director.
Application deadlines
| Applicant |
Fall |
Winter |
| Canadian/permanent resident |
March 15 |
September 1 |
| International |
January 15 |
July 15 |
Program Coordinator: Erin Minnett
Master of Science (M.Sc.) Bioresource Engineering (Non-Thesis): Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is a one-year program providing an essential approach for sustainable management of our natural watershed resources. The 13-credit internship is a central feature of this master’s program. The degree gives students the unique opportunity to study the biophysical, environmental, legal, institutional, and socio-economic aspects of water use and management, in an integrated context. The degree is directed at practicing professionals who wish to upgrade and/or focus their skill set to address water management issues.
As a graduate from this program, you will be well suited to opportunities in diverse fields of employment, such as water resources consulting, international development project management, research with governments or universities, public policy and governance development, and climate change impact assessment.
The typical duration of this program, if completed on a full-time basis, is 12 months:
- Program sequence, fall term admission: Fall/Winter/Summer (September to August of following year) with no scheduled breaks. Fall term is the recommended and traditional program starting time.
- Program sequence, winter term admission: Winter/Summer-Scheduled Break/Fall/Winter (January to April of the following year)
Bioresource Engineering (Non-Thesis): Integrated Water Resources Management (M.Sc.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Degree: Master of Science
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Bioresource Engineering; Non-Thesis - Integrated Water Resources Management program is a one-year professional course-based program, including an internship, which is a central feature of the program. The program provides an essential approach to the sustainable management of our natural watershed resources, and focuses on the biophysical, environmental, legal, institutional, and socio-economic aspects of water use and management, in an integrated context.
Research Project (6 credits)
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 631 | Integrated Water Resources Management Project. | 6 |
Integrated Water Resources Management Project. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 To broaden the scope of the IWRM internship experience (BREE 630) in the form of a research paper or 'plan of action' that expands on the water resources management problem(s) or issue(s) examined in the internship. This course is now to be offered both in the Winter semester (new) and the Summer semester (current). See course page for more information |
Required Courses (27 credits)
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 503 | Water: Society, Law and Policy. | 3 |
Water: Society, Law and Policy. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Water and society and the ramifications at the local, national and international scales with respect to legal and public policy issues related to, for example, drinking water quality, transboundary water management, public involvement, First Nations, agriculture, governance, and institutions relevant to the management of water resources. See course page for more information |
| BREE 510 | Watershed Systems Management. | 3 |
Watershed Systems Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A holistic examination of methods in watershed management with a focus on integrated water resources management (IWRM). Topics include: integration, participatory management, water resources assessment, modeling, planning, adaptive management, transboundary management, and transition management. See course page for more information |
| BREE 630 | Integrated Water Resources Management Internship. | 13 |
Integrated Water Resources Management Internship. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Placement in a government, or private sector agency for 13 weeks of full-time work on an integrated water resource management project (35 hours per week). Student shall be responsible for defining a mandate, then performing and reporting on the work/research performed. This course is now to be offered both in the Winter semester (new) and the Summer semester (current). See course page for more information |
| BREE 651 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 1. | 1 |
|
| BREE 652 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 2. | 1 |
|
| BREE 655 | Integrated Water Resources Management Research Visits. | 3 |
Integrated Water Resources Management Research Visits. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Class visits to various firms and agencies working in the realm of integrated water resources management. See course page for more information |
| PARA 515 | Water, Health and Sanitation. | 3 |
Water, Health and Sanitation. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The origin and types of water contaminants including live organisms, infectious agents and chemicals of agricultural and industrial origins. Conventional and new technological developments to eliminate water pollutants. Comparisons of water, health and sanitation between industrialized and developing countries. See course page for more information |
Elective Courses (12 credits)
12 credits, at the 500 level or higher, of any relevant course(s) chosen in consultation with the Program Director.
Application deadlines
| Applicant |
Fall |
Winter |
| Canadian/permanent resident |
March 15 |
September 1 |
| International |
January 15 |
July 15 |
Program Director: Prof. Jan Adamowski
Program Coordinator: Maude Bélanger
Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Bioresource Engineering (Non-Thesis): Integrated Food and Bioprocessing (IFB)
This graduate program will provide students with the tools to understand how food and agricultural production interact to better manage agricultural, food, and biomass systems for the adequate supply of wholesome food, feed, fiber, biofuel, and any other bio-based material. This course-based program will present students with the skills needed to assess existing production, delivery, and quality management systems; introduce improvements; and communicate effectively with policy makers and with colleagues in multi-disciplinary teams.
The goals of this program are to provide up-to-date world class knowledge on techniques for adequate process design and management of biomass production strategies for the delivery of quality food, natural fiber, biochemicals, biomaterials, and biofuels, in a sustainable and environment-friendly way that benefits all. Training activities will include laboratory research and/or industrial/government internships.
The typical duration of this program, if completed on a full-time basis, is 12 to 16 months. Fall term admissions only. The research project/internship is carried out over 12 weeks, typically in the summer term, and goes toward the fulfillment of two 6-credit courses for a total of 12 credits, constituting full-time enrolment in that term. Students may receive remuneration for research project/internship work but this is not guaranteed.
Candidates for the M.Sc. Applied, Integrated Food and Bioprocessing program shall have graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering or a Bachelor of Technology, with a strong knowledge in the following core engineering areas: fluid mechanics, heat and/or mass transfer, thermodynamics, and engineering mathematics (including statistics).
Bioresource Engineering (Non-Thesis): Integrated Food and Bioprocessing (M.Sc.A.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Degree: Master of Science Applied
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The Master of Science(Applied) [M.Sc.(A.)] in Bioresource Engineering; Non-Thesis - Integrated Food and Bioprocessing program provides the tools to understand how food and agricultural production interact to better manage agricultural, food, and biomass systems for the adequate supply of wholesome food, feed, fiber, biofuel, and any other bio-based material. The program focuses on the skills needed to assess existing production, delivery, and quality management systems; introduce improvements; and communicate effectively with policymakers and colleagues in multi-disciplinary teams. The program provides up-to-date, world-class knowledge on techniques for adequate process design and management of biomass production strategies for the delivery of quality food, natural fiber, biochemicals, biomaterials, and biofuels, in a sustainable and environment-friendly way that benefits all. Training activities will include laboratory research and/or industrial/government internships.
Required Courses (6 credits)
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 600 | Project/Internship Proposal. | 1 |
Project/Internship Proposal. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Preparation of research proposals for BREE 671 and BREE 672 research projects and/or preparation of the internship programs with government, non-governmental organizations or private sector, for BREE 601 and BREE 602. See course page for more information |
| BREE 651 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 1. | 1 |
|
| BREE 652 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 2. | 1 |
|
| BREE 699 | Scientific Publication. | 3 |
Scientific Publication. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Review and critique papers that are published in field of the candidate. Prepare draft paper(s) following the format of leading journals in field of study undertaken. See course page for more information |
Complementary Courses (39 credits)
9 credits of any relevant graduate-level course chosen in consultation with the Program Director.
Minimum of 3 credits of graduate-level Statistics in any department
Minimum of 9 credits from courses selected from the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 518 | Ecological Engineering. | 3 |
Ecological Engineering. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Concepts and practice of ecological engineering: the planned creation or management of a community of organisms, their nonliving surroundings, and technological components to provide services. Survey of applications such as constructed wetlands, aquatic production systems, green infrastructure for urban storm water management, environmental restoration. Taught cooperatively with a parallel course at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Online collaboration with an interdisciplinary, international team is an important component of the course. See course page for more information |
| BREE 519 | Advanced Food Engineering. | 3 |
Advanced Food Engineering. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Advanced topics in food engineering. Concepts of mathematical modelling and research methodologies in food engineering. Topics include heat and mass transfer in food systems, packaging and distribution of food products, thermal and non-thermal processing, rheology and kinetics of food transformations. See course page for more information |
| BREE 520 | Food, Fibre and Fuel Elements. | 3 |
Food, Fibre and Fuel Elements. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Analysis and design incorporating the four elements required by organisms and biomass for food, fibre and fuel production (air, earth, energy, and water). Special emphasis will be placed on the demands and requirements of engineering systems to control these elements and allow optimal growth in semi-controlled and completely controlled environments. See course page for more information |
| BREE 530 | Fermentation Engineering. | 3 |
Fermentation Engineering. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Advanced topics in food and fermentation engineering are covered, including brewing, bioreactor design and control and microbial kinetics. See course page for more information |
| BREE 531 | Post-Harvest Drying. | 3 |
Post-Harvest Drying. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Heat and moisture transfer with respect to drying of agricultural commodities; techniques of enhancement of heat and mass transfer; drying efficiency and scale-up problems. See course page for more information |
| BREE 532 | Post-Harvest Storage. | 3 |
Post-Harvest Storage. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Active, semi-passive and passive storage systems; environmental control systems; post-harvest physiology and pathogenicity; quality assessment and control methodology; economic aspects of long-term storage. See course page for more information |
| BREE 535 | Food Safety Engineering. | 3 |
Food Safety Engineering. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The application of engineering principles to address microbial and chemical safety challenges in food processing, including intervention technologies (traditional and novel non-thermal intervention technologies, chemical interventions, and hurdle approach); control, monitoring and identification techniques (biosensors); packaging applications in food safety (active packaging, intelligent or smart packaging); and tracking and traceability systems. See course page for more information |
| BREE 603 | Advanced Properties: Food and Plant Materials. | 3 |
Advanced Properties: Food and Plant Materials. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Advanced topics related the physico-chemical characteristics/properties of biological products: including mechanical, thermal, electromagnetic and functional properties. Emphasis will be on food constituents (nutraceuticals), plants of pharmaco-interest (phytochemicals), new sources of natural fibers and biofuel biomass. See course page for more information |
Minimum of 12 credits selected from the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 601 | Integrated Food and Bioprocessing Internship 1. | 6 |
Integrated Food and Bioprocessing Internship 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Placement in a government, non-governmental organization or private sector agency for 6 weeks of full- time work on a bioprocess and food security project (35 hr per week). Students will be responsible for defining a mandate, then performing and reporting on the work/research performed during the internship. See course page for more information |
| BREE 602 | Integrated Food and Bioprocessing Internship 2. | 6 |
Integrated Food and Bioprocessing Internship 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Placement in a government, non-governmental organization or private sector agency for 6 weeks of full- time work on a bioprocess and food security project (35 hr per week). Students will be responsible for defining a mandate, then performing and reporting on the work/research performed during the internship. See course page for more information |
| BREE 671 | Project 1. | 6 |
|
| BREE 672 | Project 2. | 6 |
|
Minimum of 3 credits selected from the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| AGRI 510 | Professional Practice. | 3 |
Professional Practice. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The ethical issues that face a professional in the workplace; professional ethics and deontology, professional responsibilities as related to the laws of labour, health, safety and risks to the environment, risk management and communication. See course page for more information |
Minimum of 3 credits selected from the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BTEC 502 | Biotechnology Ethics and Society. | 3 |
Biotechnology Ethics and Society. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Examination of particular social and ethical challenges posed by modern biotechnology such as benefit sharing, informed consent in the research setting, access to medical care worldwide, environmental safety and biodiversity and the ethical challenges posed by patenting life. See course page for more information |
| FDSC 519 | Advanced Food Processing. | 3 |
Advanced Food Processing. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Advanced technologies associated with food processing studied in more detail. Topics include food irradiation, reverse osmosis, super critical fluid extraction and extrusion. See course page for more information |
| FDSC 538 | Food Science in Perspective. | 3 |
Food Science in Perspective. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Food industry, food properties, nutritive aspects, quality factors, and key preservation processes, with self-study linking these elements directly to specific commodities and product groups, their characteristics, chemistry and distinct manufacturing processes. See course page for more information |
| GEOG 515 | Contemporary Dilemmas of Development. | 3 |
Contemporary Dilemmas of Development. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Analysis of acute geographic dilemmas of international development. Emphasis on 1) rural systems and the problems of agrobiodiversity, land tenure, conflict, food relief, refugees and migration, the peace process, geopolitics and diplomacy; 2) role of development programs and agendas of the international community, the workings of development On the Ground (TM). See course page for more information |
| NUTR 501 | Nutrition in the Majority World. | 3 |
Nutrition in the Majority World. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Current nutrition-related issues in the Majority World, emphasizing young children and other vulnerable groups. The integration of a life science and social science perspective. The multiple causes, consequences, policies, and interventions related to current nutrition. See course page for more information |
Application deadlines
| Applicant |
Fall |
Winter |
| Canadian/permanent resident |
March 15 |
September 1 |
| International |
January 15 |
July 15 |
Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Bioresource Engineering (Non-Thesis): Environmental Engineering
The M.Sc. Applied, Environmental Engineering option emphasizes interdisciplinary fundamental knowledge, practical applications in diverse environmental contexts, and the functional skills needed for solving environmental problems. This option is for individuals with a university undergraduate degree in engineering who wish to train at an advanced level.
The interdisciplinary character of the option provides a unique opportunity for students. A wide range of technical and non-technical courses are offered by collaborating departments and faculties at McGill. Through these courses, students will master specialized skills in their home disciplines and acquire a broader perspective and awareness of environmental issues.
The typical duration of this program, if completed on a full-time basis, is 16 to 20 months (summer term optional). Fall term admissions only. The research project/internship for this program can be carried out over 6 or 12 weeks. For a 12-week research project or internship, the student must register for both BREE 671 (6 cr.) and BREE 672 (6 cr.) for a total of 12 credits, constituting full-time enrolment in that term. Students may receive remuneration for research project/internship work but this is not guaranteed.
Bioresource Engineering (Non-Thesis): Environmental Engineering (M.Sc.A.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Degree: Master of Science Applied
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
This inter-departmental graduate program leads to a master's degree in Environmental Engineering. The objective of the program is to train environmental professionals at an advanced level. The program is designed for individuals with an undergraduate degree in engineering. This non-thesis degree falls within the M.Eng. and M.Sc. programs which are offered in the Departments of Bioresource, Chemical, Civil, and Mining, Metals, and Materials Engineering.
Research Project (6 credits)
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 671 | Project 1. 1 | 6 |
|
| BREE 672 | Project 2. | 6 |
|
- 1
BREE 671 Project 1. may also be taken as part of this requirement.
Required Courses (9 credits)
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 533 | Water Quality Management. | 3 |
Water Quality Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The water phases of terrestrial ecological systems and the processes that link them. Physical, chemical, and biological properties of water, and water quality standards. The fate and transport of pollutants in rivers and streams, lakes, and wetlands. Methods to quantify soil carbon and nitrogen cycle to predict nutrient leaching. Impacts of human activities (e.g., agricultural drainage) on water quality and measures to improve drainage water quality. Assess the effectiveness of proposed engineering measures or management practices in improving or maintaining water quality of a real site/water body using numerical methods or a computer modelling approach.
See course page for more information |
| CHEE 591 | Environmental Bioremediation. | 3 |
Environmental Bioremediation. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The presence and role of microorganisms in the environment, the role of microbes in environmental remediation either through natural or human-mediated processes, the application of microbes in pollution control and the monitoring of environmental pollutants. See course page for more information |
| CIVE 615 | Environmental Engineering Seminar. | 3 |
Environmental Engineering Seminar. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The course will expose the students to various environmental engineering issues. Lectures will be given by faculty and invited speakers from industry. Each student is required to prepare a written technical paper and make oral presentation. See course page for more information |
Complementary Courses (19 credits)
Data Analysis Course
3 credits from the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| AEMA 611 | Experimental Designs 1. | 3 |
Experimental Designs 1. Terms offered: Winter 2026 General principles of experimental design, split-plot designs, spatial heterogeneity and experimental design, incomplete block designs and unbalanced designs, analysis of repeated measures, multivariate and modified univariate analyses of variance, central composite designs. See course page for more information |
| CIVE 555 | Environmental Data Analysis. | 3 |
Environmental Data Analysis. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Application of statistical principles to design of measurement systems and sampling programs. Introduction to experimental design. Graphical data analysis. Description of uncertainty. Hypothesis tests. Model parameter estimation methods: linear and nonlinear regression methods. Trend analysis. Statistical analysis of censored data. Statistics of extremes. See course page for more information |
| PSYC 650 | Advanced Statistics 1. | 3 |
|
Toxicology Course
3 credits from the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| OCCH 612 | Principles of Toxicology. | 3 |
Principles of Toxicology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 General principles of toxicology, routes of toxicant entry, human organs as targets of toxic action, adverse effects, time-course of reactions to toxicants. Risk assessment techniques, in vivo-in vitro toxicity models, links between human population observations and animal, cellular and biochemical models. See course page for more information |
| OCCH 616 | Occupational Hygiene. | 3 |
Occupational Hygiene. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An introduction to the principles and practices of industrial hygiene designed to provide the students with the knowledge required to identify health and safety hazards in the workplace. See course page for more information |
Water Pollution Engineering Course
4 credits from the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| CIVE 651 | Theory: Water / Wastewater Treatment. | 4 |
Theory: Water / Wastewater Treatment. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Theoretical aspects of the chemistry of water and wastewater treatment. This will include acid-base and solubility equilibria; redox reactions; reaction kinetics; reactor design; surface and colloid chemistry; gas transfer; mass transfer; stabilization and softening; disinfection; corrosion. See course page for more information |
| CIVE 652 | Bioprocesses for Wastewater Resource Recovery. | 4 |
Bioprocesses for Wastewater Resource Recovery. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Technologies and design approaches for reclaiming water, nutrients, carbon and energy, while achieving protection of human and environmental health in the context of enhancing sustainability. Unit processes for both wastewater and solids-handling trains. Advanced mathematical modeling to describe suspended-growth
and attached-growth multispecies bioreactors for aerobic, anaerobic and
phototrophic processes. Microbial diversity in different reactor conditions, and specific population metabolisms explaining important stoichiometries and kinetics. Advanced molecular microbiology techniques to document microbial diversity and dynamics. Bioreactor designs in the context of stakeholder interactions and energy efficiency. See course page for more information |
| CIVE 660 | Chemical and Physical Treatment of Waters. | 4 |
Chemical and Physical Treatment of Waters. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Theory and design of specific processes used for the physical and/or chemical purification of waters and wastewaters, including mixing, flocculation, sedimentation, flotation, filtration, disinfection, adsorption, ion exchange, aeration, membrane processes, distillation, removal of specific inorganics and organics, taste and odour control, process control, sludge treatment. Laboratory exercises will complement theoretical aspects. See course page for more information |
Air Pollution Engineering Course
3 credits from the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| CHEE 592 | Industrial Air Pollution Control. | 3 |
Industrial Air Pollution Control. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Air pollution effects, control laws and regulations, measurements; emission estimates, meteorology for air pollution control engineers, dispersion models, nature of particulate pollutants, control of primary particulates, control of volatile organic compounds, sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides; air pollutants and global climate. See course page for more information |
| MECH 534 | Air Pollution Engineering. | 3 |
Air Pollution Engineering. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Pollutants from power production and their effects on the environment. Mechanisms of pollutant formation in combustion. Photochemical pollutants and smog, atmospheric dispersion. Pollutant generation from internal combustion engines and stationary power plants. Methods of pollution control (exhaust gas treatment, absorption, filtration, scrubbers, etc.). See course page for more information |
or an approved 500-, 600-, or 700-level alternative course.
Environmental Impact Course
3 credits from the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| GEOG 601 | Advanced Environmental Systems Modelling. | 3 |
Advanced Environmental Systems Modelling. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Simulation of environmental systems, focusing on problem definition, model development and model validation. See course page for more information |
or an approved 500-, 600-, or 700-level alternative course.
Environmental Policy Course
3 credits from the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| URBP 506 | Environmental Policy and Planning. | 3 |
Environmental Policy and Planning. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Analytical and institutional approaches for understanding and addressing environmental issues at various scales; characteristics of environmental issues, science-policy-politics interactions relating to the environment, and implications for policy; sustainability, and the need for and challenges associated with interdisciplinary perspectives; externalities and their regulation; public goods; risk perception and implications; the political-institutional context and policy instruments; cost-benefit analysis; multiple-criteria decision-making approaches; multidimensional life-cycle analysis; policy implementation issues; conflict resolution; case studies. See course page for more information |
or an approved 500-, 600-, or 700-level alternative course.
Further complementary courses (balance of coursework to meet the 45-credit program requirement):
Remaining Engineering or Non-Engineering courses from an approved list of courses, at the 500, 600, or 700 level, from the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Religious Studies, Desautels Faculty of Management, and Departments of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Economics, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Geography, Occupational Health, Political Science, Sociology, and the Bieler School of Environment.
Application deadlines
| Applicant |
Fall |
Winter |
| Canadian/permanent resident |
March 15 |
September 1 |
| International |
January 15 |
July 15 |
Program Directors:jonathan.maisonneuve [at] mcgill.ca ( Prof. Jonathan Maisonneuve)
Program Coordinator: Maude Bélanger
Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Bioresource Engineering (Non-Thesis)
The non-thesis option is aimed at individuals already employed in industry or seeking to improve their skills in specific areas (soil and water, structures and environment, waste management, environment protection, post-harvest technology, food process engineering, environmental engineering) in order to attain a higher level of engineering qualification. Candidates must be qualified to be members of a Canadian professional engineering association such as the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) and must maintain contact with their academic adviser in the Department of Bioresource Engineering before registration to clarify objectives, investigate project possibilities, and plan a program of study.
Bioresource Engineering (Non-Thesis) (M.Sc.A.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Degree: Master of Science Applied
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The non-thesis option is aimed toward individuals already employed in industry or seeking to improve their skills in specific areas (soil and water/structures and environment/waste management/environment protection/post-harvest technology/food process engineering/environmental engineering) in order to enter the engineering profession at a higher level.
Candidates must meet the qualifications of a professional engineer either before or during their M.Sc. Applied program.
Each candidate for this option is expected to establish and maintain contact with his/her academic adviser in the Department of Bioresource Engineering some time before registration in order to clarify objectives, investigate project possibilities and plan a program of study.
Research Project (12 credits)
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 671 | Project 1. | 6 |
|
| BREE 672 | Project 2. | 6 |
|
Required Courses (2 credits)
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 651 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 1. | 1 |
|
| BREE 652 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 2. | 1 |
|
Complementary Courses (31 credits)
31 credits of 500-, 600-, or 700-level courses in bioresource engineering and other fields1 to be determined in consultation with the Project Director.
- 1
Note: 12 of the 31 credits are expected to be from collaborative departments, e.g., food process engineering: 12 credits divided between Food Science and Chemical Engineering.
Application deadlines
| Applicant |
Fall |
Winter |
| Canadian/permanent resident |
March 15 |
September 1 |
| International |
January 15 |
July 15 |
Program Director: Prof. Viacheslav Adamchuk
Program Coordinator: Maude Bélanger
Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Bioresource Engineering (Non-Thesis): Environment
The M.Sc. in Bioresource Engineering; (Thesis) Environment is a research program offered in collaboration with the Bieler School of Environment. As a complement to the unit’s expertise, the program considers how various dimensions (scientific, social, legal, ethical.) interact to define environment and sustainability issues.
Bioresource Engineering (Non-Thesis): Environment (M.Sc.A.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Degree: Master of Science Applied
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
**This program is currently not offered.**
The M.Sc.(Applied) in Bioresource Engineering; Non-Thesis - Environment is a program offered in collaboration with the Bieler School of Environment. As a complement to the unit's expertise, the program considers how various dimensions (scientific, social, legal, ethical) interact to define environment and sustainability issues.
Candidates must meet the qualifications of a professional engineer either before or during their M.Sc.(Applied) program.
Research Project (12 credits)
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 671 | Project 1. | 6 |
|
| BREE 672 | Project 2. | 6 |
|
Required Courses (5 credits)
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 651 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 1. | 1 |
|
| BREE 652 | Departmental Seminar M.Sc. 2. | 1 |
|
| ENVR 615 | Interdisciplinary Approach Environment and Sustainability. | 3 |
Interdisciplinary Approach Environment and Sustainability. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Through a series of modules on current environmental and sustainability issues, this course emphasizes the value and challenges of an interdisciplinary approach by examining how different fields can work together to address these issues.
See course page for more information |
Complementary Courses (28 credits)
3-6 credits from:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| ENVR 610 | Foundations of Environmental Policy. | 3 |
Foundations of Environmental Policy. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Analysis of current environmental policies to reveal implicit and explicit assumptions regarding scientific methods, hypothesis testing, subject/object, causality, certainty, deities, health, development, North-South concerns for resources, commons, national sovereignty, equity. Discussion of implications of such assumptions for building future environmental policies. See course page for more information |
| ENVR 614 | Mobilizing Research for Sustainability. | 3 |
Mobilizing Research for Sustainability. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Through workshops and practice, students will develop communication strategies and acquire collaboration and leadership skills to foster innovation and help translate knowledge into action to address complex environmental and sustainability issues. Students will learn methods, build skills, and develop mindsets that can enable their research to have an impact on the most pressing issues in sustainability. See course page for more information |
0-3 credits from:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| ENVR 585 | Readings in Environment 2. | 3 |
Readings in Environment 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Interdisciplinary literature project/essays related to environment, enabling advanced-level study under guidance of Environment faculty in areas outside the scope of individual departments. See course page for more information |
| ENVR 630 | Civilization and Environment. | 3 |
Civilization and Environment. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Considers ways to reduce the human impact on Earth's life support systems through variables such as population size, wealth, technology, and conduct. Critically describes ethical frameworks for judging personal and policy choices, including post-collapse scenarios. See course page for more information |
| ENVR 680 | Topics in Environment 4. | 3 |
Topics in Environment 4. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminars and discussion of advanced, interdisciplinary aspects of current problems in environment led by staff and/or special guests. See course page for more information |
or 3 credits at the 500 level or higher recommended by the Advisory Committee and approved by the Environment Options Committee.
22 additional credits of 500-level or higher chosen in consultation with the academic adviser.
Application deadlines
This program is not currently being offered.
Program Directors: viacheslav.adamchuk [at] mcgill.ca (Prof Viacheslav Adamchuk)
Program Coordinator: Maude Bélanger
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Bioresource Engineering
This is a research-based degree and is offered in the following areas: plant and animal environments; ecological engineering (ecosystem modelling, design, management and remediation); water resources management (hydrology, irrigation, drainage, water quality); agricultural machinery, mechatronics and robotics; food engineering and bio-processing; post-harvest technology; waste management and protection of the environment; bio-energy; and artificial intelligence.
Bioresource Engineering (Ph.D.)
Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Program Description
Candidates for the Ph.D. degree will normally register for the M.Sc. degree first. In cases where the research work is proceeding very satisfactorily, or where the equivalent of the M.Sc. degree has been completed previously, candidates may be permitted to proceed directly to the Ph.D. degree.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 701 | Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination. | 0 |
Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program. See course page for more information |
| BREE 751 | Departmental Seminar Ph.D. 1. | 0 |
|
| BREE 752 | Departmental Seminar Ph.D. 2. | 0 |
|
| BREE 753 | Departmental Seminar Ph.D. 3. | 0 |
|
| BREE 754 | Departmental Seminar Ph.D. 4. | 0 |
|
Complementary Courses
Courses of study selected for a Ph.D. program will depend on the existing academic qualifications of the candidate, and on those needed for effective pursuit of research in the chosen field. Candidates are encouraged to take an additional course of study of their own choice in some field of the humanities, sciences, or engineering not directly related to their research. The program will be established by consultation of the candidate with a committee that will include the Research Director and at least one other professor.
Application deadlines
| Applicant |
Fall |
Winter |
| Canadian/permanent resident |
March 15 |
September 1 |
| International |
January 15 |
July 15 |
Program Coordinator: Erin Minnett
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Bioresource Engineering: Environment
The Ph.D. Bioresource Engineering: Environment – MSE Option is coordinated through the Bieler School of Environment. This option is intended for students who want to take an interdisciplinary approach in their graduate research on environmental issues. Students will learn how to transfer knowledge into action and develop an appreciation for the roles of science, politics, economics, and ethics with regard to the environment.
Bioresource Engineering: Environment (Ph.D.)
Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Program Description
**This program is currently not offered.**
The Ph.D. in Bioresource Engineering Environment is a research program offered in collaboration with the Bieler School of Environment. As a complement to the unit's expertise, the program considers how various dimensions (scientific, social, legal, ethical) interact to define environment and sustainability issues.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses (3 credits)
Note: BREE 701 Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination., the comprehensive component, must be taken either late in the first, or early in the second, registration year to qualify to proceed to the completion of the Ph.D. degree.
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| BREE 701 | Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination. | 0 |
Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program. See course page for more information |
| BREE 751 | Departmental Seminar Ph.D. 1. | 0 |
|
| BREE 752 | Departmental Seminar Ph.D. 2. | 0 |
|
| BREE 753 | Departmental Seminar Ph.D. 3. | 0 |
|
| BREE 754 | Departmental Seminar Ph.D. 4. | 0 |
|
| ENVR 615 | Interdisciplinary Approach Environment and Sustainability. | 3 |
Interdisciplinary Approach Environment and Sustainability. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Through a series of modules on current environmental and sustainability issues, this course emphasizes the value and challenges of an interdisciplinary approach by examining how different fields can work together to address these issues.
See course page for more information |
Complementary Courses (6 credits)
3-6 credits from:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| ENVR 610 | Foundations of Environmental Policy. | 3 |
Foundations of Environmental Policy. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Analysis of current environmental policies to reveal implicit and explicit assumptions regarding scientific methods, hypothesis testing, subject/object, causality, certainty, deities, health, development, North-South concerns for resources, commons, national sovereignty, equity. Discussion of implications of such assumptions for building future environmental policies. See course page for more information |
| ENVR 614 | Mobilizing Research for Sustainability. | 3 |
Mobilizing Research for Sustainability. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Through workshops and practice, students will develop communication strategies and acquire collaboration and leadership skills to foster innovation and help translate knowledge into action to address complex environmental and sustainability issues. Students will learn methods, build skills, and develop mindsets that can enable their research to have an impact on the most pressing issues in sustainability. See course page for more information |
0-3 credits from:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| ENVR 585 | Readings in Environment 2. | 3 |
Readings in Environment 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Interdisciplinary literature project/essays related to environment, enabling advanced-level study under guidance of Environment faculty in areas outside the scope of individual departments. See course page for more information |
| ENVR 630 | Civilization and Environment. | 3 |
Civilization and Environment. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Considers ways to reduce the human impact on Earth's life support systems through variables such as population size, wealth, technology, and conduct. Critically describes ethical frameworks for judging personal and policy choices, including post-collapse scenarios. See course page for more information |
| ENVR 680 | Topics in Environment 4. | 3 |
Topics in Environment 4. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminars and discussion of advanced, interdisciplinary aspects of current problems in environment led by staff and/or special guests. See course page for more information |
or 3 credits at the 500 level or higher recommended by the Advisory Committee and approved by the Environment Option Committee.
Application deadlines
This program is not currently being offered.
Program Coordinator: Erin Minnett
