Geography (GEOG)

Geography (GEOG)

Location

Location

  • Burnside Hall, Room 305
  • 805 Sherbrooke Street West
  • Montreal QC H3A 0B9
  • Telephone: 514-398-4951
  • Email: undergrad.geog [at] mcgill.ca
  • Website: mcgill.ca/geography

About Geography

About Geography

The Department of Geography offers programs in both Arts and Science.

For B.A. programs in geography, including Urban Studies, refer to Faculty of Arts > Undergraduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Geography.

For B.A. & Sc. programs in geography, refer to Bachelor of Arts & Science > Undergraduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Geography(GEOG).

Geography also administers the B. A. & Sc. interfaculty programs in Sustainability, Science and Society in partnership with the Bieler School of Environment. These programs are described in Bachelor of Arts & Science > Undergraduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Sustainability, Science and Society.

Geography is a broad, holistic discipline; both a natural and a social science because it examines people and their environment and serves as a bridge between physical and cultural processes.

Human geography is concerned with the political, economic, social, and cultural processes and resource practices that create spatial patterns and define particular places.

Physical geography integrates disciplines such as climatology, geomorphology, geology, biology, hydrology, ecology, soil science, and even marine science.

Whether considering greenhouse gas emissions, the spread of disease, or threats to biodiversity, geographers are interested in where things happen, why, and with what consequences. Our graduates go on to careers in environmental consulting, social agencies, or non-governmental organizations. Skills in Geographic Information Science (GIS) are very marketable. Students are well prepared for graduate work in social sciences, urban planning, and environmental studies at leading schools.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

There are no departmental prerequisites for entrance to the B.Sc. Geography programs. Students who have completed college or pre-university geography courses fully equivalent to those in the first year of university may, with the adviser's approval, substitute other courses as part of their program.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2023-2024 (last updated Aug. 30, 2023) (disclaimer)

Geography Faculty

Geography Faculty

Chair
N.T. Roulet
Graduate Program Director
B. Lehner
Emeritus Professors
T.R. Moore; S. Olson; W.H. Pollard; G.W. Wenzel
Professors
G.L. Chmura; O.T. Coomes; N.T. Roulet; S. Turner; J. Unruh
Associate Professors
G. Ali; S. Breau; B. Forest; M. Kalacska; B. Lehner; G. MacDonald; K. Manaugh; T.C. Meredith; S. Moser; Y. le Polain de Waroux; G. McKenzie; M. Riva; B. Robinson; R. Sengupta; R. Sieber
Assistant Professors
M. Bendixen; S. Knox; M. Mahmud; ; D. Scott; C. von Sperber
Adjunct Professor
G. Leblanc
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2023-2024 (last updated Aug. 30, 2023) (disclaimer)

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Minor Geography (18 credits)

The Minor Geography is expandable into the B.Sc. Major Geography. The Minor Geography is designed to provide students in the Faculty of Science with an overview of basic elements of geography at the introductory and advanced level. This Minor permits no overlap with any other programs.

For more information, see Minor Geography (18 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Minor GIS & Remote Sensing (18 credits)

The Minor GIS & Remote Sensing program provides B.Sc. students with the fundamentals of geospatial tools and technologies.

For more information, see Minor GIS & Remote Sensing (18 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Liberal Program - Core Science Component Geography (49 credits)

This is the Core Science Component in Geography for the B.Sc. Liberal. Required courses provide a foundation in Geography (which takes a holistic approach to environmental sciences, distinguished by its incorporation of human and climatic elements). By completing these courses, students will be armed with the prerequisites for 300-level courses in Geography. Our...

For more information, see Liberal Program - Core Science Component Geography (49 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Major Geography (58 credits)

The BSc Major in Geography provides students with strong training in the theory and tools of physical geography. Students will explore the science of how physical, chemical, and biological processes interact at various spatial and temporal scales to produce distinct environments over the planet, and study different suites of ecosystem services while investigating...

For more information, see Major Geography (58 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Geography (66 credits)

The Honours program provides specialize systematic training in physical geography. In addition to the Faculty of Science 3.00 CGPA requirement, students in a Geography Honours program must maintain a program GPA of 3.30 and complete a 6-credit Honours thesis.

For more information, see Honours Geography (66 credits).

Geography (GEOG) Related Programs and Study Semesters

Geography (GEOG) Related Programs and Study Semesters

The following programs, as well as several other opportunities for field study, are offered by the Faculty of Science. For further information, refer to mcgill.ca/mcgillabroad/students-going-abroad/plan-and-prepare/field-study-semester or the Science Internship & Field Studies Office.

Africa Field Study Semester

Africa Field Study Semester

The Africa program introduces students to East Africa specifically with a view to increasing their understanding of the goals, circumstances, challenges, and opportunities of people living in the areas visited. For more information, see mcgill.ca/africa.

Barbados Field Study Semester

Barbados Field Study Semester

The Barbados program is offered on McGill's Caribbean campus at the Bellairs Research Institute. Students participating in the BFSS learn about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, with a focus on the sustainable development of Barbados and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). For more information, see mcgill.ca/bfss.

Panama Field Study Semester

Panama Field Study Semester

The Panama program is a joint venture between McGill University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and addresses Latin America's social and tropical environmental issues. For more information, see mcgill.ca/pfss.

Arctic Field Study Semester

Arctic Field Study Semester

The primary mission of the McGill Arctic Field Studies is to train a future generation of northern specialists and leaders who are able to understand and address the rapidly changing polar environment in a scientifically and culturally responsible manner. For more information, see mcgill.ca/arctic.

Earth System Science Interdepartmental Major

Earth System Science Interdepartmental Major

This program is offered by the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Earth and Planetary Sciences; and Geography.

Students in the Department of Geography interested in this program should contact:

  • William (Bill) Minarik
  • Telephone: 514-398-2596
  • Email: william.minarik [at] mcgill.ca

For more information, see Earth System Science (ESYS).

Sustainability, Science and Society – Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A. & Sc.)

Sustainability, Science and Society – Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A. & Sc.)

The Interfaculty Program in Sustainability, Science and Society as well as the Honours in Sustainability, Science and Society is open only to students in the B.A. & Sc. degree.

Students in the Department of Geography interested in this program should contact:

  • Michelle Maillet
  • Email: advisor.geog [at] mcgill.ca

For more information about these programs, see Bachelor of Arts & Science > Undergraduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Sustainability, Science, and Society.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2023-2024 (last updated Aug. 8, 2023) (disclaimer)
Faculty of Science—2023-2024 (last updated Aug. 30, 2023) (disclaimer)
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