Prospective Fall 2024 undergrad Canadian (non-Quebec) students can receive up to $12,000!
There are two options in Social Sciences.
Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) - Secondary Social Sciences - History and Citizenship, Geography program requires 120 credits and leads to teacher certification. Students who have not completed Quebec CEGEP, French Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, or at least one year of university studies prior to commencing the B.Ed. must also complete a minimum of 30 credits of Freshman courses (in addition to the 120 credits for the program) for a total of 150 credits.
The aim of the B.Ed. Secondary Education Program is to prepare strong beginning teachers for the secondary school level. This integrated program consists of courses in Education (including field experiences) and courses in the subject area of the teaching specialization. Students also take 6 credits of free electives. For all teacher education programs, course sequencing is highly structured. For this reason, the advising information in this eCalendar section must be used in conjunction with the summary companion document (Program Overview) found at http://www.mcgill.ca/dise/progs/secsocsci.
The Secondary Social Sciences - History and Citizenship, Geography program provides students with the learning opportunities needed to become proficient Social Science teachers with a strong knowledge base in History and Geography.
Please note that graduates of teacher education programs are recommended by the University for Quebec certification to the Ministry (Education). For more information about teacher certification in Quebec, please refer to the Faculty of Education section under "Overview of Faculty Programs," "Undergraduate Education Programs," and "Quebec Teacher Certification." Students normally complete 30 credits in their Freshman (U0) year.
The Freshman year is the time to take introductory-level courses in a teachable subject area, as well as to explore areas that are not normally taken within B.Ed. programs (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, etc.). Students should also investigate the possibility of taking one of the First Year Seminar courses offered by the Faculty of Arts or the Faculty of Science.
In addition, in consultation with the Program Adviser, students may select courses from the recommended course list below or other courses. The list includes History, Geography, and Religious Studies courses that may be used toward the academic component of the Secondary Social Sciences course requirements. Also included are several French Second Language (FRSL) courses for which placement tests are required to determine the appropriate level.
Admin & Policy Studies in Ed: An introduction to contemporary issues in education in local, national and international contexts, including a critical perspective on educational issues by drawing on a variety of analytical frameworks.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed French as a Second Language: A comprehensive introduction to basic vocabulary, grammatical structures and speech patterns of written and oral French for students in any degree program having no previous knowledge of French. Learning to communicate at a functional level in a French-speaking environment. Short essays, cultural readings, mandatory lab practice.
Offered by: French Language Centre French as a Second Language: A comprehensive introduction to basic vocabulary, grammatical structures and speech patterns of written and oral French for students in any degree program having no previous knowledge of French. Learning to communicate at a functional level in a French-speaking environment. Short essays, cultural readings, mandatory lab practice.
Offered by: French Language Centre French as a Second Language: This two-term course uses a task-based approach to provide students with authentic materials related to Canadian culture and prepares them for real life communication. Therefore, class time will be mostly dedicated to the completion of communicative tasks which often rely on the use of technology (mobile apps,
blogs and other online tools). This course tackles different topics that students can relate to in their personal, social and academic life, and provides a review and further training in elementary language structures to develop their communication skills and digital literacy in French.
Offered by: French Language Centre French as a Second Language: See FRSL 207D1 for course description.
Offered by: French Language Centre French as a Second Language: Language lab attendance required. Grammar review, comprehension, vocabulary development, selected readings and group discussions.
Offered by: French Language Centre French as a Second Language: See FRSL 211D1 for course description.
Offered by: French Language Centre Geography: Introduction to geography as the study of nature and human beings in a spatial context. An integrated approach to environmental systems and the human organization of them from the viewpoint of spatial relationships and processes. Special attention to environmental problems as a constraint upon Third World development.
Offered by: Geography Geography: An examination of global change, from the Quaternary Period to the present day involving changes in the physical geography of specific areas. Issues such as climatic change and land degradation will be discussed, with speculations on future environments.
Offered by: Geography Geography: Introduction to key themes in human geography. Maps and the making, interpretation and contestation of landscapes, 'place', and territory. Investigation of globalization and the spatial organization of human geo-politics, and urban and rural environments.
Offered by: Geography History: A survey of early Canada, from periods known mainly through archaeological records to the Confederation era. Social, cultural, economic and political themes will be examined.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies History: A survey of the development of Canada from Confederation to the present day. Social, economic and political history will be examined in a general way.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies History: Survey of European history from the Late Middle Ages to the eighteenth century.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies History: Survey of European history from the eighteenth century to the present.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies Religious Studies: An introduction to the beliefs, practices, and religious institutions of these three world religions.
Offered by: Religious Studies Religious Studies: This course is an introduction to classic and contemporary approaches to the academic study of religions. This includes perspectives from philosophy, theology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, phenomenology, and feminism. Students are also exposed to applications of these perspectives from visiting scholars who treat some aspect of a religious tradition in light of current-day interests and events. The primary objective is to introduce students to the principal theories and methods that have shaped our understanding of religion, its various meanings as well as its roles and functions in society.
Offered by: Religious Studies Religious Studies: The interaction of Hinduism and Buddhism in India with special reference to the law of Karma, caste, women, ritual, death, yoga, and liberation. Determination of interpretative principles for understanding the religious psychology of Hindus and Buddhists.
Offered by: Religious Studies Written and Oral Communication: Academic research-based writing across the disciplines. Article summary, critical analysis, rhetorical strategies, citation and paraphrase of academic sources, and editing for cohesion and clarity.
Offered by: McGill Writing Centre Curriculum and Instruction: Orientation to the culture and community of school and to teaching as a profession. Focus on the general functioning of schools and complexity of the teacher role. Competencies and working professional portfolios will be addressed.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Curriculum and Instruction: The English Exam for Teacher Certification (EETC) is a Quebec Ministry of Education-required component of the B.Ed. degree. The exam is coordinated by an independent organization, the Centre for the English Exam for Teacher Certification (CEETC). Consists of a 2-hour exam designed to assess teacher
candidates' competency in the language of instruction. Must be completed before the 3rd Field Experience. Students must register for EDEC 215 and register for the EETC on the CEETC website. Students who do not pass after four attempts require permission from the Internships & Student Affairs Office to re-take the exam.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Curriculum and Instruction: An exploration of Indigenous knowledge and pedagogy, primarily in Canada but also world-wide. Consideration of the diverse social, cultural, linguistic, political, and pedagogical histories of Indigenous communities. Examines how a teacher's professional identity and practice can be influenced by an understanding of Indigenous knowledge and worldviews.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Curriculum and Instruction: The organization of Quebec education, including Indigenous education, from historical, political, social, cultural and legal perspectives. The implications and contributions of policy decisions to schools, students, and families.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Curriculum and Instruction: Preparation for the second field experience through development of basic practices in planning and teaching in secondary school classrooms. Competencies and professional portfolio will be addressed.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Curriculum and Instruction: Ideas essential for the development of a coherent educational theory and sound professional practice. Reflections on: the nature of the person, of reality, of knowledge, and of value; the aims of education, the nature of the school and the curriculum, the roles and responsibilities of professional educators.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Curriculum and Instruction: Orientation to the equipment and systems of educational technology. Examination of theories of educational technology, media education and technology education and the exploration and development of possible applications in school settings.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Curriculum and Instruction: Professional portfolios and competencies will be addressed. Preparation for the third field experience through engaging in the full spectrum of unit/lesson planning, critical analysis and self-reflection. Professional portfolios and competencies will be addressed.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Curriculum and Instruction: Preparation for the final field experience and entry into the teaching profession. Emphasis will be placed on developing the ability to demonstrate ethical and responsible professional behaviour in the performance of duties across all professional competencies. Final transition to showcase working professional portfolios will be addressed.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Secondary Education: An examination of Quebec and other secondary school social studies curricula: Objectives; theoretical orientation; course structures; curriculum resources. Teaching and learning methodologies both common to the social studies and specific to the disciplines of history, geography, and economics.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Secondary Education: Competency-based discipline skills and methods of classroom management, emphasizing the relationship between theory and practice; the rationale for various approaches to classroom management; strategies for developing instruction that focus attention and reduce off-task behaviour.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Secondary Education: This course will examine the nature, content, and methodology of social studies education in the secondary school.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Student Teaching: Students are assigned to a school for a "participant observer" field experience. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships & Student Affairs website at http://www.mcgill.ca/isa.
Offered by: Education - Dean's Office Student Teaching: Supervised student teaching. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field
Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships and Student Affairs website at www.mcgill.ca/isa.
Offered by: Education - Dean's Office Student Teaching: Supervised student teaching in a school. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience, dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships & Student Affairs Office website http://www.mcgill.ca/isa.
Offered by: Education - Dean's Office Student Teaching: Supervised student teaching in a school. Students will be expected to assume a much increased responsibility for student learning, classroom management, and evaluation. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships and Student Affairs website at www.mcgill.ca/isa.
Offered by: Education - Dean's Office Ed Psych & Couns (Psychology): Selected theories, models, and concepts relevant to planning and reflecting upon educational practice and improvement. Overview of development, learning, thinking, motivation, individual difference, etc. In relation to applications in classroom teaching and learning, the complementary role of counsellors and psychologists, educational computing and technology. The Youth Protection Act.
Offered by: Educational&Counselling Psych Ed Psych & Couns (Psychology): The purposes of examinations. Causes of complaints about examinations. Equalizing means and dispersions in distribution of marks. Standardized scores. The percentile system. Essay and objective-type examinations. Taxonomies of educational objectives. Validity and reliability: item analysis.
Offered by: Educational&Counselling Psych Ed Psych & Couns (Inclusive): Inclusion debates; review of the evolution of the history of inclusive education; models of development ( eco-systemic models); characteristics, teaching practices; teachers' roles in inclusive classrooms. Overview of characteristics, causes, needs, and teaching strategies for diverse and exceptional students, teaching and learning for differences in intellectual, emotional, behavioural, sensory, physical and learning domains found in effective inclusive classrooms. Working with families.
Offered by: Educational&Counselling Psych Ed Psych & Couns (Inclusive): Developing, planning, implementing and evaluating effective learning programs for diverse learners, and consideration of their more general applicability. Adapting curriculum and instruction for learners with varying abilities, learning styles, and needs. Collaboration with students, families, and other educators (or stakeholders) in the instructional process. Application of adaptations at the classroom and school level for all students in inclusive schools.
Offered by: Educational&Counselling Psych 3 credits selected as described below: 3 credits from: Curriculum and Instruction: Introduction to and exploration of contemporary issues and theories about equity in education and society in Quebec/Canada from a range of perspectives, including
the historical, political, social, and economic. Provides learning opportunities for future educators to critically reflect upon and engage with equity issues and concerns in relation to schooling, including the exploration of classroom resources and activities that foster anti-racism, anti-oppression and intercultural approaches.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Curriculum and Instruction: A cross-curricular, interdisciplinary approach to teaching/creating learning experiences for students. It will foster critical thinking and nurture lifelong global understanding, active engagement and participation in relation to questions of social, economic, and environmental justice, by infusing these issues in the classroom.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed Secondary Social Sciences - History and Citizenship, Geography students complete 51 credits selected in consultation with the Program Adviser with the following specifications:
History
9 credits selected from:
History: A survey of early Canada, from periods known mainly through archaeological records to the Confederation era. Social, cultural, economic and political themes will be examined.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies History: A survey of the development of Canada from Confederation to the present day. Social, economic and political history will be examined in a general way.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies History: Covering Quebec history from New France to contemporary times, this course will include themes like ethnic relations, citizenship, gender and material culture. It is of particular interest to students in Education who foresee teaching about Quebec.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies History and Citizenship (24 credits)
At least 9 of the 24 credits must be taken at the 300 or 400 level, distributed as follows:
3-9 credits in European History Anthropology: Introduction to Native American and Indigenous studies (NAIS) as a means of critically engaging with the discipline of anthropology.
Offered by: Anthropology Canadian Studies: Key cultural, economic, social and political institutions and their evolution over time.
Offered by: Institute for Study of Canada Economics (Arts): A critical study of the insights to be gained through economic analysis of a number of problems of broad interest. The focus will be on the application of economics to issues of public policy.
Offered by: Economics Economics (Arts): A university-level introduction to demand and supply, consumer behaviour, production theory, market structures and income distribution theory.
Offered by: Economics Economics (Arts): A university-level introduction to national income determination, money and banking, inflation, unemployment and economic policy.
Offered by: Economics Economics (Arts): This course will deal with topical issues of importance to the Canadian economy.
Offered by: Economics Economics (Arts): Survey of economic development. The evolution of economic institutions and the process of economic growth. Topics include demographic change, agrarian institutions, financial and industrial organization, technological change and the expansion of trade and markets.
Offered by: Economics Economics (Arts): Microeconomic theories of economic development and empirical evidence on population, labour, firms, poverty. Inequality and environment.
Offered by: Economics Economics (Arts): Macroeconomic and structural aspects of the ecological crisis. A course in which subjects discussed include the conflict between economic growth and the laws of thermodynamics; the search for alternative economic indicators; the fossil fuels crisis; and "green'' fiscal policy.
Offered by: Economics Economics (Arts): The course focuses on the economic implications of, and problems posed by, predictions of global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. Attention is given to economic policies such as carbon taxes and tradeable emission permits and to the problems of displacing fossil fuels with new energy technologies.
Offered by: Economics Environment: This course deals with how scientific-technological, socio-economic, political-institutional and behavioural factors mediate society-environment interactions. Issues discussed include population and resources; consumption, impacts and institutions; integrating environmental values in societal decision-making; and the challenges associated with, and strategies for, promoting sustainability. Case studies in various sectors and contexts are used.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment Environment: Introduction to cultural perspectives on the environment: the influence of culture and cognition on perceptions of the natural world; conflicts in orders of knowledge (models, taxonomies, paradigms, theories, cosmologies), ethics (moral values, frameworks, dilemmas), and law (formal and customary, rights and obligations) regarding political dimensions of critical environments, resource use, and technologies.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment Political Science: An introduction to fundamental comparative politics concepts and research that focuses on Europe and North America. Topics include: state and state institutions, parties and party systems, elections, protest and social movements, rule of
law, corruption, regime transitions— democratization and autocratization.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: An examination of the central governmental institutions, including parliament, federalism, and the judiciary.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: An introduction to contemporary political life in Canada that examines how demands are identified and transmitted through the political systems. Emphasis will be placed on: the Canadian political culture; socialization and political participation; the electoral system; elections and voting; the role and structure of political parties; and the influence of organized interest.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: An introduction to politics across the Global South. A comparative examination of the legacies of colonialism, the achievement of independence, and political and socio-economic development in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Topics include modernization, dependency, state-building, political violence, revolution, the role of the military, authoritarianism, and democratization.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: An introduction to international relations, through examples drawn from international political economy. The emphasis will be on the politics of trade and international monetary relations.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: Offers a comprehensive introduction to the behaviour of nation states. Explores how states make foreign policy decisions and what motivates their behaviour. Other covered topics include the military and economic dimensions of state behaviour, conflict, cooperation, interdependence, integration, globalization, and change in the international system.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: An examination of the changing regional security environment and the evolving foreign policies and relationships of Arab states in three areas - relations with non-Arab regional powers (Israel, Iran), inter-Arab relations, Great Power relations. The course will focus particularly on Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: The politics and processes of global governance in the 21st century, with a special emphasis on the United Nations system.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: The course presents theoretical approaches to understanding change in the international political economy.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: Focuses on international security and strategies of war and peace in historical and comparative frameworks. Topics include case studies of 20th century wars, conventional and nuclear strategy, and various approaches to peace.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: Key contributions of political theory to the study and practice of international relations. Three prevailing theoretical traditions will be examined: realism, 'international society', and cosmopolitanism. Key practical issues to be explored from these perspectives include war, humanitarian intervention, economic globalization, environment, and gender.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: Theories of ethno-nationalism examined in light of experience in Asia, Middle East and Africa. Topics include formation and mobilization of national, ethnic and religious identities in colonial and post-colonial societies; impact of ethno-nationalism on pluralism, democracy, class and gender relations; means to preserve tolerance in multicultural societies.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: Inequality is often particularly durable between groups whose boundaries are based on assumed ancestry - e.g., the major ethnic categories in former European settler colonies, castes in South Asia. This course explores ongoing changes in the relationship between identity and social, economic and political inequality in some of these contexts.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: Issues related to the internationalization of ethnic conflict, including diasporas, contagion and demonstration effects, intervention, irredentism, the use of sanctions and force. Combination of theory and the study of contemporary cases.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: An examination of transitions from civil war to peace, and the role of external actors (international organizations, bilateral donors, non-governmental organizations) in support of such transitions. Topics will include the dilemmas of humanitarian relief, peacekeeping operations, refugees, the demobilization of ex-combatants, transitional elections, and the politics of socio-economic reconstruction.
Offered by: Political Science Political Science: The political structures and social forces underlying poverty and inequality in the world; the historical roots of inequality in different regions, varying manifestations of inequality (class, region, ethnicity, gender), and selected contemporary problems.
Offered by: Political Science 18 credits from:
Environment: Formation of the Earth and the evolution of life. How geological and biological change are the consequence of history, chance, and necessity acting over different scales of space and time. General principles governing the formation of modern landscapes and biotas. Effects of human activities on natural systems.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment Geography: Introduction to geography as the study of nature and human beings in a spatial context. An integrated approach to environmental systems and the human organization of them from the viewpoint of spatial relationships and processes. Special attention to environmental problems as a constraint upon Third World development.
Offered by: Geography Geography: An examination of global change, from the Quaternary Period to the present day involving changes in the physical geography of specific areas. Issues such as climatic change and land degradation will be discussed, with speculations on future environments.
Offered by: Geography Geography: Introduction to key themes in human geography. Maps and the making, interpretation and contestation of landscapes, 'place', and territory. Investigation of globalization and the spatial organization of human geo-politics, and urban and rural environments.
Offered by: Geography Geography: The course introduces the geography of the world economic system. It describes the spatial distribution of economic activities and examines the factors which influence their changing location. Case studies from both "developed" and "developing" countries will test the different geographical theories presented in lectures.
Offered by: Geography Geography: An introduction to urban geography. Uses a spatial/geographic perspective to understand cities and their social and cultural processes. Addresses two major areas. The development and social dynamics in North American and European cities. The urban transformations in Asian, African, and Latin American societies that were recently predominantly rural and agrarian.
Offered by: Geography Geography: Introduction to the study of landforms as products of geomorphic and geologic systems acting at and near the Earth's surface. The process geomorphology approach will be used to demonstrate how landforms of different geomorphic settings represent a dynamic balance between forces acting in the environment and the physical properties of materials present.
Offered by: Geography Geography: An introduction to the physical and cultural geography of Canada's newest territory. The course will emphasize the bio-physical heterogeneity of the natural environment and the cultural and political ecology of the human population.
Offered by: Geography Geography: Different theories and approaches to understanding the spatial organization of economic activities. Regional case studies drawn from North America, Europe and Asia used to reinforce concepts. Emphasis also on city-regions and their interaction with the global economy.
Offered by: Geography Geography: Social space and social time. The reflection of social structure in the spatial organization of the city. Historical perspective on changing personal mobility, life cycle, family structure and work organization. The appropriation and alienation of urban spaces.
Offered by: Geography
Note: In consultation with the Program Adviser, students may choose their Geography courses from those that comprise the B.A. Minor Concentration Geography program.
Program Requirement:
Freshman Program
Required Courses (60 credits)
Complementary Courses (3 credits)
Equity Education
Secondary Social Sciences - History and Citizenship, Geography Subject Area (51 credits)
Required Courses
Complementary Courses (42 credits)
3-9 credits in Asian, African, American, Latin American, or Ancient History
6 credits of history courses on social history, gender history, identity, culture, religion and values, political life and institutions, conflict, wealth and poverty, science, and health
(Students may consult the course lists for History programs offered by the Faculty of Arts for guidance on course choices.)
6-12 credits selected from the following list (students must select a minimum of 3 credits ECON and a minimum of 3 credits POLI):
Geography
Electives (6 credits)
Program Requirement:
Sample Registration Advice
The Four Year Overview is a plan of study for most students in the Secondary Social Sciences program. It allocates space for completing all of the requirements in your Secondary Social Sciences B.Ed. degree and schedules your field experiences in the correct semesters. Please note, students needing to complete a Foundation year will be starting in Year 0, thus, will be following a five year study plan.
The Two Year Overview is a plan of study for students who have significant advanced standing (typically students with transfer credits from other universities), and assumes that all subject area and elective courses have been completed prior to entering the program. It does not allocate room in your schedule for completing these courses.
Program information is organized for three distinct groups:
Prospective Students Newly Admitted Currently Registered