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Major Environment - Food Production and Environment (63 credits)

Note: This is the 2012–2013 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.

Offered by: Bieler School of Environment     Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)

Program Requirements

This domain (63 credits including core) is open only to students in the B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.) Major in Environment or B.Sc. in Environment program.

The business of food production is an area of human activity with a large and intimate interaction with the environment. Modern agriculturalists must strike a delicate balance between trying to provide food for themselves, their families, and urban dwellers and trying to minimize environmental damage. When negative effects due to agricultural activities do occur, they are not usually the classic point-source effects that we have come to associate with industry or large cities. Rather, the effects are over extremely large land areas cumulating, perhaps, in pollution of river systems or lakes some distance away. As world populations grow, and as diets change, potentially negative interactions between agricultural systems and other facets of the environment will become more frequent. In the same way, urban sprawl will make conflicts between agriculture and urbanites more common.

With a judicious choice of courses, graduates of this domain may be eligible to apply for membership in the Ordre des agronomes du Québec (OAQ) and the Agricultural Institute of Canada (AIC).

Program Prerequisites or Corequisites

All students in this program MUST take these pre- or corequisite courses, or their equivalents. These courses are taken as follows:

Location Note: When planning their schedule and registering for courses, students should verify where each course is offered because courses for this program are taught at both McGill's Downtown campus and at the Macdonald campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.

One of the following courses or CEGEP equivalent (e.g., CEGEP objective 00XU):

  • BIOL 112 Cell and Molecular Biology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Biology (Sci) : The cell: ultrastructure, division, chemical constituents and reactions. Bioenergetics: photosynthesis and respiration. Principles of genetics, the molecular basis of inheritance and biotechnology.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Dent, Joseph Alan; Schöck, Frieder (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 2 hours lecture and 3.5 hours laboratory/seminar

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking CEGEP objective 00XU or equivalent; or BIOL 115; or AEBI 122

    • Attendance at first lab is mandatory to confirm registration in the course.

  • LSCI 211 Biochemistry 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Parasitology (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Life Sciences : Biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids; enzymes and coenzymes. Introduction to intermediary metabolism.

    Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013

    Instructors: Salavati, Reza; Jardim, Armando; Georges, Elias (Fall) Jardim, Armando; Georges, Elias; Salavati, Reza (Winter)

    • Co-requisite: FDSC 230

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken FDSC 211

One of the following courses or CEGEP equivalent (e.g., CEGEP objective 00XV):

  • CHEM 212 Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 (4 credits)

    Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Chemistry : A survey of reactions of aliphatic and aromatic compounds including modern concepts of bonding, mechanisms, conformational analysis, and stereochemistry.

    Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Summer 2013

    Instructors: Daoust, Michel; Sewall, Samuel Lewis; Gauthier, Jean-Marc; Tsantrizos, Youla S; Harpp, David Noble (Fall) Gauthier, Jean-Marc; Daoust, Michel; Huot, Mitchell; Lumb, Jean-Philip (Winter) Pavelka, Laura; Daoust, Michel; Sewall, Samuel Lewis; Gauthier, Jean-Marc (Summer)

    • Fall, Winter, Summer

    • Prerequisite: CHEM 110 or equivalent.

    • Corequisite: CHEM 120 or equivalent.

    • Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken CHEM 211 or equivalent

    • Each lab section is limited enrolment

    • Note: Some CEGEP programs provide equivalency for this course. For more information, please see the Department of Chemistry's Web page ().

  • FDSC 230 Organic Chemistry (4 credits)

    Offered by: Food Science&Agr.Chemistry (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Food Science : Atomic and molecular structure, modern concepts of bonding, overview of functional groups, conformational analysis, stereochemistry, mechanisms and reactions of aliphatic compounds.

    Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013

    Instructors: Yaylayan, Varoujan (Fall) Cherestes, Alice (Winter)

    • Fall or Winter

    • 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab

Suggested First Year (U1) Courses

For suggestions on courses to take in your first year (U1), you can consult the "MSE Student Handbook 2012-2013" available on the MSE website (), or contact Ms. Kathy Roulet, the Program Adviser (kathy.roulet [at] mcgill.ca).

Program Requirements

Note: Students are required to take a maximum of 34 credits at the 200 level and a minimum of 15 credits at the 400 level or higher in this program. This includes core and required courses, but does not include the domain prerequisites or corequisites listed above.

Location Note: When planning their schedule and registering for courses, students should verify where each course is offered because courses for this program are taught at both McGill'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 McGill'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.

  • ENVR 200 The Global Environment (3 credits)

    Offered by: Bieler School of Environment (School of Environment)

    Administered by: Faculty of Science

    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 2012

    Instructors: Ricciardi, Anthony; McCourt, George; Atallah, Eyad Hashem; Fyles, James W; Fabry, Frederic (Fall)

    • Fall

    • Section 001: Downtown Campus

    • Section 051: Macdonald Campus

  • ENVR 201 Society, Environment and Sustainability (3 credits)

    Offered by: Bieler School of Environment (School of Environment)

    Administered by: Faculty of Science

    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 2012

    Instructors: Badami, Madhav Govind; Bennett, Elena; Kosoy, Nicolas (Fall)

    • Fall

    • Section 001: Downtown Campus

    • Section 051: Macdonald Campus

  • ENVR 202 The Evolving Earth (3 credits)

    Offered by: Bieler School of Environment (School of Environment)

    Administered by: Faculty of Science

    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 2013

    Instructors: Leung, Brian; Lechowicz, Martin J; Paquette, Jeanne; McCourt, George; de Blois, Sylvie (Winter)

    • Winter

    • Section 001: Downtown Campus

    • Section 051: Macdonald Campus

  • ENVR 203 Knowledge, Ethics and Environment (3 credits)

    Offered by: Bieler School of Environment (School of Environment)

    Administered by: Faculty of Science

    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 2012, Winter 2013

    Instructors: Goodin, David (Fall) Ellis, Jaye Dana; Sieber, Renee; Hirose, Iwao (Winter)

    • Fall - Macdonald Campus; Winter - Downtown

    • Section 001: Downtown Campus

    • Section 051: Macdonald Campus

  • ENVR 301 Environmental Research Design (3 credits)

    Offered by: Bieler School of Environment (School of Environment)

    Administered by: Faculty of Science

    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 2012, Winter 2013

    Instructors: Vaccaro, Ismael; Gray, Suzanne; Barrington-Leigh, Christopher (Fall) Cardille, Jeffrey; Kroemker, Doerthe (Winter)

    • Fall-Downtown Campus: Section 001

    • Winter-Downtown Campus: Section 001; Macdonald Campus: Section 051

    • Restrictions: Restricted to U2 or higher

  • ENVR 400 Environmental Thought (3 credits)

    Offered by: Bieler School of Environment (School of Environment)

    Administered by: Faculty of Science

    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 2012, Winter 2013

    Instructors: Mikkelson, Gregory Matthew; Dressel, Holly; Brown, Peter Gilbert; Kosoy, Nicolas (Fall) Hirose, Iwao; Goodin, David; Posthumus, Stephanie (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)

Only 3 credits will be applied to the program; extra credits will count as electives.

  • AGRI 519 Sustainable Development Plans (6 credits)

    Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Agriculture : Geared for solving real-world environmental problems related to water at the local, regional and international scale in Barbados. Projects to be designed by instructors in consultation with university, government and NGO partners and to be conducted by teams of 2 to 4 students in collaboration with them.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Alli, Inteaz (Fall)

    • Restrictions: Enrolment in full "Barbados Field Study Semester". Not open to students who have taken CIVE 519 or URBP 519.

  • ENVR 401 Environmental Research (3 credits)

    Offered by: Bieler School of Environment (School of Environment)

    Administered by: Faculty of Science

    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 spring.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Fabry, Frederic; McCourt, George; Sieber, Renee (Fall)

    • Fall

    • Prerequisite: ENVR 301

    • Restriction: B.A. Faculty Program in Environment, B.A.&Sc. Faculty Program in Environment , B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.) and B.Sc. Major in Environment, and Diploma in Environment.

  • ENVR 451 Research in Panama (6 credits)

    Offered by: Bieler School of Environment (School of Environment)

    Administered by: Faculty of Science

    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 2013

    Instructors: Potvin, Catherine (Winter)

    • Winter

    • Restriction: students in the Panama Field Semester program. Offered in Panama only

Domain: Required Courses (9 credits)

  • AEBI 210 Organisms 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Plant Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Biology (Agric & Envir Sc) : The biology of plants and plant-based systems in managed and natural terrestrial environments. The interactions between autotrophs and soil organisms and selected groups of animals with close ecological and evolutionary connections with plants (e.g., herbivores and pollinators) will be explored in lecture and laboratory.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Singh, Jaswinder (Fall)

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken PLNT 201 or PLNT 211

    • 2 hour lecture and 3 hour lab

  • AGRI 210 Agro-Ecological History (3 credits)

    Offered by: Plant Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Agriculture : Introduction to the environmental consequences of agriculture through time, relating the cultural diversity of agronomic practices to regionally varied ecological processes.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • 3 lectures

  • PLNT 300 Cropping Systems (3 credits)

    Offered by: Plant Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Plant Science : Application of plant science and soil science to production of agronomic and horticultural crops. Use and sustainability of fertilization, weed control, crop rotation, tillage, drainage and irrigation practices.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Smith, Donald L; Seguin, Philippe (Fall)

    • 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab

    • Prerequisite: AEBI 210

Domain: Complementary Courses (33 credits)

33 credits of complementary courses selected as follows:

15 credits - Basic Sciences
12 credits - Applied Sciences
6 credits - Social Sciences/Humanities

Basic Sciences:

15 credits of Basic Sciences selected as follows:

One of the following Statistics courses or equivalent:

Note: Credit given for Statistics courses is subject to certain restrictions. Students in Science should consult the "Course Overlap" information in the "Course Requirements" section for the Faculty of Science.

  • AEMA 310 Statistical Methods 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Plant Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    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 2012, Winter 2013

    Instructors: Bona, Kelly Ann; Lucier, Jason (Fall) Bona, Kelly Ann; Gravel, Valérie (Winter)

    • Two 1.5-hour lectures and one 2-hour lab

  • MATH 203 Principles of Statistics 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

    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 2012, Winter 2013, Summer 2013

    Instructors: Reynolds, Patrick; Genest, Christian (Fall) Correa, Jose Andres (Winter) Harel, Daphna (Summer)

    • 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.

One of:

  • AGRI 340 Principles of Ecological Agriculture (3 credits)

    Offered by: Plant Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Agriculture : Focus on low-input, sustainable, and organic agriculture: the farm as an ecosystem; complex system theory; practical examples of soil management, pest control, integrated crop and livestock production, and marketing systems.

    Terms: Winter 2013, Summer 2013

    Instructors: Begg, Caroline B (Winter) Begg, Caroline B (Summer)

    • 3 lectures and one 2-hour seminar

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken AGRI 250

  • ANSC 250 Principles of Animal Science (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : Introduction to the scientific principles underlying the livestock and poultry industries. Emphasis will be placed on the breeding, physiology and nutrition of animals raised for the production of food and fibre.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Wade, Kevin (Fall)

    • Fall

    • 3 lectures and one 2-hour lab

One of:

  • BIOL 202 Basic Genetics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Biology (Sci) : Introduction to basic principles, and to modern advances, problems and applications in the genetics of higher and lower organisms with examples representative of the biological sciences.

    Terms: Winter 2013, Summer 2013

    Instructors: Schoen, Daniel J; Chevrette, Mario; Hipfner, David (Winter) Dankort, David; Hipfner, David (Summer)

    • Winter, Summer

    • 3 hours lecture, 1 hour optional tutorial

    • Prerequisite: BIOL 200.

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking CELL 204.

  • LSCI 204 Genetics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Plant Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Life Sciences : The course integrates classical, molecular and population genetics of animals, plants, bacteria and viruses. The aim is to understand the flow of genetic information within a cell, within families and in populations. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving based learning. The laboratory exercises will emphasize the interpretation of genetic experimental data.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Charron, Jean-Benoit (Winter)

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CELL 204.

    • Pre- or Co-requisite: FDSC 211 or LSCI 211

One of:

  • ENVB 210 The Biophysical Environment (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    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 2012

    Instructors: Begg, Caroline B (Fall)

    • Fall

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken SOIL 210

  • GEOG 305 Soils and Environment (3 credits)

    Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

    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: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Moore, Timothy R (Fall)

    • Fall

    • 3 hours and laboratory

    • Prerequisite: GEOG 203 or introductory course in biology or geology

One of:

  • BIOL 308 Ecological Dynamics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    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 2012

    Instructors: Fussmann, Gregor; Guichard, Frederic (Fall)

  • ENVB 305 Population & Community Ecology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    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 2013

    Instructors: Buddle, Christopher (Winter)

    • Winter

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken WILD 205

Applied Sciences:

12 credits of Applied Sciences from the following:

* Note: You may take BREE 217 or GEOG 322, but not both; you may take FDSC 200 or NUTR 207, but not both.

  • AGRI 411 Global Issues on Development, Food and Agriculture (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Agriculture : International development and world food security and challenges in developing countries. Soil and water management, climate change, demographic issues, plant and animal resources conservation, bio-products and biofuels, economic and environmental issues specially in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Globalization, sustainable development, technology transfer and human resources needs for rural development.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Monardes, Humberto (Winter)

    • Winter

    • Two 2-hour conferences

  • AGRI 435 Soil and Water Quality Management (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    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.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Madramootoo, Chandra A; Stämpfli, Nicolas (Fall)

    • Fall

    • 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab

    • This course carries an additional charge of $13 to cover the cost of transportation with respect to a field trip. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.

  • AGRI 550 Sustained Tropical Agriculture (3 credits)

    Offered by: Plant Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Agriculture : Contrast theory and practice in defining agricultural environmental "challenges" in the Neotropics. Indigenous and appropriate technological means of mitigation. Soil management and erosion, water scarcity, water over-abundance, and water quality. Explore agro-ecosystem protection via field trips and project designs. Institutional context of conservation strategies, NGO links, and public participation.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Prerequisites: HISP 218 or equivalent; MATH 203 or AEMA 310 or equivalent

    • Restriction: Restricted Enrolment. Location in Panama. Student must be registered for a full semester of studies in Panama

  • BIOL 465 Conservation Biology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    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 2012

    Instructors: Chapman, Lauren; Green, David M; Gonzalez, Andrew (Fall)

  • BIOL 553 Neotropical Environments (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    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 2013

    Instructors: Potvin, Catherine (Winter)

  • BREE 217 Hydrology and Water Resources (3 credits) *

    Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    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.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Prasher, Shiv (Winter)

    • 3 lectures, one 2-hour lab

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ABEN 217.

  • BREE 322 Organic Waste Management (3 credits)

    Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Bioresource Engineering : An introduction to engineering aspects of handling, storage and treatment of all biological and food industry wastes. Design criteria will be elaborated and related to characteristics of wastes. Physical, chemical and biological treatment systems.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Clark, Grant (Fall)

    • 2 lectures and one 2-hour lab

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ABEN 322.

  • BREE 518 Bio-Treatment of Wastes (3 credits)

    Offered by: Bioresource Engineering (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Bioresource Engineering : Special topics concerning control of pollution agents from the agricultural industry; odour control, agricultural waste treatment including biological digestion, flocculants, land disposal and sedimentation, pesticide transport.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • One 3 hour lecture

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ABEN 518.

  • ENVB 437 Assessing Environmental Impact (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    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.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Hickey, Gordon (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 2 lectures

    • Restrictions: U2 students and above. Not open to students who have taken WILD 437 or NRSC 437.

  • FDSC 200 Introduction to Food Science (3 credits) *

    Offered by: Food Science&Agr.Chemistry (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Food Science : This course enables one to gain an appreciation of the scope of food science as a discipline. Topics include introductions to chemistry, processing, packaging, analysis, microbiology, product development, sensory evaluation and quality control as they relate to food science.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Sedman, Jacqueline (Fall)

    • Fall

    • 3 lectures

  • FDSC 535 Food Biotechnology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Food Science&Agr.Chemistry (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Food Science : Review of fundamental concepts of biochemistry, microbiology and biochemical engineering as it relates to traditional food fermentation as well as novel food biotechnological production.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Fall

    • 3 lectures

    • Prerequisite: MICR 230 or LSCI 230

    • Course offered in odd years.

  • GEOG 302 Environmental Management 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    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.

    Terms: Fall 2012, Summer 2013

    Instructors: Meredith, Thomas C (Fall) Akman, Geraldine (Summer)

    • 3 hours

    • Prerequisite: Any 200-level course in Geography or MSE or BIOL 208 or permission of instructor.

  • GEOG 322 Environmental Hydrology (3 credits) *

    Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

    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: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Roulet, Nigel Thomas (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 3 hours

    • Prerequisite: GEOG 203 or equivalent

  • MICR 331 Microbial Ecology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Microbiology (Agric&Envir Sc) : The ecology of microorganisms, primarily bacteria and archaea, and their roles in biogeochemical cycles will be discussed. Microbial interactions with the environment, plants, animals and other microbes emphasizing the underlying genetics and physiology. Diversity, evolution (microbial phylogenetics) and the application of molecular biology in microbial ecology.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Driscoll, Brian T (Winter)

    • Winter

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have successfully completed NRSC 331

  • NRSC 333 Pollution and Bioremediation (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Natural Resource Sciences : The environmental contaminants which cause pollution; sources, amounts and transport of pollutants in water, air and soil; waste management.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Whyte, Lyle; Hendershot, William H; Schwertfeger, Dina (Fall)

    • Fall

    • 3 lectures

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken WILD 333

  • NUTR 207 Nutrition and Health (3 credits) *

    Offered by: Human Nutrition (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Nutrition and Dietetics : Provides students who have a basic biology/chemistry background with the fundamental information on how macronutrients, vitamins and minerals are metabolized in the body, followed by application to evaluate current issues of maximizing health and disease prevention at different stages of the lifecycle.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Wykes, Linda J (Fall)

    • Fall

    • 3 lectures

    • Corequisites: AEBI202 or CEGEP Objective 00XU or FDSC230 or CEGEP Objective 00XV

    • Restriction: Not open to students who take NUTR 200 or EDKP 292

    • Restriction: Science students in physical science and psychology programs who wish to take this course should see the Arts and Science Student Affairs Office for permission to register.

  • NUTR 403 Nutrition in Society (3 credits)

    Offered by: Human Nutrition (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Nutrition and Dietetics : Sociocultural and economic influences on food choice and behaviour; health promotion and disease prevention through nutrition, particularly in high risk populations; the interaction of changing environment, food availability and quality as they affect health.

    Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013

    Instructors: Gray-Donald, Katherine (Fall) Johns, Timothy A (Winter)

    • Fall

    • 3 hour conference

    • Prerequisite: NUTR 337

  • PARA 410 Environment and Infection (3 credits)

    Offered by: Parasitology (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Parasitology : Infectious pathogens of humans and animals and their impact on the global environment are considered. The central tenet is that infectious pathogens are environmental risk factors. The course considers their impact on the human condition and juxtaposes the impact of control and treatment measures and environmental change.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Scott, Marilyn (Winter)

  • PHAR 303 Principles of Toxicology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Fundamental mechanisms by which toxic compounds damage a biological system (organelle, cell, organ, organism, ecosystem). Detection and quantification of toxicity and risk/benefit analysis are considered. Selected agents of current risk to human health or the environment are evaluated in depth.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Robaire, Bernard; Hales, Barbara F; Zorychta, Edith (Winter)

  • PLNT 434 Weed Biology and Control (3 credits)

    Offered by: Plant Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Plant Science : A study of the biology of undesirable vegetation as related to the principles of prevention and physical, biological, managerial and chemical control. Emphasis on the environmental impact of the different methods of weed control.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Watson, Alan K (Winter)

  • SOIL 315 Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Use (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    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 2012

    Instructors: Whalen, Joann Karen (Fall)

    • Fall

    • 3 lectures and one lab

    • Prerequisites: SOIL 210 or ENVB 210 or permission of instructor

  • SOIL 445 Agroenvironmental Fertilizer Use (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Soil Science : A sustainable, agroenvironmental approach to nutrient management planning at the farm scale, consistent with guidelines and laws governing fertilizer use in Quebec and other jurisdictions.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Whalen, Joann Karen; Benslim, Hicham (Winter)

  • SOIL 510 Environmental Soil Chemistry (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Soil Science : Soil chemical principles are presented in a series of problem sets covering basic concepts as well as applications to environmental and agricultural situations.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Winter

    • Prerequisite: A course in Soil Science or permission of instructor

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken SOIL 410.

  • WILD 401 Fisheries and Wildlife Management (4 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Resource Development : Principles of fisheries and wildlife management are considered and current practices of research and management are discussed.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Solomon, Christopher; Humphries, Murray Mitchell (Fall)

    • Fall

    • 3 lectures, one 2-hour lab and one week field laboratory prior to fall term

    • Prerequisite: PLNT 358

    • A $300 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 a research facility in New York. The Department of Natural Resource Sciences subsidizes a portion of the cost of this compulsory activity.

Social Sciences/Humanities:

6 credits in Social Sciences and Humanities are selected as follows:

* Note: You may take AGEC 200 or ECON 208, but not both; you may take AGEC 333 or ECON 405, but not both.

** Note: If WILD 415 is taken, 1 additional credit of complementary courses must be taken.

  • AGEC 200 Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits) *

    Offered by: Agricultural Economics (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    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.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Naseem, Anwar (Fall)

    • Fall

    • 3 lectures

  • AGEC 320 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (3 credits)

    Offered by: Agricultural Economics (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Agricultural Economics : An intermediate theory course in agricultural economics, dealing with economic concepts as applied to agricultural production and cost functions. Includes theory and application of linear programming as related to production decisions.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Henning, John C (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 3 lectures

    • Prerequisite: AGEC 200 or equivalent

  • AGEC 333 Resource Economics (3 credits) *

    Offered by: Agricultural Economics (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    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.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Thomassin, Paul (Fall)

    • Fall

    • Prerequisites: AGEC 200 or equivalent

  • AGEC 430 Agriculture, Food and Resource Policy (3 credits)

    Offered by: Agricultural Economics (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    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.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Henning, John C (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 3 lectures

    • Prerequisites: AGEC 200 or equivalent

  • AGEC 442 Economics of International Agricultural Development (3 credits)

    Offered by: Agricultural Economics (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    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.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Naseem, Anwar (Winter)

  • ECON 208 Microeconomic Analysis and Applications (3 credits) *

    Offered by: Economics (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Economics (Arts) : A university-level introduction to demand and supply, consumer behaviour, production theory, market structures and income distribution theory.

    Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Summer 2013

    Instructors: El-Attar Vilalta, Mayssun; Dickinson, Paul (Fall) Dickinson, Paul (Winter) Japaridze, Irakli (Summer)

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking ECON 230 or ECON 250

  • ECON 225 Economics of the Environment (3 credits)

    Offered by: Economics (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    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.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken 154-325 or 154-425

  • ECON 405 Natural Resource Economics (3 credits) *

    Offered by: Economics (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    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.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Long, Ngo Van (Winter)

  • GEOG 404 Environmental Management 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    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).

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Meredith, Thomas C; Blair, Alec (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 3 hours

    • Prerequisite: GEOG 302 or permission of instructor

  • GEOG 410 Geography of Underdevelopment: Current Problems (3 credits)

    Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    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.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Akman, Geraldine (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 3 hours

    • Prerequisite: GEOG 216 or permission of instructor

  • GEOG 498 Humans in Tropical Environments (3 credits)

    Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Geography : Focus on understanding of inter-relations between humans and neotropical environments represented in Panama. Study of contemporary rural landscapes, their origins, development and change. Impacts of economic growth and inequality, social organization, and politics on natural resource use and environmental degradation. Site visits and field exercises in peasant/colonist, Amerindian, and plantation communities.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Winter

    • 6 hours lecture for 4 weeks, 3 hours seminar, 2 hours laboratory, 8 hours conference

    • Restriction: Location in Panama. Student must register for a full semester of studies in Panama

    • Prerequisites: HISP 218, MATH 203 or equivalents

  • GEOG 510 Humid Tropical Environments (3 credits)

    Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Geography : Focus on the environmental and human spatial relationships in tropical rain forest and savanna landscapes. Human adaptation to variations within these landscapes through time and space. Biophysical constraints upon "development" in the modern era.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Fall

    • 3 hours

    • Prerequisite: GEOG 203 or equivalent and written permission of the instructor

  • SOCI 254 Development and Underdevelopment (3 credits)

    Offered by: Sociology (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Sociology (Arts) : Competing theories about the causes of underdevelopment in the poor countries. Topics include the impact of geography, the population explosion, culture and national character, economic and sexual inequalities, democracy and dictatorship. Western imperialism and multi-national corporations, reliance on the market, and development through local participation, cooperation, and appropriate technology.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Locher, Uli (Fall)

    • Summer

  • SOCI 565 Social Change in Panama (3 credits)

    Offered by: Sociology (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Sociology (Arts) : Analysis of social change in Panama, particularly during the 20th century: demography, social and economic structures, rural and urban activities and landscapes, indigenous peoples, the effects of the Canal and the Free Trade Zone. Focus throughout on the interaction of human society and the environment.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Prerequisites: SOCI 210 and SOCI 350 or equivalents.

    • Restriction: Students must register for a full term in the Panama Field Studies Semester.

    • Note: Four field trips.

  • WILD 415 Conservation Law (2 credits) **

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Resource Development : A study of the various federal, provincial and municipal laws affecting wildlife habitat. Topics include: laws to protect wild birds and animals; the regulation of hunting; legal protection of trees and flowers, sanctuaries, reserves, parks; techniques of acquiring and financing desirable land, property owner rights.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Fall

    • 2 lectures

McGill School of Environment—2012-2013 (last updated Dec. 20, 2012) (disclaimer)
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