Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Geography; Thesis 鈥� Neotropical Environment is a research-based program of 45 credits. The program is offered in collaboration with the Bieler School of Environment and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI- Panama). The program is focused on environmental issues relevant to the Neotropics and Latin American countries including thematic areas such as geography, environment, biology, agricultural sciences, sociology, and political science. The program favours interdisciplinary approaches to research and learning through the participation of researchers from 捆绑SM社区 and from STRI. Some research and teaching is conducted in Latin America and Panama. The thesis must be on a topic that relates to both the neotropical environment and geography.
Participation in the MSE-Panama Symposium presentation in Montreal is also required.
Thesis Courses (30 credits)
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GEOG 698 Thesis Proposal (6 credits)
Overview
Geography : Preparation and evaluation of thesis proposal.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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GEOG 699 Thesis Research (24 credits)
Overview
Geography : Independent research under the supervision of a research director.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Required Courses (9 credits)
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BIOL 640 Tropical Biology and Conservation (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : 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.
Terms: Summer 2025
Instructors: Leung, Brian (Summer)
Restriction: students enrolled in Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) or permission of the instructor
Fees: Graduate students requesting registration in the Neotropical Environment Option pay a fee of $919.56. This fee is used to support the costs associated with transportation and housing while in Panama.
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ENVR 610 Foundations of Environmental Policy (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : 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.
Terms: Summer 2025
Instructors: Umana-Kinitzki, Carmen (Summer)
Restriction: Enrolment in the Graduate Environment Option or enrolment in the Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) or permission of the instructor.
**Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the fourth lecture day.
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GEOG 631 Methods of Geographical Research (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : General research seminar in human and physical geography.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: McKenzie, Grant; le Polain de Waroux, Yann (Fall) McKenzie, Grant; le Polain de Waroux, Yann (Winter)
Complementary Course (3 credits)
3 credits, one Geography graduate course. GEOG 696 can count among these complementary credits for students with an appropriate background.
Elective Course (3 credits)
3 credits, at the 500 level or higher, on environmental issues to be chosen in consultation with and approval by the student鈥檚 supervisor AND the Neotropical Environment Options Director.
