Natural History Minor (B.Sc.) (24 credits)
Offered by: Redpath Museum (Faculty of Science)
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Program credit weight: 24
Program Description
The Minor Natural History involves the exploration of the natural world via specimen-based studies, object-oriented investigations and field studies. Museum collections are used to provide hands-on experience with real objects and specimens. The required course brings students to the Redpath Museum and other McGill natural science museums and exposes them to natural history methodologies and the value of specimen-based studies. Complementary course lists are drawn from a variety of disciplines to emphasize breadth and integration with the inclusion of specimen- or object-based courses and field courses in zoology, botany, and earth and environmental sciences. To ensure breadth, students are required to choose courses from among these lists. A compulsory field course component rounds out the program.
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.
Required Course (3 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| REDM 400 | Science and Museums. | 3 |
Science and Museums. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Natural history museums and their collections, how collections are created and maintained and how collections are used in scientific research. Context of natural history museums, collections-based research and curatorial methods. | ||
Complementary Courses (21 credits)
Students select 21 credits from among four course lists (A (Zoology), B (Botany), C (Earth and Environmental Sciences), and D (Field Courses)) with the following specifications.
- At least 3 credits and no more than 9 credits from each of Lists A, B, and C.
- At least 3 credits from List D.
- No more than 3 credits from any one list may be at the 200 level.
Note: Students may take up to a maximum of 9 credits of courses outside the Faculties of Arts and of Science.
List A: Zoology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AEBI 211 | Organisms 2. | 3 |
Organisms 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to the biology of heterotrophs, focusing on animal diversity from the perspectives of phylogenetics, physiology, and ecology. Introduction to major animal taxa, comparing and contrasting these taxa, and exploration of the relationships among them. | ||
| ANTH 312 | Zooarchaeology. | 3 |
Zooarchaeology. Terms offered: Summer 2025 A systematic investigation into current methodological and theoretical concerns in archaeological faunal analysis. Topics to be examined include sampling and quantification, butchery, seasonality, subsistence, taphonomy, and paleoecology. | ||
| BIOL 205 | Functional Biology of Plants and Animals. 1 | 3 |
Functional Biology of Plants and Animals. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Unified view of form and function in animals and plants. Focus on how the laws of chemistry and physics illuminate biological processes relating to the acquisition of energy and materials and their use in movement, growth, development, reproduction and responses to environmental stress. | ||
| BIOL 215 | Introduction to Ecology and Evolution. 1 | 3 |
Introduction to Ecology and Evolution. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to the fundamental processes of ecology and evolution that bear on the nature and diversity of organisms and the processes that govern their assembly into ecological communities and their roles in ecosystem function. | ||
| BIOL 305 | Animal Diversity. | 3 |
Animal Diversity. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The characteristics of the major groups of animals, their ancestry, history and relationship to one another. The processes of speciation, adaptive radiation and extinction responsible for diversity. Methods for constructing of phylogenies, for comparing phenotypes, and for estimating and analyzing diversity. | ||
| BIOL 350 | Insect Biology and Control. 2 | 3 |
Insect Biology and Control. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to insect structure, physiology, biochemistry, development, systematics, evolution, ecology and control. Stress on interrelationships and integrated pest control. | ||
| BIOL 352 | Dinosaur Biology. | 3 |
Dinosaur Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Using dinosaurs as exemplars, this course teaches aspects of comparative, functional, and developmental morphology, macroevolution, macroecology, and phylogenetic systematics. Lab dissections will explore vertebrate anatomy. | ||
| BIOL 363 | Mammalian Evolution. | 3 |
Mammalian Evolution. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The origin, diversity and evolutionary history of mammals, systematic review of fossil and living orders of mammals, aspects of mammalian paleoecology, functional morphology and adaptation. | ||
| BIOL 418 | Freshwater Invertebrate Ecology. | 3 |
Freshwater Invertebrate Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The life history and ecology of freshwater invertebrates in lakes, rivers and wetlands; habitat requirements, functional ecology and food web interactions; the role of invertebrates in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems; threats to freshwater diversity. | ||
| BIOL 427 | Herpetology. | 3 |
Herpetology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Principles of biology as exemplified by amphibians and reptiles. Topics include: adaptation, social behaviour, reproductive strategies, physiology, biomechanics, ecology, biogeography and evolution. Laboratories will emphasize structure, systematics and identification of local and world herpetofauna as well as field methods. | ||
| ENTO 330 | Insect Biology. 2 | 3 |
Insect Biology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to entomology, including the the importance and diversity of insects; insect morphology, anatomy and physiology; insect sensory systems; reproduction; metamorphosis; insect classification and survey of the orders and common families. | ||
| EPSC 334 | Invertebrate Paleontology. | 3 |
Invertebrate Paleontology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preservation of fossils; the fossil record of invertebrates; use of fossils in stratigraphy and paleoecology; fossils in evolutionary studies. Fossils of invertebrates are studied in the laboratory. | ||
| WILD 307 | Natural History of Vertebrates. | 3 |
Natural History of Vertebrates. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The diversity and natural history of Canadian vertebrates illustrated with trophic, phylogenetic, and macroecological approaches. | ||
| WILD 350 | Mammalogy. | 3 |
Mammalogy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course focuses on the evolution, classification, ecology and behaviour of mammals and relations between humans and mammals. Also structure, systematics and identification of local and world mammals, as well as field methods will be emphasized. | ||
| WILD 420 | Ornithology. | 3 |
Ornithology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Taxonomic relationships and evolution of birds. Examination of the physiology, migration, identification and ecological processes of North American birds. | ||
- 1
BIOL 205 Functional Biology of Plants and Animals. and BIOL 215 Introduction to Ecology and Evolution. may be applied to either List A or List B.
- 2
If chosen, students may take either ENTO 330 or BIOL 350.
List B: Botany
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AEBI 210 | Organisms 1. | 3 |
Organisms 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The biology of plants and plant-based systems in managed and natural terrestrial environments. The interactions between autotrophs and soil organisms and selected groups of animals with close ecological and evolutionary connections with plants (e.g., herbivores and pollinators) will be explored in lecture and laboratory. | ||
| BIOL 205 | Functional Biology of Plants and Animals. 1 | 3 |
Functional Biology of Plants and Animals. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Unified view of form and function in animals and plants. Focus on how the laws of chemistry and physics illuminate biological processes relating to the acquisition of energy and materials and their use in movement, growth, development, reproduction and responses to environmental stress. | ||
| BIOL 215 | Introduction to Ecology and Evolution. 1 | 3 |
Introduction to Ecology and Evolution. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to the fundamental processes of ecology and evolution that bear on the nature and diversity of organisms and the processes that govern their assembly into ecological communities and their roles in ecosystem function. | ||
| BIOL 240 | Monteregian Flora. | 3 |
Monteregian Flora. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Field studies of ferns, fern allies, conifers and flowering plants; the use of keys for plant identification. | ||
| BIOL 355 | Trees: Ecology and Evolution. | 3 |
Trees: Ecology and Evolution. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Functional ecology and evolution of trees: patterns in the diversity of tree form and function, the nature of tree adaptation to environment from the scale of habitat to global biogeography. | ||
| PLNT 304 | Biology of Fungi. | 3 |
Biology of Fungi. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course describes the various groups of fungi and explores in depth their biology and physiology, their ecological niches and the role in various ecosystems and their benefits and uses in industry and biotechnology. | ||
| PLNT 353 | Plant Structure and Function. | 3 |
Plant Structure and Function. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The general anatomy and physiology of vascular plants with emphasis on how physiological processes influence function. | ||
| PLNT 358 | Flowering Plant Diversity. | 3 |
Flowering Plant Diversity. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Principles of classification and identification of flowering plants and ferns, with emphasis on 35 major families of flowering plants and the habitats in which they grow. | ||
| PLNT 460 | Plant Ecology. | 3 |
Plant Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Theory and practice of plant ecology with an emphasis on the interaction between patterns and ecological processes and the dynamics, conservation and management of plant populations and communities over a range of temporal and spatial scales. | ||
- 1
BIOL 205 Functional Biology of Plants and Animals. and BIOL 215 Introduction to Ecology and Evolution. may be applied to either List A or List B.
List C: Earth and Environmental Sciences
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 540 | Ecology of Species Invasions. | 3 |
Ecology of Species Invasions. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Causes and consequences of biological invasion, as well as risk assessment methods and management strategies for dealing with invasive species. | ||
| ENVR 200 | The Global Environment. | 3 |
The Global Environment. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A systems approach to study the different components of the environment involved in global climate change: the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. The interactions among these components. Their role in global climate change. The human dimension to global change. | ||
| ENVR 202 | The Evolving Earth. | 3 |
The Evolving Earth. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Formation of the Earth and the evolution of life. How geological and biological change are the consequence of history, chance, and necessity acting over different scales of space and time. General principles governing the formation of modern landscapes and biotas. Effects of human activities on natural systems. | ||
| EPSC 210 | Introductory Mineralogy. | 3 |
Introductory Mineralogy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Elementary crystallography, chemistry and identification of the principal rock-forming and ore minerals, in hand specimens and using optical microscopy. Demonstrations of other techniques applied to the identification of minerals and to the analysis of their composition and structure. Optional 2-day field trip. | ||
| EPSC 233 | Earth and Life Through Time | 3 |
Earth and Life Through Time Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Interpretation of stratified rocks; history of Earth with special emphasis on the regions of North America; outline of the history of life recorded in fossils. | ||
| ESYS 200 | Earth-System Interactions. | 3 |
Earth-System Interactions. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics related to climate change, biogeochemical cycles and natural resources are evaluated from an Earth System perspective. Exploration of the scientific literature in targeted areas of Earth system science with a focus on human-Earth interactions. Emphasis is on complex global issues that cross traditional disciplines, and interpreting and communicating academic knowledge derived from Earth system research. | ||
| ESYS 300 | Earth Data Analysis. | 3 |
Earth Data Analysis. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An applied introduction to programming and statistical image processing tools used in Earth system science, typically covering linear regression, statistical significance, Fourier analysis, empirical orthogonal function analysis. Use of global remote-sensing and in-situ observations. | ||
| GEOG 203 | Environmental Systems. | 3 |
Environmental Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to system-level interactions among climate, hydrology, soils and vegetation at the scale of drainage basins, including the study of the global geographical variability in these land-surface systems. The knowledge acquired is used to study the impact on the environment of various human activities such as deforestation and urbanisation. | ||
| GEOG 272 | Earth's Changing Surface. | 3 |
Earth's Changing Surface. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to the study of landforms as products of geomorphic and geologic systems acting at and near the Earth's surface. The process geomorphology approach will be used to demonstrate how landforms of different geomorphic settings represent a dynamic balance between forces acting in the environment and the physical properties of materials present. | ||
| GEOG 470 | Wetlands. | 3 |
Wetlands. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An examination of the structure, function and utility of wetlands. Topics include the fluxes of energy and water, wetland biogeochemistry, plant ecology in freshwater and coastal wetlands and wetlands use, conservation and restoration. Field trip(s) are envisaged to illustrate issues covered in class. | ||
| GEOG 550 | Historical Ecology Techniques. | 3 |
Historical Ecology Techniques. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Principles and methods of Quaternary paleoecology and vegetation reconstruction. Examination of ecosystem response to human disturbance and environmental change. | ||
List D: Field Studies
Students may also take other field courses with the permission of the Program Adviser.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 331 | Ecology/Behaviour Field Course. | 3 |
Ecology/Behaviour Field Course. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Methods of sampling natural populations. Testing hypotheses in nature. | ||
| BIOL 335 | Marine Mammals. | 3 |
Marine Mammals. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Biology of marine mammals with special emphasis on seals and whales of the Bay of Fundy. Taught at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, N.B., for two weeks in August. The course combines lectures, laboratory exercises, field trips, and individual projects. | ||
| BIOL 573 | Vertebrate Palaeontology Field Course. | 3 |
Vertebrate Palaeontology Field Course. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Terrestrial vertebrate fossils (i.e. dinosaurs, crocodiles and other reptiles) and palaeocommunity analysis, including practical training with fossil identification, mapping, collecting, and stratigraphic interpretation. | ||
| ENTO 340 | Field Entomology. | 3 |
Field Entomology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A field course and project about arthropod taxonomy, field methods and experimental design in entomology. Includes natural history observation, and experimental approaches to arthropod population and community ecology. | ||
| EPSC 231 | Field School 1. | 3 |
Field School 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Geological mapping of selected areas, preparation of maps, reports from field notes, aerial photographs, etc. | ||
| WILD 475 | Desert Ecology. | 3 |
Desert Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A three week field course exploring relationships between climate, geology, landforms, biodiversity, biotic adaptations and ecosystem conditions in the arid regions of Arizona and southern California. Focus is on the Sonoran and Mojave deserts but includes the transitions to adjacent grassland and forest biomes of the Sky Islands and Colorado Plateau. Exploration of issues arising from human use of land and water, and conservation in arid environments. Experiential learning involving team and individual projects and assignments before and during the field trip. | ||