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Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPSC)

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Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPSC)

Location

Location

  • Frank Dawson Adams Building, Room 238
  • 3450 University Street
  • Montreal QC H3A 0E8
  • Telephone: 514-398-6767
  • Fax: 514-398-4680
  • Email: kristy.thornton [at] mcgill.ca
  • Website: www.mcgill.ca/eps

About Earth and Planetary Sciences

About Earth and Planetary Sciences

The domain of Earth and Planetary Sciences includes the solid Earth and its hydrosphere, and extends to the neighbouring terrestrial planets. It is a multidisciplinary field in which the principles of chemistry, physics, and mathematics are applied to the rich problems of the real world in order to understand how planets like the Earth work in the past, the present, and the future.

Career opportunities are many and varied for graduates in the Earth and Planetary Sciences. Our students are often recruited into the petroleum and mining industries, and in the environmental sector. During the summer months, undergraduate students are generally able to obtain employment from industry or government agencies, providing them with both financial benefits and first-hand geoscientific experience. Career opportunities in planetary science are also present in universities and research organizations.

The Department has a full-time staff of 15 professors and one faculty lecturer. There are approximately 50 graduate and 50 undergraduate students. Classes are therefore small at all levels, resulting in an informal and friendly atmosphere throughout the Department in which most of the faculty and students interact on a first-name basis. Emphasis is placed equally on quality teaching and research, providing undergraduate students with a rich and exciting environment in which to explore and learn.

The undergraduate curriculum is designed to provide both a rigorous foundation in the physical sciences and the flexibility to create an individualized program in preparation for careers in industry, teaching, or research. In addition to the Major and Honours undergraduate programs, the Department is part of the Earth System Science Interdepartmental program, and also offers a Joint Major in Physics and Geophysics, which provides a rigorous mathematics and physics preparation and a geological background in the geosciences.

The Minor in Geology offers students from other departments the opportunity to obtain exposure to the Earth Sciences, while the Minor in Geochemistry is oriented towards Chemistry Major students who want to see the application of chemistry to problems in Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Students interested in any of the programs should inquire at Room 238, Frank Dawson Adams Building, 514-398-6767, or should consult the Undergraduate Director:

  • Professor Jeanne Paquette
  • Frank Dawson Adams Building, Room 214
  • Email: jeanne.paquette [at] mcgill.ca
  • Telephone: 514-398-4402
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2014-2015 (last updated Aug. 13, 2014) (disclaimer)

Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPSC) Faculty

Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPSC) Faculty

Chair
Alfonso Mucci
Emeritus Professors
Jafar Arkani-Hamed; B.Eng.(Tehran), Ph.D.(MIT)
Wallace H. MacLean; B.Geol.Eng.(Colorado Sch. of Mines), M.Sc.(A.), Ph.D.(McG.)
Robert F. Martin; B.Sc.(Ott.), M.S.(Penn. St.), Ph.D.(Stan.)
Colin W. Stearn; B.Sc.(McM.), M.S., Ph.D.(Yale), F.R.S.C.
Professors
Don R. Baker; A.B.(Chic.), Ph.D.(Penn. St.)
Olivia G. Jensen; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Br. Col.)
Alfonso Mucci; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(Miami)
John Stix; A.B.(Dart.), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Tor.)
A.E. (Willy) Williams-Jones; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Natal), Ph.D.(Qu.)
Associate Professors
Galen Halverson; B.A.(Mont.), M.A., Ph.D.(Harv.) (T.H. Clark Chair in Sedimentary and Petroleum Geology)
Jeffrey McKenzie; B.Sc.(McG.), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Syrac.)
Jeanne Paquette; B.Sc., M.Sc.(McG.), Ph.D.(Stony Brook) (Undergraduate Director)
Boswell Wing; A.B.(Harv.), M.A., Ph.D.(Johns Hop.)
Assistant Professors
Kim Berlo; Propedeuse, Doctorandus(Utrecht), Ph.D.(Brist.)
Eric Galbraith; B.Sc.(McG.), Ph.D.(Br. Col.)
Rebecca Harrington; B.Sc., M.S., Ph.D.( Calif.-LA)
Yajing Liu; B.Sc.(Peking), Ph.D.(Harv.)
Christie Rowe; A.B.(Smith), Ph.D.(Calif.-Santa Cruz) (Robert Wares Faculty Scholar)
Vincent van Hinsberg; Propedeuse, Doctorandus(Utrecht), Ph.D.(Brist.) (Osisko Faculty Scholar)
Faculty Lecturer
W. Minarik; B.A.(St. Olaf), M.Sc.(Wash.), Ph.D.(Rensselaer Poly.)
Adjunct Professors
H. Short
B. Sundby
W. Trzcienski
Retired Professors
D. Francis
R. Hesse
A. Hynes
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2014-2015 (last updated Mar. 4, 2014) (disclaimer)

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Minor Geology (18 credits)

The Minor Geology offers students from other departments the opportunity to obtain exposure to the Earth Sciences.

For more information, see Minor Geology (18 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Minor Geochemistry (18 credits)

For more information, see Minor Geochemistry (18 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Liberal Program - Core Science Component Earth and Planetary Sciences (45 credits)

The B.Sc. (Liberal) program in Earth and Planetary Sciences provides the graduate with a solid core of knowledge of Geology, Geophysics, Earth Systems Science, and Planetary Science while allowing for a broadening of the student's educational experience with courses from the other sciences or the arts. The program is flexible, allowing students to assemble a truly...

For more information, see Liberal Program - Core Science Component Earth and Planetary Sciences (45 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Major Earth and Planetary Sciences (66 credits)

The program curriculum is designed to provide a rigorous foundation in physical sciences and the flexibility to create an individualized program in preparation for careers in industry, teaching, and research. The program is accepted for professional qualification in most Canadian provinces.

For more information, see Major Earth and Planetary Sciences (66 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Earth Sciences (75 credits)

The program curriculum is designed to provide a rigorous foundation in physical sciences and the flexibility to create an individualized program in preparation for careers in industry, teaching, and research. It is intended to provide an excellent preparation for graduate work in the earth sciences. The program is accepted for professional qualification in most...

For more information, see Honours Earth Sciences (75 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Planetary Sciences (81 credits)

The program curriculum is designed to provide a rigorous foundation in physical sciences and the flexibility to create an individualized program in preparation for careers in industry, teaching, and research. It is intended to provide an excellent preparation for graduate work in the earth and planetary sciences. ...

For more information, see Honours Planetary Sciences (81 credits).

Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPSC) Related Programs

Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPSC) Related Programs

Joint Major in Physics and Geophysics

Joint Major in Physics and Geophysics

For more information, see Physics (PHYS).

Earth System Science Interdepartmental Major

Earth System Science Interdepartmental Major

This program is offered by the Departments of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Earth and Planetary Sciences; and Geography. Students in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences who are interested in this program should contact: Professor William Minarik (william.minarik [at] mcgill.ca).

For more information, see Earth System Science (ESYS).

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2014-2015 (last updated Mar. 4, 2014) (disclaimer)
Faculty of Science—2014-2015 (last updated Aug. 13, 2014) (disclaimer)
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