³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ

Ecological Determinants of Health Domain

Note: This is the 2010–2011 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.

Ecological Determinants of Health Domain

This domain is open only to students in the B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.) Major Environment or B.Sc. Major Environment program.

Advisor Mentor
  • Ms. Kathy Roulet
  • Email: kathy.roulet [at] mcgill.ca
  • Telephone: 514-398-4306
  • Professor Marilyn Scott
  • Email: marilyn.scott [at] mcgill.ca
  • Telephone: 514-398-7996

Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) or Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Major Environment - Ecological Determinants of Health - Cellular (63 credits)

The Cellular concentration in this Domain is open only to students in the B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.) Major Environment or B.Sc. Major Environment program.

This Domain considers the interface between the environment and human well-being, with particular focus on the triad that ties human health to the environment through the elements of food and infectious agents. Each of these elements is influenced by planned and unplanned environmental disturbances. For example, agricultural practices shift the balance between beneficial and harmful ingredients of food. Use of insecticides presents dilemmas with regard to the environment, economics and human health. The distribution of infectious diseases is influenced by the climatic conditions that permit vectors to coexist with man, by deforestation, by urbanization, and by human interventions ranging from the building of dams to provision of potable water.

In designing interventions that aim to prevent or reduce infectious contaminants in the environment, or to improve food production and nutritional quality, not only is it important to understand methods of intervention, but also to understand social forces that influence how humans respond to such interventions.

Students in the Cellular concentration will explore these interactions in more depth, at a physiological level. Students in the Population concentration will gain a depth of understanding at an ecosystem level that looks at society, land and population health.

Suggested First Year (U1) Courses

For suggestions on courses to take in your first year (U1), you can consult the "MSE Student Handbook 2010-11" available on the MSE website (/mse), or contact Ms. Kathy Roulet, the Program Advisor (kathy.roulet [at] mcgill.ca).

Program Requirements

NOTE: Students are required to take a maximum of 31 credits at the 200-level and a minimum of 12 credits at the 400-level or higher in this program. This includes Core and Required courses.

Location Note: When planning your schedule and registering for courses, you would verify where each course is offered because courses for this program are taught at both ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ's downtown campus and at the Macdonald campus in Ste. Anne de Bellevue.

Core: Required Courses (18 credits)

Location Note: Core Required courses for this program are taught at both ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ's downtown campus and at the Macdonald Campus in Ste. Anne de Bellevue. You should register in Section 001 of an ENVR course that you plan to take on the downtown campus, and in Section 051 of an ENVR course that you plan to take on the Macdonald campus.

ENVR 200 (3) The Global Environment
ENVR 201 (3) Society and Environment
ENVR 202 (3) The Evolving Earth
ENVR 203 (3) Knowledge, Ethics and Environment
ENVR 301 (3) Environmental Research Design
ENVR 400 (3) Environmental Thought

Core: Complementary Course - Senior Research Project (3 credits)

Only 3 credits will be applied to the program; extra credits will count as electives.

AGRI 519 (6) Sustainable Development Plans
ENVR 401 (3) Environmental Research
ENVR 451 (6) Research in Panama

Domain: Required Course (3 credits)

PARA 410 (3) Environment and Infection

Domain: Complementary Courses (39 credits)

39 credits of the Complementary Courses are selected as follows:

21 credits - Fundamentals, 3 credits from each category

12 credits - Human Health, maximum of 3 credits from any one category

6 credits - Natural Environment, maximum of 3 credits from any one category

Fundamentals:

21 credits of Fundamentals, 3 credits from each category.

Health, Society and Environment

* Note: you may take GEOG 221 or NRSC 221 but not both.

GEOG 221* (3) Environment and Health
GEOG 303 (3) Health Geography
NRSC 221* (3) Environment and Health
SOCI 234 (3) Population and Society
SOCI 309 (3) Health and Illness

Toxicology

ANSC 312 (3) Animal Health and Disease
NUTR 420 (3) Toxicology and Health Risks
PHAR 303 (3) Principles of Toxicology

Cellular Biology

ANSC 234 (3) Biochemistry 2
BIOL 201 (3) Cell Biology and Metabolism
LSCI 202 (3) Molecular Cell Biology

Genetics

BIOL 202 (3) Basic Genetics
LSCI 204 (3) Genetics

Molecular Biology

BIOL 200 (3) Molecular Biology
LSCI 211 (3) Biochemistry 1

Statistics

One of the following statistics courses or equivalent:

Note: Credit given for statistics courses is subject to certain restrictions. Students in Science should consult the "Course Overlap" information in the "Course Requirements" section for the Faculty of Science.

AEMA 310 (3) Statistical Methods 1
MATH 203 (3) Principles of Statistics 1

Nutrition

* Note: NUTR 307 - Video conference Downtown and Macdonald campus

ANSC 330 (3) Fundamentals of Nutrition
NUTR 307* (3) Human Nutrition

Human Health:

12 credits chosen from Human Health, maximum of 3 credits from any one category:

Immunology and Pathogenicity

MICR 341 (3) Mechanisms of Pathogenicity
MIMM 314 (3) Immunology
PARA 438 (3) Immunology
PATH 300 (3) Human Disease

Infectious Disease

ANSC 400 (3) Eukaryotic Cells and Viruses
MIMM 324 (3) Fundamental Virology
MIMM 413 (3) Parasitology
WILD 424 (3) Parasitology

Nutrition

NUTR 403 (3) Nutrition in Society
NUTR 512 (3) Herbs, Foods and Phytochemicals

Drugs and Hormones

ANSC 424 (3) Metabolic Endocrinology
PHAR 300 (3) Drug Action

Physiology

ANSC 323 (3) Mammalian Physiology
PHGY 209 (3) Mammalian Physiology 1

Natural Environment:

6 credits chosen from the Natural Environment, maximum of 3 credits from any one category:

Hydrology and Climate

AGRI 452 (3) Water Resources in Barbados
BREE 217 (3) Hydrology and Water Resources
GEOG 321 (3) Climatic Environments
GEOG 322 (3) Environmental Hydrology
NRSC 510 (3) Agricultural Micrometeorology

Techniques and Management

BREE 322 (3) Organic Waste Management
CHEE 230 (3) Environmental Aspects of Technology
GEOG 302 (3) Environmental Management 1
NRSC 437 (3) Assessing Environmental Impact
URBP 507 (3) Planning and Infrastructure

Pest Management

* Note: you may take BIOL 350 or ENTO 350 but not both.

BIOL 350* (3) Insect Biology and Control
ENTO 350* (3) Insect Biology and Control
ENTO 352 (3) Control of Insect Pests

Pollution Control and Management

BREE 518 (3) Bio-Treatment of Wastes
NRSC 333 (3) Pollution and Bioremediation

Ecology

* Note: you may take ENVR 540 or BIOL 540 but not both.

BIOL 432 (3) Limnology
BIOL 465 (3) Conservation Biology
BIOL 540* (3) Ecology of Species Invasions
BIOL 553 (3) Neotropical Environments
ENVB 410 (3) Ecosystem Ecology
ENVR 540* (3) Ecology of Species Invasions
MICR 331 (3) Microbial Ecology
PLNT 304 (3) Biology of Fungi
PLNT 460 (3) Plant Ecology
WILD 410 (3) Wildlife Ecology
³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ School of Environment—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) or Bachelor of Science - Major Environment - Ecological Determinants of Health - Population (63 credits)

The Population concentration in this Domain is open only to students in the B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.) Major Environment or B.Sc. Major Environment program.

This Domain considers the interface between the environment and human well-being, with particular focus on the triad that ties human health to the environment through the elements of food and infectious agents. Each of these elements is influenced by planned and unplanned environmental disturbances. For example, agricultural practices shift the balance between beneficial and harmful ingredients of food. Use of insecticides presents dilemmas with regard to the environment, economics and human health. The distribution of infectious diseases is influenced by the climatic conditions that permit vectors to coexist with man, by deforestation, by urbanization, and by human interventions ranging from the building of dams to provision of potable water.

In designing interventions that aim to prevent or reduce infectious contaminants in the environment, or to improve food production and nutritional quality, not only is it important to understand methods of intervention, but also to understand social forces that influence how humans respond to such interventions.

Students in the Population concentration will gain a depth of understanding at an ecosystem level that looks at society, land and population health. Students in the Cellular concentration will explore these interactions in more depth, at a physiological level.

Suggested First Year (U1) Courses

For suggestion on courses to take in your first year (U1), you can consult the "MSE Student Handbook 2010-11" available on the MSE website (/mse), or contact Ms. Kathy Roulet, the Program Advisor (kathy.roulet [at] mcgill.ca).

Program Requirements

NOTE: Students are required to take a maximum of 31 credits at the 200-level and a minimum of 12 credits at the 400-level or higher in this program. This includes Core and Required courses.

Location Note: When planning your schedule and registering for courses, you should verify where each course is offered because courses for this program are taught at both ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ's downtown campus and at the Macdonald campus in Ste. Anne de Bellevue.

Core: Required Courses (18 credits)

Location Note: Core Required courses for this program are taught at both ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ's downtown campus and at the Macdonald Campus in Ste. Anne de Bellevue. You should register in Section 001 of an ENVR course that you plan to take on the downtown campus, and in Section 051 of an ENVR course that you plan to take on the Macdonald campus.

ENVR 200 (3) The Global Environment
ENVR 201 (3) Society and Environment
ENVR 202 (3) The Evolving Earth
ENVR 203 (3) Knowledge, Ethics and Environment
ENVR 301 (3) Environmental Research Design
ENVR 400 (3) Environmental Thought

Core: Complementary Course - Senior Research Project (3 credits)

Only 3 credits will be applied to the program; extra credits will count as electives.

AGRI 519 (6) Sustainable Development Plans
ENVR 401 (3) Environmental Research
ENVR 451 (6) Research in Panama

Domain: Required Course (3 credits)

PARA 410 (3) Environment and Infection

Domain: Complementary Courses (39 credits)

39 credits of Complementary Courses are selected as follows:

21 credits - Fundamentals, maximum of 3 credits from each category

6 credits - List A categories, maximum of 3 credits from any one category

12 credits - List B categories, maximum of 3 credits from any one category

Fundamentals:

21 credits of fundamentals, 3 credits from each category:

Health and Environment

GEOG 221 (3) Environment and Health
NRSC 221 (3) Environment and Health

Health and Society

GEOG 303 (3) Health Geography
SOCI 234 (3) Population and Society
SOCI 309 (3) Health and Illness

Toxicology

ANSC 312 (3) Animal Health and Disease
NUTR 420 (3) Toxicology and Health Risks
PHAR 303 (3) Principles of Toxicology

Biology

BIOL 200 (3) Molecular Biology
BIOL 201 (3) Cell Biology and Metabolism
LSCI 211 (3) Biochemistry 1

Statistics

One of the following statistics courses or equivalent:

Note: Credit given for statistics courses is subject to certain restrictions. Students in Science should consult the "Course Overlap" information in the "Course Requirements" section for the Faculty of Science.

AEMA 310 (3) Statistical Methods 1
MATH 203 (3) Principles of Statistics 1

Nutrition

*Note: NUTR 307 (Video conference Downtown and Macdonald)

ANSC 330 (3) Fundamentals of Nutrition
NUTR 207 (3) Nutrition and Health
NUTR 307* (3) Human Nutrition

Advanced Ecology

* Note: you may take ENVR 540 or BIOL 540 but not both.

AEMA 406 (3) Quantitative Methods: Ecology
BIOL 465 (3) Conservation Biology
BIOL 540* (3) Ecology of Species Invasions
BIOL 553 (3) Neotropical Environments
ENVB 410 (3) Ecosystem Ecology
ENVR 540* (3) Ecology of Species Invasions
MICR 331 (3) Microbial Ecology
PLNT 460 (3) Plant Ecology
WILD 410 (3) Wildlife Ecology

List A:

6 credits from the following List A categories, maximum of 3 credits from any one category:

Hydrology, Climate, and Agriculture

AGRI 340 (3) Principles of Ecological Agriculture
AGRI 452 (3) Water Resources in Barbados
AGRI 550 (3) Sustained Tropical Agriculture
BREE 217 (3) Hydrology and Water Resources
GEOG 321 (3) Climatic Environments
GEOG 322 (3) Environmental Hydrology
NRSC 510 (3) Agricultural Micrometeorology

Decision Making and Social Change

* Note: you may take AGEC 200 or ECON 208 but not both.

AGEC 200* (3) Principles of Microeconomics
AGEC 242 (3) Management Theories and Practices
BTEC 502 (3) Biotechnology Ethics and Society
ECON 208* (3) Microeconomic Analysis and Applications
EDER 461 (3) Society and Change
GEOG 302 (3) Environmental Management 1
GEOG 404 (3) Environmental Management 2
PHIL 343 (3) Biomedical Ethics
URBP 520 (3) Globalization: Planning and Change

Development and History

AGRI 210 (3) Agro-Ecological History
ANTH 212 (3) Anthropology of Development
HIST 292 (3) History and the Environment
SOCI 254 (3) Development and Underdevelopment

List B:

12 credits from the following list B categories, maximum of 3 credits from any one category:

Techniques and Management

CHEE 230 (3) Environmental Aspects of Technology
GEOG 201 (3) Introductory Geo-Information Science
NRSC 430 (3) GIS for Natural Resource Management
NRSC 437 (3) Assessing Environmental Impact
URBP 507 (3) Planning and Infrastructure

Immunology and Infectious Disease

ANSC 400 (3) Eukaryotic Cells and Viruses
MIMM 314 (3) Immunology
MIMM 324 (3) Fundamental Virology
MIMM 413 (3) Parasitology
PARA 438 (3) Immunology
WILD 424 (3) Parasitology

Nutrition and Agriculture

*Note: NUTR 512 (Video conference Downtown and Macdonald campus)

AGRI 411 (3) Global Issues on Development, Food and Agriculture
NUTR 403 (3) Nutrition in Society
NUTR 501 (3) Nutrition in Developing Countries
NUTR 512* (3) Herbs, Foods and Phytochemicals

Populations and Place

CANS 407 (3) Regions of Canada
GEOG 300 (3) Human Ecology in Geography
GEOG 498 (3) Humans in Tropical Environments
PSYC 533 (3) International Health Psychology

Pollution and Pest Management

BIOL 350 (3) Insect Biology and Control
BREE 322 (3) Organic Waste Management
ENTO 352 (3) Control of Insect Pests
NRSC 333 (3) Pollution and Bioremediation

Genetics

BIOL 202 (3) Basic Genetics
LSCI 204 (3) Genetics
³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ School of Environment—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)
³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ School of Environment—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)
Back to top