Program Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in Renewable Resources; Neotropical Environment is a research-based program offered in association with several University departments, the McGill School of Environment, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI-Panama). The program involves research on environmental issues relevant to the Neotropics and Latin American countries, and it favours interdisciplinary approaches to research and learning, and tropical environmental issues and the skills relevant to working in the tropics.
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
NRSC 701 Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Faucher, Sebastien (Fall) Faucher, Sebastien (Winter)
-
NRSC 751 PhD Research Proposal
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : PhD students in the first year of the programdevelop a research proposal and present aseminar
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Driscoll, Brian T (Fall) Driscoll, Brian T (Winter)
Restriction: Open only to students in a Department of Natural Resource Sciences Ph.D. program.
-
NRSC 752 Teaching Experience
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : Preparation of a course outline and presentationof a teaching seminar.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Driscoll, Brian T (Fall) Driscoll, Brian T (Winter)
Restrictions: Open only to students in a Department of Natural Resource Sciences Ph.D. program.
Prerequisites: NRSC 751
-
NRSC 753 PhD Research Progress Report
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : In fourth or fifth semester, oral and posterpresentations on research progress.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Driscoll, Brian T (Fall) Driscoll, Brian T (Winter)
Restrictions: Open only to students in a Department of Natural Resource Sciences Ph.D. program.
Prerequisites: NRSC 752
-
NRSC 754 PhD Final Research Report
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : Presentation of a final research seminar.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Driscoll, Brian T (Fall) Driscoll, Brian T (Winter)
Restriction: Open only to students in a Department of Natural Resource Sciences Ph.D. program.
Prerequisites: NRSC 753
Note: Participation in the MSE-Panama Symposium presentation in Montreal is required.
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.
