Institute for the Study of Canada

About the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada

Established in 1994 thanks to an innovative agreement between the Bronfman family and McGill University, the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada (MISC) runs an academic program at McGill University, supports an active research environment, and organizes a variety of large-scale, public events on matters of interest to Canadians, including MISC's Annual Conferences, which attract a great deal of attention from policy-makers, media, and the general public. While the Institute itself is non-partisan, MISC is no stranger to debate and controversy.

Our program focuses on different aspects of Canada and its key institutions, including the humanities, social sciences, and liberal arts. Adaptive thinking, communication, independent learning, research capacity, assertiveness, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, leadership and networking, and public engagement are the main learning objectives. The program has a focused, practical approach to learning, with more leadership training. The Minor Concentration enables students to take courses about Canada outside the areas of their other major or minor concentrations.

For more information, visit the Institute's website.

Canadian Studies

Canadian Studies provides students with a broad multidisciplinary view of the nature and development of Canada. The McGill Institute for the Study of Canada offers the following programs in Canadian Studies:

Minor Concentration
Major Concentration
Honours
Joint Honours Component

The Minor Concentration in Canadian Studies is designed to encourage bilingualism, interdisciplinarity, and critical engagement. Our graduates go on to careers in the arts, government, the media, education, law, business, social service, and the University.

The Major Concentration in Canadian Studies is an interdisciplinary program focused on in-depth multidisciplinary perspectives on Canada and its key institutions, with an emphasis on public affairs as it relates to social and cultural issues and debates in the Canadian context and the responses and actions taken or needed to be taken. The program draws on interdisciplinary perspectives incorporating research and approaches from both the humanities and the social sciences.

Students interested in pursuing Canadian Studies at the graduate level or who are interested in deepening their understanding and in doing an individual thesis project should consider the Joint Honours Component or the Honours program with a Canadian Studies component. For more information, please see the Canadian Studies Program information presented on the Institute's website.

Indigenous Studies

The McGill Institute for the Study of Canada offers the following program in Indigenous Studies:

The Minor Concentration in Indigenous Studies provides students with a broad, interdisciplinary view of key issues in the historical, social, and cultural dimensions of Indigenous life in Canada. Core courses offered by the program will provide interdisciplinary treatments of Indigenous life, and students will choose complementary courses from among those offered in other units at McGill. Topics addressed in courses include the history of Indigenous populations in Canada, aboriginal art and culture, the experience of indigeneity and gender, and legacies of Indigenous resistance to the Canadian state. The Minor in Indigenous Studies draws on expertise and experience in Indigenous affairs located at McGill University and within the broader community. For more information, please see Indigenous Studies Program website.

Quebec Studies

The McGill Institute for the Study of Canada offer the following program in Quebec Studies:

The goal of the Minor in Quebec Studies and Community-Engaged Learning is to offer an interdisciplinary overview of Quebec's historical and contemporary realities, as well as a community-engaged learning experience in a Montreal organization. Students are offered the possibility of linking academic course content with hands-on experience within a Montreal-based community organization. For more information, please see the Quebec Studies website.

Quebec Studies/Études sur le Québec

Généralités: Études sur le Québec

Le Programme études québecoises veut favoriser la recherche et la formation multidisciplinaire.

Avec l'appui des départements, la concentration Mineure en Études québecoises et apprentissage par engagement est constituée d'une suite agencée de cours ayant pour but de fournir un enseignement interdisciplinaire aussi complet que possible sur la société québécoise à l'intérieur d'un cadre canadien et international.

Sauf les cours Introduction to the Study of Quebec (QCST 200 Introduction to the Study of Quebec.), Quebec Culture and Society (QCST 300 Quebec Culture and Society.), Histoire et culture de Montréal et du Québec en français (QCST 336 Quebec Studies Summer Seminar.), et le séminaire Contemporary Issues in Quebec (QCST 440 Contemporary Issues in Quebec.), les cours compris dans la concentration Mineure sont sous la responsabilité des divers départements. Pour connaître la description de ces cours et, le cas échéant, les conditions d'admission, l'étudiant(e) est donc invité(e) à se reporter aux autres sections de cette publication et, au besoin, à consulter les départements concernés, d'autant plus que tous les cours ne se donnent pas nécessairement à chaque année. Veuillez noter que les conseillers pédagogiques ou les directeurs de programmes peuvent suggérer l'inscription à un cours sans toutefois imposer ce choix. La décision finale revient à l'étudiant(e) en ce qui concerne l'inscription à un cours en autant que l'étudiant(e) répond aux conditions d'admission pour ce cours.

Le titre de chaque cours indique s'il est donné en français ou en anglais, mais les travaux et les examens peuvent toujours être rédigés dans l'une ou l'autre de ces deux langues (sauf au Département des littératures de langue française, de traduction et de création, où le français est de rigueur).

Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez voir le site de Études sur le Québec ou contactez:

Directeur: Professeur Pascal Brissette (Département des littératures de langue française, de traduction et de création)
Bureau: Pavillon Arts, W130a
Courriel: pascal.brissette@mcgill.ca

Coordonnateur scientifique des études québécoises: Stéphan Gervais
Bureau: Pavillon Ferrier, 840 avenue du Docteur-Penfield, Ferrier 102E
Courriel: stephan.gervais@mcgill.ca Tel: 514-398-3960

Coordonateur des affaires étudiantes: David Roseman
Bureau: Pavillon Ferrier, 102G
Envoyer un courriel pour un rendez-vous david.roseman@mcgill.ca Tel: 514-398-8920

About Quebec Studies

The Quebec Studies program is intended to stimulate interdisciplinary studies and exchanges centering on Quebec society.

With departmental support, a minor concentration is offered, consisting of a coherent series of courses providing an interdisciplinary perspective on Quebec society in a Canadian and international context.

Except for the general courses Introduction to the Study of Quebec (QCST 200 Introduction to the Study of Quebec.), Quebec Culture and Society (QCST 300 Quebec Culture and Society.), Histoire et culture de Montréal et du Québec en français (QCST 336 Quebec Studies Summer Seminar.), and the seminar Contemporary Issues in Quebec (QCST 440 Contemporary Issues in Quebec.), courses included in the Minor Concentration are the responsibility of the various departments. To obtain a complete description of these courses and the admission requirements (where applicable), students should read the relevant sections of the Course Catalogue and, if necessary, consult with the departments concerned, bearing in mind that not all courses are available in any given year. Please take note that an advisor or a director of a program can recommend registration in a course without imposing this choice. The final decision belongs to the student if the student has successfully completed the course prerequisites.

The title of each course indicates whether it is given in French or English, but term papers and exams can be written in either of these two languages (except in the Département des littératures de langue française, de traduction et de création, where French is mandatory).

Further information for new and returning students is available on the Quebec Studies site or by contacting:

Program Director: Professor Pascal Brissette (Département des littératures de language française, de traduction et de création)
Office: Arts Building, Room 130a
Email: pascal.brissette@mcgill.ca

Scientific Coordinator: Mr. Stéphan Gervais
Office: Ferrier Building, 840 Dr Penfield Avenue, Room 102E
Email: stephan.gervais@mcgill.ca | Tel: 514-398-3960

Administrative and Student Affairs Coordinator : Mr. David Roseman
Office: Ferrier Building, Room 102G
Email: david.roseman@mcgill.ca for an advising appointment | Tel: 514-398-8920

2025-2026