Program Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in Geography; Neotropical Environment is a research-based program 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 thematic areas such as geography, environment, biology, agricultural sciences, sociology, and political science. The program favours interdisciplinary approaches to research and learning through the participation of researchers from McGill University and from STRI. Some research and teaching is conducted in Latin America and Panama. The thesis must be on a topic that relates to both the neotropical environment and geography.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses
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BIOL 640 Tropical Biology and Conservation (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Long-term research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute will be organized and synthesized to examine historical assembly and ecological maintenance of tropical communities. This synthesis will draw on phylogenetic concepts for historical insight and will examine the probable resilience of these communities to global change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
Terms: Summer 2025
Instructors: Leung, Brian (Summer)
Restriction: students enrolled in Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) or permission of the instructor
Fees: Graduate students requesting registration in the Neotropical Environment Option pay a fee of $919.56. This fee is used to support the costs associated with transportation and housing while in Panama.
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ENVR 610 Foundations of Environmental Policy (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Analysis of current environmental policies to reveal implicit and explicit assumptions regarding scientific methods, hypothesis testing, subject/object, causality, certainty, deities, health, development, North-South concerns for resources, commons, national sovereignty, equity. Discussion of implications of such assumptions for building future environmental policies.
Terms: Summer 2025
Instructors: Umana-Kinitzki, Carmen (Summer)
Restriction: Enrolment in the Graduate Environment Option or enrolment in the Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) or permission of the instructor.
**Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the fourth lecture day.
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GEOG 631 Methods of Geographical Research (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : General research seminar in human and physical geography.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: McKenzie, Grant; le Polain de Waroux, Yann (Fall) McKenzie, Grant; le Polain de Waroux, Yann (Winter)
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GEOG 700 Comprehensive Examination 1
Overview
Geography : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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GEOG 701 Comprehensive Examination 2
Overview
Geography : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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GEOG 702 Comprehensive Examination 3
Overview
Geography : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Elective Courses
3 credits, at the 500 level or higher, on environmental issues to be chosen in consultation with and approved by the student’s supervisor AND the Neotropical Environment Options Director.
