Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Renewable Resources; Neotropical Environment is a thesis program of 45 credits. The program is 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 Courses (33 credits)
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NRSC 691 M.Sc. Thesis Research 1 (12 credits)
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : Independent research under the direction of a supervisor towards the completion of the M.Sc. degree.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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NRSC 692 M.Sc. Thesis Research 2 (12 credits)
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : Independent research under the direction of a supervisor towards the completion of the M.Sc. degree.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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NRSC 694 M.Sc. Thesis Research 4 (9 credits)
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : Independent research under the direction of a supervisor towards the completion of the M.Sc. degree.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Required Courses (9 credits)
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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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NRSC 643 M.Sc. Proposal Seminar (1 credit)
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : M.Sc. 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)
Restrictions: Open only to students in a Department of Natural Resource Sciences M.Sc. program.
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NRSC 644 M.Sc. Update Seminar (1 credit)
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : M.Sc. students in their second or third semesterpresent oral and poster presentations onresearch progress.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Driscoll, Brian T (Fall) Driscoll, Brian T (Winter)
Prerequisites: NRSC 643
Restrictions: Open only to students in a Department of Natural Resource Sciences M.Sc. program.
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NRSC 651 M.Sc. Final Seminar (1 credit)
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : M.Sc. students present a final research seminarafter completing all other course and seminarrequirements.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Driscoll, Brian T (Fall) Driscoll, Brian T (Winter)
Prerequisites: NRSC 644
Restrictions: Open only to students in a Department of Natural Resource Sciences M.Sc. program.
Note: Participation in the MSE-Panama Symposium presentation in Montreal is also required.
Elective Courses (3 credits)
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.
