Field Courses
The department offers field courses focusing on the urban geography of Montreal (GEOG 494), the urban geography of new Master-Planned cities in Singapore and Malaysia (GEOG 425), the human and physical geographies of the Montérégie region of southern Quebec (GEOG 398 and GEOG 495), and environmental management in Barbados (GEOG 496).
Local Field Courses
GEOG 398. Field Studies in Human Geography.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Introduction to basic field work techniques in human geography. Emphasis on field methods, observational techniques, data collection and processing.
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: Any introductory human geography course; or by permission of the instructor
- A fee of $1,034.38 is charged to all students registered in GEOG 398.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
GEOG 494. Urban Field Studies.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Geographical research in urban public and semi-public spaces. Demonstration of techniques of mapping, sampling, measurement, photography, interviewing. Attention to research design.
- **This course will be held on May 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16 and 18.
- **Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the fifth lecture day.
- Fall
- Prerequisites: One of the following: GEOG 201, GEOG 203, GEOG 210, GEOG 216, GEOG 217, GEOG 272, or permission of instructor
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
GEOG 495. Field Studies - Physical Geography.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Field research projects in physical geography. Held locally in Monteregian or Eastern Township regions. The course is organised around field projects designed to formulate and test scientific hypotheses in a physical geography discipline. May Summer session.
- 2-week field school
- Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and 6 credits from the following list of Systematic Physical Geography courses: GEOG 305, GEOG321, GEOG 322, GEOG 372, GEOG 470.
- Additional Dept. fee $579.99 will be charged to student fee account to cover the cost of transportation, accommodations, local fees and all meals for approximately 12 nights, as the course is held at the Gault Estate at Mont St.-Hilaire during May.
- **This is a field course, so students won't be taking the holiday.
- **Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the fourth lecture day.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
Abroad Field Courses
GEOG 425. Southeast Asia Urban Field Studies.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Summer 2025
View offerings for
Summer 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
This course allows students to experience some of the urban changes taking place in Southeast Asian cities, a dynamic region, while providing the opportunity to connect recent scholarship with field observations. We will explore various current themes in urban studies and urban geography including globalization, the transnational circulation of urban policies, interpretations of culture and heritage / new built heritage, gentrification, migrant labour, public housing, creative clusters, and new cities as national economic strategies.
- **The Instructor’s approval is required.
- Prerequisite(s): GEOG 217 and GEOG 325
- Restriction(s): Preference will be given to Urban Studies Majors and Minors
- A fee of $1750.51 covers the cost of a 2 week urban field studies course in Singapore and Malaysia, including accommodation, ground transportation and entrance fees. Students are responsible for arranging their own airfares to Singapore.
- **Web withdrawal is not applicable.
- **The Instructor’s approval is required.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
GEOG 496. Geographical Excursion.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Lecture course on the geography of a region and excursion through the selected country or region including landscape interpretation and field study projects.
- Winter
- Prerequisites: GEOG 290 and permission of instructor
- Instructor's approval required.
- A fee of $2729.76 in Winter is charged to all students registered in GEOG 496 Geographical Excursion. The course is held in Barbados, West Indies and is given during the last week of February (Study Break). The fee is used to support the cost of transportation, accommodations, local fees and some meals for ten days. Note that the trip to Barbados is compulsory if you enroll for GEOG 496
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
Field Study Semesters
The McGill Field Study Semesters are managed by the Faculty of Science Field Studies and Internship Office and include courses in Geography.
McGill's Barbados Field Study Semester (BFSS) intends to introduce students to Barbados and focus on the study of Sustainability in the Caribbean. The field study term is offered in the fall semester. The Geography course that is part of this program is listed below.
GEOG 340. Sustainability in the Caribbean.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
The local environmental, social, historical, political and economic context of Barbados and the Caribbean. The small island developing States (SIDS), and why those nations are more vulnerable to global environmental challenges. The 17
Sustainability Development Goals of the United Nations, with a focus on the leadership role played by Barbados for the entire Caribbean region.
- Corequisites: ATOC 341, BIOL 343, FSCI 444 or permission of the Program Director.
- Restrictions: Open to U2 and U3 students from all faculties who are registered in the Barbados Field Study Semester, with minimum CGPA of 3.0.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
The Panama Field Study Semester (PFSS) is a joint venture between McGill University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). Students will be living for up to four months in Panama taking courses that specifically address Latin America social and tropical environmental issues. The field study term is offered in the winter semester. The Geography courses that are part of this program and offered on a rolling basis are listed below.
GEOG 407. Issues in Geography.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Treatment of contemporary issues in geographical research focusing on human-environmental relations and interactions. Instructor(s) and topics will be announced each term the course is given.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
GEOG 498. Humans in Tropical Environments.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Focus on understanding of inter-relations between humans and neotropical environments represented in Panama. Study of contemporary rural landscapes, their origins, development and change. Impacts of economic growth and inequality, social organization, and politics on natural resource use and environmental degradation. Site visits and field exercises in peasant/colonist, Amerindian, and plantation communities.
- Winter
- 6 hours lecture for 4 weeks, 3 hours seminar, 2 hours laboratory, 8 hours conference
- Restriction: Location in Panama. Student must register for a full semester of studies in Panama
- Prerequisites: HISP 218, MATH 203 or equivalents
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
The McGill East Africa Field Study Semester (MEAFSS) intends to introduce 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. The field study term is offered in the winter semester. The Geography courses that are part of this program and offered on a rolling basis are listed below.
GEOG 404. Environmental Management 2.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Practical application of environmental planning, analysis and management techniques with reference to the needs and problems of developing areas. Special challenges posed by cultural differences and traditional resource systems are discussed. This course involves practical field work in a developing area (Kenya or Panama).
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 302 or permission of instructor
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
GEOG 416. Africa South of the Sahara.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
A synthetic overview of physical and cultural geography examining particularly the relation of African peoples to their landscapes, the causes and consequences of environmental changes, and the idea of sustainable development as it applies to African landscapes, resource systems and economies.
- Winter
- Offered in Kenya as part of the African Field Studies semester.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
GEOG 423. Dilemmas of Development.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Africa seems beset by development problems. Some of these appear to have no clear answer. Such dilemmas present significant barriers to moving forward with durable, effective development in Africa. This course will examine two primary and frequently interlocked dilemmas in East Africa with wide ranging impact - food security, and conflict.
- Prerequisite: GEOG 310 or GEOG 408 or GEOG 410, or equivalent
- Restriction: Open to students in the African Field Study Semester (AFSS) only
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
GEOG 451. Research in Society and Development in Africa.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Three intersecting components: 1) core development themes including culture change, environmental conservation, water, health, development (urban and rural), governance and conflict resolution, 2) research techniques for topics related to core themes, including ethics, risk, field methods and data analysis, 3) field documentation, scientific recording and communication.
- Winter
- Prerequisite: Open to U2 or later students in the AFSS.
- Corequisite: NRSC 452.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken, or are taking ANTH 451.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
GEOG 493. Health and Environment in Africa.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Exploration of key diseases of development, as well as patterns and determinants of health and disease in East Africa. Topics will focus on population and environmental health.
- Prerequisite: GEOG 221, GEOG 303 or permission of instructor
- Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken GEOG 403. Open to students in the African Field Study Semester (AFSS) only.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
