The core curriculum
Our semester offers a varied set of courses every year, and we welcome students from all faculties and all background in our program.听
A full semester of credits is offered, with two required context courses that engage all participants in structured observation, theoretical interpretation, and thorough discussion of the ecological and cultural aspects of the trip, and with a selection of opportunities for advanced study with leading scholars in Arts or Science curriculum areas.
Courses will run in three sessions, three weeks per session. At least two McGill faculty members will be with the group in each session.
We encourage students to take courses from outside their discipline to enhance both their academic and African experience with the McGill East Africa Field Study Semester (i.e., if you are an Arts student, please consider taking a Science course; and if you are a Science Student, please consider taking a Humanities course). All students must take both context courses.
Note: The course list provided on this page is for reference only. Note that the courses are subject to change and are not necessarily offered every year.
Context Courses
ANTH 451
Res in Society & Dev in Africa
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anthropology: Instruction focuses on three goals: 1) existing research in selected core thematic areas, 2) participating in interdisciplinary team research, 3) developing powers of observation and independent inquiry. Students will be expected to develop research activities and interdisciplinary perspectives, and to become conversant with advances in local research in their field.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Prerequisite: Open to U2 or later students in the AFSS.
- Corequisite: NRSC 452.
- Restriction: Open only to AFSS students during the year of participation in the field. Not open to students who have taken GEOG 451.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
or
GEOG 451
Res in Society & Dev in Africa
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- Prerequisite: Open to U2 or later students in the AFSS.
- Corequisite: NRSC 452.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken, or are taking ANTH 451.
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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BIOL 451
Res in Ecol&Develop in Africa
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Biology (Sci): Development of observation and independent inquiry skills through: 1) participation in short-term project modules in collaboration with existing researchers; 2) participation in interdisciplinary team research on topics selected to allow comparative analysis of field sites; 3) active and systematic observation, documentation, and integration of field experience in ecology and development issues.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- Open only to U2 or later students in the AFSS.
- Corequisite(s): ANTH 451 or GEOG 451
- Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken or are taking NRSC 451.
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
or
NRSC 451
Res in Ecol&Develop in Africa
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Natural Resource Sciences: Development of observation and independent inquiry skills through: 1) participation in short-term project modules in collaboration with existing researchers; 2) participation in interdisciplinary team research on topics selected to allow comparative analysis of field sites; 3) active and systematic observation, documentation, and integration of field experience in ecology and development issues.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Winter
- Not open to students who have taken or are taking BIOL 451. Open to U2 or later students in the African Field Study Semester (AFSS).
- Corequisites: ANTH or GEOG 451 Society & Development in Africa
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Arts Courses
ANTH 315
Society/Culture: East Africa
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anthropology: Overview of the history, languages and cultures of the region. Examination of the social institutions, cultural patterns, subsistence practices and environmental settings of major social groups, including hunter-foragers, fishers, pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and cultivators. Discussion of current theoretical and ethnological issues in the study of culture and social change.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Restriction: Open only to students in the Study in Africa program, a full-term field study program in East Africa
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
ANTH 345
Course not available
ANTH 411
Primate Studies & Conservation
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anthropology: Critical evaluation of theories in primate behaviour, ecology, and conservation that emphasizes direct observations, research design, and developing field methods.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Prerequisite: One course in Anthropology, Geography or Environmental Studies, Introductory Biology, or permission of the instructor.
- Restriction: Students must have completed at least two full semesters at their home university. Only open to students in the Canadian Field Studies in Africa program.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
ANTH 416
Environment/Dev: Africa
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anthropology: Study of environmental effects of development in East Africa, especially due to changes in traditional land tenure and resource use across diverse ecosystems. Models, policies and cases of pastoralist, agricultural, fishing, wildlife and tourist development will be examined, across savanna, desert, forest, highland and coastal environments.
Offered by: Anthropology
- Winter
- Restriction: Open only to students in the Study in Africa program, a full-term field study program in East Africa
- Prerequisite: One prior course in Anthropology, Geography or Environmental Studies
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
HIST 413
Course not available
Science Courses
BIOL 428
Biological Diversity in Africa
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Biology (Sci): Biological diversity as exemplified by a particular taxonomic group chosen by the instructor, using field setting in East Africa to impart training in species identification, field research, and principles embodied in the phylogeny, systematics, biogeography, ecology, physiology and/or behaviour of the organisms concerned.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- Student must be enrolled in the Africa Field Study Seminar
- Prerequisite: BIOL 305 or equivalent or permission of instructor.
- Corequisite(s): NRSC/BIOL 451 and ANTH/GEOG 451
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
BIOL 429
East African Ecology
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Biology (Sci): Field settings (Uganda, Kenya, and/or Tanzania) are used to impart training in ecological principles critical to tropical conservation with an emphasis on research design and field research exercises.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- The course is to be taught in Africa as a component of the Africa Field Study Semester. Students must register for the Africa Field Study Semester.
- Prerequisite: BIOL 215 or equivalent.
- Corequisite: NRSC/BIOL 451 and ANTH/GEOG 451
- Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken BIOL 329.
GEOG 404
Environmental Management 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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).
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: GEOG 302 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
GEOG 416
Africa South of the Sahara
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: A synthetic overview of physical and cultural geography examining particularly the relation of African peoples to their landscapes, the causes and consequences of environmental changes, and the idea of sustainable development as it applies to African landscapes, resource systems and economies.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- Offered in Kenya as part of the African Field Studies semester.
GEOG 423
Dilemmas of Development
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Africa seems beset by development problems. Some of these appear to have no clear answer. Such dilemmas present significant barriers to moving forward with durable, effective development in Africa. This course will examine two primary and frequently interlocked dilemmas in East Africa with wide ranging impact - food security, and conflict.
Offered by: Geography
- Prerequisite: GEOG 310 or GEOG 408 or GEOG 410, or equivalent
- Restriction: Open to students in the African Field Study Semester (AFSS) only
GEOG 493
Health & Environment in Africa
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Exploration of key diseases of development, as well as patterns and determinants of health and disease in East Africa. Topics will focus on population and environmental health.
Offered by: Geography
- Prerequisite: GEOG 221, GEOG 303 or permission of instructor
- Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken GEOG 403. Open to students in the African Field Study Semester (AFSS) only.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
NRSC 405
Natural History of East Africa
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Natural Resource Sciences: Integrated study of African landforms, geologic history, climate, environments, biota, water resources and human influences, fostering a thorough
understanding of the East African landscape and its inhabitants. Lectures, discussions on selected topics, use of museum resources and field studies will
develop powers of observation, identification and enquiry.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
NUTR 404
Nutr. Field St. in East Africa
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Nutrition and Dietetics: Community-based case-study experience in East Africa, focussed on documentation and inquiry skills, and systematic analysis of the: 1) patterns and nature of major nutritional and food security problems; 2) sociocultural, economic and environmental determinants on food availability, quality, choice, behaviour and consumption in relation to health and disease, particularly in high risk populations; 3) institutional and policy mediators of community and national-level interventions and program responses.
Offered by: Human Nutrition
- Restrictions: Open only to students in the CFSIA program.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
REDM 405
Natural History of East Africa
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Redpath Museum: Integrated study of African landforms, geologic history, climate, environments, biota, water resources and human influences, fostering a thorough understanding of the East African landscape and its inhabitants. Lectures, discussions on selected topics, use of museum resources and field studies will develop powers of observation, identification and enquiry.
Offered by: Redpath Museum
- Winter
- Corequisites: ANTH/GEOG 451 and NRSC/BIOL 451
- Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking NRSC 300 or GEOG 300 or NRSC 405. Open only to African Field Study Semester students during the year of participation in the field.
- Course consists of field exercises, lectures, seminars and discussions.
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
WILD 375
Issues:Environmental Sciences
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Resource Development: Principles and trends in global ecology as they pertain to agricultural and natural ecosystems and the impact of environmental change on food production.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
WILD 420
Ornithology
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Resource Development: Taxonomic relationships and evolution of birds. Examination of the physiology, migration, identification and ecological processes of North American birds.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Prerequisite: WILD 307 or permission of instructor
- This course carries an additional charge of $20.54 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
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***Note that B.Sc. students - only - may qualify for the B.Sc. Global designation. Verify the eligibility and application process.
