Major in Environment (60 to 66 credits)

The Major Environment can be completed through the Bachelor of Science degree (available through the Faculty of Science, on the Downtown Campus), or through the B.Sc. (Ag. Env. Sc.) degree (available through the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, on the Macdonald Campus). Students interested in working primarily on one or the other campus should apply to the appropriate Faculty.

The Major Environment comprises two course components: Core and Concentration.

All Courses

1. Core (Required Courses) (21 credits)

Core — Introductory Courses (15 credits)

The Core includes four introductory courses and one intermediate course which expose students to different interdisciplinary perspectives, approaches, and world views — to help them understand the complexity and conflicts that underlie most environmental problems. Students will be challenged by the Core program to look beyond the confines of their individual views of environment.

ENVR 200 – The Global Environment
ENVR 201 – Society,Environ&Sustainability
ENVR 202 – The Evolving Earth
ENVR 203 – Knowledge, Ethics&Environment
ENVR 301 – Environmental Research Design

Core — Senior Courses (6 credits)

In the two senior courses of the Core, students will apply the general and specialized knowledge acquired through the rest of the program, to the analysis of a selection of contemporary environmental problems.

ENVR 400 – Environmental Thought (3 cr) AND One of the following Senior Research Project courses (3 cr*) –
AEBI 427 – Barbados Interdisc Project (6 cr) (M) (in Barbados)
ENVR 401 – Environmental Research (3 cr)
ENVR 451 – Research in Panama (6 cr) (in Panama)
FSCI 444 – Barbados Research Project (6 cr) (in Barbados)
GEOG 451 – Res in Society & Dev in Africa (6 cr) (in Africa)
* Only 3 credits will be applied to the program; extra credits will count as electives.

2. Concentration: Complementary Courses (36-45 credits, depending on Concentration selected)

In addition to the Core, each student chooses a Concentration. Concentrations provide a transdisciplinary study of a particular theme or component of the environment. The requirements and complementary course sets vary between Concentrations; these can be viewed by clicking on the links to each Concentration, below. Except where indicated, all Concentrations are available through both the Faculty of Science (Downtown Campus), and the Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (Macdonald Campus). You can choose one of the following Concentrations in the B.Sc. Major Environment, or B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.) Major Environment: Atmospheric Environment and Air Quality Science only Biodiversity and Conservation Earth Sciences and Economics Science only Ecological Determinants of Health Environmetrics Food Production and Environment Land Surface Processes and Environmental Change Renewable Resource Management Water Environments and Ecosystems

All Courses

Two hundred years of history

From its founding in 1821, McGill has been home to momentous firsts thanks to brilliant and curious minds.

Our university grounds were the birthplace of basketball and hockey. This is where Archie, the world’s first internet search engine, was created, and where Canada’s first female professor taught.

Recently, McGill’s researchers have been making significant breakthroughs in RNA research that will shape the future of medicine. In all fields, McGillians continue to push boundaries and make an impact.

McGill. Made by dreamers and trailblazers.

From revolutionary scientific and medical innovations, to artists and humanitarians giving back to the community — McGillians have made, and continue to make, a lasting change in the world.

Our faculties’ histories

McGill has 11 faculties and 13 schools across three world-renowned campuses. Discover the people and events that shaped them.

James McGill (1744-1813)

James McGill, the man whose vision would lead to the creation of the University that bears his name, was born in Glasgow, Scotland on October 6, 1744.

Who We Are

McGill University is one of Canada’s best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world. International students from more than 150 countries make up nearly 30% of McGill’s student body ‒ the highest proportion of any Canadian research university.

History

McGill is a public university, founded in 1821.

A Tradition of Success

McGill is recognized around the world for the excellence of its teaching and research programs. Ernest Rutherford’s Nobel Prize-winning research on the nature of radioactivity was conducted at McGill, part of a long tradition of innovation on our campuses that includes the invention of the artificial blood cell and Plexiglas. Today our professors are building the new field of epigenetics, developing alternative energy sources from crop plants and driving human achievement in every field imaginable.

The Best and Brightest

In addition to a stellar faculty, McGill is known for attracting the brightest students from across Canada, the United States, and around the world. McGill students have the highest average entering grades in Canada, and our commitment to fostering the very best has helped our students win more national and international awards on average than their peers at any other Canadian university. The prestigious Rhodes Scholarship has gone to a nation-leading 147 McGill students.

All Courses

Fees and expenses

Tuition and Fees

Students can estimate the cost of their program by using the Student Accounts Fee Calculator. The following information is required:

1. Residency: Quebec, Non-Quebec Canadian, or International
2. Academic Year or Term: Fall 2023/Winter 2024 (for example)
3. Program: Master’s Full-Time (for example)
4. When selecting your program, take the following into consideration:
   

   Master’s Thesis students have a registration status of “Full-Time” for the first 3 terms of the Program (not including the Summer term). Followed by a registration status of “Additional Session” for each term (Fall, Winter and Summer) until graduation.

   Master’s Non-Thesis students have a registration status of “Full-Time” (registration of 12 or more credits) for the first 3 terms of the Program (not including the Summer term). Followed by a registration status of “Non-Thesis Extension” (registration of 0 credits) for each term (Fall and Winter) until graduation. Non-thesis students are charged fees based on the number credits registered each term.

   PhD students have a registration status of “Full-Time” for the first 6 or 8* terms of the Program (not including the Summer term). Followed by a registration status of “Additional Session” for each term (Fall, Winter and Summer) until graduation. *Students entering the PhD program having completed only a Bachelor’s degree register for 8 “Full-Time” terms. Students entering the PhD program having completed a Master’s degree register for 6 “Full-Time” terms.

Expenses

The cost of living in Montreal is very affordable. Some of the estimated expenses per year for a single student are:

Please visit the graduate student Cost of Attendance page for information on residences and student housing and links to tools that will help you calculate your expenses and budget your money.

All Courses