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Program Requirements
Revision, June 2013. Start of revision.
NEW PROGRAM
The program provides a global perspective on agriculture and food security, and addresses issues related to rural development, malnutrition, poverty and food safety with special emphasis on the developing world. Using a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach, the program provides students with a comprehensive set of courses at McGill in combination with hands-on experience through structured internships and study abroad opportunities. The field experience (short courses, internships or full semester) includes project development in local communities, observing subsistence agriculture in situ and participating in various activities which sensitize students to the challenges that countries face to feed their people. Students will have the opportunity to develop the knowledge base needed for successful careers in government, non-government and international institutions in the areas of international and sustainable development, international research and project management, agri-business, and food and agriculture policy analysis.
Program Director: Professor Humberto Monardes
Academic Adviser: Dr. Julie Major
Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 2-082
Telephone: 514-398-8380
Program Prerequisites
Refer to "Faculty Information and Regulations" > "Minimum Credit Requirements", in this publication for prerequisites and minimum credit requirements.
Required Courses (33 credits)
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AEBI 210 Organisms 1 (3 credits)
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 2013
Instructors: Singh, Jaswinder (Fall)
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AEMA 310 Statistical Methods 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics (Agric&Envir Sci) : Measures of central tendency and dispersion; binomial and Poisson distributions; normal, chi-square, Student's t and Fisher-Snedecor F distributions; estimation and hypothesis testing; simple linear regression and correlation; analysis of variance for simple experimental designs.
Terms: Fall 2013, Winter 2014
Instructors: Dutilleul, Pierre R L; Gravel, Valérie (Fall) Dutilleul, Pierre R L; Gravel, Valérie (Winter)
Two 1.5-hour lectures and one 2-hour lab
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AGEC 200 Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits)
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 2013
Instructors: Mukhopadhyay, Kakali (Fall)
Fall
3 lectures
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AGEC 442 Economics of International Agricultural Development (3 credits)
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 2014
Instructors: Rabbani, Mehnaz (Winter)
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AGRI 411 Global Issues on Development, Food and Agriculture (3 credits)
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 2014
Instructors: Monardes, Humberto (Winter)
Winter
Two 2-hour conferences
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AGRI 499 Agricultural Development Internship (3 credits)
Overview
Agriculture : Supervised internship to provide practical experience working on agricultural issues related to international development. The internship can take many forms, including work in a developing country, for an agency that focuses on international development, or on a research project that aims at solving problems faced by developing populations.
Terms: Fall 2013, Winter 2014, Summer 2014
Instructors: Major, Julie (Fall) Major, Julie (Winter) Major, Julie (Summer)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Students should take this course after having completed four semesters in their undergraduate program. It is the student's responsibility to find an appropriate internship, which must be approved by the instructor before registration is authorized.
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ANSC 250 Principles of Animal Science (3 credits)
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 2013
Instructors: Wade, Kevin (Fall)
Fall
3 lectures and one 2-hour lab
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ENVB 210 The Biophysical Environment (3 credits)
Overview
Environmental Biology : With reference to the ecosystems in the St Lawrence lowlands, the principles and processes governing climate-landform-water-soil-vegetation systems and their interactions will be examined in lecture and laboratory. Emphasis on the natural environment as an integrated system.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Begg, Caroline B (Fall)
Fall
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken SOIL 210
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INTD 200 Introduction to International Development (3 credits)
Overview
International Development : An interdisciplinary introduction to the field of International Development Studies focusing on the theory and practice of development. It examines various approaches to international development, including past and present relationships between developed and underdeveloped societies, and pays particular attention to power and resource distribution globally and within nations.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: McAllister, Karen Elisabeth; Allmand, Warren (Fall)
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NUTR 207 Nutrition and Health (3 credits)
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 2013
Instructors: Wykes, Linda J (Fall)
Fall
3 lectures
Corequisites: AEBI 202 or CEGEP Objective 00XU or FDSC 230 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.
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NUTR 341 Global Food Security (3 credits)
Overview
Nutrition and Dietetics : Food insecurity is one of the most critical issues humanity has faced in history. The magnitude of this phenomenon, reflected in its worldwide presence and in the number of individuals affected, makes it an imperative component of all nations' and of all internaltional agencies' agendas. Its complexity of determinants and its numerous consequences require the involvement of multipe disciplines and sectors. McGill undergraduate students as future professionals tackling global issues require an integrated and multidisciplinary training on food security.
Terms: Winter 2014
Instructors: Melgar-Quiñonez, Hugo (Winter)
Prerequisites: NUTR207 or permission of Instructor
Complementary Courses (9 credits)
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AGRI 215 Agro-Ecosystems Field Course (3 credits)
Overview
Agriculture : Through case studies and field trips, students will examine the problems and constraints within the Canadian agro-ecosystem, including the interrelationships among food production, the environment, agricultural policy and social issues. Research in this field of study will also be introduced.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Begg, Caroline B; Cue, Roger I (Fall)
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PLNT 215.
This course carries an additional charge of $51.30 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips to agricultural enterprises. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
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AGRI 340 Principles of Ecological Agriculture (3 credits)
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 2014
Instructors: Begg, Caroline B (Winter)
3 lectures and one 2-hour seminar
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken AGRI 250
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AGRI 493 International Project Management (3 credits)
Overview
Agriculture : Principles and practice related to management of agriculture, nutrition and environmental projects within an international context. Case-studies and workshops drawing on expertise of development professionals from government and the private sector address techniques and resources for successful planning, implementation and evaluation within a multi-sectoral framework.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Singla, Rohit (Fall)
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ANSC 420 Animal Biotechnology (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : Applications of animal biotechnology in agriculture, biomedicine and environmental preservation, including culture, manipulation and transformation of somatic cells, isolation of stem cells, reproductive biotechnologies, animal cloning by nuclear transplantation, production of transgenic animals, and cell and gene therapies.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Bordignon, Vilceu (Fall)
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BREE 217 Hydrology and Water Resources (3 credits)
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 2014
Instructors: Qi, Zhiming (Winter)
3 lectures, one 2-hour lab
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ABEN 217.
Note: This course carries an additional course charge of $30 to cover transportation costs for two field trips, which may include a visit to a national weather station and a trip to gain hands-on experience on monitoring water flow in streams.
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FDSC 310 Post Harvest Fruit and Vegetable Technology (3 credits)
Overview
Food Science : The post harvest chemistry and physiology of horticultural crops as they affect quality and marketability, handling methods pre and post harvest, principles and practices in cooling, storage, transportation and packaging.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Ramaswamy, Hosahalli (Fall)
Fall
3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
This course carries an additional charge of $46.17 to cover the cost of transportation with respect to field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
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NRSC 221 Environment and Health (3 credits)
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : Introduction to physical and social environments as factors contributing to the production of human health, with emphasis on the physical properties of the atmospheric environment as they interact with diverse human populations in urban settings.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Strachan, Ian Brett; Ross, Nancy (Fall)
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NUTR 501 Nutrition in Developing Countries (3 credits)
Overview
Nutrition and Dietetics : This course will cover the major nutritional problems in developing countries. The focus will be on nutrition and health and emphasize young children and other vulnerable groups. The role of diet and disease for each major nutritional problem will be discussed.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Marquis, Grace (Fall)
Fall
2 lectures and one seminar
Prerequisite: For undergraduate students, consent of instructor required
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PLNT 300 Cropping Systems (3 credits)
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 2013
Instructors: Seguin, Philippe; Watson, Alan K (Fall)
3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
Prerequisite: AEBI 210
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PLNT 435 Plant Breeding (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : Principles and practices of plant breeding, including reproduction of crop plants; plant hybridization; sources of genetic variation; selection methods used for self- and cross-pollinated crops and for clonally reproduced crops; breeding for diseases and pest resistance; applications of biotechnology in plant breeding.
Terms: Winter 2014
Instructors: Singh, Jaswinder (Winter)
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SOIL 315 Soil Nutrient Management (3 credits)
Overview
Soil Science : Plant nutrients in the soil, influence of soil properties on nutrient absorption and plant growth, use of organic and inorganic fertilizers.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Whalen, Joann Karen (Fall)
Fall
3 lectures and one lab
Prerequisites: ENVB 210 or permission of instructor
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SOIL 326 Soils in a Changing Environment (3 credits)
Overview
Soil Science : Soil processes responsible for soil formation will be studied and the impact of changes to the physical and chemical environment will be discussed.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Hendershot, William H (Fall)
Fall
3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
Prerequisite: A previous course in soil science, geography, geology or permission of instructor.
Specialization (24 credits)
Students must also complete at least one Specialization of 24 credits.
Revision, June 2013. End of revision.
Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences—2013-2014 (last updated Aug. 21, 2013) (disclaimer)
