Geography
About Geography
The Department of Geography offers research and thesis-based graduate programs leading to a Master of Arts (M.A.), a Master of Science (M.Sc.), or Doctorate (Ph.D.). In its scope, our program includes the opportunity to conduct field-based studies in both the natural (i.e., biophysical) and the social sciences. Thematic areas of study include:
- Political, Urban, Economic, and Health Geography;
- Environment and Development;
- Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing;
- Land Surface Processes, Ecosystem Biogeochemistry, and Ecohydrology;
- Earth System Science and Global Change;
- Sustainability Science and Environmental Management.
Geography houses McGill's Geographic Information Centre (GIC), maintains Arctic and Sub-Arctic field stations, and has strong ties with McGill’s Bieler School of Environment. Faculty and students conduct research in fields as diverse as climate change impacts, periglacial geomorphology, and forest resource history in regions ranging from the Arctic to Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
Being both a natural and a social science, geography provides a unique opportunity to obtain a broad interdisciplinary exposure to modes of analyzing the many environmental and situational problems of contemporary society. Because of this, a geography degree is a fantastic opportunity to obtain a career in one of a diverse range of fields. Our students have gone on to become United Nations field researchers in Laos, environmental consultants in Toronto, science teachers in the U.S., geography professors in many parts of the world, UNHCR volunteers in Malaysia, policy analysts, and physical scientists in government agencies and research councils, as well as health and social policy researchers in Montreal…the list goes on! If you're on Facebook, look for McGill Geography Alumni or visit our website to learn more about the advantages of having a geography degree from McGill!
Master’s degrees in both the physical sciences (M.Sc.) and social sciences (M.A.) are offered by Geography. The core of both programs for all students is field-based research supervised by a faculty member, culminating in a thesis. The core program consists of the thesis component, required, and complementary graduate (500- or 600-level) courses.
Geography also offers in association with other McGill departments and programs a number of M.A. and M.Sc. options that students may choose to follow. Students must pass the courses specified for their program, attend such additional courses as the Graduate Program Director and the student's thesis supervisor see fit, and submit a thesis in an appropriate area of geographical inquiry approved by the supervisor.
McGill Northern Research Stations
The Faculty of Science, in collaboration with the Department of Geography operates two northern research field stations. The McGill Sub-Arctic Research Station (MSARS) is located in Schefferville, in the centre of Quebec-Labrador. The McGill Arctic Research Station (MARS) is located at Expedition Fiord on Axel Heiberg Island in the High Arctic. These facilities support field research in most areas of physical geography, including glaciology, permafrost hydrology, and geomorphology in the arctic, and some areas of human geography in the subarctic. For additional information on these stations, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator at grad.geog@mcgill.ca.
Geography Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Admission Requirements
M.A. and M.Sc. Degrees
Applicants not satisfying the conditions in University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Admissions and Application Procedures > Application Procedures, but with primary undergraduate specialization in a cognate field, may be admitted to the M.A. or M.Sc. degree in Geography in certain circumstances. In general, applicants who have deficiencies in their preparation but are otherwise judged to be acceptable, will be required to register for a Qualifying program or to undertake additional courses.
Ph.D. Degree
Students who have completed a master's degree in Geography or a related discipline (with high standing) may be admitted at the Ph.D. 2 level.
On rare occasions, a student may be admitted to the Ph.D. degree without having first taken the master's degree. These students, who have deficiencies in their preparation but are otherwise acceptable, will be required to register for a year of coursework and/or be required to take extra courses. The normal duration of a program, including field work where required, is three years.
Normally, the Department will restrict admission to the Ph.D. program to students prepared to work in one of the fields of human or physical geography in which specialized supervision is offered. These fields, which cover a wide range of systematic areas, are listed in documents available from the Department.
English Language Proficiency
For graduate applicants whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized Canadian or American (English or French) institution or from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, documented proof of English proficiency is required prior to admission. For a list of acceptable test scores and minimum requirements, visit mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/proficiency.
Application Procedures
McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.
See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Admissions and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.
Further departmental application information is listed at mcgill.ca/geography/graduate.
Additional Requirements
The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:
- Research Proposal
- Letters of Reference – two references required for M.A. and M.Sc. programs; three references required for Ph.D. program
- Curriculum Vitae
Application Dates and Deadlines
Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines are set by the Geography Department and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate McGill departmental website; please consult the list at mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.
Information on application deadlines is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply/application-steps/application-deadlines.
Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.
Location
Department of Geography
Burnside Hall
805 Sherbrooke Street West, Room 305
Montreal QC H3A 0B9
Canada
Telephone: 514-398-4111
Email: grad.geog@mcgill.ca
Website: mcgill.ca/geography