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Program Requirements

The Neotropical Option is offered in association with several University departments, the Bieler School of Environment, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI-Panama) and includes the thesis, comprehensive examination, required courses (9 credits) in Geography, Environment and Biology, and complementary courses (3 credits) chosen from Geography, Agriculture Sciences, Biology, Sociology, Environment, and Political Science.

Participation in the MSE-Panama Symposium presentation in Montreal is also required.

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Courses

• BIOL 640 Tropical Biology and Conservation (3 credits)

  Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

  Administered by: Graduate Studies

  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: Winter 2024

  Instructors: Leung, Brian (Winter)

  • 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.

• ENVR 610 Foundations of Environmental Policy (3 credits)

  Offered by: Bieler School of Environment (School of Environment)

  Administered by: Graduate Studies

  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: Winter 2024

  Instructors: Cronin, Holly (Winter)

  • 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.

• GEOG 631 Methods of Geographical Research (3 credits)

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Administered by: Graduate Studies

  Overview

  Geography : General research seminar in human and physical geography.

  Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024

  Instructors: Roulet, Nigel Thomas (Fall) Roulet, Nigel Thomas (Winter)

• GEOG 700 Comprehensive Examination 1

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Administered by: Graduate Studies

  Overview

  Geography : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.

  Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Summer 2024

  Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

• GEOG 701 Comprehensive Examination 2

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Administered by: Graduate Studies

  Overview

  Geography : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.

  Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Summer 2024

  Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

• GEOG 702 Comprehensive Examination 3

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Administered by: Graduate Studies

  Overview

  Geography : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.

  Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Summer 2024

  Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Elective Courses

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.