Which Hogwarts subject does Minerva McGonagall teach in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books?

Minerva McGonagall teaches Transfiguration in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books.

McGonagall is the Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts and is also the head of Gryffindor House for much of the series. Transfiguration is the branch of magic concerned with changing the form or appearance of objects and living things. Her lessons introduce students to demanding transformations and emphasize precision and control.

McGonagall is a strict but fair teacher who consistently protects her students. She later becomes Deputy Headmistress and, after Albus Dumbledore’s death, serves as Headmistress of Hogwarts. She is also an Animagus who can transform into a tabby cat.

The subject is often confused with Charms, taught by Filius Flitwick, or Potions, taught by teachers including Severus Snape and Horace Slughorn. Those are separate Hogwarts disciplines, while McGonagall’s signature subject is Transfiguration.