All students are required to register for the English Exam for Teacher Certification (EDEC 215) in the Fall term of their first year (U1 year) in the program. Please refer to the English Language Requirement section of the Internships & Student Affairs website for details.
Registration plans are provided because of the tight nature of the program - to ensure timely completion of your program, you are advised to follow the sequence of courses as outlined above.
The Four Year Overview is for most students, and it allocates space for completing all of the requirements in your B.Ed. Secondary Social Sciences degree. Please note, students needing to complete a Foundation year will be starting in Year 0, thus, will be following a five year study plan. Please see below for further details.
The Two Year Overview is designed for students who have significant advanced standing,(typically students with transfer credits from other universities) and does not include room in your schedule for completing the subject area and elective course portions of the Secondary Social Sciences degree.
A complete list of courses, course descriptions and prerequisites can be found below.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed (Faculty of Education)
Degree: Bachelor of Education
Program credit weight: 120 credits
Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) - Secondary Social Sciences - History and Citizenship, Geography program requires 120 credits and leads to teacher certification. Students who have not completed Quebec CEGEP, French Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, or at least one year of university studies prior to commencing the B.Ed. must also complete a minimum of 30 credits of Freshman courses (in addition to the 120 credits for the program) for a total of 150 credits.
The aim of the B.Ed. Secondary Education Program is to prepare strong beginning teachers for the secondary school level. This integrated program consists of courses in Education (including field experiences) and courses in the subject area of the teaching specialization. Students also take 6 credits of free electives. For all teacher education programs, course sequencing is highly structured. For this reason, the advising information in this Course Catalogue section must be used in conjunction with the summary companion document (Program Overview) found at http://www.mcgill.ca/dise/progs/secsocsci.
The Secondary Social Sciences - History and Citizenship, Geography program provides students with the learning opportunities needed to become proficient Social Science teachers with a strong knowledge base in History and Geography.
Please note that graduates of teacher education programs are recommended by the University for Quebec certification to the Ministry (Education). For more information about teacher certification in Quebec, please refer to the Faculty of Education section under "Overview of Faculty Programs," "Undergraduate Education Programs," and "Quebec Teacher Certification."
Students normally complete 30 credits in their Freshman (U0) year.
The Freshman year is the time to take introductory-level courses in a teachable subject area, as well as to explore areas that are not normally taken within B.Ed. programs (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, etc.). Students should also investigate the possibility of taking one of the First Year Seminar courses offered by the Faculty of Arts or the Faculty of Science.
In addition, in consultation with the Program Adviser, students may select courses from the recommended course list below or other courses. The list includes History, Geography, and Religious Studies courses that may be used toward the academic component of the Secondary Social Sciences course requirements. Also included are several French Second Language (FRSL) courses for which placement tests are required to determine the appropriate level.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDEM 220 | Contemporary Issues in Education. | 3 |
Contemporary Issues in Education. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An introduction to contemporary issues in education in local, national and international contexts, including a critical perspective on educational issues by drawing on a variety of analytical frameworks. | ||
| FRSL 101 | Beginners French 1. | 3 |
Beginners French 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A comprehensive introduction to basic vocabulary, grammatical structures and speech patterns of written and oral French for students in any degree program having no previous knowledge of French. Learning to communicate at a functional level in a French-speaking environment. Short essays, cultural readings, mandatory lab practice. | ||
| FRSL 102 | Beginners French 2. | 3 |
Beginners French 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A comprehensive introduction to basic vocabulary, grammatical structures and speech patterns of written and oral French for students in any degree program having no previous knowledge of French. Learning to communicate at a functional level in a French-speaking environment. Short essays, cultural readings, mandatory lab practice. | ||
| FRSL 207D1 | Elementary French 01. | 3 |
Elementary French 01. Terms offered: Fall 2025 This two-term course uses a task-based approach to provide students with authentic materials related to Canadian culture and prepares them for real life communication. Therefore, class time will be mostly dedicated to the completion of communicative tasks which often rely on the use of technology (mobile apps, blogs and other online tools). This course tackles different topics that students can relate to in their personal, social and academic life, and provides a review and further training in elementary language structures to develop their communication skills and digital literacy in French. | ||
| FRSL 207D2 | Elementary French 01. | 3 |
Elementary French 01. Terms offered: Winter 2026 See FRSL 207D1 for course description. | ||
| FRSL 211D1 | Oral and Written French 1. | 3 |
Oral and Written French 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Language lab attendance required. Grammar review, comprehension, vocabulary development, selected readings and group discussions. | ||
| FRSL 211D2 | Oral and Written French 1. | 3 |
Oral and Written French 1. Terms offered: Winter 2026 See FRSL 211D1 for course description. | ||
| GEOG 200 | Geographical Perspectives: World Environmental Problems. | 3 |
Geographical Perspectives: World Environmental Problems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to geography as the study of nature and human beings in a spatial context. An integrated approach to environmental systems and the human organization of them from the viewpoint of spatial relationships and processes. Special attention to environmental problems as a constraint upon Third World development. | ||
| GEOG 205 | Global Change: Past, Present and Future. | 3 |
Global Change: Past, Present and Future. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An examination of global change, from the Quaternary Period to the present day involving changes in the physical geography of specific areas. Issues such as climatic change and land degradation will be discussed, with speculations on future environments. | ||
| GEOG 210 | Global Places and Peoples. | 3 |
Global Places and Peoples. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to key themes in human geography. Maps and the making, interpretation and contestation of landscapes, 'place', and territory. Investigation of globalization and the spatial organization of human geo-politics, and urban and rural environments. | ||
| HIST 202 | Survey: Canada to 1867. | 3 |
Survey: Canada to 1867. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A survey of early Canada, from periods known mainly through archaeological records to the Confederation era. Social, cultural, economic and political themes will be examined. | ||
| HIST 203 | Survey: Canada since 1867. | 3 |
Survey: Canada since 1867. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A survey of the development of Canada from Confederation to the present day. Social, economic and political history will be examined in a general way. | ||
| HIST 214 | Early Modern Europe. | 3 |
Early Modern Europe. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Survey of European history from the Late Middle Ages to the eighteenth century. | ||
| HIST 215 | Modern Europe. | 3 |
Modern Europe. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Survey of European history from the eighteenth century to the present. | ||
| RELG 204 | Judaism, Christianity and Islam. | 3 |
Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to the beliefs, practices, and religious institutions of these three world religions. | ||
| RELG 207 | Introduction to the Study of Religions. | 3 |
Introduction to the Study of Religions. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course is an introduction to classic and contemporary approaches to the academic study of religions. This includes perspectives from philosophy, theology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, phenomenology, and feminism. Students are also exposed to applications of these perspectives from visiting scholars who treat some aspect of a religious tradition in light of current-day interests and events. The primary objective is to introduce students to the principal theories and methods that have shaped our understanding of religion, its various meanings as well as its roles and functions in society. | ||
| RELG 252 | Hinduism and Buddhism. | 3 |
Hinduism and Buddhism. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The interaction of Hinduism and Buddhism in India with special reference to the law of Karma, caste, women, ritual, death, yoga, and liberation. Determination of interpretative principles for understanding the religious psychology of Hindus and Buddhists. | ||
| WCOM 250 | Research Essay and Rhetoric. | 3 |
Research Essay and Rhetoric. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Academic research-based writing across the disciplines. Article summary, critical analysis, rhetorical strategies, citation and paraphrase of academic sources, and editing for cohesion and clarity. | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDEC 201 | First Year Professional Seminar. | 1 |
First Year Professional Seminar. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Orientation to the culture and community of school and to teaching as a profession. Focus on the general functioning of schools and complexity of the teacher role. Competencies and working professional portfolios will be addressed. | ||
| EDEC 215 | English Exam for Teacher Certification. | 0 |
English Exam for Teacher Certification. Terms offered: Summer 2025 The English Exam for Teacher Certification (EETC) is a Quebec Ministry of Education-required component of the B.Ed. degree. The exam is coordinated by an independent organization, the Centre for the English Exam for Teacher Certification (CEETC). Consists of a 2-hour exam designed to assess teacher candidates' competency in the language of instruction. Must be completed before the 3rd Field Experience. Students must register for EDEC 215 and register for the EETC on the CEETC website. Students who do not pass after four attempts require permission from the Internships Student Affairs Office to re-take the exam. | ||
| EDEC 233 | Indigenous Education. | 3 |
Indigenous Education. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 An exploration of Indigenous knowledge and pedagogy, primarily in Canada but also world-wide. Consideration of the diverse social, cultural, linguistic, political, and pedagogical histories of Indigenous communities. Examines how a teacher's professional identity and practice can be influenced by an understanding of Indigenous knowledge and worldviews. | ||
| EDEC 247 | Policy Issues in Quebec and Indigenous Education. | 3 |
Policy Issues in Quebec and Indigenous Education. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 The organization of Quebec education, including Indigenous education, from historical, political, social, cultural and legal perspectives. The implications and contributions of policy decisions to schools, students, and families. | ||
| EDEC 254 | Second Professional Seminar (Secondary). | 1 |
Second Professional Seminar (Secondary). Terms offered: Summer 2025 Preparation for the second field experience through development of basic practices in planning and teaching in secondary school classrooms. Competencies and professional portfolio will be addressed. | ||
| EDEC 260 | Philosophical Foundations. | 3 |
Philosophical Foundations. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Ideas essential for the development of a coherent educational theory and sound professional practice. Reflections on: the nature of the person, of reality, of knowledge, and of value; the aims of education, the nature of the school and the curriculum, the roles and responsibilities of professional educators. | ||
| EDEC 262 | Media, Technology and Education. | 3 |
Media, Technology and Education. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Orientation to the equipment and systems of educational technology. Examination of theories of educational technology, media education and technology education and the exploration and development of possible applications in school settings. | ||
| EDEC 351 | Third Professional Seminar (Secondary). | 2 |
Third Professional Seminar (Secondary). Terms offered: Fall 2025 Professional portfolios and competencies will be addressed. Preparation for the third field experience through engaging in the full spectrum of unit/lesson planning, critical analysis and self-reflection. Professional portfolios and competencies will be addressed. | ||
| EDEC 404 | Fourth Year Professional Seminar (Sec). | 3 |
Fourth Year Professional Seminar (Sec). Terms offered: Winter 2026 Preparation for the final field experience and entry into the teaching profession. Emphasis will be placed on developing the ability to demonstrate ethical and responsible professional behaviour in the performance of duties across all professional competencies. Final transition to showcase working professional portfolios will be addressed. | ||
| EDES 334 | Teaching Secondary Social Studies 1. | 3 |
Teaching Secondary Social Studies 1. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An examination of Quebec and other secondary school social studies curricula: Objectives; theoretical orientation; course structures; curriculum resources. Teaching and learning methodologies both common to the social studies and specific to the disciplines of history, geography, and economics. | ||
| EDES 350 | Classroom Practices. | 3 |
Classroom Practices. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Competency-based discipline skills and methods of classroom management, emphasizing the relationship between theory and practice; the rationale for various approaches to classroom management; strategies for developing instruction that focus attention and reduce off-task behaviour. | ||
| EDES 434 | Teaching Secondary Social Studies 2. | 3 |
Teaching Secondary Social Studies 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course will examine the nature, content, and methodology of social studies education in the secondary school. | ||
| EDFE 200 | First Field Experience (K/Elem and Secondary). | 2 |
First Field Experience (K/Elem and Secondary). Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Students are assigned to a school for a "participant observer" field experience. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships Student Affairs website at http://www.mcgill.ca/isa. | ||
| EDFE 254 | Second Field Experience (Secondary). | 3 |
Second Field Experience (Secondary). Terms offered: Summer 2025 Supervised student teaching. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships and Student Affairs website at www.mcgill.ca/isa. | ||
| EDFE 351 | Third Field Experience (Secondary). | 8 |
Third Field Experience (Secondary). Terms offered: Fall 2025 Supervised student teaching in a school. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience, dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships Student Affairs Office website http://www.mcgill.ca/isa. | ||
| EDFE 451 | Fourth Field Experience (Secondary). | 7 |
Fourth Field Experience (Secondary). Terms offered: Fall 2025 Supervised student teaching in a school. Students will be expected to assume a much increased responsibility for student learning, classroom management, and evaluation. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships and Student Affairs website at www.mcgill.ca/isa. | ||
| EDPE 300 | Educational Psychology. | 3 |
Educational Psychology. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Selected theories, models, and concepts relevant to planning and reflecting upon educational practice and improvement. Overview of development, learning, thinking, motivation, individual difference, etc. In relation to applications in classroom teaching and learning, the complementary role of counsellors and psychologists, educational computing and technology. The Youth Protection Act. | ||
| EDPE 304 | Measurement and Evaluation. | 3 |
Measurement and Evaluation. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 The purposes of examinations. Causes of complaints about examinations. Equalizing means and dispersions in distribution of marks. Standardized scores. The percentile system. Essay and objective-type examinations. Taxonomies of educational objectives. Validity and reliability: item analysis. | ||
| EDPI 309 | Diverse Learners. | 3 |
Diverse Learners. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Inclusion debates; review of the evolution of the history of inclusive education; models of development ( eco-systemic models); characteristics, teaching practices; teachers' roles in inclusive classrooms. Overview of characteristics, causes, needs, and teaching strategies for diverse and exceptional students, teaching and learning for differences in intellectual, emotional, behavioural, sensory, physical and learning domains found in effective inclusive classrooms. Working with families. | ||
| EDPI 341 | Instruction in Inclusive Schools. | 3 |
Instruction in Inclusive Schools. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Developing, planning, implementing and evaluating effective learning programs for diverse learners, and consideration of their more general applicability. Adapting curriculum and instruction for learners with varying abilities, learning styles, and needs. Collaboration with students, families, and other educators (or stakeholders) in the instructional process. Application of adaptations at the classroom and school level for all students in inclusive schools. | ||
3 credits selected as described below:
3 credits from:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDEC 248 | Equity and Education. | 3 |
Equity and Education. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Introduction to and exploration of contemporary issues and theories about equity in education and society in Quebec/Canada from a range of perspectives, including the historical, political, social, and economic. Provides learning opportunities for future educators to critically reflect upon and engage with equity issues and concerns in relation to schooling, including the exploration of classroom resources and activities that foster anti-racism, anti-oppression and intercultural approaches. | ||
| EDEC 249 | Global Education and Social Justice. | 3 |
Global Education and Social Justice. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A cross-curricular, interdisciplinary approach to teaching/creating learning experiences for students. It will foster critical thinking and nurture lifelong global understanding, active engagement and participation in relation to questions of social, economic, and environmental justice, by infusing these issues in the classroom. | ||
Secondary Social Sciences - History and Citizenship, Geography students complete 51 credits selected in consultation with the Program Adviser with the following specifications:
9 credits selected from:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 202 | Survey: Canada to 1867. | 3 |
Survey: Canada to 1867. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A survey of early Canada, from periods known mainly through archaeological records to the Confederation era. Social, cultural, economic and political themes will be examined. | ||
| HIST 203 | Survey: Canada since 1867. | 3 |
Survey: Canada since 1867. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A survey of the development of Canada from Confederation to the present day. Social, economic and political history will be examined in a general way. | ||
| HIST 303 | History of Quebec. | 3 |
History of Quebec. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Covering Quebec history from New France to contemporary times, this course will include themes like ethnic relations, citizenship, gender and material culture. It is of particular interest to students in Education who foresee teaching about Quebec. | ||
At least 9 of the 24 credits must be taken at the 300 or 400 level, distributed as follows:
3-9 credits in European History
3-9 credits in Asian, African, American, Latin American, or Ancient History
6 credits of history courses on social history, gender history, identity, culture, religion and values, political life and institutions, conflict, wealth and poverty, science, and health
(Students may consult the course lists for History programs offered by the Faculty of Arts for guidance on course choices.)
6-12 credits selected from the following list (students must select a minimum of 3 credits ECON and a minimum of 3 credits POLI):
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 338 | Indigenous Studies of Anthropology. | 3 |
Indigenous Studies of Anthropology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to Native American and Indigenous studies (NAIS) as a means of critically engaging with the discipline of anthropology. | ||
| CANS 200 | Understanding Canada. | 3 |
Understanding Canada. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Key cultural, economic, social and political institutions and their evolution over time. | ||
| ECON 205 | An Introduction to Political Economy. | 3 |
An Introduction to Political Economy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A critical study of the insights to be gained through economic analysis of a number of problems of broad interest. The focus will be on the application of economics to issues of public policy. | ||
| ECON 208 | Microeconomic Analysis and Applications. | 3 |
Microeconomic Analysis and Applications. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A university-level introduction to demand and supply, consumer behaviour, production theory, market structures and income distribution theory. | ||
| ECON 209 | Macroeconomic Analysis and Applications. | 3 |
Macroeconomic Analysis and Applications. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A university-level introduction to national income determination, money and banking, inflation, unemployment and economic policy. | ||
| ECON 219 | Current Economic Problems: Topics. | 3 |
Current Economic Problems: Topics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course will deal with topical issues of importance to the Canadian economy. | ||
| ECON 221 | Economic History. | 3 |
Economic History. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Survey of economic development. The evolution of economic institutions and the process of economic growth. Topics include demographic change, agrarian institutions, financial and industrial organization, technological change and the expansion of trade and markets. | ||
| ECON 313 | Economic Development 1. | 3 |
Economic Development 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Microeconomic theories of economic development and empirical evidence on population, labour, firms, poverty. Inequality and environment. | ||
| ECON 326 | Ecological Economics. | 3 |
Ecological Economics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Macroeconomic and structural aspects of the ecological crisis. A course in which subjects discussed include the conflict between economic growth and the laws of thermodynamics; the search for alternative economic indicators; the fossil fuels crisis; and "green'' fiscal policy. | ||
| ECON 347 | Economics of Climate Change. | 3 |
Economics of Climate Change. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The course focuses on the economic implications of, and problems posed by, predictions of global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. Attention is given to economic policies such as carbon taxes and tradeable emission permits and to the problems of displacing fossil fuels with new energy technologies. | ||
| ENVR 201 | Society, Environment and Sustainability. | 3 |
Society, Environment and Sustainability. Terms offered: Fall 2025 This course deals with how scientific-technological, socio-economic, political-institutional and behavioural factors mediate society-environment interactions. Issues discussed include population and resources; consumption, impacts and institutions; integrating environmental values in societal decision-making; and the challenges associated with, and strategies for, promoting sustainability. Case studies in various sectors and contexts are used. | ||
| ENVR 203 | Knowledge, Ethics and Environment. | 3 |
Knowledge, Ethics and Environment. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Introduction to cultural perspectives on the environment: the influence of culture and cognition on perceptions of the natural world; conflicts in orders of knowledge (models, taxonomies, paradigms, theories, cosmologies), ethics (moral values, frameworks, dilemmas), and law (formal and customary, rights and obligations) regarding political dimensions of critical environments, resource use, and technologies. | ||
| POLI 212 | Introduction to Comparative Politics – Europe/North America. | 3 |
Introduction to Comparative Politics – Europe/North America. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An introduction to fundamental comparative politics concepts and research that focuses on Europe and North America. Topics include: state and state institutions, parties and party systems, elections, protest and social movements, rule of law, corruption, regime transitions— democratization and autocratization. | ||
| POLI 221 | Government of Canada. | 3 |
Government of Canada. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 An examination of the central governmental institutions, including parliament, federalism, and the judiciary. | ||
| POLI 222 | Political Process and Behaviour in Canada. | 3 |
Political Process and Behaviour in Canada. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to contemporary political life in Canada that examines how demands are identified and transmitted through the political systems. Emphasis will be placed on: the Canadian political culture; socialization and political participation; the electoral system; elections and voting; the role and structure of political parties; and the influence of organized interest. | ||
| POLI 227 | Introduction to Comparative Politics - Global South. | 3 |
Introduction to Comparative Politics - Global South. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to politics across the Global South. A comparative examination of the legacies of colonialism, the achievement of independence, and political and socio-economic development in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Topics include modernization, dependency, state-building, political violence, revolution, the role of the military, authoritarianism, and democratization. | ||
| POLI 243 | International Politics of Economic Relations. | 3 |
International Politics of Economic Relations. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to international relations, through examples drawn from international political economy. The emphasis will be on the politics of trade and international monetary relations. | ||
| POLI 244 | International Politics: State Behaviour. | 3 |
International Politics: State Behaviour. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Offers a comprehensive introduction to the behaviour of nation states. Explores how states make foreign policy decisions and what motivates their behaviour. Other covered topics include the military and economic dimensions of state behaviour, conflict, cooperation, interdependence, integration, globalization, and change in the international system. | ||
| POLI 341 | Foreign Policy: The Middle East. | 3 |
Foreign Policy: The Middle East. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An examination of the changing regional security environment and the evolving foreign policies and relationships of Arab states in three areas - relations with non-Arab regional powers (Israel, Iran), inter-Arab relations, Great Power relations. The course will focus particularly on Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. | ||
| POLI 345 | International Organizations. | 3 |
International Organizations. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The politics and processes of global governance in the 21st century, with a special emphasis on the United Nations system. | ||
| POLI 354 | Approaches to International Political Economy. | 3 |
Approaches to International Political Economy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The course presents theoretical approaches to understanding change in the international political economy. | ||
| POLI 360 | Security: War and Peace. | 3 |
Security: War and Peace. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Focuses on international security and strategies of war and peace in historical and comparative frameworks. Topics include case studies of 20th century wars, conventional and nuclear strategy, and various approaches to peace. | ||
| POLI 362 | Political Theory and International Relations. | 3 |
Political Theory and International Relations. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Key contributions of political theory to the study and practice of international relations. Three prevailing theoretical traditions will be examined: realism, 'international society', and cosmopolitanism. Key practical issues to be explored from these perspectives include war, humanitarian intervention, economic globalization, environment, and gender. | ||
| POLI 423 | Politics of Ethno-Nationalism. | 3 |
Politics of Ethno-Nationalism. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Theories of ethno-nationalism examined in light of experience in Asia, Middle East and Africa. Topics include formation and mobilization of national, ethnic and religious identities in colonial and post-colonial societies; impact of ethno-nationalism on pluralism, democracy, class and gender relations; means to preserve tolerance in multicultural societies. | ||
| POLI 435 | Identity and Inequality. | 3 |
Identity and Inequality. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Inequality is often particularly durable between groups whose boundaries are based on assumed ancestry - e.g., the major ethnic categories in former European settler colonies, castes in South Asia. This course explores ongoing changes in the relationship between identity and social, economic and political inequality in some of these contexts. | ||
| POLI 442 | International Relations of Ethnic Conflict. | 3 |
International Relations of Ethnic Conflict. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Issues related to the internationalization of ethnic conflict, including diasporas, contagion and demonstration effects, intervention, irredentism, the use of sanctions and force. Combination of theory and the study of contemporary cases. | ||
| POLI 450 | Peacebuilding. | 3 |
Peacebuilding. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An examination of transitions from civil war to peace, and the role of external actors (international organizations, bilateral donors, non-governmental organizations) in support of such transitions. Topics will include the dilemmas of humanitarian relief, peacekeeping operations, refugees, the demobilization of ex-combatants, transitional elections, and the politics of socio-economic reconstruction. | ||
18 credits from:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVR 202 | The Evolving Earth. | 3 |
The Evolving Earth. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Formation of the Earth and the evolution of life. How geological and biological change are the consequence of history, chance, and necessity acting over different scales of space and time. General principles governing the formation of modern landscapes and biotas. Effects of human activities on natural systems. | ||
| GEOG 200 | Geographical Perspectives: World Environmental Problems. | 3 |
Geographical Perspectives: World Environmental Problems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to geography as the study of nature and human beings in a spatial context. An integrated approach to environmental systems and the human organization of them from the viewpoint of spatial relationships and processes. Special attention to environmental problems as a constraint upon Third World development. | ||
| GEOG 205 | Global Change: Past, Present and Future. | 3 |
Global Change: Past, Present and Future. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An examination of global change, from the Quaternary Period to the present day involving changes in the physical geography of specific areas. Issues such as climatic change and land degradation will be discussed, with speculations on future environments. | ||
| GEOG 210 | Global Places and Peoples. | 3 |
Global Places and Peoples. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to key themes in human geography. Maps and the making, interpretation and contestation of landscapes, 'place', and territory. Investigation of globalization and the spatial organization of human geo-politics, and urban and rural environments. | ||
| GEOG 216 | Geography of the World Economy. | 3 |
Geography of the World Economy. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The course introduces the geography of the world economic system. It describes the spatial distribution of economic activities and examines the factors which influence their changing location. Case studies from both "developed" and "developing" countries will test the different geographical theories presented in lectures. | ||
| GEOG 217 | Cities in the Modern World. | 3 |
Cities in the Modern World. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to urban geography. Uses a spatial/geographic perspective to understand cities and their social and cultural processes. Addresses two major areas. The development and social dynamics in North American and European cities. The urban transformations in Asian, African, and Latin American societies that were recently predominantly rural and agrarian. | ||
| GEOG 272 | Earth's Changing Surface. | 3 |
Earth's Changing Surface. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to the study of landforms as products of geomorphic and geologic systems acting at and near the Earth's surface. The process geomorphology approach will be used to demonstrate how landforms of different geomorphic settings represent a dynamic balance between forces acting in the environment and the physical properties of materials present. | ||
| GEOG 301 | Geography of Nunavut. | 3 |
Geography of Nunavut. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to the physical and cultural geography of Canada's newest territory. The course will emphasize the bio-physical heterogeneity of the natural environment and the cultural and political ecology of the human population. | ||
| GEOG 311 | Economic Geography. | 3 |
Economic Geography. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Different theories and approaches to understanding the spatial organization of economic activities. Regional case studies drawn from North America, Europe and Asia used to reinforce concepts. Emphasis also on city-regions and their interaction with the global economy. | ||
| GEOG 331 | Urban Social Geography. | 3 |
Urban Social Geography. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Social space and social time. The reflection of social structure in the spatial organization of the city. Historical perspective on changing personal mobility, life cycle, family structure and work organization. The appropriation and alienation of urban spaces. | ||
Note: In consultation with the Program Adviser, students may choose their Geography courses from those that comprise the B.A. Minor Concentration Geography program.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed (Faculty of Education)
Degree: Bachelor of Education
Program credit weight: 120 credits
The Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) - Secondary Social Sciences - History and Citizenship, Culture and Citizenship in Quebec program requires 120 credits and leads to teacher certification. Students who have not completed Quebec CEGEP, French Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, or at least one year of university studies prior to commencing the B.Ed. must also complete a minimum of 30 credits of Freshman courses (in addition to the 120 credits for the program) for a total of 150 credits.
The aim of the B.Ed. Secondary Education Program is to prepare strong beginning teachers for the secondary school level. This integrated program consists of courses in Education (including field experiences) and courses in the subject area of the teaching specialization. Students also take 6 credits of free electives. For all teacher education programs, course sequencing is highly structured. For this reason, the advising information in this eCalendar section must be used in conjunction with the summary companion document (Program Overview) found at http://www.mcgill.ca/dise/progs/secsocsci.
The Secondary Social Sciences - History and Citizenship, Ethics and Religious Culture program provides students with the learning opportunities needed to become proficient Social Science teachers with a strong knowledge base in the associated disciplinary areas.
Please note that graduates of teacher education programs are recommended by the University to the Quebec Ministry of Education for Quebec teacher certification. For more information about teacher certification in Quebec, please refer to the Faculty of Education section under "Overview of Faculty Programs," "Undergraduate Education Programs," and "Quebec Teacher Certification."
Students normally complete 30 credits in their Foundation (U0) year.
The Foundation Program year is the time to take introductory-level courses in a teachable subject area, as well as to explore areas that are not normally taken within B.Ed. programs (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, etc.). Students should also investigate the possibility of taking one of the First Year Seminar courses offered by the Faculty of Arts or the Faculty of Science.
In addition, in consultation with the Program Adviser, students may select courses from the recommended course list below or other courses. The list includes History, Geography, and Religious Studies courses that may be used toward the academic component of the Secondary Social Sciences course requirements. Also included are several French Second Language (FRSL) courses for which placement tests are required to determine the appropriate level.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDEM 220 | Contemporary Issues in Education. | 3 |
Contemporary Issues in Education. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An introduction to contemporary issues in education in local, national and international contexts, including a critical perspective on educational issues by drawing on a variety of analytical frameworks. | ||
| FRSL 101 | Beginners French 1. | 3 |
Beginners French 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A comprehensive introduction to basic vocabulary, grammatical structures and speech patterns of written and oral French for students in any degree program having no previous knowledge of French. Learning to communicate at a functional level in a French-speaking environment. Short essays, cultural readings, mandatory lab practice. | ||
| FRSL 102 | Beginners French 2. | 3 |
Beginners French 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A comprehensive introduction to basic vocabulary, grammatical structures and speech patterns of written and oral French for students in any degree program having no previous knowledge of French. Learning to communicate at a functional level in a French-speaking environment. Short essays, cultural readings, mandatory lab practice. | ||
| FRSL 207D1 | Elementary French 01. | 3 |
Elementary French 01. Terms offered: Fall 2025 This two-term course uses a task-based approach to provide students with authentic materials related to Canadian culture and prepares them for real life communication. Therefore, class time will be mostly dedicated to the completion of communicative tasks which often rely on the use of technology (mobile apps, blogs and other online tools). This course tackles different topics that students can relate to in their personal, social and academic life, and provides a review and further training in elementary language structures to develop their communication skills and digital literacy in French. | ||
| FRSL 207D2 | Elementary French 01. | 3 |
Elementary French 01. Terms offered: Winter 2026 See FRSL 207D1 for course description. | ||
| FRSL 211D1 | Oral and Written French 1. | 3 |
Oral and Written French 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Language lab attendance required. Grammar review, comprehension, vocabulary development, selected readings and group discussions. | ||
| FRSL 211D2 | Oral and Written French 1. | 3 |
Oral and Written French 1. Terms offered: Winter 2026 See FRSL 211D1 for course description. | ||
| GEOG 200 | Geographical Perspectives: World Environmental Problems. | 3 |
Geographical Perspectives: World Environmental Problems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to geography as the study of nature and human beings in a spatial context. An integrated approach to environmental systems and the human organization of them from the viewpoint of spatial relationships and processes. Special attention to environmental problems as a constraint upon Third World development. | ||
| GEOG 205 | Global Change: Past, Present and Future. | 3 |
Global Change: Past, Present and Future. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An examination of global change, from the Quaternary Period to the present day involving changes in the physical geography of specific areas. Issues such as climatic change and land degradation will be discussed, with speculations on future environments. | ||
| GEOG 210 | Global Places and Peoples. | 3 |
Global Places and Peoples. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to key themes in human geography. Maps and the making, interpretation and contestation of landscapes, 'place', and territory. Investigation of globalization and the spatial organization of human geo-politics, and urban and rural environments. | ||
| HIST 202 | Survey: Canada to 1867. | 3 |
Survey: Canada to 1867. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A survey of early Canada, from periods known mainly through archaeological records to the Confederation era. Social, cultural, economic and political themes will be examined. | ||
| HIST 203 | Survey: Canada since 1867. | 3 |
Survey: Canada since 1867. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A survey of the development of Canada from Confederation to the present day. Social, economic and political history will be examined in a general way. | ||
| HIST 214 | Early Modern Europe. | 3 |
Early Modern Europe. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Survey of European history from the Late Middle Ages to the eighteenth century. | ||
| HIST 215 | Modern Europe. | 3 |
Modern Europe. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Survey of European history from the eighteenth century to the present. | ||
| RELG 204 | Judaism, Christianity and Islam. | 3 |
Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to the beliefs, practices, and religious institutions of these three world religions. | ||
| RELG 207 | Introduction to the Study of Religions. | 3 |
Introduction to the Study of Religions. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course is an introduction to classic and contemporary approaches to the academic study of religions. This includes perspectives from philosophy, theology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, phenomenology, and feminism. Students are also exposed to applications of these perspectives from visiting scholars who treat some aspect of a religious tradition in light of current-day interests and events. The primary objective is to introduce students to the principal theories and methods that have shaped our understanding of religion, its various meanings as well as its roles and functions in society. | ||
| RELG 252 | Hinduism and Buddhism. | 3 |
Hinduism and Buddhism. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The interaction of Hinduism and Buddhism in India with special reference to the law of Karma, caste, women, ritual, death, yoga, and liberation. Determination of interpretative principles for understanding the religious psychology of Hindus and Buddhists. | ||
| WCOM 250 | Research Essay and Rhetoric. | 3 |
Research Essay and Rhetoric. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Academic research-based writing across the disciplines. Article summary, critical analysis, rhetorical strategies, citation and paraphrase of academic sources, and editing for cohesion and clarity. | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDEC 201 | First Year Professional Seminar. | 1 |
First Year Professional Seminar. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Orientation to the culture and community of school and to teaching as a profession. Focus on the general functioning of schools and complexity of the teacher role. Competencies and working professional portfolios will be addressed. | ||
| EDEC 215 | English Exam for Teacher Certification. | 0 |
English Exam for Teacher Certification. Terms offered: Summer 2025 The English Exam for Teacher Certification (EETC) is a Quebec Ministry of Education-required component of the B.Ed. degree. The exam is coordinated by an independent organization, the Centre for the English Exam for Teacher Certification (CEETC). Consists of a 2-hour exam designed to assess teacher candidates' competency in the language of instruction. Must be completed before the 3rd Field Experience. Students must register for EDEC 215 and register for the EETC on the CEETC website. Students who do not pass after four attempts require permission from the Internships Student Affairs Office to re-take the exam. | ||
| EDEC 233 | Indigenous Education. | 3 |
Indigenous Education. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 An exploration of Indigenous knowledge and pedagogy, primarily in Canada but also world-wide. Consideration of the diverse social, cultural, linguistic, political, and pedagogical histories of Indigenous communities. Examines how a teacher's professional identity and practice can be influenced by an understanding of Indigenous knowledge and worldviews. | ||
| EDEC 247 | Policy Issues in Quebec and Indigenous Education. | 3 |
Policy Issues in Quebec and Indigenous Education. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 The organization of Quebec education, including Indigenous education, from historical, political, social, cultural and legal perspectives. The implications and contributions of policy decisions to schools, students, and families. | ||
| EDEC 254 | Second Professional Seminar (Secondary). | 1 |
Second Professional Seminar (Secondary). Terms offered: Summer 2025 Preparation for the second field experience through development of basic practices in planning and teaching in secondary school classrooms. Competencies and professional portfolio will be addressed. | ||
| EDEC 260 | Philosophical Foundations. | 3 |
Philosophical Foundations. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Ideas essential for the development of a coherent educational theory and sound professional practice. Reflections on: the nature of the person, of reality, of knowledge, and of value; the aims of education, the nature of the school and the curriculum, the roles and responsibilities of professional educators. | ||
| EDEC 262 | Media, Technology and Education. | 3 |
Media, Technology and Education. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Orientation to the equipment and systems of educational technology. Examination of theories of educational technology, media education and technology education and the exploration and development of possible applications in school settings. | ||
| EDEC 351 | Third Professional Seminar (Secondary). | 2 |
Third Professional Seminar (Secondary). Terms offered: Fall 2025 Professional portfolios and competencies will be addressed. Preparation for the third field experience through engaging in the full spectrum of unit/lesson planning, critical analysis and self-reflection. Professional portfolios and competencies will be addressed. | ||
| EDEC 404 | Fourth Year Professional Seminar (Sec). | 3 |
Fourth Year Professional Seminar (Sec). Terms offered: Winter 2026 Preparation for the final field experience and entry into the teaching profession. Emphasis will be placed on developing the ability to demonstrate ethical and responsible professional behaviour in the performance of duties across all professional competencies. Final transition to showcase working professional portfolios will be addressed. | ||
| EDER 372 | Culture and Citizenship in Quebec Context (Secondary). | 3 |
Culture and Citizenship in Quebec Context (Secondary). Terms offered: Winter 2026 Teaching methods and pedagogical resources for programs in ethics and culture in the secondary school. | ||
| EDES 334 | Teaching Secondary Social Studies 1. | 3 |
Teaching Secondary Social Studies 1. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An examination of Quebec and other secondary school social studies curricula: Objectives; theoretical orientation; course structures; curriculum resources. Teaching and learning methodologies both common to the social studies and specific to the disciplines of history, geography, and economics. | ||
| EDES 350 | Classroom Practices. | 3 |
Classroom Practices. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Competency-based discipline skills and methods of classroom management, emphasizing the relationship between theory and practice; the rationale for various approaches to classroom management; strategies for developing instruction that focus attention and reduce off-task behaviour. | ||
| EDFE 200 | First Field Experience (K/Elem and Secondary). | 2 |
First Field Experience (K/Elem and Secondary). Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Students are assigned to a school for a "participant observer" field experience. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships Student Affairs website at http://www.mcgill.ca/isa. | ||
| EDFE 254 | Second Field Experience (Secondary). | 3 |
Second Field Experience (Secondary). Terms offered: Summer 2025 Supervised student teaching. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships and Student Affairs website at www.mcgill.ca/isa. | ||
| EDFE 351 | Third Field Experience (Secondary). | 8 |
Third Field Experience (Secondary). Terms offered: Fall 2025 Supervised student teaching in a school. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience, dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships Student Affairs Office website http://www.mcgill.ca/isa. | ||
| EDFE 451 | Fourth Field Experience (Secondary). | 7 |
Fourth Field Experience (Secondary). Terms offered: Fall 2025 Supervised student teaching in a school. Students will be expected to assume a much increased responsibility for student learning, classroom management, and evaluation. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships and Student Affairs website at www.mcgill.ca/isa. | ||
| EDPE 300 | Educational Psychology. | 3 |
Educational Psychology. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Selected theories, models, and concepts relevant to planning and reflecting upon educational practice and improvement. Overview of development, learning, thinking, motivation, individual difference, etc. In relation to applications in classroom teaching and learning, the complementary role of counsellors and psychologists, educational computing and technology. The Youth Protection Act. | ||
| EDPE 304 | Measurement and Evaluation. | 3 |
Measurement and Evaluation. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 The purposes of examinations. Causes of complaints about examinations. Equalizing means and dispersions in distribution of marks. Standardized scores. The percentile system. Essay and objective-type examinations. Taxonomies of educational objectives. Validity and reliability: item analysis. | ||
| EDPI 309 | Diverse Learners. | 3 |
Diverse Learners. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Inclusion debates; review of the evolution of the history of inclusive education; models of development ( eco-systemic models); characteristics, teaching practices; teachers' roles in inclusive classrooms. Overview of characteristics, causes, needs, and teaching strategies for diverse and exceptional students, teaching and learning for differences in intellectual, emotional, behavioural, sensory, physical and learning domains found in effective inclusive classrooms. Working with families. | ||
| EDPI 341 | Instruction in Inclusive Schools. | 3 |
Instruction in Inclusive Schools. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Developing, planning, implementing and evaluating effective learning programs for diverse learners, and consideration of their more general applicability. Adapting curriculum and instruction for learners with varying abilities, learning styles, and needs. Collaboration with students, families, and other educators (or stakeholders) in the instructional process. Application of adaptations at the classroom and school level for all students in inclusive schools. | ||
| HIST 202 | Survey: Canada to 1867. | 3 |
Survey: Canada to 1867. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A survey of early Canada, from periods known mainly through archaeological records to the Confederation era. Social, cultural, economic and political themes will be examined. | ||
| HIST 203 | Survey: Canada since 1867. | 3 |
Survey: Canada since 1867. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A survey of the development of Canada from Confederation to the present day. Social, economic and political history will be examined in a general way. | ||
| HIST 303 | History of Quebec. | 3 |
History of Quebec. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Covering Quebec history from New France to contemporary times, this course will include themes like ethnic relations, citizenship, gender and material culture. It is of particular interest to students in Education who foresee teaching about Quebec. | ||
3 credits from:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDEC 248 | Equity and Education. | 3 |
Equity and Education. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Introduction to and exploration of contemporary issues and theories about equity in education and society in Quebec/Canada from a range of perspectives, including the historical, political, social, and economic. Provides learning opportunities for future educators to critically reflect upon and engage with equity issues and concerns in relation to schooling, including the exploration of classroom resources and activities that foster anti-racism, anti-oppression and intercultural approaches. | ||
| EDEC 249 | Global Education and Social Justice. | 3 |
Global Education and Social Justice. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A cross-curricular, interdisciplinary approach to teaching/creating learning experiences for students. It will foster critical thinking and nurture lifelong global understanding, active engagement and participation in relation to questions of social, economic, and environmental justice, by infusing these issues in the classroom. | ||
Students complete 42 credits in consultation with the Program Adviser with the following specifications:
24 credits from the following, of which 9 credits must be taken at the 300 or 400 level:
3-9 credits in European History
3-9 credits in Asian, African, American, Latin American, or Ancient History
6 credits of history courses on social history, gender history, identity, culture, religion and values, political life and institutions, conflict, wealth and poverty, science, and health.
(Students may consult the course lists for History programs offered by the Faculty of Arts for guidance on course choices.)
6-12 credits selected from the following list, of which at least 3 credits must be taken from both ECON and POLI:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 338 | Indigenous Studies of Anthropology. | 3 |
Indigenous Studies of Anthropology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to Native American and Indigenous studies (NAIS) as a means of critically engaging with the discipline of anthropology. | ||
| CANS 200 | Understanding Canada. | 3 |
Understanding Canada. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Key cultural, economic, social and political institutions and their evolution over time. | ||
| ECON 205 | An Introduction to Political Economy. | 3 |
An Introduction to Political Economy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A critical study of the insights to be gained through economic analysis of a number of problems of broad interest. The focus will be on the application of economics to issues of public policy. | ||
| ECON 208 | Microeconomic Analysis and Applications. | 3 |
Microeconomic Analysis and Applications. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A university-level introduction to demand and supply, consumer behaviour, production theory, market structures and income distribution theory. | ||
| ECON 209 | Macroeconomic Analysis and Applications. | 3 |
Macroeconomic Analysis and Applications. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A university-level introduction to national income determination, money and banking, inflation, unemployment and economic policy. | ||
| ECON 219 | Current Economic Problems: Topics. | 3 |
Current Economic Problems: Topics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course will deal with topical issues of importance to the Canadian economy. | ||
| ECON 221 | Economic History. | 3 |
Economic History. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Survey of economic development. The evolution of economic institutions and the process of economic growth. Topics include demographic change, agrarian institutions, financial and industrial organization, technological change and the expansion of trade and markets. | ||
| ECON 313 | Economic Development 1. | 3 |
Economic Development 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Microeconomic theories of economic development and empirical evidence on population, labour, firms, poverty. Inequality and environment. | ||
| ECON 326 | Ecological Economics. | 3 |
Ecological Economics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Macroeconomic and structural aspects of the ecological crisis. A course in which subjects discussed include the conflict between economic growth and the laws of thermodynamics; the search for alternative economic indicators; the fossil fuels crisis; and "green'' fiscal policy. | ||
| ECON 347 | Economics of Climate Change. | 3 |
Economics of Climate Change. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The course focuses on the economic implications of, and problems posed by, predictions of global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. Attention is given to economic policies such as carbon taxes and tradeable emission permits and to the problems of displacing fossil fuels with new energy technologies. | ||
| ENVR 201 | Society, Environment and Sustainability. | 3 |
Society, Environment and Sustainability. Terms offered: Fall 2025 This course deals with how scientific-technological, socio-economic, political-institutional and behavioural factors mediate society-environment interactions. Issues discussed include population and resources; consumption, impacts and institutions; integrating environmental values in societal decision-making; and the challenges associated with, and strategies for, promoting sustainability. Case studies in various sectors and contexts are used. | ||
| ENVR 203 | Knowledge, Ethics and Environment. | 3 |
Knowledge, Ethics and Environment. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Introduction to cultural perspectives on the environment: the influence of culture and cognition on perceptions of the natural world; conflicts in orders of knowledge (models, taxonomies, paradigms, theories, cosmologies), ethics (moral values, frameworks, dilemmas), and law (formal and customary, rights and obligations) regarding political dimensions of critical environments, resource use, and technologies. | ||
| POLI 212 | Introduction to Comparative Politics – Europe/North America. | 3 |
Introduction to Comparative Politics – Europe/North America. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An introduction to fundamental comparative politics concepts and research that focuses on Europe and North America. Topics include: state and state institutions, parties and party systems, elections, protest and social movements, rule of law, corruption, regime transitions— democratization and autocratization. | ||
| POLI 221 | Government of Canada. | 3 |
Government of Canada. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 An examination of the central governmental institutions, including parliament, federalism, and the judiciary. | ||
| POLI 222 | Political Process and Behaviour in Canada. | 3 |
Political Process and Behaviour in Canada. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to contemporary political life in Canada that examines how demands are identified and transmitted through the political systems. Emphasis will be placed on: the Canadian political culture; socialization and political participation; the electoral system; elections and voting; the role and structure of political parties; and the influence of organized interest. | ||
| POLI 227 | Introduction to Comparative Politics - Global South. | 3 |
Introduction to Comparative Politics - Global South. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to politics across the Global South. A comparative examination of the legacies of colonialism, the achievement of independence, and political and socio-economic development in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Topics include modernization, dependency, state-building, political violence, revolution, the role of the military, authoritarianism, and democratization. | ||
| POLI 243 | International Politics of Economic Relations. | 3 |
International Politics of Economic Relations. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to international relations, through examples drawn from international political economy. The emphasis will be on the politics of trade and international monetary relations. | ||
| POLI 244 | International Politics: State Behaviour. | 3 |
International Politics: State Behaviour. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Offers a comprehensive introduction to the behaviour of nation states. Explores how states make foreign policy decisions and what motivates their behaviour. Other covered topics include the military and economic dimensions of state behaviour, conflict, cooperation, interdependence, integration, globalization, and change in the international system. | ||
| POLI 341 | Foreign Policy: The Middle East. | 3 |
Foreign Policy: The Middle East. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An examination of the changing regional security environment and the evolving foreign policies and relationships of Arab states in three areas - relations with non-Arab regional powers (Israel, Iran), inter-Arab relations, Great Power relations. The course will focus particularly on Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. | ||
| POLI 345 | International Organizations. | 3 |
International Organizations. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The politics and processes of global governance in the 21st century, with a special emphasis on the United Nations system. | ||
| POLI 354 | Approaches to International Political Economy. | 3 |
Approaches to International Political Economy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The course presents theoretical approaches to understanding change in the international political economy. | ||
| POLI 360 | Security: War and Peace. | 3 |
Security: War and Peace. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Focuses on international security and strategies of war and peace in historical and comparative frameworks. Topics include case studies of 20th century wars, conventional and nuclear strategy, and various approaches to peace. | ||
| POLI 362 | Political Theory and International Relations. | 3 |
Political Theory and International Relations. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Key contributions of political theory to the study and practice of international relations. Three prevailing theoretical traditions will be examined: realism, 'international society', and cosmopolitanism. Key practical issues to be explored from these perspectives include war, humanitarian intervention, economic globalization, environment, and gender. | ||
| POLI 423 | Politics of Ethno-Nationalism. | 3 |
Politics of Ethno-Nationalism. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Theories of ethno-nationalism examined in light of experience in Asia, Middle East and Africa. Topics include formation and mobilization of national, ethnic and religious identities in colonial and post-colonial societies; impact of ethno-nationalism on pluralism, democracy, class and gender relations; means to preserve tolerance in multicultural societies. | ||
| POLI 435 | Identity and Inequality. | 3 |
Identity and Inequality. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Inequality is often particularly durable between groups whose boundaries are based on assumed ancestry - e.g., the major ethnic categories in former European settler colonies, castes in South Asia. This course explores ongoing changes in the relationship between identity and social, economic and political inequality in some of these contexts. | ||
| POLI 442 | International Relations of Ethnic Conflict. | 3 |
International Relations of Ethnic Conflict. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Issues related to the internationalization of ethnic conflict, including diasporas, contagion and demonstration effects, intervention, irredentism, the use of sanctions and force. Combination of theory and the study of contemporary cases. | ||
| POLI 450 | Peacebuilding. | 3 |
Peacebuilding. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An examination of transitions from civil war to peace, and the role of external actors (international organizations, bilateral donors, non-governmental organizations) in support of such transitions. Topics will include the dilemmas of humanitarian relief, peacekeeping operations, refugees, the demobilization of ex-combatants, transitional elections, and the politics of socio-economic reconstruction. | ||
| POLI 474 | Inequality and Development. | 3 |
Inequality and Development. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The political structures and social forces underlying poverty and inequality in the world; the historical roots of inequality in different regions, varying manifestations of inequality (class, region, ethnicity, gender), and selected contemporary problems. | ||
Students may select up to 9 credits from the following (no more than 3 credits from each subsection).
Other relevant courses can be chosen in consultation with an academic adviser.
6 credits from:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CANS 413 | Canada and Quebec Seminar. | 3 |
Canada and Quebec Seminar. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Comparison of Canada and Quebec. | ||
| CANS 415 | Black Canada. | 3 |
Black Canada. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The significant presence of people of African descent in Canada that dates back to the 17th century. Migration and immigration will be situated as part of the renewal of Canadian identity while examining the intellectual, historical and political presence of people of African descent. | ||
| QCST 200 | Introduction to the Study of Quebec. | 3 |
Introduction to the Study of Quebec. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to the ideas and approaches that scholars have used and developed to study Quebec, including some of the foremost issues that have shaped Quebec historically and continue to influence contemporary life. The changing notions about territory, identity, language, citizenship and belonging, the complexity and diversity of Quebec (11 Aboriginal nations, multilingual, multiethnic and religious communities, minority status within Canada) will also be explored from a comparative perspective to identify characteristics that Quebec shares with other nations and those that are different. | ||
| QCST 300 | Quebec Culture and Society. | 3 |
Quebec Culture and Society. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A multidisciplinary course that looks at Quebec's key social, economic, cultural, political and historical aspects. | ||
| QCST 440 | Contemporary Issues in Quebec. | 3 |
Contemporary Issues in Quebec. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Seminar on a selected theme or topic concerning Quebec society with the goal of integrating social, economic, cultural, political and historic aspects. | ||
6 credits from:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CANS 413 | Canada and Quebec Seminar. | 3 |
Canada and Quebec Seminar. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Comparison of Canada and Quebec. | ||
| EDEC 374 | Education and the Environment. | 3 |
Education and the Environment. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Familiarizes students with major environmental issues, engages them in interdisciplinary problem-based inquiries and draws attention to the interrelatedness of biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem. Promotes understanding of the impact of individual and collective civic and economic choices on environmental resources. | ||
| EDER 252 | Understanding and Teaching Jewish Life. | 3 |
Understanding and Teaching Jewish Life. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An exploration of Jewish holidays and life cycle rituals. Emphasis is placed on their historical development and philosophical meaning. Curriculum developed for teaching this material in various Jewish educational frameworks is examined and evaluated. | ||
| EDER 319 | Teaching the Holocaust. | 3 |
Teaching the Holocaust. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An examination of approaches, strategies, and techniques of teaching the Holocaust, including methodologies for using the Holocaust as a basis for teaching about prejudice, cultural identity, racism, human rights and moral responsibility. | ||
| EDER 536 | Critical and Ethical Dimensions of Sexualities Education. | 3 |
Critical and Ethical Dimensions of Sexualities Education. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Overview of the recent critical and ethical debates around Canadian sex education curricula and instruction. Special focus will be on: the social implications of the developmental category of ‘adolescent’, sexual citizenship, discourses as a tool of moral regulation and discipline, construction of gender, race and class in sex education, and the ways Canadian laws define issues of consent and abuse in relation to youth sexual activity. | ||
| ENVR 201 | Society, Environment and Sustainability. 1 | 3 |
Society, Environment and Sustainability. Terms offered: Fall 2025 This course deals with how scientific-technological, socio-economic, political-institutional and behavioural factors mediate society-environment interactions. Issues discussed include population and resources; consumption, impacts and institutions; integrating environmental values in societal decision-making; and the challenges associated with, and strategies for, promoting sustainability. Case studies in various sectors and contexts are used. | ||
| ENVR 203 | Knowledge, Ethics and Environment. 1 | 3 |
Knowledge, Ethics and Environment. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Introduction to cultural perspectives on the environment: the influence of culture and cognition on perceptions of the natural world; conflicts in orders of knowledge (models, taxonomies, paradigms, theories, cosmologies), ethics (moral values, frameworks, dilemmas), and law (formal and customary, rights and obligations) regarding political dimensions of critical environments, resource use, and technologies. | ||
| JWST 382 | Jews, Judaism and Social Justice. | 3 |
Jews, Judaism and Social Justice. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A study of North American Jewish activists, thinkers and organizations whose social justice work is deeply rooted in Jewish text and in the lessons of Jewish historical experience. | ||
| RELG 204 | Judaism, Christianity and Islam. | 3 |
Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to the beliefs, practices, and religious institutions of these three world religions. | ||
| RELG 207 | Introduction to the Study of Religions. | 3 |
Introduction to the Study of Religions. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course is an introduction to classic and contemporary approaches to the academic study of religions. This includes perspectives from philosophy, theology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, phenomenology, and feminism. Students are also exposed to applications of these perspectives from visiting scholars who treat some aspect of a religious tradition in light of current-day interests and events. The primary objective is to introduce students to the principal theories and methods that have shaped our understanding of religion, its various meanings as well as its roles and functions in society. | ||
| RELG 252 | Hinduism and Buddhism. | 3 |
Hinduism and Buddhism. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The interaction of Hinduism and Buddhism in India with special reference to the law of Karma, caste, women, ritual, death, yoga, and liberation. Determination of interpretative principles for understanding the religious psychology of Hindus and Buddhists. | ||
| RELG 270 | Religious Ethics and the Environment. | 3 |
Religious Ethics and the Environment. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Environmental potential of various religious traditions and secular perspectives, including animal rights, ecofeminism, and deep ecology. | ||
| RELG 271 | Religion and Sexuality. | 3 |
Religion and Sexuality. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Exploration of intersections between religion, gender and sexuality in diverse cultural, historical and contemporary contexts. | ||
| RELG 309 | World Religions and Cultures They Create.. | 3 |
World Religions and Cultures They Create.. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The constitution and mutual entanglements of selected religions and cultures originating and thriving in varied regional contexts. Focus on highlighting the symbolic (visual, aural) expressivity of religions via ritual, myth, and rational speculation and its impact on high and popular cultures. | ||
Note: ENVR courses have limited enrolment.
6 credits from:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDER 309 | The Search for World Views. | 3 |
The Search for World Views. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An approach to the study of world views including both religious and non-religious perspectives. This course explores humanity's major religious traditions, especially Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Indigenous traditions, and non-religious traditions such as atheism and agnosticism. | ||
| EDER 395 | Moral Values and Human Action. | 3 |
Moral Values and Human Action. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A philosophical critical inquiry into the relationship between belief and conduct oriented toward the teacher and his/her role in education. | ||
| EDER 461 | Society and Change. | 3 |
Society and Change. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Factors influencing patterns of stability and change in major social institutions and the implications for formal and non-formal education. | ||
| EDER 494 | Human Rights and Ethics in Practice. | 3 |
Human Rights and Ethics in Practice. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Explores contemporary issues in human rights from an educational perspective, focusing on implications for praxis; explores ethical notions, including rights and responsiblities, as applied to contemporary challenges. | ||
| PHIL 230 | Introduction to Moral Philosophy 1. | 3 |
Introduction to Moral Philosophy 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A survey of a number of historically important and influential theories. Philosophers to be discussed may include Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Bentham, Mill, and Moore. | ||
| PHIL 237 | Contemporary Moral Issues. | 3 |
Contemporary Moral Issues. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Winter 2026 An introductory discussion of central ethical questions (the value of persons, or the relationship of rights and utilities, for example) through the investigation of currently disputed social and political issues. Specific issues to be discussed may include pornography and censorship, affirmative action, civil disobedience, punishment, abortion, and euthanasia. | ||
6 credits at the undergraduate level.
Orientation gives you the opportunity to meet your Student Advisor and your peers in-person, ask questions about your program and gain knowledge about supports that are designed to help you succeed at McGill!
Orientation Dates for August 2025: TBD
Please note, attendance is mandatory.
Students whose highest level of education is high school (normally out of province) are admitted into Year 0 (U0) to complete the Foundation Program.
The Foundation Program consists of 30 credits of the students’ choice, verified by an advisor. There are no required courses in the Foundation Program, though the department recommends that students use the opportunity to take 100 or 200 level courses in the subjects taught in Secondary school, as well as to explore areas that are not normally taken as teachable subject area courses within B.Ed. programs (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, etc.).
The department also recommends the following courses:
If you are admitted into McGill with advanced standing (International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, etc.), those credits may be used to fulfill some or all of your Foundation requirements.
Foundation Course Verification
All Foundation students must have their Fall and Winter course selections verified prior to the start of classes. This can be done by email or by attending the group advising session in late August. To verify your course selection by email, send a message to advisedise.education@mcgill.ca with the subject “Foundation Course Selection” and your student ID number in the body.
Students who attended University prior to coming to McGill may be eligible for transfer credit. Please verify the credits already awarded to you by Admissions on your Minerva Unofficial Transcript. If you believe that you are entitled to additional credits, please review the Advanced Standing Guidelines and speak with your advisor. Please use the following Request for Transfer Credit Form to keep track of your equivalencies.
Tabitha Beedle, Academic Advisor
Susie Vodopivec, Academic Advisor
Grace Wong- McAllister, Academic Advisor
Step by step instructions and a tutorial video can be found on this website. In addition, the Internships & Student Affairs office is available to help you with registration difficulties.
“U0” or “Foundation Program Student” is the term used to define students who have been admitted without advanced standing. Generally, this refers to students who are admitted to McGill from outside Quebec. Admitted students who have completed CEGEP are considered U1 students. Refer to the section titled “Foundation Program Advising” for further information.
See the overviews above to find the semesters in which you should complete your field experiences. In addition, the start and end dates for all field experiences each year can be found on the Internships & Student Affairs website.
No it does not. If you are registering for the fall semester courses found on the four year and three year overviews (above), your Fall semester courses will end early, in November, after which your First Field Experience and your First Year Seminar will begin and run until mid-December. Your first Fall semester will be unique in this way.
EDFE 200 and EDEC 201 must be registered for simultaneously. To do this, make note of the CRNs of both courses (first column on left when you search for courses) and enter them both into the "Quick Add" feature on Minerva (step 2 on the registration menu).
Yes, the provincial governement requires that all students in teacher education programs demonstrate their proficiency in the language of instruction. More information can be found on the Internships & Student Affairs website.
Registration for courses for newly admitted students begins in June and ends a couple weeks after classes in the semester begin. A complete list of registration start and end dates can be found here.
If you are getting an error such as 'program restriction' or 'reserve closed' when attempting to register for a course, first ensure that you are selecting the section designated for your program (if applicable: see the notes under the course in class schedule search on Minerva). If you are still having trouble, contact the department offering the course (Educational and Counselling Psychology for EDPE and EDPI courses, Linguistics for LING courses, English for ENGL courses, etc.). The calendar entry for the course will indicate the offering department.
Information about French courses and the French Placement Test can be found on the French Language Centre website.
In the Faculty of Education, students are eligible to receive advanced standing only for courses that are applicable to their programs. The admissions office makes decisions on advanced standing for all incoming students over the summer. Your advanced standing may not appear on your transcript immediately.
Until the admissions office has entered your advanced standing on your transcript, you are advised to attempt to get a sense of the transfer credits you might receive by looking at the program requirements on the program checklist (above). Students typically receive advanced standing for subject area courses rather than required education courses (unless their previous university education was in a teacher training program). Additional advice for self-assessing your transfer credits can be found on the Internships & Student Affairs website.
When the admissions office has assessed your advanced standing, you should review it, and if you feel that you might be eligible for additional courses, contact your advisor.
Program information is organized for three distinct groups:
Prospective Students Newly Admitted Currently Registered
