"After looking at universities across Western Canada, I chose UFV as my school for many reasons: small classes, hands-on lab experience, and excellent teaching. Looking back on the last three years of my undergraduate degree, I have no doubt that UFV was the right choice. As I move on to UBC medical school, I am sad to leave this place, and proud to say that I came from UFV."  --BT 2010

Welcome to the Biology department and the best small university in Canada! Here at UFV you will be able to take advantage of the most lab-intensive BSc BIO Major in B.C.!

The UFV Biology department offers Biology majors and minors programs leading to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. Our Biology major is designed to provide graduates with an excellent grounding in modern biology and the working skills of a professional biologist.

Our program prepares students for professions in biology and for graduate and professional schools. In addition, we offer pre-college biology for upgrading students, and first year non-majors courses primarily for Arts and Education students. At present, UFV is one of only three publicly-funded post-secondary institutions in the Lower Mainland to offer a BSc in Biology.

Many of our graduates report that they value the close contact with faculty, ample hands-on experience in labs and in the field and the sense of esprit de corps that is characteristic of the students and staff of the Biology department. Our department offers opportunities in all four years for student-driven biology research, either with individual faculty or as part of regular courses. There is also a BSc with work experience, through the Co-Op option.

The department is developing closer ties to local biotechnology companies; facilitating student co-op placements and summer jobs. We have been told that employers are selecting UFV Biology students because of specific courses providing appropriate experience.

Biology students at UFV are able to complete concentrations in a lab-rich environment, in areas such as cell and molecular genetics, public school teaching, pre-medicine, organismal biology and ecology.

Dr. Sharon Gillies 
Biology department head