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Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Undergraduate students wishing to pursue their studies in our NRS department have the option to choose between four majors in the B.Sc. (Ag. Env. Sc.). The Environment major differs from the others in that it is associated with the Bieler School of Environment. Students choosing a B.Sc. (Ag.Env.Sc.) degree are able to select specialized areas of study that will prepare them for a wide variety of careers.
- Major in Agricultural Economics
- Major in Agro-Environmental Sciences
- Major in Environmental Biology
- Major in Global Food Security
- Major in Life Sciences
- Major in Environment (Bieler School of Environment)
Major in Agricultural Economics
If you are interested in the agricultural community and business then this is the program for you! Students in this program will study business, economics, global trade and public policy relating to the agricultural community. For more information visit the Agricultural Economics page.
Program details: Offered by: Agricultural Economics (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) The B.Sc.(Agr.Env.Sc.); Major in Agricultural Economics is designed to meet the demand for sustainable development as it relates to the environment and resource use, and the economics and management of the global agriculture and food system. This multidisciplinary program in applied economics involves the application of theory and analytical methods to environmental issues and the agricultural and food system. Training in economic theory and applied areas such as marketing, finance, farm management, public policy, ecology, natural resources, and international development. Refer to "Faculty Information and Regulations" > "Minimum Credit Requirements", in this Course Catalogue for prerequisites and minimum credit requirements. Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Principles of Microeconomics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The field of economics as it relates to the activities of individual consumers, firms and organizations. Emphasis is on the application of economic principles and concepts to everyday decision making and to the analysis of current economic issues. Principles of Macroeconomics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The overall economic system, how it works, and the instruments used to solve social problems. Emphasis will be on decision-making involving the entire economic system and segments of it. Economic Systems of Agriculture. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The structure and organization of Canada's agriculture-food system, the operation, financing, linkages, and functions of its components. Focus to be on management of the various components and the entire system, types of problems confronted now and in the future. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An intermediate theory course in agricultural economics, dealing with economic concepts as applied to agricultural production and cost functions. Includes theory and application of linear programming as related to production decisions. Agriculture and Food Markets. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Nature and organization of agricultural and food markets as economic institutions, including the application of economic theory to problems within the agri-food marketing chain. Spatial and temporal price relationships, and the role of market structure. Farm Management and Finance. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Managing and financing a farm business. Topics include: the decision making process, farm management and economic concepts, the analysis of financial statements, farm planning and budgeting, input management, investment analysis, risk in financial management, the acquisition and cost of capital. Resource Economics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The role of resources in the environment, use of resources, and management of economic resources within the firm or organization. Problem-solving, case studies involving private and public decision-making in organizations are utilized. Applied Econometrics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The theory and application of econometrics to empirical issues in agriculture and environment. Diagnosis and treatment of standard violations of the assumptions underlying ordinary least squares. Agriculture, Food and Resource Policy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Examination of North American and international agriculture, food and resource policies, policy instruments, programs and their implications. Economic analysis applied to the principles, procedures and objectives of various policy actions affecting agriculture, and the environment. Economics of International Agricultural Development. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The course deals with economic aspects of international development with emphasis on the role of food, agriculture and the resource sector in the economy of developing countries. Topics will include world food analysis, development project analysis and policies for sustainable development. Development case studies will be used. The Biophysical Environment. Terms offered: Fall 2025 With reference to the ecosystems in the St Lawrence lowlands, the principles and processes governing climate-landform-water-soil-vegetation systems and their interactions will be examined in lecture and laboratory. Emphasis on the natural environment as an integrated system. Introduction to Financial Accounting. Terms offered: Summer 2025 The role of financial accounting in the reporting of the financial performance of a business. The principles, components and uses of financial accounting and reporting from a user's perspective, including the recording of accounting transactions and events, the examination of the elements of financial statements, the preparation of financial statements and the analysis of financial results. With the approval of the Academic Adviser, one introductory course in each of the following areas: Specializations designed to be taken with the Agricultural Economics Major: Students taking the Major in Agricultural Economics must take one of the following specializations: Students who take the Specialization in Agribusiness can also take the Specialization in Professional Agrology for Agribusiness (24 credits). Membership to the OAQ requires successful completion of the Agribusiness and Professional Agrology for Agribusiness specializations. Note: For a complete list of specializations offered for students in the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, please refer to "Browse Academic Units & Programs > Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) - B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.) > Specializations", in this eCalendar. To meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.Agricultural Economics Major (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (42 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 42Program Description
Program Prerequisites
Required Courses (36 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
AGEC 200 Principles of Microeconomics. 3 AGEC 201 Principles of Macroeconomics. 3 AGEC 231 Economic Systems of Agriculture. 3 AGEC 320 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory. 3 AGEC 330 Agriculture and Food Markets. 3 AGEC 332 Farm Management and Finance. 3 AGEC 333 Resource Economics. 3 AGEC 425 Applied Econometrics. 3 AGEC 430 Agriculture, Food and Resource Policy. 3 AGEC 442 Economics of International Agricultural Development. 3 ENVB 210 The Biophysical Environment. 3 MGCR 211 Introduction to Financial Accounting. 3 Complementary Courses (6 credits)
Specialization (24 credits)
Electives
Suggested specializations
Students taking the Major in Agricultural Economics must take one of the following specializations:
Agri-business
Understanding agriculture and food systems, including financial and market analysis and the appropriate policies for agriculture and food systems.
Environmental Economics
Economics, environmental policies, and the management of natural resources integrated with biological and environmental sciences.
Professional Agrology
Agrology encompasses the science and technology required for agricultural production.
To become a member of the Ordre des agronomes du Québec (OAQ) [Order of Agrologists of Quebec], you will need to take both the Agribusiness and Professional Agrology specializations.
Major in Agro-Environmental Sciences
If you are interested in the agricultural community and business then this is the program for you! Students in this program will study business, economics, global trade and public policy relating to the agricultural community. For more information visit the Agricultural Economics page.
Program details: Offered by: Plant Science (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) This Major is focused on the idea that agricultural landscapes are managed ecosystems, and that humans engaged in agriculture must maintain the highest possible environmental standards while providing food and other bioproducts to the marketplace. The Major core focuses on the basic and applied biology of cultivated plants, domestic animals, arable soils, and the economics of agriculture. Students then choose one or two specializations in these or connected disciplines that reflect their interests and career goals. The program has a strong field component that includes hands-on laboratories, visits to agricultural enterprises, and opportunities for internships. Classes and laboratories exploit the unique setting and facilities of the Macdonald Campus and Farm, which is a fully functioning farm in an urban setting that exemplifies many of the issues at the forefront of modern agricultural production. Graduates of this program are eligible to become members of the Ordre des agronomes du Québec (OAQ). For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising Refer to "Faculty Information and Regulations" > "Minimum Credit Requirements" in this Course Catalogue for prerequisites and minimum credit requirements. Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Organisms 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The biology of plants and plant-based systems in managed and natural terrestrial environments. The interactions between autotrophs and soil organisms and selected groups of animals with close ecological and evolutionary connections with plants (e.g., herbivores and pollinators) will be explored in lecture and laboratory. Statistical Methods 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Measures of central tendency and dispersion; binomial and Poisson distributions; normal, chi-square, Student's t and Fisher-Snedecor F distributions; estimation and hypothesis testing; simple linear regression and correlation; analysis of variance for simple experimental designs. Principles of Microeconomics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The field of economics as it relates to the activities of individual consumers, firms and organizations. Emphasis is on the application of economic principles and concepts to everyday decision making and to the analysis of current economic issues. Economic Systems of Agriculture. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The structure and organization of Canada's agriculture-food system, the operation, financing, linkages, and functions of its components. Focus to be on management of the various components and the entire system, types of problems confronted now and in the future. Agro-Ecosystems Field Course. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Through case studies and field trips, students will examine the problems and constraints within the Canadian agro-ecosystem, including the interrelationships among food production, the environment, agricultural policy and social issues. Research in this field of study will also be introduced. Introduction to Livestock Management Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to the scientific principles underlying animal livestock production as it relates to the consumer food chain. The world- wide demand for animal products, various areas of management (reproduction, nutrition, breeding, health, and welfare) that are used to provide those products by examining both conventional means as well as new and evolving technologies. How these techniques relate to some of the major production systems (dairy, beef, pig, and broiler and egg production) – primarily in a Provincial/Canadian context. Precision Agriculture. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The course provides an overview of the principle concepts of precision agriculture. It focuses on equipment, software and the information management systems for mastering the essential steps when adopting and developing economically viable and environmentally sound solutions for modern farms and other agribusiness
enterprises. The Biophysical Environment. Terms offered: Fall 2025 With reference to the ecosystems in the St Lawrence lowlands, the principles and processes governing climate-landform-water-soil-vegetation systems and their interactions will be examined in lecture and laboratory. Emphasis on the natural environment as an integrated system. Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The course integrates classical, molecular and population genetics of animals, plants, bacteria and viruses. The aim is to understand the flow of genetic information within a cell, within families and in populations. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving based learning. The laboratory exercises will emphasize the interpretation of genetic experimental data. Biochemistry 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids; enzymes and coenzymes. Introduction to intermediary metabolism. Introductory Microbiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The occurrence and importance of microorganisms in the biosphere. Principles governing growth, death and metabolic activities of microorganisms. An introduction to the microbiology of soil, water, plants, food, humans and animals. Soil Nutrient Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Plant nutrients in the soil, influence of soil properties on nutrient absorption and plant growth, use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. 6 credits of complementary courses selected as follows: One of: Forage Crops and Pastures. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Ecology, management, and physiology of forage crops with emphasis on establishment, growth, maintenance, harvesting, and preservation; value as livestock feed in terms of nutritional composition and role in environmental conservation. Introduction to Crop Science Terms offered: Fall 2025 Application of plant science and soil science to production of agronomic and horticultural crops. Use and sustainability of fertilization, weed control, crop rotation, tillage, drainage and irrigation practices. One of: Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Choose at least one specialization of 18-24 credits. Specializations designed to be taken with the Agro-Environmental Sciences Major: Membership to the OAQ requires students successfully complete one of the above specializations in addition to the Professional Agrology Specialization. To meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.Agro-Environmental Sciences Major (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (42 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 42Program Description
Program Prerequisites
Required Courses (36 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
AEBI 210 Organisms 1. 3 AEMA 310 Statistical Methods 1. 3 AGEC 200 Principles of Microeconomics. 3 AGEC 231 Economic Systems of Agriculture. 3 AGRI 215 Agro-Ecosystems Field Course. 3 ANSC 250 Introduction to Livestock Management 3 BREE 329 Precision Agriculture. 3 ENVB 210 The Biophysical Environment. 3 LSCI 204 Genetics. 3 LSCI 211 Biochemistry 1. 3 LSCI 230 Introductory Microbiology. 3 SOIL 315 Soil Nutrient Management. 3 Complementary Courses (6 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
PLNT 302 Forage Crops and Pastures. 3 PLNT 200 Introduction to Crop Science 3 Expand allContract all
Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 451 3 PLNT 300 Specialization
Electives
Honours program details:
Program information not available.
Suggested specializations
The following specializations are designed to be taken with the Agro-Environmental Sciences Major:
Animal Production
The Animal Production specialization will be of interest to students who wish to study the improved efficiency of livestock production at the national and international levels. Students will be exposed to animal nutrition, reproduction and breeding in a context that respects environmental concerns and animal-welfare issues.
Entomology
The Entomology specialization that focuses on the biology, ecology, evolution and behavior of insects and their relatives. Students will gain field experience as well as skills in insect taxonomy and systematic. Furthermore, students will study the roles of insects in various ecosystems, their functional importance and their roles as vectors for human disease.
Ecological Agriculture
The Ecological Agriculture specialization provides a holistic understanding of how agro-ecosystems work and the science of sustainable agriculture. It emphasizes the interrelationships among soils, plants, insects, animals, humans and other components of agro-ecosystems. As well the specialization applies ecological concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agro-ecosystems. If you are interested in both agriculture and the environment this specialization is right for you.
Plant Production
The Plant Production specialization aims to provide students with an excellent background in the knowledge and skills relating to the biology and physiology, breeding, propagation, and management of domesticated plants.
Professional Agrology
The Professional Agrology specialization is required for students who wish to qualify for membership in the Ordre des Agronomes du Québec (OAQ). It must be taken with the Agro-Environmental Sciences Major and a second specialization in Animal Production, Ecological Agriculture, Plant Production, or Soil and Water Resources, or with the Agricultural Economics Major and the Agri-business Specialization.
Major in Environmental Biology
If you are interested in biological sciences with a passion for the environment then this program is for you! Students in this program will study the diversity, conservation, biology and ecology of a wide range of organisms and ecosystems. For more information visit the Environmental Biology page.
Program details: Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) The Environmental Biology Major is about the biology, diversity, and ecology of a broad range of organisms, from plant and vertebrate animals to insects, fungi, and microbes. This Major places a strong emphasis on the ecosystems that species inhabit and the constraints imposed by the physical environment and by environmental change. Environmental Biology has significant field components worked into the course sets, and through this experiential learning, biological diversity, and the ways that species interact with their physical environment in a variety of ecosystems will be studied. The Major makes full use of the unique physical setting and faculty expertise of McGill's Macdonald campus to train students to become ecologists, taxonomists, field biologists, and ecosystem scientists. For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising Please refer to "Faculty Information and Regulations" > "Minimum Credit Requirements", in this Course Catalogue for information on prerequisites and minimum credit requirements. Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Organisms 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The biology of plants and plant-based systems in managed and natural terrestrial environments. The interactions between autotrophs and soil organisms and selected groups of animals with close ecological and evolutionary connections with plants (e.g., herbivores and pollinators) will be explored in lecture and laboratory. Organisms 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to the biology of heterotrophs, focusing on animal diversity from the perspectives of phylogenetics, physiology, and ecology. Introduction to major animal taxa, comparing and contrasting these taxa, and exploration of the relationships among them. Evolution and Phylogeny. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Overview of the tree of life and exploration of the central role evolution plays in the field of biology. Difficulties inherent to classifying life and critically assessing evolutionary theory among scientific and popular audiences. The importance of phylogenetics and the relationships among major groups of organisms. Science Literacy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Development of English language and information literacy. Problem-based approach using science topics from specializations offered by the Faculty will be central to skill development. The course includes how to research and compose work in scientific format and will encourage a reader-oriented style. Statistical Methods 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Measures of central tendency and dispersion; binomial and Poisson distributions; normal, chi-square, Student's t and Fisher-Snedecor F distributions; estimation and hypothesis testing; simple linear regression and correlation; analysis of variance for simple experimental designs. The Biophysical Environment. Terms offered: Fall 2025 With reference to the ecosystems in the St Lawrence lowlands, the principles and processes governing climate-landform-water-soil-vegetation systems and their interactions will be examined in lecture and laboratory. Emphasis on the natural environment as an integrated system. St. Lawrence Ecosystems. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Integrative field biology course about the biodiversity and ecology of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems within the St. Lawrence Lowlands. Research projects about the natural history of the regional flora and fauna. Fundamentals of community, ecosystem and landscape ecology. Population and Community Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Interactions between organisms and their environment; historical and current perspectives in applied and theoretical population and community ecology. Principles of population dynamics, feedback loops, and population regulation. Development and structure of communities; competition, predation and food web dynamics. Biodiversity science in theory and practice. Ecosystem Ecology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Biotic and abiotic processes that control the flows of energy, nutrients and water through ecosystems; emergent system properties; approaches to analyzing complex systems. Labs include collection and multivariate analysis of field data.
Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The course integrates classical, molecular and population genetics of animals, plants, bacteria and viruses. The aim is to understand the flow of genetic information within a cell, within families and in populations. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving based learning. The laboratory exercises will emphasize the interpretation of genetic experimental data. Biochemistry 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids; enzymes and coenzymes. Introduction to intermediary metabolism. Introductory Microbiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The occurrence and importance of microorganisms in the biosphere. Principles governing growth, death and metabolic activities of microorganisms. An introduction to the microbiology of soil, water, plants, food, humans and animals. 6 credits of complementary courses selected from: Insect Biology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to entomology, including the the importance and diversity of insects; insect morphology, anatomy and physiology; insect sensory systems; reproduction; metamorphosis; insect classification and survey of the orders and common families. Meteorology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The physical processes underlying weather. Topics include: the atmosphere - its properties (structure and motion), and thermodynamics (stability, heat and moisture); clouds and precipitation; air masses and fronts; mid-latitude weather systems and severe weather. Phylogeny and Biogeography. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Topics in the interface of evolution, phylogenetics, and biogeography, including tree thinking, phylogeny estimation, and the processes that generate and maintain biodiversity. The major scientific discoveries that demonstrated how Earth’s history affects the evolution of organisms, including the unheard voices of evolutionary biology. Assessing Environmental Impact. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Principles and practice of Environmental Assessment (EA) in Canada and internationally. Exploration of issues surrounding impact assessment for sustainable development in different sectors, including their limitations. Research Project 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Independent research project in consultation with a faculty supervisor. Selection of a research problem, formulation of hypotheses and objectives, research design, comprehensive literature review, commence data collection. Research Project 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Continuation of the independent research project begun in ENVB 497. Data collection and analysis, testing of hypotheses, discussion of results. Internship 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Full-time work-term intended to complement the student's undergraduate studies. Course work will be graded by a Faculty member with expertise relevant to the student's area of study. Finding a work placement is the responsibility of the student and facilitated by the Faculty's Internship Office. Microbial Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The ecology of microorganisms, primarily bacteria and archaea, and their roles in
biogeochemical cycles. Microbial interactions with the environment, plants, animals and other microbes emphasizing the underlying genetics and physiology. Diversity, evolution (microbial phylogenetics) and the application of molecular biology in microbial ecology. Biology of Fungi. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course describes the various groups of fungi and explores in depth their biology and physiology, their ecological niches and the role in various ecosystems and their benefits and uses in industry and biotechnology. Flowering Plant Diversity. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Principles of classification and identification of flowering plants and ferns, with emphasis on 35 major families of flowering plants and the habitats in which they grow. Plant Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Theory and practice of plant ecology with an emphasis on the interaction between patterns and ecological processes and the dynamics, conservation and management of plant populations and communities over a range of temporal and spatial scales. Geosystems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Interactions between Earth's various geologic systems and how these interactions lead to mineral and rock formation. Geomorphic processes and how various landforms are created by the interactions at the Earth's surface between the various geologic systems. Fish Ecology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to the biology and ecology of freshwater and marine fishes. Topics include taxonomy, physiology, biogeography, competition, predation, fishing, and conservation. Lab exercises and field trips emphasize familiarity with local fishes and their ecological interactions. Natural History of Vertebrates. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The diversity and natural history of Canadian vertebrates illustrated with trophic, phylogenetic, and macroecological approaches. Integrated Forest Management. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The study of silviculture and silvics and their application to forest management to sustain the production of wood and other ecological goods and services such as wildlife, water and landscape in natural forests and rural environments (agroforestry). Acquisition of practical skills in forest surveying and computer simulation of forest growth. At least one specialization of 18-24 credits. Specializations designed to be taken with the Environmental Biology Major: Note: For a complete list of specializations offered for students in the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, refer to "Browse Academic Units & Programs" > "Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) - B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)" > "Specializations", in this eCalendar. Consult the Academic Adviser for approval of specializations other than those listed above. To meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.Environmental Biology Major (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (42 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 42Program Description
Program Prerequisites
Required Courses (36 credits)
Expand allContract all
Course List
Course
Title
Credits
AEBI 210 Organisms 1. 3 AEBI 211 Organisms 2. 3 AEBI 212 Evolution and Phylogeny. 3 AEHM 205 Science Literacy. 3 AEMA 310 Statistical Methods 1. 3 ENVB 210 The Biophysical Environment. 3 ENVB 222 St. Lawrence Ecosystems. 3 ENVB 305 Population and Community Ecology. 3 ENVB 410 Ecosystem Ecology. 3 LSCI 204 Genetics. 3 LSCI 211 Biochemistry 1. 3 LSCI 230 Introductory Microbiology. 3 Complementary Courses (6 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ENTO 330 Insect Biology. 3 ENVB 301 Meteorology. 3 ENVB 313 Phylogeny and Biogeography. 3 ENVB 437 Assessing Environmental Impact. 3 ENVB 497 Research Project 1. 3 ENVB 498 Research Project 2. 3 FAES 300 Internship 2. 3 MICR 331 Microbial Ecology. 3 PLNT 304 Biology of Fungi. 3 PLNT 358 Flowering Plant Diversity. 3 PLNT 460 Plant Ecology. 3 SOIL 300 Geosystems. 3 WILD 302 Fish Ecology. 3 WILD 307 Natural History of Vertebrates. 3 WOOD 441 Integrated Forest Management. 3 Specialization
Electives
Honours program details: Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) Students can use their electives to complete the Honours program. The courses credited to the Honours program must be in addition to any required or complementary courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the student's Major and Specialization. In addition to satisfying the Honours requirements, students must apply for the Honours program in March or April of their U2 year. It is the responsibility of the student to find a professor who is willing to support and supervise the research project. No student will be accepted into the program until a supervisor has agreed to supervise the student. Applicants must have a minimum CGPA of 3.3 to enter the Honours program and they must earn a B grade (3.0) or higher in the courses making up the Honours program. Students are required to achieve a minimum overall CGPA of 3.3 at graduation to obtain honours. The Honours program consists of 12 credits of courses that follow one of two plans listed below. Students who meet all the requirements will have the name of their program changed to include the word "Honours." A brief description of the Honours project activities involved will be documented and signed by the Program Director of the student's Major, the supervisor of the Honours project, and the student. The Environmental Biology Major is about the biology, diversity, and ecology of a broad range of organisms, from plant and vertebrate animals to insects, fungi, and microbes. This Major places a strong emphasis on the ecosystems that species inhabit and the constraints imposed by the physical environment and by environmental change. Environmental Biology has significant field components worked into the course sets, and through this experiential learning, biological diversity, and the ways that species interact with their physical environment in a variety of ecosystems will be studied. The Major makes full use of the unique physical setting and faculty expertise of McGill's Macdonald campus to train students to become ecologists, taxonomists, field biologists, and ecosystem scientists. Please refer to "Faculty Information and Regulations" > "Minimum Credit Requirements" in this Course Catalogue for information on prerequisites and minimum credit requirements. Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Organisms 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The biology of plants and plant-based systems in managed and natural terrestrial environments. The interactions between autotrophs and soil organisms and selected groups of animals with close ecological and evolutionary connections with plants (e.g., herbivores and pollinators) will be explored in lecture and laboratory. Organisms 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to the biology of heterotrophs, focusing on animal diversity from the perspectives of phylogenetics, physiology, and ecology. Introduction to major animal taxa, comparing and contrasting these taxa, and exploration of the relationships among them. Evolution and Phylogeny. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Overview of the tree of life and exploration of the central role evolution plays in the field of biology. Difficulties inherent to classifying life and critically assessing evolutionary theory among scientific and popular audiences. The importance of phylogenetics and the relationships among major groups of organisms. Science Literacy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Development of English language and information literacy. Problem-based approach using science topics from specializations offered by the Faculty will be central to skill development. The course includes how to research and compose work in scientific format and will encourage a reader-oriented style. Statistical Methods 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Measures of central tendency and dispersion; binomial and Poisson distributions; normal, chi-square, Student's t and Fisher-Snedecor F distributions; estimation and hypothesis testing; simple linear regression and correlation; analysis of variance for simple experimental designs. The Biophysical Environment. Terms offered: Fall 2025 With reference to the ecosystems in the St Lawrence lowlands, the principles and processes governing climate-landform-water-soil-vegetation systems and their interactions will be examined in lecture and laboratory. Emphasis on the natural environment as an integrated system. St. Lawrence Ecosystems. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Integrative field biology course about the biodiversity and ecology of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems within the St. Lawrence Lowlands. Research projects about the natural history of the regional flora and fauna. Fundamentals of community, ecosystem and landscape ecology. Population and Community Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Interactions between organisms and their environment; historical and current perspectives in applied and theoretical population and community ecology. Principles of population dynamics, feedback loops, and population regulation. Development and structure of communities; competition, predation and food web dynamics. Biodiversity science in theory and practice. Ecosystem Ecology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Biotic and abiotic processes that control the flows of energy, nutrients and water through ecosystems; emergent system properties; approaches to analyzing complex systems. Labs include collection and multivariate analysis of field data.
Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The course integrates classical, molecular and population genetics of animals, plants, bacteria and viruses. The aim is to understand the flow of genetic information within a cell, within families and in populations. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving based learning. The laboratory exercises will emphasize the interpretation of genetic experimental data. Biochemistry 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids; enzymes and coenzymes. Introduction to intermediary metabolism. Introductory Microbiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The occurrence and importance of microorganisms in the biosphere. Principles governing growth, death and metabolic activities of microorganisms. An introduction to the microbiology of soil, water, plants, food, humans and animals. 6 credits from the following: Insect Biology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to entomology, including the the importance and diversity of insects; insect morphology, anatomy and physiology; insect sensory systems; reproduction; metamorphosis; insect classification and survey of the orders and common families. Meteorology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The physical processes underlying weather. Topics include: the atmosphere - its properties (structure and motion), and thermodynamics (stability, heat and moisture); clouds and precipitation; air masses and fronts; mid-latitude weather systems and severe weather. Phylogeny and Biogeography. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Topics in the interface of evolution, phylogenetics, and biogeography, including tree thinking, phylogeny estimation, and the processes that generate and maintain biodiversity. The major scientific discoveries that demonstrated how Earth’s history affects the evolution of organisms, including the unheard voices of evolutionary biology. Assessing Environmental Impact. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Principles and practice of Environmental Assessment (EA) in Canada and internationally. Exploration of issues surrounding impact assessment for sustainable development in different sectors, including their limitations. Research Project 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Independent research project in consultation with a faculty supervisor. Selection of a research problem, formulation of hypotheses and objectives, research design, comprehensive literature review, commence data collection. Research Project 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Continuation of the independent research project begun in ENVB 497. Data collection and analysis, testing of hypotheses, discussion of results. GIS for Natural Resource Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to the presentation and analysis of ecological information, including sources and capture of spatial data; characterizing, transforming, displaying spatial data; and spatial analysis to solve resource management problems. Internship 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Full-time work-term intended to complement the student's undergraduate studies. Course work will be graded by a Faculty member with expertise relevant to the student's area of study. Finding a work placement is the responsibility of the student and facilitated by the Faculty's Internship Office. Microbial Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The ecology of microorganisms, primarily bacteria and archaea, and their roles in
biogeochemical cycles. Microbial interactions with the environment, plants, animals and other microbes emphasizing the underlying genetics and physiology. Diversity, evolution (microbial phylogenetics) and the application of molecular biology in microbial ecology. Biology of Fungi. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course describes the various groups of fungi and explores in depth their biology and physiology, their ecological niches and the role in various ecosystems and their benefits and uses in industry and biotechnology. Flowering Plant Diversity. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Principles of classification and identification of flowering plants and ferns, with emphasis on 35 major families of flowering plants and the habitats in which they grow. Plant Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Theory and practice of plant ecology with an emphasis on the interaction between patterns and ecological processes and the dynamics, conservation and management of plant populations and communities over a range of temporal and spatial scales. Geosystems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Interactions between Earth's various geologic systems and how these interactions lead to mineral and rock formation. Geomorphic processes and how various landforms are created by the interactions at the Earth's surface between the various geologic systems. Fish Ecology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to the biology and ecology of freshwater and marine fishes. Topics include taxonomy, physiology, biogeography, competition, predation, fishing, and conservation. Lab exercises and field trips emphasize familiarity with local fishes and their ecological interactions. Natural History of Vertebrates. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The diversity and natural history of Canadian vertebrates illustrated with trophic, phylogenetic, and macroecological approaches. Integrated Forest Management. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The study of silviculture and silvics and their application to forest management to sustain the production of wood and other ecological goods and services such as wildlife, water and landscape in natural forests and rural environments (agroforestry). Acquisition of practical skills in forest surveying and computer simulation of forest growth. 12 credits of Honours Plan A or Plan B: 12 credits of Honours research courses in the subject area of the student's Major, chosen in consultation with the Program Director of the student's Major and the professor who has agreed to supervise the research project. Honours Research Project 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Preparation of a literature review, progress report, and delivery of a proposal seminar, as well as initiating the research project. Honours Research Project
2. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Completion of the honours research project, including a progress report, a final project report, and a project presentation.
OR 6 credits of Honours project courses in the subject area of the student’s Major as well as 6 credits in 400- or 500-level courses, normally selected from the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, in consultation with the Program Director of the student's Major and the professor who has agreed to supervise the project. Honours Project 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Preparation of a literature review, progress report and delivery of a proposal seminar, as well as initiating the research project. Honours Project 2 Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Completion of the honours project, including a progress report, a final project report, and a project presentation. At least one specialization of 18-24 credits. Specializations designed to be taken with the Environmental Biology Major: Note: For a complete list of specializations offered for students in the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, refer to "Browse Academic Units & Programs" > "Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) - B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)" > "Specializations" in this eCalendar. Consult the Academic Adviser for approval of specializations other than those listed above. To meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.Environmental Biology Honours (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (54 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 54Program Description
Program Prerequisites
Required Courses (36 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
AEBI 210 Organisms 1. 3 AEBI 211 Organisms 2. 3 AEBI 212 Evolution and Phylogeny. 3 AEHM 205 Science Literacy. 3 AEMA 310 Statistical Methods 1. 3 ENVB 210 The Biophysical Environment. 3 ENVB 222 St. Lawrence Ecosystems. 3 ENVB 305 Population and Community Ecology. 3 ENVB 410 Ecosystem Ecology. 3 LSCI 204 Genetics. 3 LSCI 211 Biochemistry 1. 3 LSCI 230 Introductory Microbiology. 3 Complementary Courses (18 credits)
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Course
Title
Credits
ENTO 330 Insect Biology. 3 ENVB 301 Meteorology. 3 ENVB 313 Phylogeny and Biogeography. 3 ENVB 437 Assessing Environmental Impact. 3 ENVB 497 Research Project 1. 3 ENVB 498 Research Project 2. 3 ENVB 529 GIS for Natural Resource Management. 3 FAES 300 Internship 2. 3 MICR 331 Microbial Ecology. 3 PLNT 304 Biology of Fungi. 3 PLNT 358 Flowering Plant Diversity. 3 PLNT 460 Plant Ecology. 3 SOIL 300 Geosystems. 3 WILD 302 Fish Ecology. 3 WILD 307 Natural History of Vertebrates. 3 WOOD 441 Integrated Forest Management. 3 Honours Courses
Honours Plan A
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Course
Title
Credits
ENVB 401 Honours Research Project 1. 6 ENVB 402 Honours Research Project
2. 6 Honours Plan B
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Course
Title
Credits
ENVB 405 Honours Project 1. 3 ENVB 406 Honours Project 2 3 Specialization
Electives
Suggested specializations
Applied Ecology
The Applied Ecology specialization develops students understanding of how ecosystems function. It emphasizes living and non-living components of ecosystems and how they interact. This specialization encourages systems thinking to the challenge of managing ecosystems for agriculture, forestry, fisheries, protected areas and urban development.
Program details: Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) Food, water, air, the materials we use, and much of the diversity of life and recreation we enjoy are products of ecological systems. We manage ecosystems to provide these services and our use and mis-use often degrades the ability of ecosystems to provide the benefits and services we value. In the Applied Ecology specialization you will develop your ability to understand how ecosystems function. You will apply systems thinking to the challenge of managing ecosystems for agriculture, forestry, fisheries, protected areas and urban development. You will learn concepts and tools that help you to deal with the complexity that an ecosystem perspective brings. The goal of this specialization is to provide students with an opportunity to further develop their understanding of the ecosystem processes, ecology, and systems thinking necessary to understand, design and manage our interaction with the environment. For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Population and Community Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Interactions between organisms and their environment; historical and current perspectives in applied and theoretical population and community ecology. Principles of population dynamics, feedback loops, and population regulation. Development and structure of communities; competition, predation and food web dynamics. Biodiversity science in theory and practice. Assessing Environmental Impact. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Principles and practice of Environmental Assessment (EA) in Canada and internationally. Exploration of issues surrounding impact assessment for sustainable development in different sectors, including their limitations. GIS for Natural Resource Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to the presentation and analysis of ecological information, including sources and capture of spatial data; characterizing, transforming, displaying spatial data; and spatial analysis to solve resource management problems. 15 credits selected from the following: Principles of Ecological Agriculture. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on low-input, sustainable, and organic agriculture: the farm as an ecosystem; complex system theory; practical examples of soil management, pest control, integrated crop and livestock production, and marketing systems. Bio-Environmental Engineering. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An introduction to how humans affect the earth's ecosystem and projections for the needs of food, water, air and energy to support the human population. Ecologically-reasonable coping strategies including biofuels, bioprocessing, waste management, and remediation methods. Insect Biology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to entomology, including the the importance and diversity of insects; insect morphology, anatomy and physiology; insect sensory systems; reproduction; metamorphosis; insect classification and survey of the orders and common families. Field Entomology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A field course and project about arthropod taxonomy, field methods and experimental design in entomology. Includes natural history observation, and experimental approaches to arthropod population and community ecology. Meteorology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The physical processes underlying weather. Topics include: the atmosphere - its properties (structure and motion), and thermodynamics (stability, heat and moisture); clouds and precipitation; air masses and fronts; mid-latitude weather systems and severe weather. Phylogeny and Biogeography. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Topics in the interface of evolution, phylogenetics, and biogeography, including tree thinking, phylogeny estimation, and the processes that generate and maintain biodiversity. The major scientific discoveries that demonstrated how Earth’s history affects the evolution of organisms, including the unheard voices of evolutionary biology. Ecosystem Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Through the examination of cases studies presented in a modular format, students will be exposed to a variety of ecosystem processes. Choice of components, interactions and type of management to achieve desired endpoints will be discussed. Advanced Topics in Ecotoxicology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Exploring the impact of environmental chemicals on biological organisms in an ecological context. Basic topics in ecotoxicology, such as source and fate, routes of exposure, bioavailability, dose-response, biomarkers, and risk assessment will be covered from both theoretical and applied perspectives. The processes by which pollutants are tested, regulated, and monitored will be critically examined. Quantitative Methods: Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to a broad range of innovative data analysis strategies commonly applied to ecological data. How to apply these strategies. Common “best practices” for data management, study design, and graphing techniques. Advanced GIS for Natural Resource Management. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An advanced spatial analysis course that uses rapidly developing techniques in GIS and remote sensing to solve problems in natural resource management. Focuses on controlling spatial operations through programming. Microbial Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The ecology of microorganisms, primarily bacteria and archaea, and their roles in
biogeochemical cycles. Microbial interactions with the environment, plants, animals and other microbes emphasizing the underlying genetics and physiology. Diversity, evolution (microbial phylogenetics) and the application of molecular biology in microbial ecology. Environmental Microbiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on microbes in the environment. Topics include extreme environments, polar microbiology, biotechnology and bioremediation. Emphasis will be on population studies based upon molecular biological methods. Biology of Fungi. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course describes the various groups of fungi and explores in depth their biology and physiology, their ecological niches and the role in various ecosystems and their benefits and uses in industry and biotechnology. Plant Ecophysiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course investigates the complex interactions between plants and their environment, focusing on the mechanisms underlying plant physiological processes. Plasticity of plants to their ecological environment; topics include phytoremediation, plant stress responses, plant-symbiosis and plant-insect interactions. Plant Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Theory and practice of plant ecology with an emphasis on the interaction between patterns and ecological processes and the dynamics, conservation and management of plant populations and communities over a range of temporal and spatial scales. Geosystems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Interactions between Earth's various geologic systems and how these interactions lead to mineral and rock formation. Geomorphic processes and how various landforms are created by the interactions at the Earth's surface between the various geologic systems. Soils in a Changing Environment. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Soil processes responsible for soil formation will be studied and the impact of changes to the physical and chemical environment will be discussed. Soil Ecology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Exploration of the unique soil habitat for organisms with a focus on the variables that affect the abundance, diversity and interactions of soil biota and, in turn, their influence on soil physicochemical properties, biogeochemical cycles and other factors impacting ecosystem sustainability. Topics include survey of soil fauna, soil food webs, microbial ecology, biological carbon and nitrogen cycling, plant-soil interactions, and the effects of human activities and management on soil ecology, including synthesizing concepts and a critical analysis and interpretation of primary scientific literature in soil ecology.
Fish Ecology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to the biology and ecology of freshwater and marine fishes. Topics include taxonomy, physiology, biogeography, competition, predation, fishing, and conservation. Lab exercises and field trips emphasize familiarity with local fishes and their ecological interactions. Natural History of Vertebrates. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The diversity and natural history of Canadian vertebrates illustrated with trophic, phylogenetic, and macroecological approaches. Mammalogy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course focuses on the evolution, classification, ecology and behaviour of mammals and relations between humans and mammals. Also structure, systematics and identification of local and world mammals, as well as field methods will be emphasized. Ornithology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Taxonomic relationships and evolution of birds. Examination of the physiology, migration, identification and ecological processes of North American birds.
Wildlife Conservation. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Study of current controversial issues focusing on wildlife conservation. Topics include: animal rights, exotic species, ecotourism, urban wildlife, multi-use of national parks, harvesting of wildlife, biological controls, and endangered species. Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) Food, water, air, the materials we use, and much of the diversity of life and recreation we enjoy are products of ecological systems. We manage ecosystems to provide these services and our use and misuse often degrades the ability of ecosystems to provide the benefits and services we value. In the Minor Applied Ecology you will develop your ability to understand how ecosystems function. You will apply systems thinking to the challenge of managing ecosystems for agriculture, forestry, fisheries, protected areas, and urban development. Concepts and tools will be presented that help you to deal with the complexity that an ecosystem perspective brings. The goal of this minor is to provide students with an opportunity to further develop their understanding of the ecosystem processes, ecology, and systems thinking necessary to understand, design, and manage our interaction with the environment. For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising To obtain a Minor in Applied Ecology, students must: Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Population and Community Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Interactions between organisms and their environment; historical and current perspectives in applied and theoretical population and community ecology. Principles of population dynamics, feedback loops, and population regulation. Development and structure of communities; competition, predation and food web dynamics. Biodiversity science in theory and practice. Assessing Environmental Impact. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Principles and practice of Environmental Assessment (EA) in Canada and internationally. Exploration of issues surrounding impact assessment for sustainable development in different sectors, including their limitations. GIS for Natural Resource Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to the presentation and analysis of ecological information, including sources and capture of spatial data; characterizing, transforming, displaying spatial data; and spatial analysis to solve resource management problems. 15 credits selected from: Principles of Ecological Agriculture. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on low-input, sustainable, and organic agriculture: the farm as an ecosystem; complex system theory; practical examples of soil management, pest control, integrated crop and livestock production, and marketing systems. Bio-Environmental Engineering. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An introduction to how humans affect the earth's ecosystem and projections for the needs of food, water, air and energy to support the human population. Ecologically-reasonable coping strategies including biofuels, bioprocessing, waste management, and remediation methods. Insect Biology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to entomology, including the the importance and diversity of insects; insect morphology, anatomy and physiology; insect sensory systems; reproduction; metamorphosis; insect classification and survey of the orders and common families. Field Entomology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A field course and project about arthropod taxonomy, field methods and experimental design in entomology. Includes natural history observation, and experimental approaches to arthropod population and community ecology. Meteorology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The physical processes underlying weather. Topics include: the atmosphere - its properties (structure and motion), and thermodynamics (stability, heat and moisture); clouds and precipitation; air masses and fronts; mid-latitude weather systems and severe weather. Phylogeny and Biogeography. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Topics in the interface of evolution, phylogenetics, and biogeography, including tree thinking, phylogeny estimation, and the processes that generate and maintain biodiversity. The major scientific discoveries that demonstrated how Earth’s history affects the evolution of organisms, including the unheard voices of evolutionary biology. Ecosystem Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Through the examination of cases studies presented in a modular format, students will be exposed to a variety of ecosystem processes. Choice of components, interactions and type of management to achieve desired endpoints will be discussed. Advanced Topics in Ecotoxicology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Exploring the impact of environmental chemicals on biological organisms in an ecological context. Basic topics in ecotoxicology, such as source and fate, routes of exposure, bioavailability, dose-response, biomarkers, and risk assessment will be covered from both theoretical and applied perspectives. The processes by which pollutants are tested, regulated, and monitored will be critically examined. Quantitative Methods: Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to a broad range of innovative data analysis strategies commonly applied to ecological data. How to apply these strategies. Common “best practices” for data management, study design, and graphing techniques. Advanced GIS for Natural Resource Management. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An advanced spatial analysis course that uses rapidly developing techniques in GIS and remote sensing to solve problems in natural resource management. Focuses on controlling spatial operations through programming. Microbial Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The ecology of microorganisms, primarily bacteria and archaea, and their roles in
biogeochemical cycles. Microbial interactions with the environment, plants, animals and other microbes emphasizing the underlying genetics and physiology. Diversity, evolution (microbial phylogenetics) and the application of molecular biology in microbial ecology. Environmental Microbiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on microbes in the environment. Topics include extreme environments, polar microbiology, biotechnology and bioremediation. Emphasis will be on population studies based upon molecular biological methods. Biology of Fungi. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course describes the various groups of fungi and explores in depth their biology and physiology, their ecological niches and the role in various ecosystems and their benefits and uses in industry and biotechnology. Plant Ecophysiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course investigates the complex interactions between plants and their environment, focusing on the mechanisms underlying plant physiological processes. Plasticity of plants to their ecological environment; topics include phytoremediation, plant stress responses, plant-symbiosis and plant-insect interactions. Plant Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Theory and practice of plant ecology with an emphasis on the interaction between patterns and ecological processes and the dynamics, conservation and management of plant populations and communities over a range of temporal and spatial scales. Geosystems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Interactions between Earth's various geologic systems and how these interactions lead to mineral and rock formation. Geomorphic processes and how various landforms are created by the interactions at the Earth's surface between the various geologic systems. Soils in a Changing Environment. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Soil processes responsible for soil formation will be studied and the impact of changes to the physical and chemical environment will be discussed. Soil Ecology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Exploration of the unique soil habitat for organisms with a focus on the variables that affect the abundance, diversity and interactions of soil biota and, in turn, their influence on soil physicochemical properties, biogeochemical cycles and other factors impacting ecosystem sustainability. Topics include survey of soil fauna, soil food webs, microbial ecology, biological carbon and nitrogen cycling, plant-soil interactions, and the effects of human activities and management on soil ecology, including synthesizing concepts and a critical analysis and interpretation of primary scientific literature in soil ecology.
Fish Ecology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to the biology and ecology of freshwater and marine fishes. Topics include taxonomy, physiology, biogeography, competition, predation, fishing, and conservation. Lab exercises and field trips emphasize familiarity with local fishes and their ecological interactions. Natural History of Vertebrates. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The diversity and natural history of Canadian vertebrates illustrated with trophic, phylogenetic, and macroecological approaches. Mammalogy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course focuses on the evolution, classification, ecology and behaviour of mammals and relations between humans and mammals. Also structure, systematics and identification of local and world mammals, as well as field methods will be emphasized. Ornithology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Taxonomic relationships and evolution of birds. Examination of the physiology, migration, identification and ecological processes of North American birds.
Wildlife Conservation. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Study of current controversial issues focusing on wildlife conservation. Topics include: animal rights, exotic species, ecotourism, urban wildlife, multi-use of national parks, harvesting of wildlife, biological controls, and endangered species.Applied Ecology Major (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (24 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 24Program Description
Required Courses (9 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ENVB 305 Population and Community Ecology. 3 ENVB 437 Assessing Environmental Impact. 3 ENVB 529 GIS for Natural Resource Management. 3 Complementary Courses (15 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
AGRI 340 Principles of Ecological Agriculture. 3 BREE 327 Bio-Environmental Engineering. 3 ENTO 330 Insect Biology. 3 ENTO 340 Field Entomology. 3 ENVB 301 Meteorology. 3 ENVB 313 Phylogeny and Biogeography. 3 ENVB 415 Ecosystem Management. 3 ENVB 500 Advanced Topics in Ecotoxicology. 3 ENVB 506 Quantitative Methods: Ecology. 3 ENVB 530 Advanced GIS for Natural Resource Management. 3 MICR 331 Microbial Ecology. 3 MICR 450 Environmental Microbiology. 3 PLNT 304 Biology of Fungi. 3 PLNT 426 Plant Ecophysiology. 3 PLNT 460 Plant Ecology. 3 SOIL 300 Geosystems. 3 SOIL 326 Soils in a Changing Environment. 3 SOIL 535 Soil Ecology. 3 WILD 302 Fish Ecology. 3 WILD 307 Natural History of Vertebrates. 3 WILD 350 Mammalogy. 3 WILD 420 Ornithology. 3 WILD 421 Wildlife Conservation. 3
Minor in Applied Ecology (24-credits): Applied Ecology Minor (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (24 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 24Program Description
Required Courses (9 credits)
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Course
Title
Credits
ENVB 305 Population and Community Ecology. 3 ENVB 437 Assessing Environmental Impact. 3 ENVB 529 GIS for Natural Resource Management. 3 Complementary Courses (15 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
AGRI 340 Principles of Ecological Agriculture. 3 BREE 327 Bio-Environmental Engineering. 3 ENTO 330 Insect Biology. 3 ENTO 340 Field Entomology. 3 ENVB 301 Meteorology. 3 ENVB 313 Phylogeny and Biogeography. 3 ENVB 415 Ecosystem Management. 3 ENVB 500 Advanced Topics in Ecotoxicology. 3 ENVB 506 Quantitative Methods: Ecology. 3 ENVB 530 Advanced GIS for Natural Resource Management. 3 MICR 331 Microbial Ecology. 3 MICR 450 Environmental Microbiology. 3 PLNT 304 Biology of Fungi. 3 PLNT 426 Plant Ecophysiology. 3 PLNT 460 Plant Ecology. 3 SOIL 300 Geosystems. 3 SOIL 326 Soils in a Changing Environment. 3 SOIL 535 Soil Ecology. 3 WILD 302 Fish Ecology. 3 WILD 307 Natural History of Vertebrates. 3 WILD 350 Mammalogy. 3 WILD 420 Ornithology. 3 WILD 421 Wildlife Conservation. 3
Entomology
The Entomology specialization that focuses on the biology, ecology, evolution and behavior of insects and their relatives. Students will gain field experience as well as skills in insect taxonomy and systematic. Furthermore, students will study the roles of insects in various ecosystems, their functional importance and their roles as vectors for human disease.
Plant Biology
The Plant Biology specialization emphasizes the study of plants from their cellular structure to their role in the ecosystem. Students will examine the structure and development of plants and learn about their physiology and biochemistry. Furthermore, students will develop skills in plant identification, plant propagation, and molecular methods for studying plants and fungi.
Program details:
Program information not available.
Wildlife Biology
The Wildlife Biology specialization is a hands-on, field-oriented program that studies the biology, ecology, and behaviour of vertebrate animals, especially mammals, birds and fishes. This specialization focuses on the management and conservation of wildlife species and their habitats, recognizing that wildlife species are important both in ecosystems and to society. Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) This specialization focuses on the ecology of vertebrate animals, their biological and physical environment, and the interactions that are important in the management of ecological communities and wildlife species. Students have access to local wildlife resources including the Avian Science and Conservation Centre, the McGill Arboretum, the Stonycroft Wildlife Area, the Molson Reserve, and the Ecomuseum. For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. GIS for Natural Resource Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to the presentation and analysis of ecological information, including sources and capture of spatial data; characterizing, transforming, displaying spatial data; and spatial analysis to solve resource management problems. Natural History of Vertebrates. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The diversity and natural history of Canadian vertebrates illustrated with trophic, phylogenetic, and macroecological approaches. Mammalogy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course focuses on the evolution, classification, ecology and behaviour of mammals and relations between humans and mammals. Also structure, systematics and identification of local and world mammals, as well as field methods will be emphasized. Fisheries and Wildlife Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Principles of fisheries and wildlife management are considered and current practices of research and management are discussed. Ornithology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Taxonomic relationships and evolution of birds. Examination of the physiology, migration, identification and ecological processes of North American birds.
9 credits from the following: Behavioural Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. How an organism’s behaviour relates to its physical, biological, and social environment, using evolutionary and ecological perspectives. Emphasis is on general principles, covering topics such feeding, predator avoidance, aggression, reproduction, social behaviour, communication and cognition. Herpetology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Principles of biology as exemplified by amphibians and reptiles. Topics include: adaptation, social behaviour, reproductive strategies, physiology, biomechanics, ecology, biogeography and evolution. Laboratories will emphasize structure, systematics and identification of local and world herpetofauna as well as field methods. Assessing Environmental Impact. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Principles and practice of Environmental Assessment (EA) in Canada and internationally. Exploration of issues surrounding impact assessment for sustainable development in different sectors, including their limitations. Quantitative Methods: Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to a broad range of innovative data analysis strategies commonly applied to ecological data. How to apply these strategies. Common “best practices” for data management, study design, and graphing techniques. Fundamental Parasitology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Systematics, morphology, biology and ecology of parasitic protozoa, flatworms, roundworms and arthropods with emphasis on economically and medically important species. Flowering Plant Diversity. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Principles of classification and identification of flowering plants and ferns, with emphasis on 35 major families of flowering plants and the habitats in which they grow. Fish Ecology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to the biology and ecology of freshwater and marine fishes. Topics include taxonomy, physiology, biogeography, competition, predation, fishing, and conservation. Lab exercises and field trips emphasize familiarity with local fishes and their ecological interactions. Wildlife Conservation. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Study of current controversial issues focusing on wildlife conservation. Topics include: animal rights, exotic species, ecotourism, urban wildlife, multi-use of national parks, harvesting of wildlife, biological controls, and endangered species. Desert Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A three week field course exploring relationships between climate, geology, landforms, biodiversity, biotic adaptations and ecosystem conditions in the arid regions of Arizona and southern California. Focus is on the Sonoran and Mojave deserts but includes the transitions to adjacent grassland and forest biomes of the Sky Islands and Colorado Plateau. Exploration of issues arising from human use of land and water, and conservation in arid environments. Experiential learning involving team and individual projects and assignments before and during the field trip.
Program details: Wildlife Biology Major (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (24 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 24Program Description
Required Courses (15 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ENVB 529 GIS for Natural Resource Management. 3 WILD 307 Natural History of Vertebrates. 3 WILD 350 Mammalogy. 3 WILD 401 Fisheries and Wildlife Management. 3 WILD 420 Ornithology. 3 Complementary Courses (9 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
BIOL 307 Behavioural Ecology. 3 BIOL 427 Herpetology. 3 ENVB 437 Assessing Environmental Impact. 3 ENVB 506 Quantitative Methods: Ecology. 3 PARA 424 Fundamental Parasitology. 3 PLNT 358 Flowering Plant Diversity. 3 WILD 302 Fish Ecology. 3 WILD 421 Wildlife Conservation. 3 WILD 475 Desert Ecology. 3
Major in Global Food Security
This major provides a global perspective on agriculture and food security. By learning about rural development, poverty, and food safety, you can work with communities to improve lives, locally and around the world.
Program details:
Program information not available.
Honours program details: Offered by: Agricultural Economics (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) This program is currently not offered. Students can use their electives to complete the Honours program. The courses credited to the Honours program must be in addition to any required or complementary courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the student's major and specialization. In addition to satisfying the research requirements, students must apply for the Honours program in March or April of their U2 year. It is the responsibility of the student to find a professor who is willing to support and supervise the research project. No student will be accepted into the program until a supervisor has agreed to supervise the student. Applicants must have a minimum CGPA of 3.3 to enter the Honours program and they must earn a B grade (3.0) or higher in the courses making up the Honours program. Students are required to achieve a minimum overall CGPA of 3.3 at graduation to obtain Honours. Students can use their electives to complete the Honours program. The courses credited to the Honours program must be in addition to any required or complementary courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the student's major and specialization. The Honours program consists of 12 credits of courses that follow one of two plans listed below. Students who meet all the requirements will have the name of their program changed to include the word "Honours." A brief description of the research activities involved will be documented and signed by the Program Director of the student's major, the supervisor of the research project, and the student. Refer to "Faculty Information and Regulations" > "Minimum Credit Requirements" in this Course Catalogue for prerequisites and minimum credit requirements. Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Principles of Microeconomics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The field of economics as it relates to the activities of individual consumers, firms and organizations. Emphasis is on the application of economic principles and concepts to everyday decision making and to the analysis of current economic issues. Principles of Macroeconomics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The overall economic system, how it works, and the instruments used to solve social problems. Emphasis will be on decision-making involving the entire economic system and segments of it. Economic Systems of Agriculture. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The structure and organization of Canada's agriculture-food system, the operation, financing, linkages, and functions of its components. Focus to be on management of the various components and the entire system, types of problems confronted now and in the future. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An intermediate theory course in agricultural economics, dealing with economic concepts as applied to agricultural production and cost functions. Includes theory and application of linear programming as related to production decisions. Agriculture and Food Markets. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Nature and organization of agricultural and food markets as economic institutions, including the application of economic theory to problems within the agri-food marketing chain. Spatial and temporal price relationships, and the role of market structure. Resource Economics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The role of resources in the environment, use of resources, and management of economic resources within the firm or organization. Problem-solving, case studies involving private and public decision-making in organizations are utilized. Applied Econometrics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The theory and application of econometrics to empirical issues in agriculture and environment. Diagnosis and treatment of standard violations of the assumptions underlying ordinary least squares. Agriculture, Food and Resource Policy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Examination of North American and international agriculture, food and resource policies, policy instruments, programs and their implications. Economic analysis applied to the principles, procedures and objectives of various policy actions affecting agriculture, and the environment. Economics of International Agricultural Development. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The course deals with economic aspects of international development with emphasis on the role of food, agriculture and the resource sector in the economy of developing countries. Topics will include world food analysis, development project analysis and policies for sustainable development. Development case studies will be used. Research and Methodology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Conceptual and philosophical foundations of research methodology, and the procedural aspects of planning, designing and conducting research in applied economics. The Biophysical Environment. Terms offered: Fall 2025 With reference to the ecosystems in the St Lawrence lowlands, the principles and processes governing climate-landform-water-soil-vegetation systems and their interactions will be examined in lecture and laboratory. Emphasis on the natural environment as an integrated system. Students choose either Plan A or Plan B. Two 6-credit Honours research courses in the subject area of the student's major, chosen in consultation with the Program Director of the student's major and the professor who has agreed to supervise the research project. Honours Research Project 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Students will prepare a Literature Review, Progress Report and deliver a Proposal Seminar as well as begin work on the research project. Completion of the project will take place in FAES 402, Honours Research Project 2. Honours Research Project 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Honours Research Project 2 is the completion of the project begun in FAES 401 and requires a Progress Report, a Final Project Report and a Project Presentation. A minimum of two 3-credit Honours courses and 6 credits in 400- or 500-level courses, from the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, selected in consultation with the Program Director of the student's major. The topic of the Honours research project must be on a topic related to their major and selected in consultation with the Program Director of the student's major and the professor who has agreed to supervise the research project. Honours Project 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Students will prepare a Literature Review, Progress Report and deliver a Proposal Seminar as well as begin work on the research project. Completion of the project will take place in FAES 406, Honours Project 2. Honours Project 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Honours Project 2 is the completion of the project begun in FAES 405 and requires a Progress Report, a Final Project Report and a Project Presentation. With the approval of the Academic Adviser, one introductory course in each of the following areas: Specializations designed to be taken with the Agricultural Economics Major: Membership to the OAQ requires successful completion of these two specializations. Note: For a complete list of specializations offered for students in the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, please refer to "Browse Academic Units & Programs" > "Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) - B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)" > "Specializations" in this eCalendar. To meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.Agricultural Economics Honours (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (42 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 42Program Description
Program Prerequisites
Required Courses (33 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
AGEC 200 Principles of Microeconomics. 3 AGEC 201 Principles of Macroeconomics. 3 AGEC 231 Economic Systems of Agriculture. 3 AGEC 320 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory. 3 AGEC 330 Agriculture and Food Markets. 3 AGEC 333 Resource Economics. 3 AGEC 425 Applied Econometrics. 3 AGEC 430 Agriculture, Food and Resource Policy. 3 AGEC 442 Economics of International Agricultural Development. 3 AGEC 491 Research and Methodology. 3 ENVB 210 The Biophysical Environment. 3 Honours Courses
Honours Plan A
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Course
Title
Credits
FAES 401 Honours Research Project 1. 6 FAES 402 Honours Research Project 2. 6 Honours Plan B
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
FAES 405 Honours Project 1. 3 FAES 406 Honours Project 2. 3 Complementary Courses (9 credits)
Specialization (21 - 24 credits)
Electives
Suggested specialization
International Agriculture
The International Agriculture specialization allows students to acquire a global and applied understanding of agriculture as a fundamental tool to help rural development, alleviate poverty and reach food security, especially in the developing world. In this program, students will study water resources, sustainable development, nutrition, planning and development, and a host of other fascinating topics, allowing them to sharpen their skills for future career opportunities.
Major in Life Sciences
If you are interested in fundamental biological sciences and science from a cellular and molecular level this program is right for you! Students in this program will study animal, plant, microbial, cell and/or molecular biology depending on their chosen specialization. For more information visit the Life Sciences page.
Program details: Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) The Life Sciences (Biological and Agricultural) Major provides a strong foundation in the basic biological sciences. It will prepare graduates for careers in the agricultural, environmental, health, and biotechnological fields. Graduates with high academic achievement may go on to postgraduate studies in research, or professional programs in the biological, veterinary, medical, and health sciences fields. For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising Please refer to "Faculty Information and Regulations" > "Minimum Credit Requirements", in this Course Catalogue for prerequisites and minimum credit requirements. Default Specialization: Students who do not select a Specialization will automatically be assigned to the Life Sciences (Multidisciplinary) Specialization upon entering U2. Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Organisms 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The biology of plants and plant-based systems in managed and natural terrestrial environments. The interactions between autotrophs and soil organisms and selected groups of animals with close ecological and evolutionary connections with plants (e.g., herbivores and pollinators) will be explored in lecture and laboratory. Organisms 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to the biology of heterotrophs, focusing on animal diversity from the perspectives of phylogenetics, physiology, and ecology. Introduction to major animal taxa, comparing and contrasting these taxa, and exploration of the relationships among them. Evolution and Phylogeny. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Overview of the tree of life and exploration of the central role evolution plays in the field of biology. Difficulties inherent to classifying life and critically assessing evolutionary theory among scientific and popular audiences. The importance of phylogenetics and the relationships among major groups of organisms. Science Literacy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Development of English language and information literacy. Problem-based approach using science topics from specializations offered by the Faculty will be central to skill development. The course includes how to research and compose work in scientific format and will encourage a reader-oriented style. Statistical Methods 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Measures of central tendency and dispersion; binomial and Poisson distributions; normal, chi-square, Student's t and Fisher-Snedecor F distributions; estimation and hypothesis testing; simple linear regression and correlation; analysis of variance for simple experimental designs. Eukaryotic Cells and Viruses. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The basic principles of molecular biology and the underlying molecular basis for various methodologies in molecular biology are covered. The molecular genetic basis for viral infections and tumorigenesis will be covered as examples of the use of molecular genetic approaches to address biological problems. Molecular Cell Biology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Organization and function of intracellular organelles in eukaryotic cells. Mechanisms of membrane transport. Protein sorting and vesicular transport. Cytoskeleton. DNA and chromosome structure. DNA replication. Mechanisms of RNA and protein synthesis. Control of gene expression. Cell cycle and the control of cell division. Mechanisms of cell communication and signal transduction. Apoptosis. Neuronal signaling. Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The course integrates classical, molecular and population genetics of animals, plants, bacteria and viruses. The aim is to understand the flow of genetic information within a cell, within families and in populations. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving based learning. The laboratory exercises will emphasize the interpretation of genetic experimental data. Biochemistry 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids; enzymes and coenzymes. Introduction to intermediary metabolism. Introductory Microbiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The occurrence and importance of microorganisms in the biosphere. Principles governing growth, death and metabolic activities of microorganisms. An introduction to the microbiology of soil, water, plants, food, humans and animals. Immunology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An in-depth analysis of the principles of cellular and molecular immunology. The emphasis of the course is on host defence against infection and on diseases caused by abnormal immune responses. Other appropriate Statistics courses may be approved as substitutes by the Program Director. 9 credits of the complementary courses selected from: Biochemistry 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Metabolism in humans and domestic animals. The chemistry of alimentary digestion, absorption, transport, intermediary metabolism and excretion. Introduction to Livestock Management Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to the scientific principles underlying animal livestock production as it relates to the consumer food chain. The world- wide demand for animal products, various areas of management (reproduction, nutrition, breeding, health, and welfare) that are used to provide those products by examining both conventional means as well as new and evolving technologies. How these techniques relate to some of the major production systems (dairy, beef, pig, and broiler and egg production) – primarily in a Provincial/Canadian context. Animal Health and Disease. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to the pathogenesis and control of diseases in farm animals. Immune response and other protective mechanisms. Implications of animal diseases and drug therapy for product safety and public health. Mammalian Physiology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of the organization, functions and regulation of various organ systems in mammals. The nervous, endocrine, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, digestive and reproductive systems are discussed. Developmental Biology and Reproduction. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on the hormonal, cellular and molecular aspects of reproduction and development (gametogenesis, folliculogenesis, fertilization, embryonic and foetal
development, parturition, lactation period, periods before and after puberty). Emphasis on underlying cellular mechanisms and their regulation by hormones
and the environment. Fundamentals of Population Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Population genetics mechanisms in mammals, birds and plant. Factors influencing gene, genotype, and phenotypic frequencies. Effects of different types of selection, Hardy-Weinberg, linkage and recombination, polymorphisms and heterozygosity, population size, random drift and inbreeding on gene and genotype frequencies. Relationship between quantitative genetic parameters and gene frequencies. Animal Biotechnology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Applications of animal biotechnology in agriculture, biomedicine and environmental
preservation, including culture, manipulation and transformation of somatic cells, isolation of stem cells, reproductive biotechnologies, animal cloning by nuclear transplantation, production of genetically modified and gene-edited animals,
and cell and gene therapies. Bioinformatics for Genomics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Bioinformatics methods and reasoning in relation to genomics, proteomics and metabolomics strategies with an emphasis on functional genomics data. The course will cover introduction to UNIX, Perl programming, data processing and integration, file parsing, relational database design and implementation, angled towards solutions relevant for genomics. Experiments in Biotechnology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Practical laboratory-based research experience. Techniques in cellular and molecular biology, designing experiments and developing skills in interpretation and communication of experimental results. The Biophysical Environment. Terms offered: Fall 2025 With reference to the ecosystems in the St Lawrence lowlands, the principles and processes governing climate-landform-water-soil-vegetation systems and their interactions will be examined in lecture and laboratory. Emphasis on the natural environment as an integrated system. St. Lawrence Ecosystems. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Integrative field biology course about the biodiversity and ecology of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems within the St. Lawrence Lowlands. Research projects about the natural history of the regional flora and fauna. Fundamentals of community, ecosystem and landscape ecology. Internship 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Full-time work-term intended to complement the student's undergraduate studies. Course work will be graded by a Faculty member with expertise relevant to the student's area of study. Finding a work placement is the responsibility of the student and facilitated by the Faculty's Internship Office. Research Project 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A research project on a topic relevant to the life sciences. This course is intended for senior (U3) undergraduates. Research Project 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Continuation of the project begun in LSCI 451 on a topic relevant to the life sciences. Microbial Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The ecology of microorganisms, primarily bacteria and archaea, and their roles in
biogeochemical cycles. Microbial interactions with the environment, plants, animals and other microbes emphasizing the underlying genetics and physiology. Diversity, evolution (microbial phylogenetics) and the application of molecular biology in microbial ecology. Bacterial Molecular Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Basic bacterial genetics, DNA damage and repair, mutagenesis, gene cloning, mapping and regulation, molecular biology. Laboratory sessions will provide the student with practical experience in the genetic manipulation of microbes and in molecular biology techniques. Mechanisms of Pathogenicity. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of the means by which bacteria cause disease in animals and humans. Includes response of host to invading bacteria, bacterial attachment and penetration processes, and modes of actions of exotoxins and endotoxins. Environmental Microbiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on microbes in the environment. Topics include extreme environments, polar microbiology, biotechnology and bioremediation. Emphasis will be on population studies based upon molecular biological methods. Pollution and Bioremediation. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The environmental contaminants which cause pollution; sources, amounts and transport of pollutants in water, air and soil; waste management. Environment and Infection. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Infectious pathogens of humans and animals and their impact on the global environment are considered. The central tenet is that infectious pathogens are environmental risk factors. The course considers their impact on the human condition and juxtaposes the impact of control and treatment measures and environmental change. Fundamental Parasitology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Systematics, morphology, biology and ecology of parasitic protozoa, flatworms, roundworms and arthropods with emphasis on economically and medically important species. Biology of Fungi. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course describes the various groups of fungi and explores in depth their biology and physiology, their ecological niches and the role in various ecosystems and their benefits and uses in industry and biotechnology. Plant Structure and Function. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The general anatomy and physiology of vascular plants with emphasis on how physiological processes influence function. Plant Ecophysiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course investigates the complex interactions between plants and their environment, focusing on the mechanisms underlying plant physiological processes. Plasticity of plants to their ecological environment; topics include phytoremediation, plant stress responses, plant-symbiosis and plant-insect interactions. Plant Breeding. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Principles and practices of plant breeding, including reproduction of crop plants; plant hybridization; sources of genetic variation; selection methods used for self- and cross-pollinated crops and for clonally reproduced crops; breeding for diseases and pest resistance; applications of biotechnology in plant breeding. At least one specialization of 18-24 credits from: Specializations designed to be taken with the Life Sciences (Biological and Agricultural) Major: Note: For a complete list of specializations offered for students in the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, please refer to "Browse Academic Units & Programs" > "Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) - B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)" > "Specializations" in this eCalendar. To meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.Life Sciences (Biological and Agricultural) Major (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (42 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 42Program Description
Program Prerequisites
Required Courses (33 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
AEBI 210 Organisms 1. 3 AEBI 211 Organisms 2. 3 AEBI 212 Evolution and Phylogeny. 3 AEHM 205 Science Literacy. 3 AEMA 310 Statistical Methods 1. 1 3 ANSC 400 Eukaryotic Cells and Viruses. 3 LSCI 202 Molecular Cell Biology. 3 LSCI 204 Genetics. 3 LSCI 211 Biochemistry 1. 3 LSCI 230 Introductory Microbiology. 3 PARA 438 Immunology. 3 Complementary Courses (9 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 234 Biochemistry 2. 3 ANSC 250 Introduction to Livestock Management 3 ANSC 312 Animal Health and Disease. 3 ANSC 323 Mammalian Physiology. 3 ANSC 324 Developmental Biology and Reproduction. 3 ANSC 326 Fundamentals of Population Genetics. 3 ANSC 420 Animal Biotechnology. 3 BINF 511 Bioinformatics for Genomics. 3 BTEC 306 Experiments in Biotechnology. 3 ENVB 210 The Biophysical Environment. 3 ENVB 222 St. Lawrence Ecosystems. 3 FAES 300 Internship 2. 3 LSCI 451 Research Project 1. 3 LSCI 452 Research Project 2. 3 MICR 331 Microbial Ecology. 3 MICR 338 Bacterial Molecular Genetics. 3 MICR 341 Mechanisms of Pathogenicity. 3 MICR 450 Environmental Microbiology. 3 NRSC 333 Pollution and Bioremediation. 3 PARA 410 Environment and Infection. 3 PARA 424 Fundamental Parasitology. 3 PLNT 304 Biology of Fungi. 3 PLNT 353 Plant Structure and Function. 3 PLNT 426 Plant Ecophysiology. 3 PLNT 435 Plant Breeding. 3 Specialization
Electives
Honours program details: Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) Students must apply for the Honours program in March or April of their U2 year. It is the responsibility of the student to find a professor who is willing to support and supervise the research project. No student will be accepted into the program until a supervisor has agreed to supervise the student. Applicants must have a minimum CGPA of 3.3 to enter the Honours program and they must earn a B grade (3.0) or higher in the courses making up the Honours program. Students are required to achieve a minimum overall CGPA of 3.3 at graduation to obtain Honours. Students who meet all the requirements will have the name of their program changed to include the word "Honours." A brief description of the Honours project activities involved will be documented and signed by the Program Director of the student's Major, the supervisor of the Honours project, and the student. The Life Sciences (Biological and Agricultural) Major provides a strong foundation in the basic biological sciences. It will prepare graduates for careers in the agricultural, environmental, health, and biotechnological fields. Graduates with high academic achievement may go on to postgraduate studies in research, or professional programs in the biological, veterinary, medical, and health sciences fields. For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising Please refer to "Faculty Information and Regulations" > "Minimum Credit Requirements" in this Course Catalogue for prerequisites and minimum credit requirements. Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Organisms 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The biology of plants and plant-based systems in managed and natural terrestrial environments. The interactions between autotrophs and soil organisms and selected groups of animals with close ecological and evolutionary connections with plants (e.g., herbivores and pollinators) will be explored in lecture and laboratory. Organisms 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to the biology of heterotrophs, focusing on animal diversity from the perspectives of phylogenetics, physiology, and ecology. Introduction to major animal taxa, comparing and contrasting these taxa, and exploration of the relationships among them. Evolution and Phylogeny. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Overview of the tree of life and exploration of the central role evolution plays in the field of biology. Difficulties inherent to classifying life and critically assessing evolutionary theory among scientific and popular audiences. The importance of phylogenetics and the relationships among major groups of organisms. Science Literacy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Development of English language and information literacy. Problem-based approach using science topics from specializations offered by the Faculty will be central to skill development. The course includes how to research and compose work in scientific format and will encourage a reader-oriented style. Statistical Methods 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Measures of central tendency and dispersion; binomial and Poisson distributions; normal, chi-square, Student's t and Fisher-Snedecor F distributions; estimation and hypothesis testing; simple linear regression and correlation; analysis of variance for simple experimental designs. Eukaryotic Cells and Viruses. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The basic principles of molecular biology and the underlying molecular basis for various methodologies in molecular biology are covered. The molecular genetic basis for viral infections and tumorigenesis will be covered as examples of the use of molecular genetic approaches to address biological problems. Molecular Cell Biology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Organization and function of intracellular organelles in eukaryotic cells. Mechanisms of membrane transport. Protein sorting and vesicular transport. Cytoskeleton. DNA and chromosome structure. DNA replication. Mechanisms of RNA and protein synthesis. Control of gene expression. Cell cycle and the control of cell division. Mechanisms of cell communication and signal transduction. Apoptosis. Neuronal signaling. Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The course integrates classical, molecular and population genetics of animals, plants, bacteria and viruses. The aim is to understand the flow of genetic information within a cell, within families and in populations. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving based learning. The laboratory exercises will emphasize the interpretation of genetic experimental data. Biochemistry 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids; enzymes and coenzymes. Introduction to intermediary metabolism. Introductory Microbiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The occurrence and importance of microorganisms in the biosphere. Principles governing growth, death and metabolic activities of microorganisms. An introduction to the microbiology of soil, water, plants, food, humans and animals. Honours Research Project
1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Preparation of an honours research proposal, progress report, and delivery of a proposal seminar, as well as initiating the research project. Honours Research Project 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Completion of the honours research project, including a progress report, a final project report, and a project presentation. Immunology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An in-depth analysis of the principles of cellular and molecular immunology. The emphasis of the course is on host defence against infection and on diseases caused by abnormal immune responses. Other appropriate Statistics courses may be approved as substitutes by the Program Director. 9 credits of the complementary courses selected from: Biochemistry 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Metabolism in humans and domestic animals. The chemistry of alimentary digestion, absorption, transport, intermediary metabolism and excretion. Introduction to Livestock Management Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to the scientific principles underlying animal livestock production as it relates to the consumer food chain. The world- wide demand for animal products, various areas of management (reproduction, nutrition, breeding, health, and welfare) that are used to provide those products by examining both conventional means as well as new and evolving technologies. How these techniques relate to some of the major production systems (dairy, beef, pig, and broiler and egg production) – primarily in a Provincial/Canadian context. Animal Health and Disease. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to the pathogenesis and control of diseases in farm animals. Immune response and other protective mechanisms. Implications of animal diseases and drug therapy for product safety and public health. Mammalian Physiology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of the organization, functions and regulation of various organ systems in mammals. The nervous, endocrine, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, digestive and reproductive systems are discussed. Developmental Biology and Reproduction. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on the hormonal, cellular and molecular aspects of reproduction and development (gametogenesis, folliculogenesis, fertilization, embryonic and foetal
development, parturition, lactation period, periods before and after puberty). Emphasis on underlying cellular mechanisms and their regulation by hormones
and the environment. Fundamentals of Population Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Population genetics mechanisms in mammals, birds and plant. Factors influencing gene, genotype, and phenotypic frequencies. Effects of different types of selection, Hardy-Weinberg, linkage and recombination, polymorphisms and heterozygosity, population size, random drift and inbreeding on gene and genotype frequencies. Relationship between quantitative genetic parameters and gene frequencies. Animal Biotechnology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Applications of animal biotechnology in agriculture, biomedicine and environmental
preservation, including culture, manipulation and transformation of somatic cells, isolation of stem cells, reproductive biotechnologies, animal cloning by nuclear transplantation, production of genetically modified and gene-edited animals,
and cell and gene therapies. Bioinformatics for Genomics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Bioinformatics methods and reasoning in relation to genomics, proteomics and metabolomics strategies with an emphasis on functional genomics data. The course will cover introduction to UNIX, Perl programming, data processing and integration, file parsing, relational database design and implementation, angled towards solutions relevant for genomics. Experiments in Biotechnology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Practical laboratory-based research experience. Techniques in cellular and molecular biology, designing experiments and developing skills in interpretation and communication of experimental results. The Biophysical Environment. Terms offered: Fall 2025 With reference to the ecosystems in the St Lawrence lowlands, the principles and processes governing climate-landform-water-soil-vegetation systems and their interactions will be examined in lecture and laboratory. Emphasis on the natural environment as an integrated system. St. Lawrence Ecosystems. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Integrative field biology course about the biodiversity and ecology of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems within the St. Lawrence Lowlands. Research projects about the natural history of the regional flora and fauna. Fundamentals of community, ecosystem and landscape ecology. Internship 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025 Full-time work-term intended to complement the student's undergraduate studies. Course work will be graded by a Faculty member with expertise relevant to the student's area of study. Finding a work placement is the responsibility of the student and facilitated by the Faculty's Internship Office. Research Project 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A research project on a topic relevant to the life sciences. This course is intended for senior (U3) undergraduates. Research Project 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Continuation of the project begun in LSCI 451 on a topic relevant to the life sciences. Microbial Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The ecology of microorganisms, primarily bacteria and archaea, and their roles in
biogeochemical cycles. Microbial interactions with the environment, plants, animals and other microbes emphasizing the underlying genetics and physiology. Diversity, evolution (microbial phylogenetics) and the application of molecular biology in microbial ecology. Bacterial Molecular Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Basic bacterial genetics, DNA damage and repair, mutagenesis, gene cloning, mapping and regulation, molecular biology. Laboratory sessions will provide the student with practical experience in the genetic manipulation of microbes and in molecular biology techniques. Mechanisms of Pathogenicity. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of the means by which bacteria cause disease in animals and humans. Includes response of host to invading bacteria, bacterial attachment and penetration processes, and modes of actions of exotoxins and endotoxins. Environmental Microbiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on microbes in the environment. Topics include extreme environments, polar microbiology, biotechnology and bioremediation. Emphasis will be on population studies based upon molecular biological methods. Pollution and Bioremediation. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The environmental contaminants which cause pollution; sources, amounts and transport of pollutants in water, air and soil; waste management. Environment and Infection. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Infectious pathogens of humans and animals and their impact on the global environment are considered. The central tenet is that infectious pathogens are environmental risk factors. The course considers their impact on the human condition and juxtaposes the impact of control and treatment measures and environmental change. Fundamental Parasitology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Systematics, morphology, biology and ecology of parasitic protozoa, flatworms, roundworms and arthropods with emphasis on economically and medically important species. Biology of Fungi. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course describes the various groups of fungi and explores in depth their biology and physiology, their ecological niches and the role in various ecosystems and their benefits and uses in industry and biotechnology. Plant Structure and Function. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The general anatomy and physiology of vascular plants with emphasis on how physiological processes influence function. Plant Ecophysiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course investigates the complex interactions between plants and their environment, focusing on the mechanisms underlying plant physiological processes. Plasticity of plants to their ecological environment; topics include phytoremediation, plant stress responses, plant-symbiosis and plant-insect interactions. Plant Breeding. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Principles and practices of plant breeding, including reproduction of crop plants; plant hybridization; sources of genetic variation; selection methods used for self- and cross-pollinated crops and for clonally reproduced crops; breeding for diseases and pest resistance; applications of biotechnology in plant breeding. At least one specialization of 18-24 credits from: Specializations designed to be taken with the Life Sciences (Biological and Agricultural) Major: Note: For a complete list of specializations offered for students in the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, please refer to "Browse Academic Units & Programs" > "Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) - B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)" > "Specializations" in this eCalendar. To meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.Life Sciences (Biological and Agricultural) Honours (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (54 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 54Program Description
Program Prerequisites
Required Courses (45 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
AEBI 210 Organisms 1. 3 AEBI 211 Organisms 2. 3 AEBI 212 Evolution and Phylogeny. 3 AEHM 205 Science Literacy. 3 AEMA 310 Statistical Methods 1. 1 3 ANSC 400 Eukaryotic Cells and Viruses. 3 LSCI 202 Molecular Cell Biology. 3 LSCI 204 Genetics. 3 LSCI 211 Biochemistry 1. 3 LSCI 230 Introductory Microbiology. 3 LSCI 401 Honours Research Project
1. 6 LSCI 402 Honours Research Project 2. 6 PARA 438 Immunology. 3 Complementary Courses (9 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 234 Biochemistry 2. 3 ANSC 250 Introduction to Livestock Management 3 ANSC 312 Animal Health and Disease. 3 ANSC 323 Mammalian Physiology. 3 ANSC 324 Developmental Biology and Reproduction. 3 ANSC 326 Fundamentals of Population Genetics. 3 ANSC 420 Animal Biotechnology. 3 BINF 511 Bioinformatics for Genomics. 3 BTEC 306 Experiments in Biotechnology. 3 ENVB 210 The Biophysical Environment. 3 ENVB 222 St. Lawrence Ecosystems. 3 FAES 300 Internship 2. 3 LSCI 451 Research Project 1. 3 LSCI 452 Research Project 2. 3 MICR 331 Microbial Ecology. 3 MICR 338 Bacterial Molecular Genetics. 3 MICR 341 Mechanisms of Pathogenicity. 3 MICR 450 Environmental Microbiology. 3 NRSC 333 Pollution and Bioremediation. 3 PARA 410 Environment and Infection. 3 PARA 424 Fundamental Parasitology. 3 PLNT 304 Biology of Fungi. 3 PLNT 353 Plant Structure and Function. 3 PLNT 426 Plant Ecophysiology. 3 PLNT 435 Plant Breeding. 3 Specialization
Electives
Suggested specializations
At least one specialization of 18-24 credits must be taken with the Life Sciences (Biological and Agricultural) Major.
Animal Biology
The Animal Biology specialization provides students with knowledge about the basic biology of large mammals and birds. Students study animal physiology and function, reproduction and nutrition, immunology, genetics and biotechnology and its uses with animals. Offered by: Animal Science (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) The specialization in Animal Biology is intended for students who wish to further their studies in the basic biology of large mammals and birds. Successful completion of the program should enable students to qualify for application to most veterinary colleges in North America, to study in a variety of postgraduate biology programs, and to work in many laboratory settings. For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Animal Health and Disease. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to the pathogenesis and control of diseases in farm animals. Immune response and other protective mechanisms. Implications of animal diseases and drug therapy for product safety and public health. Mammalian Physiology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of the organization, functions and regulation of various organ systems in mammals. The nervous, endocrine, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, digestive and reproductive systems are discussed. Developmental Biology and Reproduction. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on the hormonal, cellular and molecular aspects of reproduction and development (gametogenesis, folliculogenesis, fertilization, embryonic and foetal
development, parturition, lactation period, periods before and after puberty). Emphasis on underlying cellular mechanisms and their regulation by hormones
and the environment. Animal Biotechnology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Applications of animal biotechnology in agriculture, biomedicine and environmental
preservation, including culture, manipulation and transformation of somatic cells, isolation of stem cells, reproductive biotechnologies, animal cloning by nuclear transplantation, production of genetically modified and gene-edited animals,
and cell and gene therapies. Immunology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An in-depth analysis of the principles of cellular and molecular immunology. The emphasis of the course is on host defence against infection and on diseases caused by abnormal immune responses. 9 credits selected from: Biochemistry 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Metabolism in humans and domestic animals. The chemistry of alimentary digestion, absorption, transport, intermediary metabolism and excretion. Comparative Anatomy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Study of the macroscopic anatomy of mammals based on detailed dissection of the dog. Comparison with other domestic species will be emphasized. Fundamentals of Population Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Population genetics mechanisms in mammals, birds and plant. Factors influencing gene, genotype, and phenotypic frequencies. Effects of different types of selection, Hardy-Weinberg, linkage and recombination, polymorphisms and heterozygosity, population size, random drift and inbreeding on gene and genotype frequencies. Relationship between quantitative genetic parameters and gene frequencies. Eukaryotic Cells and Viruses. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The basic principles of molecular biology and the underlying molecular basis for various methodologies in molecular biology are covered. The molecular genetic basis for viral infections and tumorigenesis will be covered as examples of the use of molecular genetic approaches to address biological problems. Metabolic Endocrinology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A detailed study of the endocrine system and its role in the maintenance of homeostasis in higher vertebrates, including the endocrine regulation of energy balance. Animal Nutrition and Metabolism. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to fundamental aspects of animal nutrition, including gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology; nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism; nutrient functions and requirements of livestock species; evaluation of feedstuffs and their use in ration formulation; and feeding strategies. Laboratory classes will include hands-on experience on feed analyses, gastrointestinal tract dissections, nutritional experiments and demonstrations in livestock species as well as computer-based ration balancing exercises. The Use and Welfare of Animals. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Understanding the roles in which animals are used by Society, especially in food production, companionship, research, and recreation; application of the scientific approaches that are used in assessing and improving animal welfare; and use of ethical approaches that are invoked in the use of animals, often in controversial contexts. An interdisciplinary course, based on active participation and discussion-method learning. Biology of Lactation. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An interdisciplinary approach to the study of mammary development, the onset of lactation and its cessation, comparing the differences in mammalian species in mammary development from embryological, pre- and post-pubertal and pre- and post-partum aspects. Lactation at the cellular and biochemical levels. Research Project 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A research project on a topic relevant to the life sciences. This course is intended for senior (U3) undergraduates.
Details: Animal Biology Major (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (24 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 24Program Description
Required Courses (15 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 312 Animal Health and Disease. 3 ANSC 323 Mammalian Physiology. 3 ANSC 324 Developmental Biology and Reproduction. 3 ANSC 420 Animal Biotechnology. 3 PARA 438 Immunology. 3 Complementary Courses (9 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 234 Biochemistry 2. 3 ANSC 251 Comparative Anatomy. 3 ANSC 326 Fundamentals of Population Genetics. 3 ANSC 400 Eukaryotic Cells and Viruses. 3 ANSC 424 Metabolic Endocrinology. 3 ANSC 433 Animal Nutrition and Metabolism. 3 ANSC 555 The Use and Welfare of Animals. 3 ANSC 560 Biology of Lactation. 3 LSCI 451 Research Project 1. 3
Animal Health and Disease
The Animal Health and Disease specialization places emphasis on how to prevent, treat and understand disease in domestic animals. The program is structured around courses within the biological and health sciences that will give you the needed background in basic sciences such as genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry to proceed with more advanced courses in the animal and health sciences. Offered by: Animal Science (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) This specialization is offered for students wishing to understand general animal physiology and function; the susceptibility of animals to various diseases; methods for limiting and controlling potential outbreaks; and the resulting implications for the animal, the consumer and the environment. It is an ideal choice for students interested in the care of animals, or in working in laboratories where diseases are being researched. For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Animal Health and Disease. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An introduction to the pathogenesis and control of diseases in farm animals. Immune response and other protective mechanisms. Implications of animal diseases and drug therapy for product safety and public health. Mammalian Physiology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of the organization, functions and regulation of various organ systems in mammals. The nervous, endocrine, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, digestive and reproductive systems are discussed. Food-Borne Pathogens. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Exploration of the taxonomy, characteristics, epidemiology, mechanisms of pathogenicity, disease, incidence, and factors affecting the survival and growth of pathogenic microorganisms in foods of animal origin; principles of detection, prevention and control of food-borne pathogens (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, viruses). Metabolic Endocrinology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A detailed study of the endocrine system and its role in the maintenance of homeostasis in higher vertebrates, including the endocrine regulation of energy balance. Mechanisms of Pathogenicity. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of the means by which bacteria cause disease in animals and humans. Includes response of host to invading bacteria, bacterial attachment and penetration processes, and modes of actions of exotoxins and endotoxins. Fundamental Parasitology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Systematics, morphology, biology and ecology of parasitic protozoa, flatworms, roundworms and arthropods with emphasis on economically and medically important species. 6 credits of complementary courses selected from: Biochemistry 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Metabolism in humans and domestic animals. The chemistry of alimentary digestion, absorption, transport, intermediary metabolism and excretion. Comparative Anatomy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Study of the macroscopic anatomy of mammals based on detailed dissection of the dog. Comparison with other domestic species will be emphasized. Farm Animal Internship Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Internship in farm animal production, including day-to-day activities of production, reproduction and health management, and exposure to major livestock species such as dairy cows, poultry, swine. The internship includes supervised- independent farm management activities and training by experienced livestock technicians. Developmental Biology and Reproduction. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on the hormonal, cellular and molecular aspects of reproduction and development (gametogenesis, folliculogenesis, fertilization, embryonic and foetal
development, parturition, lactation period, periods before and after puberty). Emphasis on underlying cellular mechanisms and their regulation by hormones
and the environment. Animal Nutrition and Metabolism. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to fundamental aspects of animal nutrition, including gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology; nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism; nutrient functions and requirements of livestock species; evaluation of feedstuffs and their use in ration formulation; and feeding strategies. Laboratory classes will include hands-on experience on feed analyses, gastrointestinal tract dissections, nutritional experiments and demonstrations in livestock species as well as computer-based ration balancing exercises. The Use and Welfare of Animals. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Understanding the roles in which animals are used by Society, especially in food production, companionship, research, and recreation; application of the scientific approaches that are used in assessing and improving animal welfare; and use of ethical approaches that are invoked in the use of animals, often in controversial contexts. An interdisciplinary course, based on active participation and discussion-method learning.
Details: Animal Health and Disease Major (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (24 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 24Program Description
Required Courses (18 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 312 Animal Health and Disease. 3 ANSC 323 Mammalian Physiology. 3 ANSC 350 Food-Borne Pathogens. 3 ANSC 424 Metabolic Endocrinology. 3 MICR 341 Mechanisms of Pathogenicity. 3 PARA 424 Fundamental Parasitology. 3 Complementary Courses (6 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 234 Biochemistry 2. 3 ANSC 251 Comparative Anatomy. 3 ANSC 303 Farm Animal Internship 3 ANSC 324 Developmental Biology and Reproduction. 3 ANSC 433 Animal Nutrition and Metabolism. 3 ANSC 555 The Use and Welfare of Animals. 3
Life Sciences (Multi-Disciplinary)
The Life Sciences specialization is a multidisciplinary approach to the study of pure and applied life sciences.
Microbiology and Molecular Biotechnology
The Microbiology and Molecular Biotechnology specialization is interdisciplinary and that combines pure and applied microbiology with the complementary area of molecular biotechnology. Students in this Specialization can develop expertise in environmental microbiology, molecular genetics, microbial pathogenesis, cellular and molecular biology genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and biotechnology.
Program details: Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) Students following this specialization receive education and training in fundamental principles and applied aspects of microbiology. Complementary courses allow students to focus on basic microbial sciences or applied areas such as biotechnology. Successful graduates may work in university, government and industrial research laboratories, in the pharmaceutical, fermentation and food industries, and with an appropriate CGPA proceed to post-graduate studies or professional biomedical schools. For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Experiments in Biotechnology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Practical laboratory-based research experience. Techniques in cellular and molecular biology, designing experiments and developing skills in interpretation and communication of experimental results. Microbial Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The ecology of microorganisms, primarily bacteria and archaea, and their roles in
biogeochemical cycles. Microbial interactions with the environment, plants, animals and other microbes emphasizing the underlying genetics and physiology. Diversity, evolution (microbial phylogenetics) and the application of molecular biology in microbial ecology. Bacterial Molecular Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Basic bacterial genetics, DNA damage and repair, mutagenesis, gene cloning, mapping and regulation, molecular biology. Laboratory sessions will provide the student with practical experience in the genetic manipulation of microbes and in molecular biology techniques. Mechanisms of Pathogenicity. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A study of the means by which bacteria cause disease in animals and humans. Includes response of host to invading bacteria, bacterial attachment and penetration processes, and modes of actions of exotoxins and endotoxins. Environmental Microbiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on microbes in the environment. Topics include extreme environments, polar microbiology, biotechnology and bioremediation. Emphasis will be on population studies based upon molecular biological methods. Fundamental Parasitology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Systematics, morphology, biology and ecology of parasitic protozoa, flatworms, roundworms and arthropods with emphasis on economically and medically important species. Food-Borne Pathogens. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Exploration of the taxonomy, characteristics, epidemiology, mechanisms of pathogenicity, disease, incidence, and factors affecting the survival and growth of pathogenic microorganisms in foods of animal origin; principles of detection, prevention and control of food-borne pathogens (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, viruses). Animal Biotechnology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Applications of animal biotechnology in agriculture, biomedicine and environmental
preservation, including culture, manipulation and transformation of somatic cells, isolation of stem cells, reproductive biotechnologies, animal cloning by nuclear transplantation, production of genetically modified and gene-edited animals,
and cell and gene therapies. Bioinformatics for Genomics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Bioinformatics methods and reasoning in relation to genomics, proteomics and metabolomics strategies with an emphasis on functional genomics data. The course will cover introduction to UNIX, Perl programming, data processing and integration, file parsing, relational database design and implementation, angled towards solutions relevant for genomics. Bioinformatics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 This course introduces the application of computer software for analysis of biological sequence information. An emphasis is placed on the biological theory behind analytical techniques, the algorithms used and methods of developing a statistical framework for various types of analysis. Functional Genomics in Model Organisms. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An overview of strategies used to understand the function of genes, especially those identified through genome sequencing and bioinformatics. Use of model organisms that have proved particularly valuable for this purpose. Structural Bioinformatics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Fundamentals of protein structure and the application of tools for structure determination, how protein structure allows us to understand the complex biological functions, and how knowledge of protein structure can contribute to drug discovery. Food Microbiology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Topics in Food Microbiology including an overview of the natural flora and microbiological spoilage of food products, methods of control and shelf-life extension, methods of detection and control food-borne pathogens and the use of suitable microorganisms in the production of a variety of food products. Fundamental Virology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the fundamental properties of viruses and their interactions with host cells. Bacteriophages, DNA- and RNA-containing animal viruses, and retroviruses are covered. Emphasis will be on phenomena occurring at the molecular level and on the regulated control of gene expression in virus-infected cells. Biology of Fungi. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course describes the various groups of fungi and explores in depth their biology and physiology, their ecological niches and the role in various ecosystems and their benefits and uses in industry and biotechnology.Microbiology and Molecular Biotechnology Major (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (24 credits)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 24Program Description
Required Courses (18 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
BTEC 306 Experiments in Biotechnology. 3 MICR 331 Microbial Ecology. 3 MICR 338 Bacterial Molecular Genetics. 3 MICR 341 Mechanisms of Pathogenicity. 3 MICR 450 Environmental Microbiology. 3 PARA 424 Fundamental Parasitology. 3 Complementary Courses and Suggested Electives (6 credits)
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Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 350 Food-Borne Pathogens. 3 ANSC 420 Animal Biotechnology. 3 BINF 511 Bioinformatics for Genomics. 3 BTEC 501 Bioinformatics. 3 BTEC 535 Functional Genomics in Model Organisms. 3 BTEC 555 Structural Bioinformatics. 3 FDSC 442 Food Microbiology. 3 MIMM 324 Fundamental Virology. 3 PLNT 304 Biology of Fungi. 3
Plant Biology
The Plant Biology specialization emphasizes the study of plants from their cellular structure to their role in the ecosystem. Students will examine the structure and development of plants and learn about their physiology and biochemistry. Furthermore, students will develop skills in plant identification, plant propagation, and molecular methods for studying plants and fungi.
Major in Environment
Three McGill faculties -- Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Arts, and Science -- pool their resources to create the Bieler School of Environment (BSE). The courses offered by the BSE are multi-disciplinary and encourage systems thinking about current environmental issues. Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences students enrolled in the BSE obtain a Bachelor of Science (AES). Student in this degree select one of the following concentrations that reflect specific thematic areas of study:
- Biodiversity and Conservation
- Ecological Determinants of Health
- Environmetrics
- Food Production and Environment
- Land Surface Processes and Environmental Change
- Renewable Resource Management
- Water Environments and Ecosystems
Learn more about this degree option on the Bieler School of Environment website.
Advisor
advisor.environment [at] mcgill.ca (Penny Kaill-Vinish), Bieler School of Environment Program Advisor
T: 514-398-4306
