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This major is focused on the idea that agricultural landscapes are managed ecosystems, and that humans engaged in agriculture must maintain the highest possible environmental standards while providing food and other bioproducts to the marketplace. The major core focuses on the basic and applied biology of cultivated plants, domestic animals, arable soils, and the economics of agriculture. Students then choose one or two specializations in these or connected disciplines that reflect their interests and career goals.

The program has a strong field component that includes hands-on laboratories, visits to agricultural enterprises, and opportunities for internships. Classes and laboratories exploit the unique setting and facilities of the Macdonald Campus and Farm, which is a fully functioning farm in an urban setting that exemplifies many of the issues at the forefront of modern agricultural production. Graduates of this program are eligible to become members of the Ordre des agronomes du Québec.

The Environmental Biology Major is about the biology, diversity and ecology of a broad range of organisms, from plant and vertebrate animals, to insects, fungi and microbes. This major places a strong emphasis on the ecosystems that species inhabit and the constraints imposed by the physical environment and by environmental change. Environmental Biology has significant field components worked into the course sets, and through this experiential learning, biological diversity, and the ways that species interact with their physical environment in a variety of ecosystems will be studied. The Major makes full use of the unique physical setting and faculty expertise of McGill's Macdonald Campus to train students to become ecologists, taxonomists, field biologists, and ecosystem scientists.

Program Director: Professor Christopher Buddle

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 2-076

514-398-8026

This program is directed at students who seek conceptual understanding of the scope of and inter-relationships among the environmental, economic and socio-cultural factors that shape the nature of developing country food systems as well as scientific competence in the ways in which agriculture can help define sustainable solutions to critical problems defined by food insecurity, malnutrition, poverty and ecological health. Students will be given general preparation sufficient for participation in project management and policy development together with a foundation adequate both for working alongside a range of development specialists and for subsequent acquisition of specific expertise in components of agricultural and food science. The program includes a common core of scientific and development-related courses.

Program Director: Professor Anwar Naseem

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 3-037

514-398-7825

The Life Sciences (Biological and Agricultural) Major provides a strong foundation in the basic biological sciences. It will prepare graduates for careers in the agricultural, environmental, health and biotechnological fields. Graduates with high academic achievement may go on to post-graduate studies in research, or professional programs in the biological, veterinary, medical and health sciences fields.

Program Director: Professor Brian Driscoll

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 3-035

Telephone: 514-398-7887

The development of commercial agriculture relies on a large supporting sector of manufacturing and service companies involved in the supply of inputs to farming and the transportation, processing, and marketing of agricultural and food products.

This 24-credit specialization includes courses in agricultural sciences, agribusiness, and courses at the Desautels Faculty of Management.

This specialization is intended for students in the Major in Agricultural Economics.

Specialization Adviser: Professor John Henning

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 3-038

514-398-7826

A specialization in Agricultural Economics will complement a student's education in four ways. First, as a social science, Economics will provide an alternative perspective for students in the Faculty. Second, the specialization will provide an excellent foundation of the workings of the economy at large. Third, it will aid students to understand the business environment surrounding the agri-food industry. Finally, it will challenge students to analyze the interaction between the agricultural economy and the natural resource base.

Specialization Coordinator: Professor John Henning

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 3-038

Telephone: 514-398-7826

This flexible specialization offers a balance between food systems and consumption and agricultural production. It provides students with an opportunity to select courses in the economics, nutrition and ethical and environmental implications of food systems and in the fundamentals of animal and plant production. The specialization is designed for students in the International Agriculture and Food Systems major who have broad interests in international agriculture and development.

To complete the specialization, students select 12 credits from the block of complementary courses related to Food Systems and Consumption and 12 credits from the block of complementary courses related to Agriculture Production from the lists in the table below.

Specialization Adviser: Professor G.S.V. Raghavan

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 1-098

Telephone: 514-398-8731

The specialization in Animal Biology is intended for students who wish to further their studies in the basic biology of large mammals and birds. Successful completion of the program should enable students to qualify for application to most veterinary colleges in North America, to post-graduate studies in a variety of biology programs, and to work in many laboratory settings.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Roger Cue

Department of Animal Science

Telephone: 514-398-7805

This specialization is offered for students wishing to understand general animal physiology and function, the susceptibility of animals to various diseases, methods for limiting and controlling potential outbreaks, and the resulting implications for the animal, the consumer and the environment. It is an ideal choice for students interested in the care of animals, or in working in laboratories where diseases are being researched.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Sarah Kimmins

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 1-091

514-398-7658

This specialization will be of interest to students who wish to study the improved efficiency of livestock production at the national and international levels. Students are exposed to animal nutrition, physiology and breeding in a context that respects environmental concerns and animal-welfare issues. When taken in conjunction with the Major Agro-Environmental Sciences and the specialization in Professional Agriculture, it conforms with the eligibility requirements of the Ordre des agronomes du Québec.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Arif Mustafa

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 1-086

Telephone: 514-398-7506

The goal of this specialization is to provide students with an opportunity to further develop their understanding of the ecosystem processes, ecology, and systems thinking necessary to understand, design and manage our interaction with the environment.

Specialization Adviser: Professor James Fyles

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 2-063

Telephone: 514-398-7758

This specialization focuses on the principles underlying the practice of ecological agriculture. When coupled with the Major in Environmental Biology, agriculture as a managed ecosystem which responds to the laws of community ecology is examined; when combined with the Major Agro-Environmental Sciences and the specialization in Professional Agrology, this specialization focuses more directly on the practice of ecological agriculture and conforms with the eligibility requirements of the Ordre des agronomes du Québec. It is suitable for students wishing to farm, do extension and government work, and those intending to pursue postgraduate work in this field.

Academic Adviser: Dr. Caroline Begg

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 2-071

Telephone: 514-398-8749

This specialization offers students expertise in insect biology, ecology, evolution and behaviour. Applied entomology is included, as insects are key pests in various ecosystems, and insect pest management is and will continue to be a global priority. Insect taxonomy and systematics will be studied both in the field and in the classroom. Through careful selection of complementary courses, students can learn about the role of insects in various ecosystems, their functional importance, and their role in vectoring human disease.

Specialization Adviser: Christopher Buddle

Macdonald-Stewart Building 2-076

Telephone: 514-398-8026

This is a flexible specialization offering a balance between organisms, their ecology, and ecosystem processes and applications. Biology and ecology of a variety of taxonomic groups and the ways the organisms interact with and affect ecosystem processes will be examined. Students are exposed to ecosystem management and issues related to environmental change. The proposed specialization is designed for students with broad and general interests in environmental biology, but who wish for a strong grounding in Organismal biology and ecology and environmental sciences.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Christopher Buddle

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 2-0276

Telephone: 514-398-8026

This specialization integrates environmental sciences and decision making with the economics of environment and sustainable development. It is designed to prepare students for careers in natural resource management and the analysis of environmental problems and policies.

This specialization is intended for students in the Major Agricultural Economics.

Specialization Adviser: Professor John Henning

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 3-038

514-398-7826

This specialization offers students a foundation in nutrition with respect to health and disease. A focus on nutrition and health through the lifespan examines nutrient requirements and their relationship with health and disease prevention. Through careful selection of complementary courses, students can study about health and disease in various contexts ranging from human to animal health.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Linda Wykes

Macdonald-Stewart Building 2-042

Telephone: 514-398-7843

This specialization will provide the student with coursework and hands-on experience of techniques and issues related to agriculture in a tropical setting. Theoretical courses on the policies and practice of agriculture in an international context are complemented by participation in one of the international field semesters. Note that there is a selection process for participation in a field semester and that participation entails extra cost. In addition, students should consult the academic adviser for the specialization and carefully review the prerequisites for courses in the field semester and the general requirements for participation, which may be over and above what is required by the student's major.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Humberto Mondardes

Macdonald-Stewart Building 1-093

Telephone: 514-398-7809

The specialization provides a focus on social science offerings from the International Development Studies program offered by the Faculty of Arts for students in the International Agriculture and Food Systems (IAFS) major. The program combines an overview of development and social science course options with opportunity for field experience.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Anwar Naseem

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 3-037

514-398-7825

Students taking this specialization have a wide variety of life sciences course offerings to choose from to allow them to target their program to their own interests in the field. Course choices are balanced between "fundamentals" and "applications". Depending upon the courses chosen, the resulting program may be relatively specialized or very broad, spanning several disciplines. Such a broad background in life sciences will open up employment opportunities in a variety of diverse bioscience industries; students with an appropriate CGPA may proceed to a wide variety of post-graduate programs or professional schools.

Academic Adviser: Professor Brian Driscoll

Macdonald-Stewart Building 3-035

Telephone: 514-398-7887

Students following this specialization receive education and training in fundamental principles and applied aspects of microbiology. Complementary courses allow students to focus on basic microbial sciences or applied areas such as biotechnology. Successful graduates may work in university, government and industrial research laboratories, in the pharmaceutical, fermentation and food industries, and with an appropriate CGPA proceed to post-graduate studies or professional biomedical schools.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Lyle Whyte

Macdonald-Stewart Building 3-036

Telephone: 514-398-7889

Students following this specialization receive education and training in fundamental principles and applied aspects of molecular biology and biotechnology. Complementary courses allow students to focus on basic molecular biology or aspects of biotechnology such as bioinformatics. Successful graduates may work in university, government and industrial research laboratories, bioscience industries (i.e. pharmaceutical), and with an appropriate CGPA proceed to post-graduate studies or professional biomedical schools.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Brian Driscol

Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 3-037

Telephone: 514-398-7887

This specialization emphasizes the study of plants from the cellular to the organismal level. The structure, physiology, development, evolution, and ecology of plants will be studied. Most courses offer laboratory classes that expand on the lecture material and introduce students to the latest techniques in plant biology. Many laboratory exercises use the excellent research and field facilities at the Morgan Arboretum, McGill Herbarium, Emile A. Lods Agronomy Research Centre, the Horticultural Centre and the Plant Science greenhouses as well as McGill field stations. Students may undertake a research project under the guidance of a member of the Plant Science Department as part of their studies. Graduates with the specialization may continue in post-graduate study or work in the fields of botany, mycology, molecular biology, ecology, conservation or environmental science.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Marcia Waterway

Raymond Building 2-021b

Telephone: 514-398-7864

The goal of this specialization is to give students an excellent background in the knowledge and skills relating to the biology and physiology, breeding, propagation, and management of domesticated plants. The plant industry, in both rural and urban settings, is a sector of growing importance to Canadian and global economies. Graduates may find employment directly with plants in horticulture or in field crop development, production and management; or in government services, extension, teaching, consulting or post-graduate studies. When taken in conjunction with the Major Agro-Environmental Sciences and the specialization in Professional Agriculture, this specialization conforms with the eligibility requirements for the Ordre des agronomes du Québec.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Jaswinder Singh

Raymond Building 2-021a

Telephone: 514-3987906

This specialization is recommended for students with a strong interest in the complex field of plant protection in both urban and agricultural settings. The biology of herbivores, of pathogenic organisms, and of plant competitive interactions and defense mechanisms as well as the interactions of plants with their environment will be studied. Students interested in the theory and application of techniques of integrated plant protection should choose this specialization in conjunction with the Major Agro-Environmental Sciences or the Major Environmental Biology. Those interested in the biotechnology and molecular aspects of plant-pathogen or plant-insect interactions should choose it in conjunction with the Major Life Sciences (Biological and Agricultural). Complementary specializations could include Plant Biology, Plant Production, Entomology or Microbiology.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Ajjamada Kushalappa

Raymond Building, Room 2-028b

Telephone: 514-398-7867

This specialization is required for students who wish to qualify for membership in the Ordre des agronomes du Québec (OAQ). It cannot be taken alone; it must be taken with the Agro-Environmental Sciences Major and a second specialization in Agricultural Economics, Animal Production, Ecological Agriculture, Plant Production, or Soil and Water, or with the Agricultural Economics Major and the Agri-business Specialization.

Note: Most students will require 21 credits to complete this specialization. In consultation with the academic adviser students taking the Agricultural Economics Specialization and the Agri-business Specialization will need to take an additional 3 credits, chosen in consultation with the academic adviser, such that they meet the minimum requirements of the OAQ. None of the credits within this specialization may also count for the student's major or other specialization. All of the 21 or 24 credits count only for this specialization.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Joann Whalen

Macdonald-Stewart Building 2-069

Telephone: 514-398-7943

This specialization will interest students who want to understand how soils and water interact within managed ecosystems such as urban or agricultural landscapes. The conservation and management of agricultural soils, issues affecting watershed management and decision making, and the remediation of contaminated soils will be examined. When taken with the Major Agro-Environmental Sciences and the specialization in Professional Agriculture, this specialization conforms with the eligibility requirements for the Ordre des agronomes du Québec.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Joann Whalen

Macdonald-Stewart Building 2-069

Telephone: 514-398-7943

This specialization focuses on the ecology of vertebrate animals, their biological and physical environment and the interactions that are important in the management of ecological communities and wildlife species. Students have access to local wildlife resources including the Avian Science and Conservation Centre, the McGill Arboretum, the Stonycroft Wildlife Area, the Molson Reserve and the Ecomuseum.

Specialization Adviser: Professor Murray Humphries

Macdonald-Stewart Building 2-069

Telephone: 514-398-7885