Note: 涩里番鈥檚 new Course Catalogue will replace the eCalendar. The Course Catalogue is expected to go live the week of April 22nd. When the new site is published, "mcgill.ca/study" will be redirected to the new Course Catalogue website.
Course information on this site is not reflective of offerings for the 2025鈥�2026 academic year. Some irregularities may occur as we move operations to the incoming Course Catalogue.
The Department of Geography offers research and thesis-based graduate programs leading to a Master of Arts (M.A.), a Master of Science (M.Sc.), or a Doctorate (Ph.D.). In its scope, our program includes the opportunity to conduct field-based studies in both the natural (i.e., biophysical) and the social sciences. Thematic areas of study include:
Geography houses 涩里番's , maintains arctic and subarctic field stations, and has strong ties with 涩里番鈥檚 Bieler School of Environment. Faculty and students conduct research in fields as diverse as climate change impacts, periglacial geomorphology, and forest resource history in regions ranging from the Arctic to Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
Being both a natural and a social science, geography provides a unique opportunity to obtain a broad interdisciplinary exposure to modes of analyzing the many environmental and situational problems of contemporary society. Because of this, a geography degree is a fantastic opportunity to obtain a career in one of a diverse range of fields. Our students have gone on to become United Nations field researchers in Laos, environmental consultants in Toronto, science teachers in the U.S., geography professors in many parts of the world, UNHCR volunteers in Malaysia, policy analysts, and physical scientists in government agencies and research councils, as well as health and social policy researchers in Montreal鈥he list goes on! If you're on Facebook, look for 涩里番 Geography Alumni or visit our website to learn more about the advantages of having a geography degree from 涩里番!
Master鈥檚 degrees in both the physical (M.Sc.) and social (M.A.) sciences are offered by Geography. The core of both programs for all students is field-based research supervised by a faculty member, culminating in a thesis. The core program consists of the thesis component, required, and complementary graduate (500- or 600-level) courses.
Geography also offers in association with other 涩里番 departments and programs a number of M.A. and M.Sc. options that students may choose to follow. Students must pass the courses specified for their program, attend such additional courses as the Graduate Program Director and the student's thesis supervisor see fit, and submit a thesis in an appropriate area of geographical inquiry approved by the supervisor.
涩里番 Northern Research Stations
The Faculty of Science, in collaboration with the Department of Geography operates two northern research field stations. The 涩里番 Sub-Arctic Research Station (MSARS) is located in Schefferville, in the centre of Quebec-Labrador. The 涩里番 Arctic Research Station (MARS) is located at Expedition Fiord on Axel Heiberg Island in the High Arctic. These facilities support field research in most areas of physical geography, including glaciology, permafrost hydrology, and geomorphology in the arctic, and some areas of human geography in the subarctic. For additional information on these stations, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator at grad.geog [at] mcgill.ca.
Master of Arts (M.A.) Programs in Geography
Detailed program requirements for the following M.A. programs are found in Arts > Graduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Geography.
| Master of Arts (M.A.) Geography (Thesis) (45 credits) |
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Master鈥檚 degrees in both the physical (M.Sc.) and social (M.A.) sciences are offered by Geography. The core of both programs for all students is field-based research, supervised by a faculty member, culminating in a thesis. The core program consists of the thesis component, required, and complementary graduate (500- or 600-level) courses. Geography also offers a number of M.A. and M.Sc. options in association with other 涩里番 departments and programs that students may choose to follow. |
| Master of Arts (M.A.) Geography (Thesis): Development Studies (45 credits) |
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The Development Studies Option (DSO) is cross-disciplinary in scope within existing master鈥檚 programs in Geography, Anthropology, History, Political Science, Economics, and Sociology. Its components include the thesis; required International Development and Geography courses; and complementary courses from the participating departments. This thesis option is open to master's students specializing in development studies. Students enter through one of the participating departments and must meet the M.A. requirements of that unit. Students will take an interdisciplinary seminar and a variety of graduate-level courses on international development issues. The M.A. thesis must be on a topic relating to development studies, approved by the DSO coordinating committee. |
| Master of Arts (M.A.) Geography (Thesis): Environment (45 credits) |
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**This program is currently not offered.** The Environment option is offered in association with the Bieler School of Environment (BSE) and is composed of a thesis component, required, and complementary Geography and Environment courses. The graduate option in Environment provides students with an appreciation for the role of science in informed decision-making in the environmental sector, and its influence on political, socio-economic, and ethical judgments. Students who have been admitted through their home department or Faculty may apply for admission to the option. Option requirements are consistent across academic units. The option is coordinated by the MSE, in partnership with participating academic units. |
| Master of Arts (M.A.) Geography (Thesis): Gender and Women's Studies (45 credits) |
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This is an interdisciplinary program for Geography students wishing to focus on gender and women鈥檚 studies and issues in feminist research and methods. Included within it are a thesis on gender and women鈥檚 studies, required, and complementary courses from Geography and Women鈥檚 Studies. |
| Master of Arts (M.A.) Geography (Thesis): Neotropical Environment (45 credits) |
| The 涩里番-STRI Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) is a research-based option for master's or Ph.D. students offered in association with several University departments, the Bieler School of Environment, and the (STRI-Panama). The option includes a thesis; required courses in Geography, Environment, and Biology; and complementary courses chosen from Geography, Agriculture Sciences, Biology, Sociology, Environment, and Political Science. NEO is aimed at students who wish to focus their graduate research on environmental issues relevant to the Neotropics and Latin American countries. NEO favours interdisciplinary approaches to research and learning through the participation of researchers from 涩里番 and from STRI. Students will complete their research in Latin America and NEO's core and complementary courses will be taught in Panama. NEO's educational approach seeks to facilitate a broader understanding of tropical environmental issues and the development of skills relevant to working in the tropics. |
Master of Science (M.Sc.) Programs in Geography
Detailed program requirements for the following M.Sc. programs are found in Science > Graduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Geography.
| Master of Science (M.Sc.) Geography (Thesis) (45 credits) |
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Master鈥檚 degrees in both the physical (M.Sc.) and social (M.A.) sciences are offered by Geography. The core of both programs for all students is field-based research, supervised by a faculty member, culminating in a thesis. The core program consists of the thesis component, required, and complementary graduate (500- or 600-level) courses. Geography also offers a number of M.A. and M.Sc. options in association with other 涩里番 departments and programs that students may choose to follow. |
| Master of Science (M.Sc.) Geography (Thesis): Environment (45 credits) |
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**This program is currently not offered.** The Environment option is offered in association with the Bieler School of Environment (BSE) and is composed of a thesis component; required Geography and Environment courses; and complementary Geography and Environment courses. The graduate option in Environment provides students with an appreciation for the role of science in informed decision-making in the environmental sector, and its influence on political, socio-economic, and ethical judgments. Students who have been admitted through their home department or Faculty may apply for admission to the option. Option requirements are consistent across academic units. The option is coordinated by the MSE, in partnership with participating academic units. |
| Master of Science (M.Sc.) Geography (Thesis): Neotropical Environment (45 credits) |
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The 涩里番-STRI Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) is a research-based option for master's students offered in association with several university departments, the Bieler School of Environment, and the (STRI-Panama). The option includes a thesis; required courses in Geography, Environment, and Biology; and complementary courses chosen from Geography, Agriculture Sciences, Biology, Sociology, Environment, and Political Science. NEO is aimed at students who wish to focus their graduate research on environmental issues relevant to the Neotropics and Latin American countries. NEO favours interdisciplinary approaches to research and learning through the participation of researchers from 涩里番 and from STRI. Students will complete their research in Latin America and NEO's core and complementary courses will be taught in Panama. NEO's educational approach seeks to facilitate a broader understanding of tropical environmental issues and the development of skills relevant to working in the tropics. |
Ph.D. Programs in Geography
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Geography |
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The doctoral degree in Geography includes the successful completion of the comprehensive examination, a thesis based on original research, and coursework chosen in collaboration with the student鈥檚 supervisor and/or research committee. The main elements of the Ph.D. are the thesis and comprehensive examination, a required Methods of Geographical Research course, and a minimum of two complementary courses. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Geography: Environment |
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**This program is currently not offered.** The Environment option consists of the thesis and comprehensive examination; required courses from Geography and Environment; and complementary courses in Environment or other fields recommended by the research committee and approved by the Environment Option Committee. The graduate option in Environment provides students with an appreciation for the role of science in informed decision-making in the environmental sector, and its influence on political, socio-economic, and ethical judgments. Students who have been admitted through their home department or faculty may apply for admission to the option. Option requirements are consistent across academic units. The option is coordinated by the Bieler School of Environment, in partnership with participating academic units. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Geography: Gender and Women's Studies |
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This doctoral option is an interdisciplinary program for students who meet the degree requirements in Geography and who wish to earn 9 credits of approved coursework on gender and women鈥檚 studies and issues in feminist research and methods. It includes a thesis centrally related to gender and/or women鈥檚 studies; the comprehensive examination; required courses in Geography and Women鈥檚 Studies; and complementary courses, one of which must pertain to gender and/or women鈥檚 issues. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Geography: Neotropical Environment |
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The 涩里番-STRI Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) is a research-based option for Ph.D. students offered in association with several university departments, the Bieler School of Environment, and the (STRI-Panama) and includes the thesis; comprehensive examination; required courses in Geography, Environment, and Biology; and complementary courses chosen from Geography, Agriculture Sciences, Biology, Sociology, Environment, and Political Science. NEO is aimed at students who wish to focus their graduate research on environmental issues relevant to the Neotropics and Latin American countries. NEO favours interdisciplinary approaches to research and learning through the participation of researchers from 涩里番 and from STRI. Students will complete their research in Latin America and NEO's core and complementary courses will be taught in Panama. NEO's educational approach seeks to facilitate a broader understanding of tropical environmental issues and the development of skills relevant to working in the tropics. |
M.A. and M.Sc. Degrees
Applicants not satisfying the conditions in University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate 涩里番 and Application Procedures, but with primary undergraduate specialization in a cognate field, may be admitted to the M.A. or M.Sc. degree in Geography in certain circumstances. In general, applicants who have deficiencies in their preparation but are otherwise judged to be acceptable, will be required to register for a Qualifying program or to undertake additional courses.
Ph.D. Degree
Students who have completed a master's degree in Geography or a related discipline (with high standing) may be admitted at the Ph.D. 2 level.
On rare occasions, a student may be admitted to the Ph.D. degree without having first taken the master's degree. These students, who have deficiencies in their preparation but are otherwise acceptable, will be required to register for a year of coursework and/or be required to take extra courses. The normal duration of a program, including field work where required, is three years.
Normally, the Department will restrict admission to the Ph.D. program to students prepared to work in one of the fields of human or physical geography in which specialized supervision is offered. These fields, which cover a wide range of systematic areas, are listed in documents available from the Department.
English Language Proficiency
For graduate applicants whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized Canadian or American (English or French) institution or from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, documented proof of English proficiency is required prior to admission. For a list of acceptable test scores and minimum requirements, visit mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/proficiency.
涩里番鈥檚 online application form for graduate program candidates is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.
See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate 涩里番 and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.
Further departmental application information is listed at mcgill.ca/geography/graduate.
Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines are set by the Geography Department and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate 涩里番 departmental website; please consult the list at mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.
Information on application deadlines is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply/application-steps/application-deadlines.
Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.
The Master of Science in Geography; Thesis is a research-based program of 45 credits. The program provides the opportunity to conduct research, including field-based studies, focusing on the natural (i.e., biophysical) sciences and includes supervision by a faculty member. Research themes reflect the expertise and interests of current faculty members. A thesis,...
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.) Geography (Thesis) (45 credits).
**This program is currently not offered.** ...
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.) Geography (Thesis): Environment (45 credits).
The Master of Science in Geography; Thesis 鈥� Neotropical Environment is a research-based program of 45 credits. The program is offered in collaboration with the Bieler School of Environment and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI- Panama). The program is focused on environmental issues relevant to the Neotropics and Latin American countries including...
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.) Geography (Thesis): Neotropical Environment (45 credits).
The Doctor of Philosophy in Geography is a research- based program that provides the opportunity to conduct research, including field-based studies, in both the natural (i.e., biophysical) and the social sciences and includes supervision by a faculty member. Research themes reflect the expertise and interests of current faculty members. A thesis, based on original...
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Geography.
**This program is currently not offered.** ...
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Geography: Environment.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Geography; Gender and Women's Studies is a research-based program that focuses on interdisciplinary gender and women鈥檚 studies and issues in feminist research and methods. The thesis must be on a topic that relates to both gender and women鈥檚 studies and geography.
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Geography: Gender and Women's Studies.
...
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Geography: Neotropical Environment.
