History and Philosophy of Science

History and Philosophy of Science is currently a minor program at McGill: for details please visit the Undergraduate Program page.

It is designed for both Arts students who wish to explore the world of scientific thought and practice, and for Science students who want to deepen their knowledge of the historical and conceptual evolution of science.

As a venerable scientific institution in its own right, McGill posesses a wealth of historical archives, artifacts, and library collections in the History and Philosophy of Science. In addition, the prestigious Mossmann lecture series bring eminent scholars in this area to McGill every year.

Contact Information
You may contact Monica Hotter, Interdisciplinary Studies Adviser for program information and advising at:

Interdisciplinary Studies Office


Click for contact information.
Advising Schedule


Click for current advising schedules.
Important dates for students
You may review upcoming important dates by category using the menu on the left, or visit this page for a complete list.

Please click here for a backwards look at important dates and deadlines as published in the 2006/2007 Undergraduate Programs Calendar.

Click here to see Senate Committee on Student Affairs McGill University Guidelines regarding the setting of the University Calendar of Dates.

2008-2009 Important Announcements
Changes to the normal class schedule
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - The normal Tuesday schedule of course activities is cancelled for April 14, 2009. In its place, all lectures, labs, conferences and other course-related activities that are normally held on Fridays will be held on Tuesday April 14, 2009 as well. This change in schedule is to make up for activities that are cancelled on Friday April 10, 2009 due to the Easter holiday. Some course activities such as stages or field placements may not be affected by this schedule change; please verify with the instructor/coordinator of the course.

Important dates for students
Wednesday, December 31 - Deadline for cancellation of registration for the Winter term except Continuing Education. (Deposit is non-refundable for new students.)

Monday, January 5 – Deadline for new students to register without a late registration fee for all faculties.


Monday, January 5 - Winter term lectures begin.


Tuesday, January 6 until Tuesday, January 20 - Late registration for new students with $100 late registration fee for all faculties; $40 for Special students and Graduate part-time students.


Thursday, January 15 - Application deadline for deferred examinations for courses from the Fall 2008 term in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Arts (including School of Social Work), Continuing Education, Education, Engineering, Law, Management, Nursing, Physical and Occupational Therapy and Science.


Tuesday, January 20 – Final course add/drop deadline for Winter term courses and N1/N2 courses in Graduate Studies. After this date students receive a mark of “W” (withdrawn).


Tuesday, January 20 - Course change (add/drop) period for Winter term courses and Continuing Education Winter term courses for Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Arts, Education, Engineering including Architecture, Law, Management, Music (except practical lessons), Nursing, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Religious Studies, Science and Social Work. (No withdrawals from Music Ensembles after this date.)


Tuesday, January 20 - Last day to select the S/U grade mode on winter term electives. Select the S/U option through Minerva or your faculty Student Affairs Office. Rules on the S/U option can be found at www.mcgill.ca/student-records/register/s-u-option.


Tuesday, January 20 - Deadline for web withdrawing (grade of "W") from multi-term courses that started in September 2008 (with fee refund for Winter term) for students in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Arts, Continuing Education, Education, Engineering including Architecture, Graduate Studies, Law, Management, Music, Nursing, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Religious Studies, Social Work, and Science (no withdrawals from Education Intensive courses).


Sunday, January 25 - Deadline to web withdraw (grade of "W") or University Withdrawal (grade of “W--“) from Winter term 2009 courses with full fee refund. Returning students - less $100 minimum charge in the case of complete withdrawal for students not registered in the fall. New students - less deposit or $100 minimum charge in case of complete withdrawal. (No withdrawals from Ed. intensive courses, or music ensembles and practical lessons.)


Monday, January 26 until Friday, January 30 - Verification period via Minerva for all students in all faculties. It is especially critical that graduating students verify their records. Faculty of Law students pick up examination numbers during Verification from their Faculty Student Affairs Office.


Sunday, February 15 - Deadline for web withdrawing (grade of “W”) with no refund from Winter 2009 and Winter term 2009 Continuing Education courses for Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Arts, Education, Engineering including Architecture, Graduate Studies, Law, Management, Music, Nursing, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Religious Studies, Social Work, and Science (no withdrawals from ensembles or practical lessons in Music).


Sunday, February 22 until Saturday, February 28 - STUDY BREAK (Classes cancelled for all faculties except Dentistry, Medicine, Continuing Education non-credit courses and English & French credit courses, Stage in Dietetics Level 3). Student Teaching is not interrupted for Education students.


Sunday, March 1 - Application deadline for supplemental examinations in Fall term courses and N1/N2 courses from the Fall 2008 term for Arts, Education, Law, Nursing, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Religious Studies, Social Work, and Science (not available for Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Engineering (see section 8.3.5.11 “Deferred Examinations”) or Management courses).


Wednesday, March 4 - Deadline to apply to graduate on Minerva for all Undergraduate students and Graduate students in all non-thesis programs (certificates, diplomas, master's non-thesis) who expect to complete their program requirements at the end of the Winter 2009 term (Spring 2009 convocation). Last day for those students able to change program information via curriculum change on Minerva for Winter term.


Thursday, March 5 - Summer Term registration opens for Undergraduate students in their U3/U4 year and Continuing Education returning students. Access to Management courses is restricted to McGill U3 and U4 students in B.Com.; Minors in Management, Technical Entrepreneurship, Construction Engineering and Management; B.A. Joint Honours Economics and Finance, B.A. Faculty Program or Major in Industrial Relations; B.A. Major Concentration in Contemporary German Studies; Major in Agricultural Economics and B.Ed. in Kinesiology. Certain courses are restricted to B.Com. students only.


Thursday, March 5 - Summer Term registration opens for Law Undergraduate students.


Tuesday, March 10 - Summer Term registration opens for all Undergraduate students and Continuing Education newly-admitted and Special Students. Access to Management courses is restricted to McGill students in B.Com.; Minors in Management, Technical Entrepreneurship, Construction Engineering and Management; B.A. Joint Honours Economics and Finance, B.A. Faculty Program or Major in Industrial Relations; B.A. Major Concentration in Contemporary German Studies; Major in Agricultural Economics and B.Ed. in Kinesiology. Certain courses are restricted to B.Com. students only.


Thursday, March 12 - Summer Undergraduate Management courses open to all McGill students and Special and Visiting Students.


Tuesday, March 17 - Summer registration opens for Graduate students. Students should confirm dates with individual departments.

Monday, March 30 - Deadline for all Undergraduate students and Graduate students in all non-thesis programs (certificates, diplomas, master's non-thesis) who expect to complete their program requirements at the end of the Summer 2009 term (Fall 2009 convocation) to apply to graduate on Minerva.

Tuesday, March 31 - Registration for Fall 2009 and Winter 2010 using Minerva begins for all students entering the graduating (U3/U4) year of their program (excluding Law and courses offered by the Desautels Faculty of Management, except as noted below), and all students in Graduate degree programs, except for Continuing Education.

Tuesday, March 31 - Registration for Fall 2009 and Winter 2010 in Management courses begins for undergraduate students entering their graduating (U3) year: B.Com.; Minor in Management, Technological Entrepreneurship, Minor in Finance, Minor in Marketing, Minor in Operations Management, Construction Engineering and Management; B.A. Joint Honours Economics and Accounting; B.A. Joint Honours Economics and Finance; B.A. Faculty Program or Major in Industrial Relations; B.A. Major Concentration in Contemporary German Studies; and Major in Agricultural Economics.

Tuesday, March 31 - Deferred examination application opens on Minerva for Winter term and multi-term courses ending in the Winter 2009 term in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Arts (including School of Social Work), Continuing Education, Education, Engineering (see section 8.3.5.11 “Deferred Examinations”), Law, Management, Physical and Occupational Therapy, and Science. (Closes May 15, 2009)

Thursday, April 2 - Registration for Fall 2009 and Winter 2010 using Minerva begins for students in all programs entering their penultimate (U2) year of study (excluding Law and courses offered by the Desautels Faculty of Management except as noted below), except for Continuing Education.

Thursday, April 2 - Registration for Fall 2009 and Winter 2010 in Management courses begins for undergraduate students entering their penultimate (U2) year of study: B.Com.; Minor in Management, Technological Entrepreneurship, Minor in Finance, Minor in Marketing, Minor in Operations Management, Construction Engineering and Management; B.A. Joint Honours Economics and Accounting; B.A. Joint Honours Economics and Finance; B.A. Faculty Program or Major in Industrial Relations; B.A. Major Concentration in Contemporary German Studies; and Major in Agricultural Economics.

Tuesday, April 7 - Registration for Fall 2009 and Winter 2010 using Minerva begins for all returning students (excluding Law and courses offered by the Desautels Faculty of Management except as noted below), except for Continuing Education.

Tuesday, April 7 - Registration for Fall 2009 and Winter 2010 in Management courses begins for returning undergraduate students entering the first (U1) year of study: B.Com.; Minors in Management, Technological Entrepreneurship, Minor in Finance, Minor in Marketing, Minor in Operations Management, Construction Engineering and Management; B.A. Faculty Program or Major in Industrial Relations; B.A. Joint Honours Economics and Accounting; B.A. Joint Honours Economics and Finance; B.A. Major Concentration in Contemporary German Studies; and Major in Agricultural Economics.

Thursday, April 9 - Registration for Fall 2009 and Winter 2010 in courses offered by the Desautels Faculty of Management opens for all returning students.

Tuesday, April 14 - Last day of lectures for Winter term in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Arts, Continuing Education, Education, Engineering including Architecture, Graduate Studies, Law, Management, Music, Nursing, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Religious Studies, Social Work (B.S.W./M.S.W.), and Science.

Wednesday, April 15 until Thursday, April 30 - Examination period for Winter term and multi-term courses given by Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Arts, Continuing Education, Education, Engineering including Architecture, Graduate Studies, Law, Management, Music, Nursing, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Religious Studies, Science, and Social Work. Exams begin earlier for Dentistry students. Contact Faculty for specific dates.