Undergraduate Research Opportunities

There are many opportunities for undergraduate research in Geography. Students can assist faculty or graduate students in laboratory or field studies – or conduct independent research through honours or independent studies courses. Geography faculty members employ undergraduates as research assistants during the academic year and throughout the summer. Check out the links below or if you are interested in getting research, experience approach a faculty member who is working in a field that interests you (see our faculty web pages).

Research-based courses for academic credit

• GEOG 396 Undergraduate Research Project 3 Credits

  Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  
  

  Geography: Independent research project with a final written report.

  Offered by: Geography

  • Fall and Winter
  • Restrictions: This course cannot be taken under the S/U option. Departmental permission required. Students cannot be supervised by the same instructor for two 396 Science courses. Open to students in programs offered by the Faculty of Science only.
  • Note: Enrolment may be limited. Students are advised to start the application process well before the start of the term and to plan for an alternative course in the case that no suitable project is available. Individual projects may be suggested each term which may have project-specific prerequisites. Students may also approach professors to devise their own projects. Some projects may be accessible to students in other disciplines. See https://www.mcgill.ca/science/research/undergraduate-research/science-research-courses for more information about available projects and application forms and procedures.

  • Terms
    • Fall 2023
    • Winter 2024
  • Instructors
    • There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023 academic year
  Click here for more information on eligibility and registration procedures
• GEOG 489 Independent Research in Geog 3 Credits

  Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  
  

  Geography: Independent research project under the guidance of a staff member specializing in the field of interest.

  Offered by: Geography

  • Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and completion of 30 credits of courses at the 200 level or above.
  • A statement of the proposed project and method of evaluation, signed by the student and supervisor, must be submitted to the departmental Undergraduate Coordinator for approval by the add/drop deadline of the semester in which the student registers for this course.

  • Terms
    • Fall 2023
    • Winter 2024
  • Instructors
    • There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023 academic year
   Student/supervisor agreement
• GEOG 490 Independent Readings in Geog 3 Credits

  Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  
  

  Geography: Independent readings or project (non-research) under the guidance of a staff member specializing in the field of interest.

  Offered by: Geography

  • Fall and Winter
  • Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and completion of 30 credits of courses at the 200 level or above.
  • A statement of the proposed project and method of evaluation, signed by the student and supervisor, must be submitted to the departmental Undergraduate Coordinator for approval by the add/drop deadline of the semester in which the student registers for this course.

  • Terms
    • Fall 2023
    • Winter 2024
  • Instructors
    • There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023 academic year
  Student/supervisor agreement
• GEOG 491D1 Honours Research 3 Credits

  Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  
  

  Geography: Supervised reading, research and preparation of an undergraduate thesis under the direction of a member of staff.

  Offered by: Geography

  • Fall
  • Prerequisite: GEOG 381
  • Restriction: For U3 B.A. and B.Sc. Honours and Joint Honours Geography students
  • Students must register for both GEOG 491D1 and GEOG 491D2.
  • No credit will be given for this course unless both GEOG 491D1 and GEOG 491D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms

  • Terms
    • Fall 2023
  • Instructors
    • Sarah E Turner
• GEOG 491D2 Honours Research 3 Credits

  Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  
  

  Geography: See GEOG 491D1 for course description.

  Offered by: Geography

  • Winter
  • Prerequisite(s): GEOG 381 and GEOG 491D1
  • No credit will be given for this course unless both GEOG 491D1 and GEOG 491D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms

  • Terms
    • Winter 2024
  • Instructors
    • Sarah E Turner

Geography faculty also supervise research in these programs:

• ENVR 485 Readings in Environment 1 3 Credits

  Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  
  

  Environment: Interdisciplinary literature project/essays related to environment, enabling independent study under guidance of qualified MSE staff in areas outside the scope of individual departments. Proposed topic and method of evaluation must be approved by the Associate Director one month before the beginning of term. Contact the Program Advisor for information.

  Offered by: Bieler School of Environment

  • Restriction: Normally open only to U3 MSE students

  • Terms
    • Fall 2023
    • Winter 2024
  • Instructors
    • There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023 academic year
• ENVR 490 Independ. Study in Environment 3 Credits

  Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  
  

  Environment: Interdisciplinary research projects related to environment, enabling independent study under guidance of Environment faculty in areas outside the scope of individual departments.

  Offered by: Bieler School of Environment

  • Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
  • Restrictions: Only open to U3 Environment students.
  • Proposed topic and method of evaluation must be approved by the Program Adviser one month before the beginning of term. Contact the Program Adviser for information.

  • Terms
    • Fall 2023
    • Winter 2024
  • Instructors
    • There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023 academic year
• ENVR 495D1 Honours Research 3 Credits

  Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  
  

  Environment: Preparation of an honours thesis.

  Offered by: Bieler School of Environment

  • Prerequisites: ENVR 301. Acceptance to Honours Program in Environment.
  • Restrictions: For U3 B.A., B.Sc., B.Sc. (Ag.Env.Sc.), and B.A.&Sc. Honours in Environment students; and B.A. & Sc. Honours in Sustainability, Science and Society students.
  • Students must register for both ENVR 495D1 and ENVR 495D2.
  • No credit will be given for this course unless both ENVR 495D1 and ENVR 495D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms.
  • **This is an honours project course, and the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Therefore, it has unique add/drop and withdrawal deadlines.

  • Terms
    • Fall 2023
    • Winter 2024
  • Instructors
    • Oliver T Coomes, Graham K MacDonald, Lauren J Chapman, Jessica Head, Murray Mitchell Humphries, Nigel Thomas Roulet, Niladri Basu, Christopher M Buddle, Irene Gregory-Eaves, Elena M Bennett
• ENVR 495D2 Honours Research 3 Credits

  Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  
  

  Environment: See ENVR 495D1 for description.

  Offered by: Bieler School of Environment

  • Prerequisite: ENVR 495D1.
  • No credit will be given for this course unless both ENVR 495D1 and ENVR 495D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms.

  • Terms
    • Fall 2023
    • Winter 2024
  • Instructors
    • John Galaty, Catherine Potvin, Alissa Koski
    • Oliver T Coomes, Graham K MacDonald, Lauren J Chapman, Jessica Head, Murray Mitchell Humphries, Nigel Thomas Roulet, Niladri Basu, Christopher M Buddle, Irene Gregory-Eaves, Elena M Bennett
• INTD 490 Development Research Project 3 Credits

  Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  
  

  International Development: Supervised reading, research project in international development. Requirements consist of a project proposal and final research report.

  Offered by: Inst for the St of Development

  • Prerequisite: ECON 313
  • Restriction: Open to U2 and U3 students with a minimum CGPA of 3.30 and permission of the department Adviser. Only tenure track professors or McGill faculty lecturers may supervise.

  • Terms
    • Fall 2023
    • Winter 2024
  • Instructors
    • There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023 academic year
• INTD 491 Honours Thesis 3 Credits

  Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  
  

  International Development: Supervised reading, research and preparation of an undergraduate thesis under the direction of a staff member.

  Offered by: Inst for the St of Development

  • Restriction: Open only to U3 Honours and Joint Honours students.

  • Terms
    • Fall 2023
    • Winter 2024
  • Instructors
    • Kazue Takamura, Mylene Riva

Grants and awards

• NSERC USRA (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Awards) -Restricted to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Minimum CGPA 3.3.
• SURA (Science Undergraduate Research Awards) -Open to students in B.Sc. and B.A. & Sc. degrees. Minimum CGPA 3.3.
• ARIA (Arts Undergraduate Research Internship Award) -Open to students in B.A., B.A. & Sc., B.S.W. degrees. Minimum CGPA 3.0.
• Royal Canadian Geographic Society -Grants for field research costs (no salary) within Canada.
• Additional funding opportunities may also be found on the Scholarships and Student Aid website.

Employment opportunities

• Work Study Positions in the Geography Department
• Other Employment in the Geography Department includes student positions at the Geographic Information Centre, and Undergraduate Research Assistantships with Geography Professors.