General
information on undergraduate geography programs at McGill
General
information on undergraduate geography programs at McGill
You can pursue a geography degree at McGill as either an Arts or Science
student. Admission requirements are different for the Faculty of Arts than
the Faculty of Science. For details consult the home page of the Admissions
and Registrar's Office at http://www.aro.mcgill.ca/adm/aea.htm.
BA Geography programs
In Arts you have the following choices:
BA Major in Geography
(36 credits, which are equivalent to 12 one-semester courses )
BA Major in Geography (Urban Systems)
(36 credits)
BA Honours in Geography (64 credits)
BA Joint Honours in Geography and any
of the following Arts departments:
Anthropology, East Asian Studies, Economics, History, Middle East Studies,
Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology (36 to 39 credits in Geography)
BA Minor in Geography (18 credits)
BA Minor in Geography (Urban Systems)
(18 credits)
Beginning in September 1998, if you are in any Arts program, you must
choose between taking:
The philosophy behind the new, so-called multi-track system in a BA major degree is that students not pursuing the more specialised honours degree should follow at least two concentrations in different departments. If you wish to specialise in geography as an Arts student, you must follow the honours program (64 credits).
BSc Geography programs
In Science, your choice is between the:
BSc Major in Geography (55 credits) and
BSc Honours in Geography (64 credits)
Honours program requirements
The honours program requires that you maintain a B (70%) minimum in all required courses and a cumulative GPA of 3.0, as well as completing a 6-credit honours thesis under the supervision of a member of faculty.
All Majors and Honours programs in Geography
Several of the courses you take in the first year of any of the programs in geography will be the same regardless of which Major or Honours programme you are in, with the exception of the Urban Systems program. All the majors and honours programs, except Urban Systems, require that you take introductory courses in environmental systems, landforms, economic geography, urban geography, statistics and GIS (geographic information systems). In addition they require you to take at least one field course and at least one other techniques course (statistics, GIS or remote sensing). The Urban Systems program, which is more interdisciplinary, requires only that you take an introductory urban geography course and two statistics courses.
Program details
BA Major in
Geography
The BA Major is designed to cover the main elements of human geography.
Required courses (18 credits)
Geography
183-201 (3) Geographic information systems I
183-203 (3) Environmental systems
183-216 (3) Geography of the world economy
183-217 (3) The Canadian city
183-272 (3) Landforms & environmental systems
Mathematics
189-203 (3) Principles of statistics I
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
3 credits from field courses:
Students joining this program are strongly advised to take 183-290A in their first term. Please see the B.A. U1 Advisor
183-290A (1) Local geographical excursion
183-395C (3) Field studies - physical geography
183-398T (3) Field studies in human geography
183-494T (3) Field studies in geography: Urban
183-496B (3) Regional geographical excursion
183-497T (3) Field studies in geography: coastal marsh plant ecology
183-499T (3) Subarctic field studies: Schefferville
(Field course availability is determined each year in February.)
3 credits from techniques and methodology:
183-306 (3) Geographic information systems II
183-307 (3) Socioeconomic applications of GIS
183-308 (3) Remote sensing
183-351 (3) Quantitative methods in geography
183-506 (3) Perspectives on geographic information analysis
183-535 (3) Remote sensing methods & interpretation
The remaining credits are to be selected from offerings in cultural,
social and development geography; economic and urban geography; regional
geography; physical geography:-
Cultural, social and development geography
183-300 (3) Human ecology in geography
183-316 (3) Political geography
183-381 (3) Evolution of geography
183-408 (3) Geography of unequal development
183-410 (3) Geog. of underdevelopment: current problems
183-424 (6) Place, people and culture: Europe
183-500 (3) Geography of regional identity
183-502 (3) Geography of northern development
183-510 (3) Humid tropical environments
183-551 (3) Environmental decisions
Economic and urban geography
183-311 (3) Canada - a geo-economic perspective
183-315 (3) Urban transportation geography
183-331 (3) Urban social geography
183-333 (3) The habitable city
183-415 (3) Geography of tourism
183-504 (3) Industrial restructuring: geographic implications
183-513 (3) Behavioural geography
Regional geography
183-301 (3) Geography of the Circumpolar North
183-309 (3) Geography of Canada
183-323 (3) Geography of Europe's North
Physical geography
183-302 (3) Environmental analysis and management: problems and policy
183-305 (3) Soils and environment
183-321 (3) Climatic environments
183-322 (3) Environmental hydrology
183-350 (3) Ecological biogeography
183-372 (3) Running Water Environments
183-404 (3) Environmental management for developing areas
183-505 (3) Global biogeochemistry
183-522 (3) Advanced environmental hydrology
183-523 (3) Advanced climatology
183-536 (3) Periglacial and permafrost environments
183-537 (3) Advanced fluvial geomorphology
183-550 (3) Quaternary paleoecology
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BA Major in
Geography (Urban Systems)
The interdisciplinary Urban Systems program exposes students to the
various approaches to urban studies in many disciplines. Students who wish
to retain the option of entering a Geography honours program, should include
183-201, -203, -216, and -272 as well as the 9 credits of Required Courses
listed below.
Students should observe the levels indicated by course numbers: 200-level are first year; 300-level, second year; 400 or 500-level, third year.
For further information on the Urban Systems program contact Professor G. Ewing, Department of Geography, Burnside Hall, Tel. 398-4944, Email: ewing@felix.geog.mcgill.ca
For Urban Systems majors, the total number of credits permitted outside Arts and Science is 30 (see Courses Outside the Faculties of Arts and Science in the Faculty of Arts regulations). If MARS does not accept the registration, check with the Student Affairs Office or write to the Associate Dean.
Required Courses (9 credits)
Geography
183-217B (3) The Canadian city
183-351A (3) Quantitative methods in geography
Mathematics
189-203 (3) Principles of statistics I
Complementary Courses (27 credits)
Geography
183-307 (3) Socioeconomic applications of GIS
183-315 (3) Urban transportation geography
183-331 (3) Urban social geography
183-333 (3) The habitable city
183-494 (3) Field studies in geography: urban
183-504 (3) Industrial restructuring: geographic implications
Anthropology
151-323 (3) Urban anthropology
Architecture* (Faculty of Engineering)
Password cards are required for each course listed below and may be obtained in Rm 202, Macdonald-Harrington Bldg.
301-378 (3) Site usage (U2)
301-435† (2) Urban planning I (U3)
301-436 (2) Urban planning II (U3) (Urban Planning II may be taken
before I)
301-527 (3) Civic design
301-528 (3) History of housing
301-529 (3) Housing theory
*Although Architecture courses have prerequisites, they are waived for Urban Systems majors, but the course may not be taken before the year indicated.
† Alternative course to 303-433
Art History
123-314 (3) The medieval city (section 02)
Civil Engineering
303-433†† (3) Urban planning (limited enrolment-password required, call
398-6345)
303-540 (3) Urban transportation planning
†† Same course as 301-435 but with an additional assignment and one more credit
Economics
154-568 (3) Urban and regional economics (prerequisites)
Jewish Studies
135-371 (6) The Jews and the modern city
Law
490-004 (3) Land use planning
Management (Faculty of Management)
274-445 (3) Real estate finance (prereq.)
274-446 (3) Real estate investment analysis (prereq.)
274-447 (3) Real estate valuation (prereq.)
274-546 (3) Land law (prereq.)
Political Science
160-318 (3) Local government in comparative perspective
160-467 (3) Politique et société à Montréal
(require to understand and read French)
Sociology
166-222 (3) Urban sociology
Urban Planning (Faculty of Engineering)
409-501 (2) Principles and practice of urban planning I (6-wk intensive)
409-505 (3) GIS in planning (permission)
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BA Honours in
Geography
The B.A. Honours program is more concentrated and focused than the
Majors. Students must maintain marks of 'B' or higher and must complete
a 6-credit research paper. Honours students are encouraged to participate
in 500-level seminars with graduate students, but it is not advisable to
take more than one 500-level course in a semester.
Required Courses (34 credits)
Geography
183-201 (3) Geographic information systems I
183-203 (3) Environmental systems
183-216 (3) Geography of the world economy
183-217 (3) The Canadian city
183-272 (3) Landforms & environmental systems
183-290 (1) Local geographical excursion
183-302 (3) Environmental analysis and management: problems and policy
Mathematics
189-203 (3) Principles of statistics I
3 credits of techniques and methods in geography:
183-351 (3) Quantitative methods in geography
9 credits of research and thesis courses:
183-381 (3) Evolution of geography
183-491D/N (6) Honours research and reading
Complementary Courses (30 credits)
3 credits from field courses:
183-395C (3) Field studies - physical geography
183-398T (3) Field studies in human geography
183-494T (3) Field studies in geography: urban
183-496B (3) Regional geographical excursion
183-497T (3) Coastal marsh plant ecology
183-499T (3) Subarctic field studies: Schefferville
(field course availability is determined each year in February.)
18 additional credits in Geography selected in consultation with the adviser so that there is a clearly-defined focus.
9 credits in advanced courses outside geography at the 300 level or
higher selected from the humanities, social and physical sciences or engineering
and approved by the adviser as related to the focus within Geography.
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BA Joint Honours
in Geography
B.A. joint honours programs exist in conjunction with the departments
of Anthropology, East Asian Studies, Economics, History, Middle East Studies,
Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology. Joint honours programs with
other departments require approval by the Dean's office.
Required courses (36 or 39 credits)
Geography
183-201 (3) Geographic information systems I
183-203 (3) Environmental systems
183-216 (3) Geography of the world economy
183-217 (3) The Canadian city
183-302 (3) Environmental analysis and management: problems and policy
Mathematics
189-203 (3) Principles of statistics I, or an equivalent statistics course.
9 or 12 credits from methods, research and thesis courses:
183-351 (3) Quantitative methods in geography
183-381 (3) Evolution of geography
* 183-491D,N (6) Honours research and reading course
or for those who submit the thesis in the other department
183-492D,N (3) Joint honours research and reading course
* Where both departments require an honours thesis, the student has the option of submitting the thesis to either department. If the thesis is submitted to the other department, then the student must register for 183-492D,N (3 credits) Joint honours research and reading course in Geography. In some cases, it is required that the thesis be jointly supervised by faculty of both departments.
Complementary Courses (9 credits)
A coherent set of geography courses approved by the student's adviser. A field course is desirable.
The requirements of other departments vary but usually involve 36 required
credits.
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BA Minor in
Geography
The BA Minor is designed to provide students in the Faculty of Arts
with an overview of basic elements of human geography at the introductory
and advanced level.
Required Courses (12 credits)
183-203 (3) Environmental Systems
183-216 (3) Geography of the world economy
183-217 (3) The Canadian city
183-302 (3) Environmental analysis and management: problems and policy
Complementary Courses (6 credits)
Two others courses (6 credits) from the listing of courses in geography at the 300- and 400-level.
The Minor is expandable into the B.A. Major Concentration in Geography,
but not into the B.A. Major Concentration in Geography
(Urban Systems).
Up
BA Minor in Geography (Urban Systems)
BSc Major in
Geography
The B.Sc. Major program is designed to provide a coverage of the main
elements of physical geography.
Required Courses (22 credits)
Geography
183-201 (3) Geographic Information Systems I
183-203 (3) Environmental systems
183-216 (3) Geography of the world economy
183-217 (3) The Canadian city
183-272 (3) Landforms & environmental systems
183-302 (3) Environmental analysis and management
183-290 (1) Local geographical excursion
Mathematics
189-203 (3) Principles of statistics I
Complementary Courses (33 credits)
3 credits from GIS techniques:
183-306 (3) Geographic Information Systems II
183-308 (3) Remote sensing
12 credits from systematic physical geography
183-305 (3) Soils and environment
183-321 (3) Climatic environments
183-322 (3) Environmental hydrology
183-350 (3) Ecological biogeography
183-372 (3) Running water environments
3 credits from field courses:
183-395C (3) Field studies - physical geography
183-496B (3) Regional geographical excursion
183-497T (3) Coastal marsh plant ecology
183-499T (3) Subarctic field studies: Schefferville
(Field course availability is determined each year in February.)
15 credits from approved courses -
in Geography, or elsewhere in the Faculty of Science, or in the Faculty of Engineering; at least 9 credits of which are to be taken outside geography. Students may also include any courses that are
not already counted towards the GIS techniques or the systematic physical geography requirements. Admission to 500-level courses in Geography requires the instructor's permission. It is not advisable to take more than one 500-level course in a semester.
Geography List
183-404 (3) Environmental management for develop. areas
183-505 (3) Global biogeochemistry
183-506 (3) Perspectives on geographic information analysis
183-522 (3) Advanced environmental hydrology
183-523 (3) Advanced climatology
183-535 (3) Remote sensing methods & interpretation
183-536 (3) Periglacial and permafrost environments
183-537 (3) Advanced fluvial geomorphology
183-550 (3) Quaternary paleoecology
List of Faculties of Science and Engineering courses from which a minimum of 9 credits outside geography are required (B.Sc. honours and majors).
Mathematics (189-): 204, 222, 314.
Physics (198-): 230, 232.
Chemistry (180-): 203, 204, 213, 214, 257, 307.
Biology (177-): 307, 308, 309, 334, 358, 432, 441, 442, 455, 470, 473,
483, 555.
Earth & Planetary Sciences (186-): 344, 425.
Atmos. and Oceanic Sciences (195-): 214, 215.
Computer Science (308-): 202, 203.
Civil Engineering: (303-): 327.
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BSc Honours
in Geography
The B.Sc. Honours program is designed to provide specialized systematic
training in physical geography. The student must maintain marks of B or
higher and must complete a 6-credit research paper. Honours students are
encouraged to participate in 500-level seminars with graduate students,
but it is not advisable to take more than one 500-level course in a semester.
Required Courses (31 credits)
22 credits of introductory courses:
Geography
183-201 (3) Geographic Information Systems I
183-203 (3) Environmental systems
183-216 (3) Geography of the world economy
183-217 (3) The Canadian city
183-272 (3) Landforms & environmental systems
183-302 (3) Environmental analysis and management
183-290 (1) Local geographical excursion
Mathematics
189-203 (3) Principles of statistics I or an equivalent statistics course
9 credits of research and thesis courses:
183-381B (3) Evolution of geography
183-491D,N (6) Honours research and reading
Complementary Courses (33 credits)
3 credits from GIS techniques:
183-306 (3) Geographic Information Systems II
183-308 (3) Remote sensing
12 credits from systematic physical geography:
183-305 (3) Soils and environment
183-321 (3) Climatic environments
183-322 (3) Environmental hydrology
183-350 (3) Ecological biogeography
183-372 (3) Running water environments
3 credits from field courses:
183-395C (3) Field studies - physical geography
183-496B (3) Regional geographical excursion
183-497T (3) Coastal marsh plant ecology
183-499T (3) Subarctic field studies: Schefferville
(Field course availability is determined each year in February.)
15 credits from approved courses -
in Geography, or elsewhere in the Faculty of Science, or in the Faculty of Engineering; at least 9 credits of which are to be taken outside geography. Students may also include any courses that are not already counted towards the GIS techniques or the systematic physical geography requirements. Admission to 500-level courses in Geography requires the instructor's permission.
Geography List
183-404 (3) Environmental management for develop. areas
183-505 (3) Global biogeochemistry
183-506 (3) Perspectives on geographic information analysis
183-522 (3) Advanced environmental hydrology
183-523 (3) Advanced climatology
183-535 (3) Remote sensing methods & interpretation
183-536 (3) Periglacial and permafrost environments
183-537 (3) Advanced fluvial geomorphology
183-550 (3) Quaternary paleoecology
List of Faculties of Science and Engineering courses.
A minimum of 9 credits outside geography are required (B.Sc. honours and majors).
Mathematics (189-): 204, 222, 314
Physics (198-): 230, 232
Chemistry (180-): 203, 204, 213, 214, 257, 307
Biology (177-): 307, 308, 309, 334, 358, 432, 441, 442, 455, 470, 473, 483, 555
Earth & Planetary Sciences (186-): 344, 425
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (195-): 214, 215
Computer Science (308-): 202, 203
Civil Engineering (303-): 327
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Why geography, why McGill?
Prospective students and their parents often ask what use can be made of an undergraduate degree in geography, other than as a path to a school teaching career or to graduate studies in the subject. The answer depends in part on the kind of program followed and courses taken. For example, the student who takes several courses in GIS and remote sensing as part of the degree is more likely to find employment in consulting firms or agencies which use people with these skills. Also students with a BSc in geography are likely to find it easier to find employment in environmental consulting firms than students with a BA. For more detailed information on what our BA and BSc graduates have gone on to do in the recent past and what they thought of the program, click here: Survey Says…
One aspect of the Geography Department that appeals to many of our students is that classes generally have 40 or less students, except for introductory classes which have around 100 to 150 students. Students and faculty get along well and students feel welcome to discuss matters with faculty both during and after class and to visit them in their offices to discuss not only course-related matters but also career path issues.
McGill’s lower campus, where the Geography Department is located, is an attractive, historic and compact environment to work in and houses most Arts and Science departments. It is also only two blocks from the main shopping street in downtown Montreal, St Catherine Street and convenient not only to the wide range of downtown amenities but also to subway and other transit facilities.
