Program Requirements
The Water Environments and Ecosystems - Physical (63 credits, including the core) is a a concentration open only to students in the B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.); Major in Environment or B.Sc.; Major in Environment program.
The program focuses on the physical facet of the water environment, and the transport and transformation mechanisms of water on the planet, from rivers to the oceans and atmosphere; and to a lesser extent on the biological processes taking place in water bodies.
Graduates of this domain are qualified to enter the work force or to pursue advanced studies in fields such as marine biology, geography, physical oceanography, and atmospheric science.
Suggested First Year (U1) Courses
For suggestions on courses to take in your first year (U1), you can consult the "Bieler School of Environment Student Handbook" available on the website (), or contact Kathy Roulet, the Program Adviser (kathy.roulet [at] mcgill.ca).
Program Requirements
Note: Students are required to take a maximum of 30 credits at the 200 level and a minimum of 12 credits at the 400 level or higher in this program. This includes core and required courses.
Location Note: When planning your schedule and registering for courses, you should verify where each course is offered because courses for this program are taught at both ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ's Downtown campus and at the Macdonald campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.
Core: Required Courses (18 credits)
Location Note: Core required courses for this program are taught at both ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ's Downtown campus and at the Macdonald campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. You should register in Section 001 of an ENVR course that you plan to take on the Downtown campus, and in Section 051 of an ENVR course that you plan to take on the Macdonald campus.
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ENVR 200 The Global Environment (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Ricciardi, Anthony; Lovat, Christie (Fall) Lovat, Christie (Winter)
Fall
Section 001: Downtown Campus
Section 051: Macdonald Campus
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ENVR 201 Society, Environment and Sustainability (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Badami, Madhav Govind; Cardille, Jeffrey; Garver, Geoffrey (Fall)
Fall
Section 001: Downtown Campus
Section 051: Macdonald Campus
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ENVR 202 The Evolving Earth (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Leung, Brian; Sengupta, Raja; Soper, Fiona; Lovat, Christie; Favret, Karen (Winter)
Winter
Section 001: Downtown Campus
Section 051: Macdonald Campus
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ENVR 203 Knowledge, Ethics and Environment (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Kosoy, Nicolas; Freeman, Julia (Fall) Hirose, Iwao; Janzwood, Amy (Winter)
Fall - Macdonald Campus; Winter - Downtown
Section 001: Downtown Campus
Section 051: Macdonald Campus
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ENVR 301 Environmental Research Design (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Techniques used in design and completion of environmental research projects. Problem definition, data sources and use of appropriate strategies and methodologies. Principles underlying research design are emphasized, including critical thinking, recognizing causal relationships, ideologies and bias in research, and when and where to seek expertise.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Sengupta, Raja (Fall) Freeman, Julia; Khattar, Gabriel (Winter)
Fall - Downtown campus; Winter - Macdonald campus
Section 001: Downtown Campus
Section 051: Macdonald Campus
Restrictions: Restricted to U2 or higher
Prerequisite(s): Completion of U1 Required courses in Environment, or permission of instructor.
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ENVR 400 Environmental Thought (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Kosoy, Nicolas; Freeman, Julia (Fall) Sieber, Renee; Horner, Hervé Robert; Janzwood, Amy (Winter)
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
Core: Complementary Course - Senior Research Project (3 credits)
Note: Only 3 credits will be applied to the program; extra credits will count as electives.
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AEBI 427 Barbados Interdisciplinary Project (6 credits)
Overview
Biology (Agric & Envir Sc) : The planning of projects and research activities related to tropical food, nutrition, or energy at the local, regional, or national scale in Barbados. Projects and activities designed in consultation with university instructors, government, NGO, or private partners, and prepared by teams of 2-3 students working cooperatively with these mentors.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction(s): Restricted to students that are participating in the Barbados Interdisciplinary Tropical Studies Field Semester
**Since this course is being taught abroad, the Victoria Day statutory holiday will not be taken into consideration. Therefore, students are expected to attend their lecture on Monday, May 18, 2020.
**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 fifth lecture day.
Project course AEBI 427 runs concurrently with the other courses (AEBI 421, AEBI 423 & AEBI 425) and the Mondays of each week are dedicated to AEBI 427.
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ENVR 401 Environmental Research (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Students work in an interdisciplinary team on a real-world research project involving problem definition, methodology development, social, ethical and environmental impact assessment, execution of the study, and dissemination of results to the research community and to the people affected. Teams begin defining their projects during the preceding summer.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Soper, Fiona; Sieber, Renee; Lovat, Christie; Manaugh, Kevin; Gobby, Jen (Fall)
Fall
Prerequisite(s): ENVR 301 and MATH 203 or equivalent, or by permission of the instructor
Restriction: Only open to U3 students in their final year in the following programs: B.A. Faculty Program in Environment, B.A.& Sc. Interfaculty Program in Environment, B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.) and B.Sc. Major in Environment, and Diploma in Environment.
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ENVR 451 Research in Panama (6 credits)
Overview
Environment : Research projects will be developed by instructors in consultation with Panamanian universities, government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Project groups will consist of four to six students working with a Panamanian institution. Topics will be relevant to Panama: e.g., protection of the Canal watershed, economical alternatives to deforestation, etc.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Restriction: students in the Panama Field Semester program. Offered in Panama only
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FSCI 444 Barbados Research Project (6 credits)
Overview
Faculty of Science : A research project that is supervised by ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ academic staff and is conducted in collaboration with local partners. The project topic must relate to the field of sustainability relating to the Caribbean or Barbados specifically.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Millien, Virginie (Fall)
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GEOG 451 Research in Society and Development in Africa (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : Three intersecting components: 1) core development themes including culture change, environmental conservation, water, health, development (urban and rural), governance and conflict resolution, 2) research techniques for topics related to core themes, including ethics, risk, field methods and data analysis, 3) field documentation, scientific recording and communication.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Domain: Required Courses (9 credits)
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ATOC 214 Introduction: Physics of the Atmosphere (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : An introduction to key physical processes operating in the atmosphere, designed for students in science and engineering. Topics typically include: composition of the atmosphere; vertical structure; heat transfer; solar and terrestrial radiation and Earth's energy balance; seasonal and daily temperature changes; humidity and the formation of clouds and precipitation; stability of tropospheric air layers; applications of adiabatic charts.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Ioannidou, Evangelia (Fall)
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ATOC 315 Thermodynamics and Convection (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Buoyancy, stability, and vertical oscillations. Dry and moist adiabatic processes. Resulting dry and precipitating convective circulations from the small scale to the global scale. Mesoscale precipitation systems from the cell to convective complexes. Severe convection, downbursts, mesocyclones.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Tan, Ivy (Fall)
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GEOG 372 Running Water Environments (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Domain: Complementary Courses (33 credits)
33 credits of complementary courses are selected as follows:
3 credits - Meteorology
6 credits - Hydrology and Ecology
3 credits - Statistics
3 credits - Intermediate Calculus
3 credits - Field course
9 credits chosen from List A: Engineering/Math/Hydrology
6 credits chosen from List B: Marine and Freshwater Biology
Meteorology
3 credits from:
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ATOC 215 Oceans, Weather and Climate (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : An introduction to key physical and dynamical processes in the oceans and atmosphere. Topics typically include air-sea-ice interactions, laws of motion, the geostrophic and thermal wind relations, general circulation of the atmosphere and oceans, weather, radiative balance, climate sensitivity and variability, role of the atmosphere and oceans in climate.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Fajber, Robert (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lecture
Prerequisite: MATH 141
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ATOC 341 Caribbean Climate and Weather (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : The climate system and ongoing global change, ocean and atmosphere circulation and future trends in the tropics; local climate variability and dynamics, extreme weather events in the Caribbean
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Romanic, Djordje (Fall)
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ENVB 301 Meteorology (3 credits)
Overview
Environmental Biology : The physical processes underlying weather. Topics include: the atmosphere - its properties (structure and motion), and thermodynamics (stability, heat and moisture); clouds and precipitation; air masses and fronts; mid-latitude weather systems and severe weather.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restrictions: none
Hydrology and Ecology
6 credits selected as follows:
3 credits from:
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BREE 217 Hydrology and Water Resources (3 credits)
Overview
Bioresource Engineering : Introduction to water resources and hydrologic cycle. Precipitation and hydrologic frequency analysis. Soil water processes, infiltration theory and modeling. Evapotranspiration estimation methods and crop water requirements. Surface runoff estimation as a function of land use modifications. Estimation of peak runoff rates. Unit hydrograph. Design of open channels and vegetated waterways.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Prasher, Shiv (Winter)
Three lectures, one 2-hour lab per week.
This course carries an additional course charge for field trips.
This course carries an additional course charge of $20.01 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.
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GEOG 322 Environmental Hydrology (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Lehner, Bernhard; Ali, Genevieve (Fall)
Winter
3 hours
Prerequisite: GEOG 203 or equivalent
3 credits from:
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BIOL 308 Ecological Dynamics (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Guichard, Frederic; Fussmann, Gregor (Fall)
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ENVB 305 Population and Community Ecology (3 credits)
Overview
Environmental Biology : Interactions between organisms and their environment; historical and current perspectives in applied and theoretical population and community ecology. Principles of population dynamics, feedback loops, and population regulation. Development and structure of communities; competition, predation and food web dynamics. Biodiversity science in theory and practice.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: McKinney, Melissa (Winter)
Statistics
3 credits from:
* Note: Other appropriate statistics courses may be approved as substitutes by the Program Adviser.
Credit given for Statistics courses is subject to certain restrictions. Students in the Faculty of Arts or the Faculty of Science should consult the "Course Overlap" information in the "Course Requirements" section of the eCalendar for the Faculty of Science.
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AEMA 310 Statistical Methods 1 (3 credits) *
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Dutilleul, Pierre R L (Fall) Dhiman, Jaskaran (Winter)
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.
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BIOL 373 Biometry (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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.
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GEOG 202 Statistics and Spatial Analysis (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Mahmud, Mallik (Fall)
3 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.
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MATH 203 Principles of Statistics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Examples of statistical data and the use of graphical means to summarize the data. Basic distributions arising in the natural and behavioural sciences. The logical meaning of a test of significance and a confidence interval. Tests of significance and confidence intervals in the one and two sample setting (means, variances and proportions).
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025
Instructors: Stephens, David; Correa, Jose Andres (Fall) Sajjad, Alia (Winter)
No calculus prerequisites
Restriction: This course is intended for students in all disciplines. For extensive course restrictions covering statistics courses see Section 3.6.1 of the Arts and of the Science sections of the calendar regarding course overlaps.
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. Students should consult for information regarding transfer credits for this course.
Intermediate Calculus
3 credits from:
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AEMA 202 Intermediate Calculus (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics (Agric&Envir Sci) : Methods of differential and integral calculus forthe study of multivariable functions. Calculus of parametric and polar curves, vectors and geometry of space, vector functions, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, and their applications.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Titley-Péloquin, David (Fall)
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MATH 222 Calculus 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Taylor series, Taylor's theorem in one and several variables. Review of vector geometry. Partial differentiation, directional derivative. Extreme of functions of 2 or 3 variables. Parametric curves and arc length. Polar and spherical coordinates. Multiple integrals.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025
Instructors: Pym, Brent; Tageddine, Damien (Fall) Mazakian, Hovsep (Winter)
Field Course:
3 credits selected from the following courses or an equivalent Aquatic Field course:
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BIOL 331 Ecology/Behaviour Field Course (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Methods of sampling natural populations. Testing hypotheses in nature.
Terms: Summer 2025
Instructors: Reader, Simon; Barrett, Rowan; Hargreaves, Anna (Summer)
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 $688.37 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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BIOL 334D1 Applied Tropical Ecology (1.5 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Relevant to agriculture, forestry, fisheries and conservation of natural resources. Field component taught at the University's Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados, for two weeks in early May. The course is organized in a series of small-group field projects of 2-3 days each. Interested students should check the course website, attend the full information session and fill out an application form.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Guichard, Frederic; Nilson, Laura (Winter)
Winter, Summer
Prerequisites: BIOL 206; and BIOL 215 or both ENVR 200 and ENVR 202; and permission of the instructor.
Students must register for both BIOL 334D1 and BIOL 334D2.
No credit will be given for this course unless both BIOL 334D1 and BIOL 334D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
BIOL 334D1 and BIOL 334D2 together are equivalent to BIOL 334
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BIOL 334D2 Applied Tropical Ecology (1.5 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : See BIOL 334D1 for course description.
Terms: Summer 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter, Summer
Prerequisites: BIOL 206; and BIOL 215 or both ENVR 200 and ENVR 202; and permission of the instructor.
Students must register for both BIOL 334D1 and BIOL 334D2.
No credit will be given for this course unless both BIOL 334D1 and BIOL 334D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
This course, given in Barbados, has an additional fee of $1,847.31 to cover the costs of room and board at Bellairs Research Institute, the course pack and all other expenses during the course. It does not cover tuition, airfare, flight insurance, airport taxes, meals in transit, or the cost of supplementary health insurance. The fee is only refundable prior to the deadline to withdraw with full refund
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BIOL 335 Marine Mammals (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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 $1858.12 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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BIOL 343 Biodiversity in the Caribean (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Biodiversity loss and the measure of ecological integrity of ecosystems, patterns of diversification and evolution of terrestrial and oceanic biotas in the Caribbean.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Millien, Virginie (Fall)
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GEOG 495 Field Studies - Physical Geography (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : 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.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
2-week field school
Prerequisites: 6 credits from the following list of Systematic Physical Geography courses: GEOG 305, GEOG 321, GEOG 322, GEOG 350, GEOG 372
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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WILD 401 Fisheries and Wildlife Management (3 credits)
Overview
Resource Development : Principles of fisheries and wildlife management are considered and current practices of research and management are discussed.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Humphries, Murray; Elliott, Kyle; McKinney, Melissa; Roy, Denis (Fall)
Prerequisite: WILD 307 and ENVB 305 or permission of the instructor.
A fee is charged to all students registered in WILD 401, Fisheries and Wildlife Management, a course that has a required field trip. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, accommodations, food and fees associated with visiting research facilities where final projects are devised, and data are collected in the field (e.g., at the SUNY-ESF Adirondaks Ecological Center in Newcomb, New York). The Department of Natural Resource Sciences subsidizes a portion of the cost of this compulsory activity.
A fee of $410.60 is charged to all students registered in WILD 401, Fisheries and Wildlife Management, a course that has a required field trip. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, accommodations, food and fees associated with visiting research facilities where final projects are devised, and data are collected in the field (e.g., at the SUNY-ESF Adirondaks Ecological Center in Newcomb, New York). The Department of Natural Resource Sciences subsidizes a portion of the cost of this compulsory activity.
List A: (Engineering/Math/Hydrology)
6-9 credits chosen from:
* Note: You can taken ENVB 529 or GEOG 201, but not both; you can take ENVB 530 or GEOG 506, but not both; you can take ENVB 210 or GEOG 305, but not both.
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ATOC 309 Weather Radars and Satellites (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Basic notions of radiative transfer and applications of satellite and radar data to mesoscale and synoptic-scale systems are discussed. Emphasis will be put on the contribution of remote sensing to atmospheric and oceanic sciences.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Tan, Ivy (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lecture
Prerequisite: ATOC 215
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BREE 416 Engineering for Land Development (3 credits)
Overview
Bioresource Engineering : Engineering aspects of land stewardship and water resource conservation, including: introduction to the hydrologic cycle and agricultural water use; computation of soil loss by water erosion; conservation farming practices; reservoirs and embankments; water and sediment control structures; stream restoration and water supply; wetlands and wetland design; irrigation principles and design; pumps and pumping; introduction to drainage and water table management.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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BREE 420 Engineering for Sustainability (3 credits)
Overview
Bioresource Engineering : Principles and practices of engineering for sustainability. Emphasis on environmental, economic, social, management and policy factors that should be incorporated into sustainable approaches to engineering and design. Topics will include: sustainability metrics, systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, and leading change for sustainability within companies.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Adamowski, Jan (Winter)
Prerequisite: FACC 300 or permission of instructor
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BREE 506 Advances in Drainage Management (3 credits)
Overview
Bioresource Engineering : Land drainage in relation to soils and crops. Design of regional drainage systems, stability of ditches, ice problems. Design of subsurface drainage systems. Theories of flow into drain tubes. Hydraulics of wells. Drainage of irrigated lands. Water table control.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
3 weeks intensive course
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ABEN 506.
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BREE 509 Hydrologic Systems and Modelling.
(3 credits)
Overview
Bioresource Engineering : Hydrologic cycle in the nature and how to quantitatively describe those processes using models. The fundamentals of hydrology including basic concepts, precipitation, snow and snowmelt, evapotranspiration, subsurface flow, infiltration and soil water movement, and runoff and streamflow. Equivalent attention to theories and hands-on practices on model application. How to set up and execute weather data driven physical based models, both at a point-scale and a watershed scale, to predict snowmelt, evapotranspiration, infiltration, soil water redistribution, subsurface drainage, runoff, and stream flow in hydrologic systems.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Qi, Zhiming (Winter)
3 hour lectures
Prerequisite: BREE 217 or equivalent.
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BREE 533 Water Quality Management (3 credits)
Overview
Bioresource Engineering : The water phases of terrestrial ecological systems and the processes that link them. Physical, chemical, and biological properties of water, and water quality standards. The fate and transport of pollutants in rivers and streams, lakes, and wetlands. Methods to quantify soil carbon and nitrogen cycle to predict nutrient leaching. Impacts of human activities (e.g., agricultural drainage) on water quality and measures to improve drainage water quality. Assess the effectiveness of proposed engineering measures or management practices in improving or maintaining water quality of a real site/water body using numerical methods or a computer modelling approach.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Prasher, Shiv; Qi, Zhiming (Fall)
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken BREE 625 (formerly ABEN 625).
Management of water quality for sustainability. Cause of soil degradation, surface and groundwater contamination by agricultural chemicals and toxic pollutants. Screening and mechanistic models. 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.
This course carries an additional charge of $38.81 to cover the cost of transportation with respect to a field trip. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
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CIVE 323 Hydrology and Water Resources (3 credits)
Overview
Civil Engineering : Precipitation, evaporation and transpiration. Streamflow, storage reservoirs, flood routing. Groundwater hydrology. Ecohydrology. Statistical analysis in hydrology, stochastic modelling. Simulations using hydrologic models. Case studies in flood damage mitigation, surface and ground water management, and water-energy-food nexus.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Alobaidi, Mohammad (Fall)
(3-2-4)
Prerequisite: CIVE 302
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ENVB 210 The Biophysical Environment (3 credits) *
Overview
Environmental Biology : With reference to the ecosystems in the St Lawrence lowlands, the principles and processes governing climate-landform-water-soil-vegetation systems and their interactions will be examined in lecture and laboratory. Emphasis on the natural environment as an integrated system.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Mousavi-Torbati, Khosro; Hung, Chih-Yu (Fall)
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ENVB 529 GIS for Natural Resource Management (3 credits) *
Overview
Environmental Biology : Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to the presentation and analysis of ecological information, including sources and capture of spatial data; characterizing, transforming, displaying spatial data; and spatial analysis to solve resource management problems.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Cardille, Jeffrey; Adamchuk, Viacheslav; Dhiman, Jaskaran (Fall)
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ENVB 530 Advanced GIS for Natural Resource Management (3 credits)
Overview
Environmental Biology : An advanced spatial analysis course that uses rapidly developing techniques in GIS and remote sensing to solve problems in natural resource management. Focuses on controlling spatial operations through programming.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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EPSC 549 Hydrogeology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Introduction to groundwater flow through porous media. Notions of fluid potential and hydraulic head. Darcy flux and Darcy's Law. Physical properties of porous media and their measurement. Equation of groundwater flow. Flow systems. Hydraulics of pumping and recharging wells. Notions of hydrology. Groundwater quality and contamination. Physical processes of contaminant transport.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: McKenzie, Jeffrey (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lectures
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor
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GEOG 201 Introductory Geo-Information Science (3 credits) *
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Elrick, Tim (Fall)
Fall
3 hours and lab
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GEOG 305 Soils and Environment (3 credits) *
Overview
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).
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
3 hours and laboratory
Prerequisite: GEOG 203 or introductory course in biology or geology
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GEOG 308 Remote Sensing for Earth Observation (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Kalacska, Margaret (Fall)
Fall
3 hours and laboratory periods
Corequisite: GEOG 201 or permission of instructor
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GEOG 314 Geospatial Analysis (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : Overview of both the theoretical and applied aspects of geographic information science and systems. Topics will include spatial analysis techniques, geographic models as abstractions of the real world, spatial data manipulation and management, and conceptual issues related to geographic data and technology. Introduction to a number of leading commercial software including ESRI’s ArcGIS Pro.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: McKenzie, Grant (Winter)
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GEOG 506 Advanced Geographic Information Science (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : Critically analyse major themes in geographic information science and draw out the practical ramifications for spatial technologies and research. Topics such as spatial interoperability, data quality, scale, visualization, location based services and ontologies are covered.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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GEOG 537 Advanced Fluvial Geomorphology (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : An examination of current advances in fluvial geomorphology: sediment entrainment and transport, alluviation and river channel evolution.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Prerequisite (Undergraduate): permission of instructor
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SOIL 315 Soil Nutrient Management (3 credits)
Overview
Soil Science : Plant nutrients in the soil, influence of soil properties on nutrient absorption and plant growth, use of organic and inorganic fertilizers.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Whalen, Joann (Fall)
0-3 credits from:
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AEMA 305 Differential Equations (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics (Agric&Envir Sci) : First and second order differential equations, Laplace transforms, numerical solutions, systems of differential equations, series solutions, applications to biological, chemical and engineering systems, use of computer-based mathematical tools.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Titley-Péloquin, David (Winter)
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MATH 315 Ordinary Differential Equations (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : First order ordinary differential equations including elementary numerical methods. Linear differential equations. Laplace transforms. Series solutions.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Paquette, Courtney (Fall) Kamran, Niky (Winter)
List B: (Marine and Freshwater Biology)
6 credits chosen from:
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BIOL 310 Biodiversity and Ecosystems (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Pollock, Laura; Iversen, Lars Lonsmann (Winter)
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BIOL 342 Global Change Biology of Aquatic Ecosystems (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to freshwater and marine biology. Topics include the structure and functioning of the major aquatic ecosystems and how these aspects are affected by global change drivers.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Price, Neil; Gregory-Eaves, Irene (Winter)
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BIOL 432 Limnology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : A study of the physical, chemical and biological properties of lakes and other inland waters, with emphasis on their functioning as systems.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Iversen, Lars Lonsmann; Gregory-Eaves, Irene (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lecture
Prerequisites: BIOL 206 and BIOL 215 or permission of instructor.
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking ENVB 315.
This course, involving two field weekends, has an additional fee of $353.32, which includes room and board and transportation. The fee is refundable during the period where a student can drop the course with full refund. The Department of Biology subsidizes a portion of the cost for this activity.
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BIOL 441 Biological Oceanography (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to how the ocean functions biologically: biology and ecology of marine plankton; regulation, extent and fate of production in the sea.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Price, Neil; Turney, Shaun (Winter)
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BIOL 465 Conservation Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Discussion of relevant theoretical and applied issues in conservation biology. Topics: biodiversity, population viability analysis, community dynamics, biology of rarity, extinction, habitat fragmentation, social issues.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Chapman, Lauren; Gonzalez, Andrew (Fall)
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BIOL 553 Neotropical Environments (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Ecology revisited in view of tropical conditions. Exploring species richness. Sampling and measuring biodiversity. Conservation status of ecosystems, communities and species. Indigenous knowledge.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ENVB 410 Ecosystem Ecology (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Favret, Karen; Driscoll, Brian T (Fall)
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EPSC 325 Environmental Geochemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : The basic concepts and calculations needed to quantitatively understand the geochemical processes occurring between minerals and waters in Earth’s near-surface environment. The important concepts of thermodynamics and kinetics will be exemplified using examples that concentrate on reactions between minerals and water and their impact on the environment.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Baker, Don (Winter)
Prerequisites: CHEM 110 or some familiarity with the basic principles of the periodic table (high school/cegep general chemistry is acceptable), or permission of the instructor
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GEOG 470 Wetlands (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Chmura, Gail L (Fall)
Fall
3 hours
Restriction: Permission of instructor.
Note: A fee of $169.95 is charged to all students registered in GEOG 470. The fee will be used to support the cost of transportation (van rental, parking, and gas) additional cost for accommodations and food will be the students responsibility. The trip is required and will give students an opportunity to conduct field study in at least 3 different types of wetlands.
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GEOG 505 Global Biogeochemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : An examination of the storage, transfers and cycling of major elements and substances, with an emphasis on the global scale and the linkages between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Roulet, Nigel Thomas; Knox, Sara (Winter)
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GEOG 530 Global Land and Water Resources (3 credits)
Overview
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.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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WILD 302 Fish Ecology (3 credits)
Overview
Resource Development : Introduction to the biology and ecology of freshwater and marine fishes. Topics include taxonomy, physiology, biogeography, competition, predation, fishing, and conservation. Lab exercises and field trips emphasize familiarity with local fishes and their ecological interactions.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Roy, Denis (Fall)
Prerequisite: AEBI 211 or permission of instructor
This course carries an additional charge of $41.07 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is only refundable prior to the deadline to withdraw with full refund
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WILD 421 Wildlife Conservation (3 credits)
Overview
Resource Development : Study of current controversial issues focusing on wildlife conservation. Topics include: animal rights, exotic species, ecotourism, urban wildlife, multi-use of national parks, harvesting of wildlife, biological controls, and endangered species.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Elliott, Kyle (Winter)
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