Biology, Environmental Biology, and Marine Biology Options

Honours and Majors Programs

Students planning on specializing in Biology, Environmental Biology or Marine Biology are requested to seek counselling from the SASE Undergraduate Advisor.

Students intending to apply to the honours program are advised to consult with their intended faculty member supervisor at the beginning of their third year. An Honours student must complete the requirements for their Major and complete BIOL 4090 (Honours Project) as one of their required upper level Biology Courses.

An Honours student must achieve a minimum final CGPA of 3.7 to obtain First Class Honours standing upon graduation. A student completing all course requirements for the Honours program but having a CGPA below 3.0 will be given a Majors degree upon graduation.

Minor Program:

The Minor in Biology is designed for students who are not Majoring in a Biology field (e.g. Environmental Biology, General Biology, Marine Biology, Biology-Psychology), but are interested in a coherent package of Biology courses. The Minor follows section V in the “University Wide Academic Regulations” of the Undergraduate Academic Calendar and consists of departmentally approved BIOL courses totaling a minimum of 24 credit hours with a grade of C or better in each. Students requiring BIOL courses for their Major are not eligible to also count these courses towards a Biology Minor.  See Additional Notes below.

The Biology Minor program must consist of:

  1. A minimum of 24 credit hours of biology.
  2. BIOL 1105, BIOL 1205, and BIOL 1017 (unless required for their major)
  3. At least one 2000 level BIOL course (e.g. BIOL 2015, 2065, 2125, 2245, 2485, 2585, or 2615).  Cross-listed courses may be included (e.g. CHEM 2065).
  4. A minimum of 8 credit hours of 3000-4000 level biology including at least 1 credit hour of lab credit.

 Additional Notes:

- If BIOL 1105 and BIOL 1205 are required for the students’ major, other lower level course options include: BIOL 1202, 1302, 1411, 1412, 1441, 1442, 2135, 2345.

- Only approved courses from the Department of Biological Sciences can count towards the Biology Minor.

- All courses for the minor must be passed with a "C" or better.

Biology, Environmental Biology, and Marine Biology Majors can specialize in Zoology. Information on the specific courses required for this specialization is available from the Department of Biology.

Biology Option

The following courses are required for all Biology, Majors and Honours students:
First Year

  1. BIOL 1105, BIOL 1205, BIOL 1017.
  2. CHEM 1041, CHEM 1046, CHEM 1072, CHEM 1077.
  3. MATH 1001.
  4. STAT 1793.
  5. GEOL 1044 and 5 ch of Physics.
  6. And a minimum of 6 ch in approved electives, for a total of 40 ch. 

Second Year

  1. BIOL 2585, BIOL 2615, Plus three of BIOL 2015, BIOL 2065 BIOL 2125, BIOL 2245, BIOL 2485.
  2. CHEM 2421.
  3. STAT 2793 .
  4. A minimum of 9 ch in approved electives.

It is expected that students will take a minimum of 36 ch during their second year.

Third and Fourth Years

  1. BIOL 3022 and 39 ch of advanced Biology courses. This can include BIOL 4090 and the two remaining second year elective Biology courses (BIOL 2015, BIOL 2065, BIOL 2125, BIOL 2245, or BIOL 2485).
  2. 18 ch of approved electives with at least a minimum 12 ch being from non-Biology electives.
  3. A total of at least 137 ch is required for graduation.

Environmental Biology Option [Note: Admission to Environmental Biology is suspended]

All properly qualified students entering the first year of the BSc Environmental Major program will normally complete the following courses:

First Year

  1. BIOL 1105, BIOL 1205, BIOL 1017, BIOL 1302.
  2. CHEM 1041,CHEM 1046, CHEM 1072, CHEM 1077.
  3. GEOL 1044.
  4. ECON 1013, ECON 1023.
  5. MATH 1001
  6. 5 ch of Physics
    For a total of 40 ch.

Second Year

  1. BIOL 2585, BIOL 2615, Plus three of BIOL 2015, BIOL 2065, BIOL 2125, BIOL 2245, BIOL 2485.
  2. CHEM 2421 and (BIOL 3245/CHEM 3245 or CHEM 2422). 
  3. STAT 1793.
  4. ECON 3755.

Third and Fourth Years

  1. 6 ch SOCI.
  2. STAT 2793. 
  3. BIOL 3022 and 30 ch from advanced Biology courses. This may include BIOL 4090 and the two remaining second year elective Biology courses (BIOL 2015, BIOL 2065, BIOL 2125, BIOL 2245, or BIOL 2485). 16 ch must be from courses designated as having environmental content. Must also have at least 3ch each advanced of zoology, ecology and botany courses. 
  4. 3 ch electives non-Biology science courses, 6 ch electives Arts or Business, 9 ch approved electives. 
  5. A total of at least 136 ch is required for graduation. 

Marine Biology Option

All properly qualified students entering the first year of the BSc Marine Biology program will normally complete the following courses:

First Year

  1. BIOL 1105, BIOL 1205, BIOL 1017, BIOL 1202.
  2. CHEM 1041, CHEM 1046, CHEM 1072, CHEM 1077.
  3. MATH 1001, STAT 1793.
  4. GEOL 1044.
  5. 5 ch of Physics
  6. A minimum of 3 ch in approved electives, for a total of 40 ch.

Second Year

  1. BIOL 2585, BIOL 2615, plus three of BIOL 2015, BIOL 2065, BIOL 2125, BIOL 2245, BIOL 2485.
  2. CHEM 2421
  3. STAT 2793.

It is expected that students will take a minimum of 36 ch during their second year.

Third and Fourth Years

  1. BIOL 3022 and 43 ch from advanced Biology courses. This can include BIOL 4090 and the two remaining second year elective Biology courses (BIOL 2015, BIOL 2065, BIOL 2125, BIOL 2245, or BIOL 2485). 30 ch must be from courses designated as having a marine content including BIOL 3165, BIOL 3755, BIOL 3875, BIOL 3955, BIOL 4645, BIOL 3776.
  2. 16 ch of approved electives with at least a minimum 12 ch being from non-Biology electives.
  3. A total of at least 139 ch is required for graduation.

Note Concerning Transfer to the Fredericton Campus
Students are strongly advised to seek academic advising from a member of the Biology Department on the Fredericton Campus prior to commencing the transfer process.