Note: McGill’s new Course Catalogue will replace the eCalendar. The Course Catalogue is expected to go live the week of April 22nd. When the new site is published, "mcgill.ca/study" will be redirected to the new Course Catalogue website.
Course information on this site is not reflective of offerings for the 2025–2026 academic year. Some irregularities may occur as we move operations to the incoming Course Catalogue.
The Department of Geography offers programs in both Arts and Science.
Refer to Faculty of Science > Undergraduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Geography (GEOG) for B.Sc. programs in Geography.
Refer to Bachelor of Arts & Science > Undergraduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Geography (GEOG) for B.A. & Sc. programs in Geography.
The Department of Geography offers the B.A. & Sc. interfacutly programs in Sustainability, Science and Society in partnership with the Bieler School of Environment. These programs are described in Bachelor of Arts & Science > Undergraduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Sustainability, Science, and Society.
Geography is a broad, holistic discipline; both a natural and a social science because it examines people and their environment and serves as a bridge between physical and cultural processes.
Human Geography is concerned especially with the political, economic, social, and cultural processes and resource practices that create spatial patterns and define particular places.
Physical Geography integrates disciplines such as climatology, geomorphology, geology, biology, hydrology, ecology, soil science, and even marine science.
Whether considering greenhouse gas emissions, the spread of disease, or threats to biodiversity, in all cases geographers are interested in where things happen, why, and with what consequences. Our graduates go on to careers in environmental consulting, social agencies, or non-governmental organizations. Skills in Geographic Information Science (GIS) are very marketable. Students are well prepared for graduate work in social sciences, urban planning, and environmental studies at leading schools.
The B.A.; Minor Concentration in Geography focuses on the interactions among people, places, and the environment, and is an excellent complement to many majors. It includes coursework in methodological techniques, human, and/or physical Geography. This Minor Concentration may be expanded into the Major Concentration Geography, but not into the Major Concentration...
For more information, see Minor Concentration Geography (18 credits).
This interdisciplinary program introduces students in the Faculty of Arts to a range of urban dynamics and the challenges facing contemporary cities around the world. Students should observe the levels indicated by course numbers: 200-level are first year (U1); 300-level, second year (U2); 400- or 500-level, third year (U3).
For more information, see Minor Concentration Geography (Urban Studies) (18 credits).
The Minor Concentration in GIS & Remote Sensing program provides B.A. students with the fundamentals of geospatial tools and technologies.
For more information, see Minor Concentration GIS & Remote Sensing (18 credits).
There is increasing consensus around the idea that health is not just an expression of individual characteristics but an interaction between the characteristics of the individual and the environments, both physical and social, to which one is exposed over a lifetime of daily living and working. Health outcomes vary dramatically by physical and social...
For more information, see Minor Concentration Health Geography (18 credits).
The B.A.; Major Concentration in Geography focuses on the interactions among people, places, and the environment. It includes coursework in human and physical Geography, methodological techniques, and field.
For more information, see Major Concentration Geography (37 credits).
This major concentration exposes students to various approaches to the study of the urban world. Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary program that introduces students in the Faculty of Arts to a range of urban dynamics and the challenges facing contemporary cities around the world, and a variety of methodological approaches. Students should observe the levels...
For more information, see Major Concentration Geography (Urban Studies) (36 credits).
The B.A.; Honours Geography program focuses on the interactions among people, places, and the environment. Along with additional course work, the program is distinguished by the Honours project, which entails independent, original research conducted over two semesters, normally in the final year of study, under the supervision of a department faculty member. ...
For more information, see Honours Geography (61 credits).
This program exposes students to various approaches to the study of the urban world. Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary program that introduces students in the Faculty of Arts to a range of urban dynamics and the challenges facing contemporary cities around the world, and a variety of methodological approaches. Students should observe the levels indicated by...
For more information, see Honours Urban Studies (60 credits).
Students wishing to study at the Honours level in two disciplines can combine Joint Honours program components of Geography and another Arts discipline. As with the regular Honours program, the Geography component of Joint Honours focuses on the interactions among people, places, and the environment, and requires an Honours project, which entails independent,...
For more information, see Joint Honours Component Geography (37 credits).
The following programs, as well as several other opportunities for field study, are offered by the Faculty of Science. For further information, refer to mcgill.ca/mcgillabroad/students-going-abroad/plan-and-prepare/field-study-semester or the Science Internship & Field Studies Office.
The Africa program introduces students to East Africa specifically with a view to increasing their understanding of the goals, circumstances, challenges, and opportunities of people living in the areas visited. For more information, see mcgill.ca/africa.
The Barbados program is offered on McGill's Caribbean campus at the Bellairs Research Institute. Students participating in the BFSS learn about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, with a focus on the sustainable development of Barbados and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). For more information, see mcgill.ca/bfss.
The Panama program is a joint venture between McGill University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and addresses Latin America's social and tropical environmental issues. For more information, see mcgill.ca/pfss.
The primary mission of the McGill Arctic Field Studies is to train a future generation of northern specialists and leaders who are able to understand and address the rapidly changing polar environment in a scientifically and culturally responsible manner. For more information, see mcgill.ca/arctic.
This interdepartmental program is offered by the Departments of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Geography.
Science students interested in this program should contact the ESYS Program adviser:
For more information, see Earth System Science (ESYS).
The Interfaculty Program in Sustainability, Science and Society as well as the Honours in Sustainability, Science and Society is open only to students in the B.A. & Sc. degree.
Students in the Department of Geography interested in this program should contact:
For more information about these programs, see Bachelor of Arts & Science > Undergraduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Sustainability, Science, and Society.
