There are many opportunities for undergraduate research in Geography. Students can assist faculty or graduate students in laboratory or field studies – or conduct independent research through honours or independent studies courses. Geography faculty members employ undergraduates as research assistants during the academic year and throughout the summer. If you are interested in getting research experience, approach a faculty member who is working in a field that interests you (see our faculty web pages).
Research-based courses for academic credit
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GEOG 291
Independent Short Proj in Geog
1 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Under the guidance of an instructor with the relevant expertise, the student explores a research topic in Geography and develops a written report.
Offered by: Geography
- Students are expected to find an appropriate advisor for their project. Proposed topic and method of evaluation must be approved by the supervisor.
- Prerequisites: GEOG 201 and one of: GEOG 203, GEOG 210, GEOG 216, GEOG 217, GEOG 272
- Restrictions: Restricted to students enrolled in the Geography Core Science Component, Major, Major Concentration and Honours programs. Instructor (supervisor) approval required.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Outline Student/Supervisor Agreement Form
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GEOG 396
Undergraduate Research Project
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Independent research project with a final written report.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall and Winter
- Restrictions: This course cannot be taken under the S/U option. Departmental permission required. Students cannot be supervised by the same instructor for two 396 Science courses. Open to students in programs offered by the Faculty of Science only.
- Note: Enrolment may be limited. Students are advised to start the application process well before the start of the term and to plan for an alternative course in the case that no suitable project is available. Individual projects may be suggested each term which may have project-specific prerequisites. Students may also approach professors to devise their own projects. Some projects may be accessible to students in other disciplines. See https://www.mcgill.ca/science/research/undergraduate-research/science-research-courses for more information about available projects and application forms and procedures.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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GEOG 489
Independent Research in Geog
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Independent research project under the guidance of a staff member specializing in the field of interest.
Offered by: Geography
- Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and completion of 30 credits of courses at the 200 level or above.
- A statement of the proposed project and method of evaluation, signed by the student and supervisor, must be submitted to the departmental Undergraduate Coordinator for approval by the add/drop deadline of the semester in which the student registers for this course.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Outline Student/Supervisor Agreement Form
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GEOG 490
Independent Readings in Geog
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Independent readings or project (non-research) under the guidance of a staff member specializing in the field of interest.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall and Winter
- Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and completion of 30 credits of courses at the 200 level or above.
- A statement of the proposed project and method of evaluation, signed by the student and supervisor, must be submitted to the departmental Undergraduate Coordinator for approval by the add/drop deadline of the semester in which the student registers for this course.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Outline Student/Supervisor Agreement Form
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GEOG 491D1
Honours Research
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Supervised reading, research and preparation of an undergraduate thesis under the direction of a member of staff.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- Prerequisite: GEOG 381
- Restriction: For U3 B.A. and B.Sc. Honours and Joint Honours Geography students
- Students must register for both GEOG 491D1 and GEOG 491D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both GEOG 491D1 and GEOG 491D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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GEOG 491D2
Honours Research
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: See GEOG 491D1 for course description.
Offered by: Geography
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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GEOG 492D1
Joint Honours Research
1.5 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: Supervised reading, research and preparation of an undergraduate thesis under the direction of a member of staff.
Offered by: Geography
- Fall
- Restriction: Only for those U3 Joint Honours students in Geography who opt to enrol in a parallel course in another department
- Students must register for both GEOG 492D1 and GEOG 492D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both GEOG 492D1 and GEOG 492D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
-
GEOG 492D2
Joint Honours Research
1.5 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Geography: See GEOG 492D1 for course description.
Offered by: Geography
- Winter
- Prerequisite: GEOG 492D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both GEOG 492D1 and GEOG 492D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Geography faculty also supervise research in these programs:
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ENVR 485
Readings in Environment 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environment: Interdisciplinary literature project/essays related to environment, enabling independent study under guidance of Environment faculty in areas outside the scope of individual departments.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment
- Restriction: Only open to U3 Environment students or with the permission of the instructor.
- Proposed topic and method of evaluation must be approved by the Program Adviser one month before the beginning of term. Contact the Program Adviser for information.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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ENVR 490
Independ. Study in Environment
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environment: Interdisciplinary research projects related to environment, enabling independent study under guidance of Environment faculty in areas outside the scope of individual departments.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment
- Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
- Restrictions: Only open to U3 Environment students.
- Proposed topic and method of evaluation must be approved by the Program Adviser one month before the beginning of term. Contact the Program Adviser for information.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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ENVR 495D1
Honours Research
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environment: Preparation of an honours thesis.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment
- Prerequisites: ENVR 301. Acceptance to Honours Program in Environment.
- Restrictions: For U3 B.A., B.Sc., B.Sc. (Ag.Env.Sc.), and B.A.&Sc. Honours in Environment students; and B.A. & Sc. Honours in Sustainability, Science and Society students.
- Students must register for both ENVR 495D1 and ENVR 495D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both ENVR 495D1 and ENVR 495D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms.
- **This is an honours project course, and the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Therefore, it has unique add/drop and withdrawal deadlines.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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ENVR 495D2
Honours Research
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environment: See ENVR 495D1 for description.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment
- Prerequisite: ENVR 495D1.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both ENVR 495D1 and ENVR 495D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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INTD 490
Development Research Project
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
International Development: Supervised reading, research project in international development. Requirements consist of a project proposal and final research report.
Offered by: Inst for the St of Development
- Prerequisite: ECON 313
- Restriction: Open to U2 and U3 students with a minimum CGPA of 3.30 and permission of the department Adviser. Only tenure track professors or McGill faculty lecturers may supervise.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
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INTD 491
Honours Thesis
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
International Development: Supervised reading, research and preparation of an undergraduate thesis under the direction of a staff member.
Offered by: Inst for the St of Development
- Restriction: Open only to U3 Honours and Joint Honours students.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Grants and awards
- NSERC USRA (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Awards) -Restricted to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Minimum CGPA 3.3.
- SURA (Science Undergraduate Research Awards) -Open to students in B.Sc. and B.A. & Sc. degrees. Minimum CGPA 3.3.
- ARIA (Arts Undergraduate Research Internship Award) -Open to students in B.A., B.A. & Sc., B.S.W. degrees. Minimum CGPA 3.0.
- Royal Canadian Geographic Society -Grants for field research costs (no salary) within Canada.
- Additional funding opportunities may also be found on the Scholarships and Student Aid website.
Employment opportunities
