Biology

Students interested in Biology programs are requested to seek counselling from an undergraduate academic advisor.

BSc Biology Major

Bachelor of Science students pursuing a Major in Biology must complete the following required and elective courses. A recommended sequence is outlined below:

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. A minimum of 18 ch of approved electives*.
  3. A total of at least 137 ch is required for graduation.

*the electives must bring the total credit hours counting towards the program to 137; a minimum of 12 ch of the electives must be from non-Biology subjects.

BSc Biology Honours

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.

Zoology Specialization

Students in the Biology Major or Honours programs can specialize in Zoology. Information on the specific courses required for this specialization is available from the Department of Biological Sciences. 

Biology 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.