Premier cycle
Program Requirement:
The Minor Natural History involves the exploration of the natural world via specimen-based studies, object-oriented investigations and field studies. Museum collections are used to provide hands-on experience with real objects and specimens. The required course brings students to the Redpath Museum and other McGill natural science museums and exposes them to natural history methodologies and the value of specimen-based studies. Complementary course lists are drawn from a variety of disciplines to emphasize breadth and integration with the inclusion of specimen- or object-based courses and field courses in zoology, botany, and earth and environmental sciences. To ensure breadth, students are required to choose courses from among these lists. A compulsory field course component rounds out the program.
Required Course (3 credits)
-
REDM 400 Science and Museums 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Redpath Museum: Natural history museums and their collections, how collections are created and maintained and how collections are used in scientific research. Context of natural history museums, collections-based research and curatorial methods.
Offered by: Redpath Museum
- Winter: Course consists of lectures, practical labs, field trips and individual term-projects.
- Prerequisites: A 200- or 300-level course that deals with diversity of specimens or objects relevant to Museum-based research and collections. e.g. BIOL 215, BIOL 305, EPSC 210, EPSC 233, ANTH 208, ANTH 310, PLNT 358, WILD 212, WILD 313, or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- David M Green, Rowan Barrett, Virginie Millien
Complementary Courses (21 credits)
Students select 21 credits from among four course lists (A (Zoology), B (Botany), C (Earth and Environmental Sciences), and D (Field Courses)) with the following specifications.
- At least 3 credits and no more than 9 credits from each of Lists A, B, and C.
- At least 3 credits from List D.
- No more than 3 credits from any one list may be at the 200 level.
Note: Students may take up to a maximum of 9 credits of courses outside the Faculties of Arts and of Science.
List A: Zoology
* Note: BIOL 205 and BIOL 215 may be applied to either List A or List B.
** Note: Students may take either ENTO 330 or one of the cross-listed courses BIOL 350 and ENTO 350 as these courses have similar content.
-
AEBI 211 Organisms 2 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Agric & Envir Sc): 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.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Restrictions: None
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Jessica Head
-
ANTH 312 Zooarchaeology 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Anthropology: A systematic investigation into current methodological and theoretical concerns in archaeological faunal analysis. Topics to be examined include sampling and quantification, butchery, seasonality, subsistence, taphonomy, and paleoecology.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Prerequisites: ANTH 201 and Honours/Major status in Anthropology
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
BIOL 205 Functional Biol of Plnts&Anmls 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): Unified view of form and function in animals and plants. Focus on how the laws of chemistry and physics illuminate biological processes relating to the acquisition of energy and materials and their use in movement, growth, development, reproduction and responses to environmental stress.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture, optional conference hour
- Prerequisites: BIOL 200 and PHYS 101 or 131 or equivalent
- Corequisite: ANAT 212/BIOC 212 or BIOL 201
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Jon Sakata, Rowan Barrett, Fiona M Soper
-
BIOL 215 Intro to Ecology and Evolution 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): An introduction to the fundamental processes of ecology and evolution that bear on the nature and diversity of organisms and the processes that govern their assembly into ecological communities and their roles in ecosystem function.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite: BIOL 111
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ENVR 202
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- Ehab Abouheif, Jennifer M Sunday
-
BIOL 305 Animal Diversity 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): The characteristics of the major groups of animals, their ancestry, history and relationship to one another. The processes of speciation, adaptive radiation and extinction responsible for diversity. Methods for constructing of phylogenies, for comparing phenotypes, and for estimating and analyzing diversity.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- 2 hours lecture and 1 three-hour laboratory
- Prerequisite: BIOL 215 or both ENVR 200 and ENVR 202
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Rowan Barrett, Graham Bell, Gregor F Fussmann, Shaun Turney, Hans Carl E Larsson
-
BIOL 350 Insect Biology and Control 3 Credits**
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): Introduction to insect structure, physiology, biochemistry, development, systematics, evolution, ecology and control. Stress on interrelationships and integrated pest control.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite: BIOL 205 or permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking ENTO 330 or ENTO 350.
- Note: This course is also offered as ENTO 350 in the winter term.
- Symbols:
- **
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
BIOL 352 Dinosaur Biology 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): Using dinosaurs as exemplars, this course teaches aspects of comparative, functional, and developmental morphology, macroevolution, macroecology, and phylogenetic systematics. Lab dissections will explore vertebrate anatomy.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory
- Prerequisites: BIOL 215 or ENVR 202 or EPSC 233 or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Hans Carl E Larsson
-
BIOL 363 Mammalian Evolution 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): The origin, diversity and evolutionary history of mammals, systematic review of fossil and living orders of mammals, aspects of mammalian paleoecology, functional morphology and adaptation.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- Prerequisite(s): BIOL 215, or ENVR 202, or permission of the instructor
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken BIOL 463.
- 2 hours lecture; 3 hours laboratory
- The course will use the extensive collections and exhibits of the Redpath Museum as a resource for weekly laboratories.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
BIOL 418 Freshwater Invertebrate Ecol 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): The life history and ecology of freshwater invertebrates in lakes, rivers and wetlands; habitat requirements, functional ecology and food web interactions; the role of invertebrates in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems; threats to freshwater diversity.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- 2 hours lecture and 3 hours lab
- Prerequisites: BIOL 215 (or ENVR 200 and ENVR 202) and BIOL 205 or permission of the instructor
- enrolment limited to 25 students
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
BIOL 427 Herpetology 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): 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.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- 2 hours lecture; 3 hours laboratory
- Prerequisite: BIOL 205 and BIOL 305 or permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken BIOL 327.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
ENTO 330 Insect Biology 3 Credits**
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Entomology: 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.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Symbols:
- **
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- Stephanie Boucher
-
ENTO 350 Insect Biology and Control 3 Credits**
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Entomology: Introduction to insect structure, physiology, biochemistry, development, systematics, evolution, ecology and control. Stress on interrelationships and integrated pest control.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite: BIOL 205 or permission of instructor
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking ENTO 330 or BIOL 350
- Note: Offered on the downtown campus. This course is also offered as BIOL 350 in the Fall term.
- Symbols:
- **
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
EPSC 334 Invertebrate Paleontology 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Earth & Planetary Sciences: Preservation of fossils; the fossil record of invertebrates; use of fossils in stratigraphy and paleoecology; fossils in evolutionary studies. Fossils of invertebrates are studied in the laboratory.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
- Winter
- 2 hours lectures and one laboratory period
- Prerequisite: EPSC 201 or EPSC 233 or ENVR 202 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Jeanne Paquette
-
WILD 307 Natural History of Vertebrates 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Resource Development: The diversity and natural history of Canadian vertebrates illustrated with trophic, phylogenetic, and macroecological approaches.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- This course carries an additional charge of 19.94 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- Murray Mitchell Humphries
-
WILD 350 Mammalogy 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Resource Development: 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.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Prerequisites: AEBI 211 and WILD 307
- An additional fee of 19.07 is charged to all students registered in WILD 350, Mammalogy, a course that has a required field trip.
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Murray Mitchell Humphries
-
WILD 420 Ornithology 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Resource Development: Taxonomic relationships and evolution of birds. Examination of the physiology, migration, identification and ecological processes of North American birds.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Prerequisite: WILD 307 or permission of instructor
- This course carries an additional charge of 19.94 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- Kyle Elliott
List B: Botany
* Note: BIOL 205 and BIOL 215 may be applied to either List A or List B.
-
AEBI 210 Organisms 1 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Agric & Envir Sc): 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.
Offered by: Plant Science
- 3 hours of lecture and 2 hours of lab, per week.
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- Mehran Dastmalchi
-
BIOL 205 Functional Biol of Plnts&Anmls 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): Unified view of form and function in animals and plants. Focus on how the laws of chemistry and physics illuminate biological processes relating to the acquisition of energy and materials and their use in movement, growth, development, reproduction and responses to environmental stress.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture, optional conference hour
- Prerequisites: BIOL 200 and PHYS 101 or 131 or equivalent
- Corequisite: ANAT 212/BIOC 212 or BIOL 201
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Jon Sakata, Rowan Barrett, Fiona M Soper
-
BIOL 215 Intro to Ecology and Evolution 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): An introduction to the fundamental processes of ecology and evolution that bear on the nature and diversity of organisms and the processes that govern their assembly into ecological communities and their roles in ecosystem function.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite: BIOL 111
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ENVR 202
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- Ehab Abouheif, Jennifer M Sunday
-
BIOL 240 Monteregian Flora 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): Field studies of ferns, fern allies, conifers and flowering plants; the use of keys for plant identification.
Offered by: Biology
- Prerequisite: BIOL 111 or permission
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PLNT 358
- Note: Taught at the Gault Nature Reserve. Contact instructor for specific dates, logistics: (virginie.millien [at] mcgill.ca).
- This course is offered in the summer.
- This course, given at the University’s Gault Nature Reserve in Mont St. Hilaire, has an additional fee of $471.42 which includes a hand lens, a textbook, handouts, lodging and supper each day.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
BIOL 355 Trees: Ecology & Evolution 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): Functional ecology and evolution of trees: patterns in the diversity of tree form and function, the nature of tree adaptation to environment from the scale of habitat to global biogeography.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisites: BIOL 205 and BIOL 215 or permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking BIOL 555.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
PLNT 304 Biology of Fungi 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Plant Science: 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.
Offered by: Plant Science
- 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
- Restriction: U2 or above, or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
PLNT 353 Plant Structure and Function 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Plant Science: The general anatomy and physiology of vascular plants with emphasis on how physiological processes influence function.
Offered by: Plant Science
- Winter
- 2 lectures and one 3-hour lab
- Prerequisites: AEBI 210 and LSCI 204 and LSCI 211 or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Jacqueline C Bede
-
PLNT 358 Flowering Plant Diversity 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Plant Science: 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.
Offered by: Plant Science
- A 4-day field week is held the week preceding the start of classes
- Prerequisite: AEBI 210 or ENVR 202 or permission of instructor
- A $92.68 fee is charged to all students registered in this course, which has a fieldwork component prior to the beginning of classes in August. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, a hand lens, instructional handouts and identification aids. Students who have already received a hand lens may request a reimbursement of a portion of this charge through their department.
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- Frieda Beauregard
-
PLNT 460 Plant Ecology 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Plant Science: 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.
Offered by: Plant Science
- 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
- Prerequisite: AEMA 310 or permission of instructor.
- This course carries an additional charge of $170.00 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
List C: Earth and Environmental Sciences
-
BIOL 540 Ecology of Species Invasions 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): Causes and consequences of biological invasion, as well as risk assessment methods and management strategies for dealing with invasive species.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite(s): BIOL 215 (or ENVR 200 plus ENVR 202), and at least one 300- or 400-level course in ecology, evolution, or conservation biology.
- Restriction: Not open to U1 or U2 students
- Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken ENVR 540.
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Anthony Ricciardi
-
ENVR 200 The Global Environment 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Environment: A systems approach to study the different components of the environment involved in global climate change: the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. The interactions among these components. Their role in global climate change. The human dimension to global change.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment
- Fall
- Section 001: Downtown Campus
- Section 051: Macdonald Campus
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Anthony Ricciardi, Frederic Fabry
- Christie Lovat, Elena M Bennett
-
ENVR 202 The Evolving Earth 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Environment: Formation of the Earth and the evolution of life. How geological and biological change are the consequence of history, chance, and necessity acting over different scales of space and time. General principles governing the formation of modern landscapes and biotas. Effects of human activities on natural systems.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment
- Winter
- Section 001: Downtown Campus
- Section 051: Macdonald Campus
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Brian Leung, Fiona M Soper, Christie Lovat
-
EPSC 210 Introductory Mineralogy 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Earth & Planetary Sciences: Elementary crystallography, chemistry and identification of the principal rock-forming and ore minerals, in hand specimens and using optical microscopy. Demonstrations of other techniques applied to the identification of minerals and to the analysis of their composition and structure. Optional 2-day field trip.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
- Fall
- 2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
- Prerequisite(s): CHEM 110 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
- A nominal fee is charged to cover expenses of materials and supplies for identification kits (pen magnet, streak plate, hand lens and acid bottle) used to identify minerals during laboratory exercises.
- Des frais seront prelevés pour couvrir l'usage des collections d'enseignement et les accessoires (loupe, aimant, bouteille d'acide chlorhydrique dilué, plaque de porcelaine) essentiels à l'identification des minéraux pendant les travaux pratiques.
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- Jeanne Paquette, Don Baker
-
EPSC 233 Earth and Life History 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Earth & Planetary Sciences: Interpretation of stratified rocks; history of Earth with special emphasis on the regions of North America; outline of the history of life recorded in fossils.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
- Fall
- 3 hours lectures
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- William G Minarik
-
ESYS 200 Earth System Processes 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Earth System Science: Complex interactions among the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere. Biological, chemical and physical processes within and between each "sphere" that extend over spatial scales ranging from microns to the size of planetary orbits and that span time scales from fractions of a second to billions of years.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite(s): ENVR 200 or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Peter M Douglas
-
ESYS 300 Investigating the Earth System 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Earth System Science: An understanding of the biological, chemical and physical fundamentals of the Earth system and how the different components interact. The mechanisms controlling interactions between reservoirs are quantitatively investigated. Special emphasis on the development and response of the Earth system to perturbations.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
- Fall
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite: ESYS 200 or equivalent.
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- Bruno Tremblay, Margaret Kalacska
-
GEOG 203 Environmental Systems 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: An introduction to system-level interactions among climate, hydrology, soils and vegetation at the scale of drainage basins, including the study of the global geographical variability in these land-surface systems. The knowledge acquired is used to study the impact on the environment of various human activities such as deforestation and urbanisation.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 3 hours
- Restriction: Because of quantitative science content of course, not recommended for B.A. and B.Ed. students in their U0 year.
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- Gail L Chmura, Nigel Thomas Roulet, Christian von Sperber
-
GEOG 272 Earth's Changing Surface 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Introduction to the study of landforms as products of geomorphic and geologic systems acting at and near the Earth's surface. The process geomorphology approach will be used to demonstrate how landforms of different geomorphic settings represent a dynamic balance between forces acting in the environment and the physical properties of materials present.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 3 hours
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Mette Bendixen
-
GEOG 470 Wetlands 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: An examination of the structure, function and utility of wetlands. Topics include the fluxes of energy and water, wetland biogeochemistry, plant ecology in freshwater and coastal wetlands and wetlands use, conservation and restoration. Field trip(s) are envisaged to illustrate issues covered in class.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 3 hours
- Restriction: Permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Instructors
- Gail L Chmura
-
GEOG 550 Historical Ecology Techniques 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Geography: Principles and methods of Quaternary paleoecology and vegetation reconstruction. Examination of ecosystem response to human disturbance and environmental change.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 2 hours, laboratory and seminar
- Prerequisite: GEOG 350 or BIOL 215 or PLNT 460 or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
List D: Field Studies
* Note: Students may take either of the cross-listed courses NRSC 405 and REDM 405, but not both.
Students may also take other field courses with the permission of the Program Adviser.
-
BIOL 331 Ecology/Behaviour Field Course 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): Methods of sampling natural populations. Testing hypotheses in nature.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- Prerequisites: BIOL 206 and BIOL 215, or equivalents, or permission of the instructor.
- Note: This course has an additional fee. The Department of Biology subsidizes a portion of the cost for this activity.
- The field portion of this course is given at the University’s Gault Nature Reserve in Mont St. Hilare over a two-week period in August. In the fall, students prepare a report based on projects carried out during this field portion. There is an additional fee of $668.32 that covers room and board and handouts. This fee could be refundable if the department approves it.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
BIOL 335 Marine Mammals 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): Biology of marine mammals with special emphasis on seals and whales of the Bay of Fundy. Taught at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, N.B., for two weeks in August. The course combines lectures, laboratory exercises, field trips, and individual projects.
Offered by: Biology
- Prerequisite: BIOL 205
- This course is offered in the summer.
- Apply first to Huntsman, then contact susan.gabe [at] mcgill.ca.
- The fee for this field course is $1804, to cover fees related to the use of facilities for teaching and lab spaces in the Huntsman Marine Center (lodging, meals, facility rental spaces, transportation and tour fees).
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
BIOL 573 Vertebrate Palaeo Field Course 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Sci): Terrestrial vertebrate fossils (i.e. dinosaurs, crocodiles and other reptiles) and palaeocommunity analysis, including practical training with fossil identification, mapping, collecting, and stratigraphic interpretation.
Offered by: Biology
- Summer
- Prerequisites: BIOL 304 and BIOL 352 or permission of instructor.
- Notes: Spring field course with completed project and presentation by the end of the Summer. Given in a selected Late Cretaceous Alberta and/or Saskatchewan site. Enrolment limited to 15 students.
- This course, given at selected localities in Alberta and/or Saskatchewan in May, has an additional fee of $1,500.00 which includes room and board, museum entrance fees, and transportation during the course, but not tuition or transportation to western Canada.
- This course is offered in the summer.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
ENTO 340 Field Entomology 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Entomology: 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.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Summer
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
EPSC 231 Field School 1 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Earth & Planetary Sciences: Geological mapping of selected areas, preparation of maps, reports from field notes, aerial photographs, etc.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
- Prerequisite: EPSC 240, or permission of the instructor.
- This field course, given in the U.S,.has an additional fee projected to be $609.78 to cover the costs of transportation, some meals and accommodation as well as other field expenses. The fee is only refundable prior to the deadline to withdraw with full refund. The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences subsidizes a portion of the cost for this activity.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
NRSC 405 Natural History of East Africa 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Natural Resource Sciences: Integrated study of African landforms, geologic history, climate, environments, biota, water resources and human influences, fostering a thorough understanding of the East African landscape and its inhabitants. Lectures, discussions on selected topics, use of museum resources and field studies will develop powers of observation, identification and enquiry.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Corequisite(s): ANTH/GEOG 451, NRSC/BIOL 452
- Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken NRSC 300 or GEOG 300. Not open to students taking REDM 405.
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
REDM 405 Natural History of East Africa 3 Credits*
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Redpath Museum: Integrated study of African landforms, geologic history, climate, environments, biota, water resources and human influences, fostering a thorough understanding of the East African landscape and its inhabitants. Lectures, discussions on selected topics, use of museum resources and field studies will develop powers of observation, identification and enquiry.
Offered by: Redpath Museum
- Winter
- Corequisites: ANTH/GEOG 451 and NRSC/BIOL 451
- Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking NRSC 300 or GEOG 300 or NRSC 405. Open only to African Field Study Semester students during the year of participation in the field.
- Course consists of field exercises, lectures, seminars and discussions.
- Symbols:
- *
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
-
WILD 475 Desert Ecology 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Resource Development: 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.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Odd-numbered Winter terms; enrollment limited to 20.
- The course begins and ends in Phoenix AZ. Students are responsible for their transportation to/from Phoenix.
- The course requires camping and living under desert conditions.
- Restriction(s): Restricted to U2 and U3 students.
- Prerequisite(s):Permission of the instructors is required to register. To be eligible students are required to have at least one systems-focused course, one ecology course and two organismal courses. Students should consult the instructors for list of appropriate courses.
- A course fee of $1,596.23 covers the cost of transportation, camping, admissions and most meals during the field trip.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year
Concentration pédagogique en diversité biologique et systématique (département de biologie)
Programme en biodiversité et conservation (école d'environnement de McGill)
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Redpath Museum: Independent research project with a final written report.
Offered by: Redpath Museum
- Restrictions: This course cannot be taken under the S/U option. Departmental permission required. Students cannot be supervised by the same instructor for two 396 Science courses. Open to students in programs offered by the Faculty of Science only.
- Note: Enrolment may be limited. Students are advised to start the application process well before the start of the term and to plan for an alternative course in the case that no suitable project is available. Individual projects may be suggested each term which may have project-specific prerequisites. Students may also approach professors to devise their own projects. Some projects may be accessible to students in other disciplines. See https://www.mcgill.ca/science/research/undergraduate-research/science-research-courses for more information about available projects and application forms and procedures.
- Terms
- Fall 2023
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- Virginie Millien, Hans Carl E Larsson, David M Green, Anthony Ricciardi
**Les étudiants en mineure d'Histoire Naturelle inscrits aux sessions d'Été 2020 et d'Automne 2021 peuvent prendre le cours REDM 396 et faire un projet individuel sur le terrain (ou en plein air) au lieu de suivre un cours sur le terrain car ceux-ci sont annulés.
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Redpath Museum: Natural history museums and their collections, how collections are created and maintained and how collections are used in scientific research. Context of natural history museums, collections-based research and curatorial methods.
Offered by: Redpath Museum
- Winter: Course consists of lectures, practical labs, field trips and individual term-projects.
- Prerequisites: A 200- or 300-level course that deals with diversity of specimens or objects relevant to Museum-based research and collections. e.g. BIOL 215, BIOL 305, EPSC 210, EPSC 233, ANTH 208, ANTH 310, PLNT 358, WILD 212, WILD 313, or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- David M Green, Rowan Barrett, Virginie Millien
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Redpath Museum: Integrated study of African landforms, geologic history, climate, environments, biota, water resources and human influences, fostering a thorough understanding of the East African landscape and its inhabitants. Lectures, discussions on selected topics, use of museum resources and field studies will develop powers of observation, identification and enquiry.
Offered by: Redpath Museum
- Winter
- Corequisites: ANTH/GEOG 451 and NRSC/BIOL 451
- Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking NRSC 300 or GEOG 300 or NRSC 405. Open only to African Field Study Semester students during the year of participation in the field.
- Course consists of field exercises, lectures, seminars and discussions.
- Terms
- Winter 2024
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023 academic year
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Redpath Museum: The course will allow senior undergraduates and graduate students to become intimately acquainted with key primary literature in museum-based science and the major issues challenging the field. Course components will include the weekly Redpath seminar series, and also a 2-hour weekly lecture, presentation, and discussion session.
Offered by: Redpath Museum
- Prerequisite(s): REDM 400 and/or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2023 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023 academic year
Pour plus d'informations sur les programmes de premier cycle offerts au musée Redpath, consultez le eCalendar de McGill et faites une recherche avec le terme REDM.
Cycle supérieur
Pour des informations générales, consultez les pages sur les études supérieures et post-doctorales de l'université McGill.
Le musée Redpath a un programme de formation dynamique pour des étudiants de cycle supérieur centré sur la recherche en biosystématiques et biologie de l'évolution menant à l'obtention de diplômes de maîtrise et de thèses. Les étudiants sont inscrits dans le département de biologie ou le département des sciences de la terre et des planètes. Les étudiants sont dirigés par des professeurs du musée. Les personnes intéressées doivent contacter les professeurs concernés directement.
Liste de points prioritaires pour les chargés de cours: 
Redpath Museum Priority Points List