Many different field studies are available to SSS students to acquire practical experience. This is a unique opportunity to apply the academical skills learnt in the classroom to real world situations. More information can be found on the McGill Field Study website.
Field Study Semesters
McGill East Africa Field Study Semester (MEAFSS)
Website: www.mcgill.ca/africa
McGill Barbados Field Study Semester (BFSS)
Website: www.mcgill.ca/bfss
Barbados Interdisciplinary Tropical Studies Field Semester (BITS)
Website: www.mcgill.ca/bits
Panama Field Study Semester (PFSS)
Website: www.mcgill.ca/pfss
Related Field Courses
Local Field Courses
BIOL 240. Monteregian Flora.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Summer 2025
View offerings for
Summer 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Field studies of ferns, fern allies, conifers and flowering plants; the use of keys for plant identification.
- 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 $485.56 which includes a hand lens, a textbook, handouts, lodging and supper each day.
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Website: www.mcgill.ca/biology/undergraduate/research/field-courses/biol-240-monteregian-flora
BIOL 331. Ecology/Behaviour Field Course.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Summer 2025
View offerings for
Summer 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Methods of sampling natural populations. Testing hypotheses in nature.
- 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 the summer term. In the summer, students prepare a report based on projects carried out during this field portion. There is an additional fee of $885.00 that covers room and board and handouts. This fee could be refundable if the department approves it.
- **Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the third lecture day and withdrawal is the sixth lecture day.
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Website: www.mcgill.ca/biology/undergraduate/research/field-courses/biol-331-ecology-and-behaviour
BIOL 335. Marine Mammals.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Summer 2025
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Summer 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
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.
- 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 $1913.86 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).
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Website: www.mcgill.ca/biology/undergraduate/research/field-courses/biol-335-marine-mammals
GEOG 398. Field Studies in Human Geography.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Introduction to basic field work techniques in human geography. Emphasis on field methods, observational techniques, data collection and processing.
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: Any introductory human geography course; or by permission of the instructor
- A fee of $1,055.07 is charged to all students registered in GEOG 398.
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Website: www.mcgill.ca/geography/courses/field-courses/geog-398-field-course-fall-2025-how-apply
GEOG 495. Field Studies - Physical Geography.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Field research projects in physical geography. Held locally in Monteregian or Eastern Township regions. The course is organised around field projects designed to formulate and test scientific hypotheses in a physical geography discipline. May Summer session.
- 2-week field school
- Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and 6 credits from the following list of Systematic Physical Geography courses: GEOG 305, GEOG321, GEOG 322, GEOG 372, GEOG 470.
- Additional Dept. fee $579.99 will be charged to student fee account to cover the cost of transportation, accommodations, local fees and all meals for approximately 12 nights, as the course is held at the Gault Estate at Mont St.-Hilaire during May.
- **This is a field course, so students won't be taking the holiday.
- **Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the fourth lecture day.
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Website: www.mcgill.ca/geography/courses/field-courses/geog-495-field-course-summer-2024-how-apply
Guatemala Field Course
AGRI 325. Sustainable Agriculture Field Course
Credits: 3
Offered by: Animal Science (Faculty of Agric Environ Sci)
Terms offered: Summer 2025
View offerings for
Summer 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Exposure to a foreign rural and agricultural context, to observe a variety of types of farm operations, cropping systems and techniques. The sustainability of these is discussed within their local social, environmental and economic landscapes.
- **The instructor’s approval is required.
- Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the third lecture day and withdrawal is the sixth lecture day.
- Prerequisite: AGEC 200 or equivalent; permission of the instructor.
- Lectures and visits will be jointly delivered by local experts and McGill Staff. Lectures (25%) and field visits (75%).
- This course has a fee of $1,969.06, a small portion of which is tax receiptable on the T2202A; it includes internal travel (by coach), accommodation, most of the meals for the duration of the course, as well as instructor costs.
- Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the third lecture day and withdrawal is the sixth lecture day.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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Website: www.mcgill.ca/animal/agri-325-sust-ag-and-food-security-guatemala