Plant Science (Thesis): Neotropical Environment (M.Sc.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Plant Science (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Degree: Master of Science
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
Candidates must participate in the STRI seminar series when in residence in Panama, and in the MSE-Panama Symposium Presentation in Montreal.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Thesis Courses (36 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PLNT 664 | M.Sc. Thesis 1. | 12 |
M.Sc. Thesis 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Written and oral presentation of thesis proposal to the research supervisory committee. | ||
| PLNT 665 | M.Sc. Thesis 2. | 12 |
M.Sc. Thesis 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Oral presentation of a proposal to the department and progress report on the thesis research project to the supervisory committee. | ||
| PLNT 667 | MSc Thesis 3A. | 12 |
MSc Thesis 3A. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preparation and submission of an acceptable thesis. | ||
Required Invitational Seminar
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PLNT 690 | Research Horizons in Plant Science 1. | 0 |
Research Horizons in Plant Science 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A series of seminars presented by invited speakers, staff and senior graduate students. The topics are selected to integrate the many fields of plant science. | ||
Required Courses (6 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 640 | Tropical Biology and Conservation. | 3 |
Tropical Biology and Conservation. Terms offered: Summer 2025 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. | ||
| ENVR 610 | Foundations of Environmental Policy. | 3 |
Foundations of Environmental Policy. Terms offered: Summer 2025 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. | ||
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.
Additional courses may be required at the discretion of the candidate's supervisory committee.