In addition to the SSS course requirements below, note the follow are also required for an Interfaculty BASc degree (see the Course planning tab on the left):
- required course: BASC 201 (as 3 elective credits)
- 30 credits toward freshman requirements
- 18-24 credits toward a minor
- 12-18 credits toward electives
For questions related to any of these four points above, please see your Faculty Advisor in SOUSA.
For questions related to the SSS program (any of the content below), please see the SSS program advisor.
Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A. & Sc.) - Interfaculty Program in Sustainability, Science and Society(54 Credits)
Program Requirement:
The grand challenge of the 21st century is sustainable well-being; that is, to improve human well-being while maintaining the Earth's life-support systems. This B.A. & Sc. program provides the interdisciplinary and integrative knowledge and skills required to effectively understand and address this challenge in its multiple dimensions-scientific-technological, socio-economic, political-institutional, ethical, and human behavioural-and to chart a transition to sustainability. It is built upon three pillars: 1) Science and Technology, to provide an in-depth understanding of the underpinnings of the problems of concern along these dimensions; 2) Economics, Policy, and Governance, to understand how we can make the sustainability transition; and 3) Ethics, Equity, and Justice, to discuss why we need change, and the issues of equity and justice associated with taking action. This program is a partnership between Geography and the MSE and will be administered through Geography.
Required Courses (27 credits)
27 credits selected as follows:
Foundations of Sustainability
9 credits selected from Foundations of Sustainability as follows:
-
ENVR 201
Society,Environ&Sustainability
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environment: This course deals with how scientific-technological, socio-economic, political-institutional and behavioural factors mediate society-environment interactions. Issues discussed include population and resources; consumption, impacts and institutions; integrating environmental values in societal decision-making; and the challenges associated with, and strategies for, promoting sustainability. Case studies in various sectors and contexts are used.
Offered by: McGill School of Environment
- Fall
- Section 001: Downtown Campus
- Section 051: Macdonald Campus
- Terms
- Instructors
- Kevin B Manaugh, Madhav Govind Badami, Christopher Barrington-Leigh, Jeffrey A Cardille, Geoffrey Garver
-
GEOG 360
Analyzing Sustainability
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Examines challenges to sustainability through a series of case studies to illustrate the analytical approaches used to understand the linkages between scientific-technological, socio-economic, political-institutional, ethical, and human behavioural aspect of systems. Includes cases that are thematic and place-based, national and international, spanning from the local to global scales.
Offered by: Geography
-
GEOG 460
Research in Sustainability
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Through engaging in real-world sustainability challenges through hands-on research, learn to critically analyze problems that arise at the interface of multiple disciplines including the scientific-technological, socio-economic, political-institutional, ethical, and human behavioural. Develop an understanding of the leverages and road blocks in achieving a sustainability transition.
Offered by: Geography
Biophysical, Societal, Cultural, Institutional, and Ethical
18 credits from introduction to biophysical, societal, cultural, institutional, and ethical dimensions of sustainability.
-
ENVR 200
The Global Environment
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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: McGill School of Environment
- Fall
- Section 001: Downtown Campus
- Section 051: Macdonald Campus
- Terms
- Instructors
- Anthony Ricciardi, Frederic Fabry, George McCourt, James W Fyles, Eyad Hashem Atallah
-
ENVR 202
The Evolving Earth
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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: McGill School of Environment
- Winter
- Section 001: Downtown Campus
- Section 051: Macdonald Campus
- Terms
- Instructors
- George McCourt, Sylvie de Blois, Brian Leung, Christie-Anna K Lovat, Nagissa Mahmoudi
-
ENVR 203
Knowledge, Ethics&Environment
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environment: Introduction to cultural perspectives on the environment: the influence of culture and cognition on perceptions of the natural world; conflicts in orders of knowledge (models, taxonomies, paradigms, theories, cosmologies), ethics (moral values, frameworks, dilemmas), and law (formal and customary, rights and obligations) regarding political dimensions of critical environments, resource use, and technologies.
Offered by: McGill School of Environment
- Fall - Macdonald Campus; Winter - Downtown
- Section 001: Downtown Campus
- Section 051: Macdonald Campus
- Terms
- Instructors
- Julia Freeman, Gregory Matthew Mikkelson
- Iwao Hirose, Ismael Vaccaro
-
GEOG 203
Environmental Systems
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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
- Instructors
- Gail L Chmura, Christian von Sperber
-
GEOG 310
Development and Livelihoods
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Geographical dimensions of rural/urban livelihoods in the face of socioeconomic and environmental change in developing regions. Emphasis on household natural resource use, survival strategies and vulnerability, decision-making, formal and informal institutions, migration, and development experience in contrasting global environments.
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- Instructors
- George Wenzel, Sarah E Turner, Yann le Polain de Waroux
-
MGPO 440
Strategies for Sustainability
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Management Policy: This course explores the relationship between economic activity, management, and the natural environment. Using readings, discussions and cases, the course will explore the challenges that the goal of sustainable development poses for our existing notions of economic goals, production and consumption practices and the management of organizations.
Offered by: Management
- Restriction: Open to U2, U3 students only
- Terms
- Instructors
- Dror Etzion
- Jad Robitaille
Complementary Courses (27 credits)
27 credits selected as follows:
3 credits of Statistics
3 credits of System Modelling tools
3 credits of Economics
18 credits selected from 3 areas
Statistics
3 credits of Statistics from the following:
-
AEMA 310
Statistical Methods 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Mathematics (Agric&Envir Sci): 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.
Offered by: Plant Science
- Two 1.5-hour lectures and one 2-hour lab
- Please note that credit will be given for only one introductory statistics course. Consult your academic advisor.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Pierre R L Dutilleul, Valérie Gravel
- Pierre R L Dutilleul
-
BIOL 373
Biometry
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Biology (Sci): Elementary statistical methods in biology. Introduction to the analysis of biological data with emphasis on the assumptions behind statistical tests and models. Use of statistical techniques typically available on computer packages.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- 2 hours lecture and 2 hours laboratory
- Prerequisite: MATH 112 or equivalent
- You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
-
GEOG 202
Statistics & Spatial Analysis
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Exploratory data analysis, univariate descriptive and inferential statistics, non-parametric statistics, correlation and simple regression. Problems associated with analysing spatial data such as the 'modifiable areal unit problem' and spatial autocorrelation. Statistics measuring spatial pattern in point, line and polygon data.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 2.5 hours and lab
- You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
-
PSYC 204
Intro to Psychological Stats
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Psychology: The statistical analysis of research data; frequency distributions; graphic representation; measures of central tendency and variability; elementary sampling theory and tests of significance.
Offered by: Psychology
- Fall and Winter
- Restriction: Not open to students who have passed a CEGEP statistics course(s) with a minimum grade of 75%: Mathematics 201-307 or 201-337 or equivalent or the combination of Quantitative Methods 300 with Mathematics 300
- This course is a prerequisite for PSYC 305, PSYC 406, PSYC 310, PSYC 336
- You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Rhonda N Amsel
- Mohammad Darainy
System Modelling
3 credits of System Modelling tools from the following:
-
ESYS 301
Earth System Modelling
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Earth System Science: Principal concepts of systems modelling related to earth system science and environmental science. Students explore the ideas of state, stability, equilibria, feedbacks, and complexity using simple models.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
-
GEOG 501
Modellin Environmental Systems
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Most problems in environmental science deal with weak relationships and poorly defined systems. Model development and simulation will be used in this course to help improve understanding of environmental systems. Simulation of environmental systems is examined, focusing on problem definition, model development and model validation.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 1.15 hours lecture, 0.58 hours seminar, 0.69 hours project, 0.58 hours laboratory
- Restriction: open only to U2 or U3 students who have completed six or more credits from courses at the 300 level of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Geography, Natural Resource Sciences, or a McGill School of Environment domain, or permission of the instructor
- Prerequisites: MATH 139 or MATH 140, MATH 141, and MATH 203, or equivalent
- Enrolment limited to 20 students by availability of workstations
Economics
3 credits of Economics from the following:
-
AGEC 333
Resource Economics
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Agricultural Economics: 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.
Offered by: Agricultural Economics
- Fall
- Prerequisites: AGEC 200 or equivalent
-
ECON 225
Economics of the Environment
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Economics (Arts): A study of the application of economic theory to questions of environmental policy. Particular attention will be given to the measurement and regulation of pollution, congestion and waste and other environmental aspects of specific economies.
Offered by: Economics
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken 154-325 or 154-425
-
ECON 326
Ecological Economics
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Economics (Arts): Macroeconomic and structural aspects of the ecological crisis. A course in which subjects discussed include the conflict between economic growth and the laws of thermodynamics; the search for alternative economic indicators; the fossil fuels crisis; and "green'' fiscal policy.
Offered by: Economics
18 additional credits of complementary courses chosen from three areas listed below:
Students must choose at least two courses from each area, and in total complete at least 9 credits at the 300 level or higher.
AREA 1: Methods: Observation, Analysis, Modelling, and Management
-
AGRI 435
Soil & Water Quality Mgmt
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Agriculture: Management of soil and water systems for sustainability. Cause of soil degradation, surface and groundwater contamination by agricultural chemicals and toxic pollutants. Human health and safety concerns. Water-table management. Soil and water conservation techniques will be examined with an emphasis on methods of prediction and best management practices.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Fall
- 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
- This course carries an additional charge of $32.11 to cover the cost of transportation with respect to a field trip. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
ENVB 437
Assessing Environmental Impact
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environmental Biology: Theories and procedures of assessing environmental impact. An examination of the environmental impact of existing programs and projects to examine their accuracy in predicting consequences and attenuating undesirable effects.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Winter
- 2 lectures
- Restrictions: U2 students and above. Not open to students who have taken WILD 437 or NRSC 437.
-
ENVR 544
Env. Measurement & Modelling
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environment: Utility of geographic information systems, remote sensing and spatially-explicit modelling for environmental planning in conjunction with analytical frameworks used in the decision-making process (e.g., cost-benefit analysis, life-cycle analysis and multi-criteria decision making).
Offered by: McGill School of Environment
- Prerequisites: NRSC 430 or GEOG201 or URBP 505 or permission of instructor
- Restriction: Students registered in Environment Graduate Option (or permission of instructor)
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
ESYS 500
Earth System Applications
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Earth System Science: Individual research projects that contribute to a group project that addresses one of the six scientific "Grand Challenges" crucial to humanity: global cycles (water and biogeochemical); climate variability and change; land use and land cover change; energy and resources; earth hazards; earth-atmosphere observation, monitoring, analysis and prediction.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
- Terms
- Instructors
- John Stix, Jeffrey M McKenzie
-
GEOG 201
Intro Geo-Information Science
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: An introduction to Geographic Information Systems. The systematic management of spatial data. The use and construction of maps. The use of microcomputers and software for mapping and statistical work. Air photo and topographic map analyses.
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- Instructors
- Margaret Kalacska, Grant McKenzie
-
GEOG 302
Environmental Management 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: An ecological analysis of the physical and biotic components of natural resource systems. Emphasis on scientific, technological and institutional aspects of environmental management. Study of the use of biological resources and of the impact of individual processes.
Offered by: Geography
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: Any 200-level course in Geography or MSE or BIOL 308 or permission of instructor.
-
GEOG 306
Raster Geo-Information Science
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Formal introduction to a computer-based Geographical Information System (GIS). Topics will focus on map analysis and on transforming and displaying spatial data. GIS will be used by students to solve problems in both physical and human geography.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 2 hours and laboratory
- Prerequisite: GEOG 201
-
GEOG 308
Principles of Remote Sensing
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: A conceptual view of remote sensing and the underlying physical principles. Covers ground-based, aerial, satellite systems, and the electromagnetic spectrum, from visible to microwave. Emphasis on application of remotely sensed data in geography including land cover change and ecological processes.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 3 hours and laboratory periods
- Corequisite(s): GEOG 201
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ATOC 308
-
GEOG 351
Quantitative Methods
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Multiple regression and correlation, logit models, discrete choice models, gravity models, facility location algorithms, survey design, population projection.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 202 or permission of instructor
- You may not be able to get credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
-
GEOG 404
Environmental Management 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Practical application of environmental planning, analysis and management techniques with reference to the needs and problems of developing areas. Special challenges posed by cultural differences and traditional resource systems are discussed. This course involves practical field work in a developing area (Kenya or Panama).
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 302 or permission of instructor
-
GEOG 509
Qualitative Methods
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Qualitative methods that geographers use and the debates surrounding their use; epistemological underpinnings of methodological choices.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
-
GEOG 512
Adv quant meth in soc fld rsch
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: How does one collect data to quantitatively assess research questions in human geography or other social sciences, and what methods are available to analyze those data? This course introduces students to advanced statistical techniques commonly confronted in field-based social science studies. The course is divided into four major topics: research design, evaluating impacts of policies or programs, time-series data, and spatial interactions. For the techniques investigated, the course will highlight major technical assumptions, field considerations for data collection, and how each does or does not account for geographic factors that may influence outcomes of interest.
Offered by: Geography
-
GEOG 523
Global Ecosystems and Climate
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Linkages and feedbacks among climate, ecosystems, and human land use at global scales. How global-scale ecological processes (primary production, carbon cycle, etc.) are driven by variations in climate and land use practices such as agriculture and deforestation. How natural and human-modified ecosystems exchange carbon and water with the atmosphere.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 203 and 321 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
URBP 506
Envrnmntl Policy and Planning
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Urban Planning: Analytical and institutional approaches for understanding and addressing environmental issues at various scales; characteristics of environmental issues, science-policy-politics interactions relating to the environment, and implications for policy; sustainability, and the need for and challenges associated with interdisciplinary perspectives; externalities and their regulation; public goods; risk perception and implications; the political-institutional context and policy instruments; cost-benefit analysis; multiple-criteria decision-making approaches; multidimensional life-cycle analysis; policy implementation issues; conflict resolution; case studies.
Offered by: Urban Planning
- (3-0-6)
- Restriction: This course is open to students in U3 and above
AREA 2: Society, Economics, Policy, Ethics, and Equity
Take at least one course from each subsection (2A and 2B) below:
2A: Society, Economics, and Policy
Note:
* Students select either AGEC 200 or ECON 208, but not both.
** Students may select either AGEC 201 or ECON 209, but not both.
-
AGEC 200
Principles of Microeconomics
3 Credits*
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Agricultural Economics: 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.
Offered by: Agricultural Economics
-
AGEC 201
Principles of Macroeconomics
3 CreditsTaught only in alternate years**
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Agricultural Economics: 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.
Offered by: Agricultural Economics
- Winter
- 3 lectures
- Prerequisite: AGEC 200 or equivalent
- Symbols:
- Taught only in alternate years
- **
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
AGEC 430
Agric, Food & Resource Policy
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Agricultural Economics: 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.
Offered by: Agricultural Economics
- Winter
- 3 lectures
- Prerequisites: AGEC 200 or equivalent
-
AGEC 442
Econ of Int'l Agric Dvlpmnt
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Agricultural Economics: 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.
Offered by: Agricultural Economics
-
ANTH 206
Environment and Culture
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anthropology: Introduction to ecological anthropology, focusing on social and cultural adaptations to different environments, human impact on the environment, cultural constructions of the environment, management of common resources, and conflict over the use of resources.
Offered by: Anthropology
-
ANTH 212
Anthropology of Development
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anthropology: Processes of developmental change, as they affect small communities in the Third World and in unindustrialized parts of developed countries. Problems of technological change, political integration, population growth, industrialization, urban growth, social services, infrastructure and economic dependency.
Offered by: Anthropology
-
ANTH 339
Ecological Anthropology
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anthropology: Intensive study of theories and cases in ecological anthropology. Theories are examined and tested through comparative case-study analysis. Cultural constructions of "nature" and "environment" are compared and analyzed. Systems of resource management and conflicts over the use of resources are studied in depth.
Offered by: Anthropology
-
ECON 208
Microeconomic Analysis&Applic
3 Credits*
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Economics (Arts): A university-level introduction to demand and supply, consumer behaviour, production theory, market structures and income distribution theory.
Offered by: Economics
- Terms
- Instructors
- Sara Hayati, Paul Dickinson, Mayssun El-Attar Vilalta
- Paul Dickinson
-
ECON 209
Macroeconomic Analysis&Applic
3 Credits**
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Economics (Arts): A university-level introduction to national income determination, money and banking, inflation, unemployment and economic policy.
Offered by: Economics
- Terms
- Instructors
- Paul Dickinson
- Eesha Sen Choudhury, Paul Dickinson
-
ECON 230
Microeconomic Theory
6 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Economics (Arts): The introductory course for Economics Major students in microeconomic theory. In depth and critical presentation of the theory of consumer behaviour, theory of production and cost curves, theory of the firm, theory of distribution, welfare economics and the theory of general equilibrium.
Offered by: Economics
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
ECON 347
Economics of Climate Change
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Economics (Arts): The course focuses on the economic implications of, and problems posed by, predictions of global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. Attention is given to economic policies such as carbon taxes and tradeable emission permits and to the problems of displacing fossil fuels with new energy technologies.
Offered by: Economics
- Terms
- Instructors
- Robert D Cairns
- Robert D Cairns
-
ECON 405
Natural Resource Economics
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Economics (Arts): Topics include: Malthusian and Ricardian Scarcity; optimal depletion of renewable and non-renewable resources; exploration, risk and industry structure, and current resources, rent and taxation. Current public policies applied to the resource industries, particularly those of a regulatory nature.
Offered by: Economics
-
ENVR 519
Global Environmental Politics
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environment: How the problem of environmental degradation is dealt with at the international level. The scope and nature of global environmental protection issues that cross boundaries, both physical and conceptual. Actors, structures and processes of international society. Consideration of global commons and transnational resources and of environmental externalities.
Offered by: McGill School of Environment
- Prerequisite: ENVR 201 or ENVR 203 or permission of instructor
- Restrictions: Open to students in the Environment Graduate Option (available to other students with permission of instructor). (Not open to students who have taken ENVR 580 -- section 001 -- in Winter 2002, Fall 2003, or Fall 2004
- Note: This course has been offered three times as a Topics in Environment Course
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
GEOG 210
Global Places and Peoples
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Introduction to key themes in human geography. Maps and the making, interpretation and contestation of landscapes, 'place', and territory. Investigation of globalization and the spatial organization of human geo-politics, and urban and rural environments.
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- Instructors
- Brian E Robinson, Yann le Polain de Waroux
-
GEOG 216
Geography of the World Economy
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: The course introduces the geography of the world economic system. It describes the spatial distribution of economic activities and examines the factors which influence their changing location. Case studies from both "developed" and "developing" countries will test the different geographical theories presented in lectures.
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- Instructors
- Oliver T Coomes, Sebastien M Breau
-
GEOG 303
Health Geography
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Discussion of the research questions and methods of health geography. Particular emphasis on health inequalities at multiple geographic scales and the theoretical links between characteristics of places and the health of people.
Offered by: Geography
-
GEOG 316
Political Geography
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: The study of the spatial dimensions of political activities and developments at the regional, national and global levels in historical and contemporary perspective. Presentation of case studies relating to the theoretical framework of political geography.
Offered by: Geography
-
GEOG 408
Geography of Development
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Examines the geographical dimensions of development policy, specifically the relationships between the process of development and human-induced environmental change. Focuses on environmental sustainability, struggles over resource control, population and poverty, and levels of governance (the role of the state, non-governmental organizations, and local communities).
Offered by: Geography
-
GEOG 410
Geog of Underdvlpmnt:Cur Probs
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: An examination of the cultural, political, and economic mechanisms and manifestations of contemporary underdevelopment and the response to it from different regional and national peripheral societies within the dominant world economic system.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 216 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
GEOG 514
Clim Change Vulnblty & Adapt
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: A critical examination of: the theoretical and conceptual evolution of climate change vulnerability and adaptation research; methodological developments from the role of model-driven assessments to the rise of participatory case study research, and the integration of vulnerability research into adaptation planning.
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
GEOG 520
Agric., Envir.,& Food Security
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: This course will consider multiple dimensions of the food security-environment challenge, including the biophysical, economic, nutritional, socio-political, and policy/institutional. It will use a global perspective, drawing upon both global-scale research as well as case studies from different regions of the world to understand the geography of agricultural production, its environmental footprint, and of malnutrition.
Offered by: Geography
- Prerequisite(s): ENVR 201, and NUTR 341 or any 300 or 400-level course in agricultural science, ecology, environment, economics, geography, or nutrition, or with permission of instructor.
- Restriction(s): Open to U2 and U3 undergraduate students with permission of instructor.
- Restriction(s): Open to graduate students.
- Restriction(s): Restricted to U2 and U3 students.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
HIST 292
History and the Environment
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
History: Sketch of the history of the material aspects of human interaction with the rest of nature. Included will be a historian's view of the social, technical, and ecological implications of the great variety of activities devised by our species. Though global in outlook, this course will emphasize the relevant historiography of France, England and North America.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
MGCR 360
Social Context of Business
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Management Core: This course examines how business interacts with the larger society. It explores the development of modern capitalist society, and the dilemmas that organizations face in acting in a socially responsible manner. Students will examine these issues with reference to sustainable development, business ethics, globalization and developing countries, and political activity.
Offered by: Management
- Terms
- Fall 2018
- Winter 2019
- Summer 2019
- Instructors
- Robert James David, Nii Antiaye Addy, Lindsay Holmgren
- Glen Whelan, Lindsay Holmgren, Jan J Jorgensen, Arvind Karunakaran
-
MGPO 475
Strategies for Devel Countries
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Management Policy: Strategic management challenges in developing and emerging economies. Focus on strategies that foster both firm competitiveness and economic development, including: technological capabilities, new forms of organization, small and large firms, global production, social impact, global standards and governance.
Offered by: Management
- Restriction: Open to U2, U3 students only
-
MGPO 567
Business in Society
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Management Policy: Examines different ideologies; business ethics and values; the corporation and its constituencies; the social impact of corporate decisions. The focus of this course is on the interaction between business organizations and society and on incorporating social impact analysis into strategic management.
Offered by: Management
- Restriction: U2 and U3 students only
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
NRSC 540
Socio-Cultural Issues in Water
3 CreditsTaught only in alternate years
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Natural Resource Sciences: Discussion of current debates and problems related to water, especially in developing countries. Topics include: gender relations and health in the context of cultural and economic systems, and the impacts of new technologies, market structures and population growth.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Winter
- Prerequisite: A 300- or 400-level course in water or permission of instructor.
- 3-hour seminar
- Symbols:
- Taught only in alternate years
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
URBP 530
Urb Infrastr&Serv in Intl Cont
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Urban Planning: Issues of practical and theoretical importance in relation to urban infrastructure and services in the international context: science and technology, political economy, policy analysis, policy implementation, public finance, and institutions and governance.
Offered by: Urban Planning
- Note: Not open to students who have taken URBP 614.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
2B: Ethics and Equity
-
ENVR 400
Environmental Thought
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environment: Students work in interdisciplinary seminar groups on challenging philosophical, ethical, scientific and practical issues. They will explore cutting-edge ideas and grapple with the reconciliation of environmental imperatives and social, political and economic pragmatics. Activities include meeting practitioners, attending guest lectures, following directed readings, and organizing, leading and participating in seminars.
Offered by: McGill School of Environment
- Fall - Macdonald Campus; Winter - Downtown
- Section 001: Downtown Campus
- Section 051: Macdonald Campus
- Prerequisite: ENVR 203
- Restriction: Open only to U3 students, or permission of instructor
- Terms
- Instructors
- Julia Freeman, Geoffrey Garver
- Jaye Dana Ellis, Julia Freeman, Gregory Matthew Mikkelson, Nicolas Kosoy
-
GEOG 382
Principles Earth Citizenship
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Foundations and applications of earth citizenship. Foundations: sustainability, tragedy of the commons, dominion, privatization and public welfare, resilience, precautionary principle, and land ethic are critically considered. Applications: implications for relationship between human and natural economies; human population size and control; and morality of modern agricultural and forestry practices.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking NRSC 374. Restricted to U2 or U3 students. Enrolment limited to 50.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
MGPO 450
Ethics in Management
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Management Policy: An examination of the economic, legal and ethical responsibilities of managers in both private and public organizations. Through readings, case studies, discussions and projects the class evaluates alternative ethical systems and norms of behaviour and draws conclusions as to the right, proper and just decisions and actions in the face of moral dilemmas. The focus of this course is on the decision process, values and consistency of values of the individual and on the impact of systems control and incentives on managerial morality.
Offered by: Management
- Restriction: U2 and U3 students only
-
RELG 270
Religious Ethics & the Environ
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Religious Studies: Environmental potential of various religious traditions and secular perspectives, including animal rights, ecofeminism, and deep ecology.
Offered by: Religious Studies
- Fall: Macdonald Campus (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue). Winter: Downtown Campus.
AREA 3: Sustainability and Biophysical Processes
Note:
* Students select either BREE 217 or GEOG 322, but not both.
** Students select either BIOL 540 or ENVR 540, but not both.
-
ATOC 214
Intro:Physics of the Atmosph
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences: An introduction to physical meteorology designed for students in the physical sciences. Topics include: composition of the atmosphere; heat transfer; the upper atmosphere; atmospheric optics; formation of clouds and precipitation; instability; adiabatic charts.
Offered by: Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
- Fall
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite: CEGEP Physics, or the combination of PHYS 131 and PHYS 142, or permission of instructor.
-
ATOC 215
Oceans, Weather and Climate
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences: Laws of motion, geostrophic wind, gradient wind. General circulation of the atmosphere and oceans, local circulation features. Air-sea interaction, including hurricanes and sea-ice formation, extra-tropical weather systems and fronts, role of the atmosphere and oceans in climate.
Offered by: Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite: ATOC 214
-
BIOL 308
Ecological Dynamics
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Biology (Sci): Principles of population, community, and ecosystem dynamics: population growth and regulation, species interactions, dynamics of competitive interactions and of predator/prey systems; evolutionary dynamics.
Offered by: Biology
-
BIOL 310
Biodiversity and Ecosystems
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Biology (Sci): Ecological bases of the natural causes and consequences of current global environmental changes, including how biodiversity and ecosystem processes are defined and measured, how they vary in space and time, how they are affected by physical and biological factors, and how they affect each other and human societies.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture
- one-day field trip to Mont St-Hilaire
- Prerequisite: BIOL 215; or ENVR 200 and ENVR 202; MATH 112 or equivalent; or permission of the instructor
-
BIOL 540
Ecology of Species Invasions
3 Credits**
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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: BIOL 308 or permission of instructor
- Restriction: Not open to U1 or U2 students
- Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken ENVR 540.
-
BREE 217
Hydrology and Water Resources
3 Credits*
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Bioresource Engineering: Measurements and analysis of components of the water cycle. Precipitation, evaporation, infiltration and groundwater. Analysis of hydrologic data. Hydrograph theory. Hydrologic estimations for design of water control projects; flood control and reservoir routing. Integrated watershed management and water conservation. Water management systems for environmental protection.
Offered by: Bioresource Engineering
- 3 lectures, one 2-hour lab
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ABEN 217.
- Note: This course carries an additional course charge of $32.25 to cover transportation costs for two field trips, which may include a visit to a national weather station and a trip to gain hands-on experience on monitoring water flow in streams.
- This course carries an additional course charge of $33.12 to cover transportation costs for two field trips, which may include a visit to a national weather station and a trip to gain hands-on experience on monitoring water flow in streams.
- Measurements and analysis of components of the water cycle. Precipitation, evaporation, infiltration and groundwater. Analysis of hydrologic data. Hydrograph theory. Hydrologic estimations for design of water control projects; flood control and reservoir routing. Integrated watershed management and water conservation. Water management systems for environmental protection.
-
ENVB 410
Ecosystem Ecology
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environmental Biology: 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.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Fall
- Prerequisites: ENVB 222, AEMA 310 or permission of instructor
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken WOOD 410
- This course has an additional charge of $16.99 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips.The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
-
ENVR 540
Ecology of Species Invasions
3 Credits**
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environment: Causes and consequences of biological invasion, as well as risk assessment methods and management strategies for dealing with invasive species.
Offered by: McGill School of Environment
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite: BIOL 308 or permission of instructor.
- Restrictions: Not open to U1 or U2 students. Not open to students who are taking or have taken BIOL 540.
-
ESYS 200
Earth System Processes
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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
- Instructors
- Bernhard L Lehner, Peter M Douglas
-
ESYS 300
Investigating the Earth System
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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
- Instructors
- Margaret Kalacska, Bruno Tremblay
-
GEOG 221
Environment and Health
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: This course introduced physical and social environments as factors in human health, with emphasis on the physical properties of the atmospheric environment as they interact with diverse human populations in urban settings.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking NRSC 221.
- Note: This course is also offered as NRSC 221. Students enrolled in downtown campus programs register in GEOG 221; students enrolled in Macdonald campus programs register in NRSC 221. In Winter 2013, GEOG 221/NRSC 221 will be taught on the downtown campus.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Ian Brett Strachan, Nancy A Ross
-
GEOG 305
Soils and Environment
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Discussion of the major properties of soils; soil formation, classification and mapping; land capability assessment; the role and response of soils in natural and disturbed environments (e.g. global change, ecosystem disturbance).
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- 3 hours and laboratory
- Prerequisite: GEOG 203 or introductory course in biology or geology
-
GEOG 322
Environmental Hydrology
3 Credits*
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Quantitative, experimental study of the principles governing the movement of water at or near the Earth's surface and how the research relates to the chemistry and biology of ecosystems.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 203 or equivalent
- Terms
- Instructors
- Bernhard L Lehner, Tracy Rankin
-
GEOG 372
Running Water Environments
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: The course focuses on the physical habitat conditions found in streams, rivers, estuaries and deltas. Based on the laws governing flow of water and sediment transport, it emphasizes differences among these environments, in terms of channel form, flow patterns, substrate composition and mode of evolution. Flooding, damming, channelisation, forestry impacts.
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
GEOG 403
Global Health & Envir. Change
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Major themes and contemporary case studies in global health and environmental change. Focus on understanding global trends in emerging infectious disease from social, biophysical, and geographical perspectives, and critically assessing the health implications of environmental change in different international contexts.
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
GEOG 470
Wetlands
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
-
GEOG 530
Global Land & Water Resources
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Linkage of physical processes (hydrology and ecosystems) with issues of societal and socio-economic relevance (land, food, and water use appropriation for human well-being). Application of a holistic perspective on land, food and water issues in an international setting, highlighting linkages, feedbacks and trade-offs in an Earth system context.
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- Instructors
- Bernhard L Lehner, Graham K MacDonald
-
GEOG 555
Ecological Restoration
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: A broad overview of ecological restoration. Considers causes of environmental degradation, why and what we restore, how restoration goals are set, and standards in restoration practice, as well as critiques and philosophies of ecological restoration, such as "ecocultural" restoration.
Offered by: Geography
- Prerequisites: GEOG 350 or BIOL 308 or PLNT 460 and permission of instructor.
- Note: Requires participation in a field trip over reading week. Offered in alternate years.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2018-2019 academic year
-
NRSC 333
Pollution and Bioremediation
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Natural Resource Sciences: The environmental contaminants which cause pollution; sources, amounts and transport of pollutants in water, air and soil; waste management.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Fall
- 3 lectures
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken WILD 333
Students who wish to explore the following topics in more depth may select the courses listed below:
1) Climate Change: ESYS 200, ESYS 300, ESYS 500, GEOG 523, ATOC 214, ATOC 215
2) Land Resources, Food, Forests: AGEC 430, AGEC 442, AGRI 435, BIOL 308, BIOL 310, ENVB 410, GEOG 523, GEOG 530
3) Water Resources: AGRI 435, NRSC 540, BREE 217, GEOG 322, GEOG 372, GEOG 470, GEOG 530
4) Biodiversity: BIOL 308, BIOL 310, BIOL 540, ENVB 410, ENVR 540, GEOG 555
5) Human Health: GEOG 221, GEOG 303, GEOG 403
6) Development: GEOG 408, GEOG 410, ANTH 212