Biology Concentrations

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Students who wish to specialize in a sub-discipline of biology or prepare for medicine as part of their Biology major may choose to complete a concentration in Pre-Medicine, Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Ecology, or Biology of Organisms.

Students may declare their intention to complete a concentration any time after first year.

The Biology major may be combined as a concentration with a minor in another discipline (e.g., Cellular and Molecular Genetics concentration with a Chemistry minor) or students may wish to complete a double concentration.

Students are strongly advised to consult the Science Advice Centre for information on course sequencing prior to starting a concentration.

Pre-medicine concentration

The pre-medicine concentration does not guarantee admission into a medical school program. It requires more course work than most medical school programs require. However, the Biology Department advises that the courses in this concentration will better prepare students for both writing the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and pursuing a career in medicine. Students interested in this concentration should consult with an Educational Advisor in the Science Advice Centre for program planning.

In addition to the courses required for a Biology major, this concentration requires completion of the following courses:

• CHEM 214
• MATH 106
• ENGL 105 and one of ENGL 120–170
• BIO 203, 325
• Two lower-level physics courses (PHYS 101 & 105, or PHYS 111 & 112)
• PSYC 101
• And any three of: BIO 350, KPE 215, 270, 370 OR PSYC 102

Pre-veterinary concentration

The pre-veterinary concentration does not guarantee admission into a veterinary school program. It requires more course work than most veterinary school programs require. The courses in this concentration will better prepare you when pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. Students interested in thie concentration should consult with an Educational Advisor in the Science Advice Centre for program planning.

In addition to the courses require for a Biology major, this concentration requires completion of the following courses;

• BIO 203
• CHEM 350
• MATH 106 or MATH 270 *
• Two lower-level physics courses (PHYS 101 & 105, or PHYS 111 & 112)
• Any two of: AGRI 237, 238, 239, 254, 256, 331
• Any two of: BIO 305, 306, 325
• And two of: BIO 280, KPE 170, 270, 370

* NOTE: The biology major accepts MATH 104 as a statistics requirement, but the pre-vet concentration requires MATH 106 or MATH 270.

Cellular and Molecular Genetics concentration

In addition to the courses required for a Biology major, this concentration requires completion of the following:

Depth requirements

4 courses (14–16 credits) from:
• BIO 325
• BIO 350
• BIO 402
• BIO 403
• BIO 405
• BIO 406
• BIO 414
• BIO 420x (appropriate topic)
• BIO 408 or 409 (appropriate topic)
• CHEM 350

Breadth requirements

One course from Ecology:
• BIO 310
• BIO 330
• BIO 340
• BIO 390
• BIO 410
• BIO 420c
• BIO 420x (appropriate topic)
• BIO 421c
• BIO 421d
• BIO 430
• GEOG 417

One course from Organisms:
• BIO 301
• BIO 303
• BIO 304
• BIO 305
• BIO 306
• BIO 307
• BIO 308
• BIO 360
• BIO 385
• BIO 420b
• BIO 420e
• BIO 420x (appropriate topic)
• BIO 470

Ecology concentration

In addition to the courses required for a Biology major, this concentration requires completion of the following:

Depth requirements

4 courses (14–16 credits) from:
• BIO 310
• BIO 330
• BIO 340
• BIO 390
• BIO 410
• BIO 420c
• BIO 420x (appropriate topic)
• BIO 421c
• BIO 421d
• BIO 430
• GEOG 417

Breadth requirements

One course from Cellular:
• BIO 325
• BIO 350
• BIO 402
• BIO 403
• BIO 405
• BIO 406
• BIO 414
• BIO 420x (appropriate topic)
• BIO 408 or 409 (appropriate topic)

Biology of Organisms concentration

In addition to the courses required for a Biology major, this concentration requires completion of the following:

Depth requirements

4 courses (14–16 credits) from:
• BIO 301
• BIO 303
• BIO 304
• BIO 305
• BIO 306
• BIO 307
• BIO 308
• BIO 360
• BIO 385
• BIO 420b
• BIO 420e
• BIO 420x (appropriate topic)
• BIO 470
• BIO 408 or 409 (appropriate topic)

Breadth requirements

One course from Ecology:
• BIO 310
• BIO 330
• BIO 340
• BIO 390
• BIO 410
• BIO 420c
• BIO 420x (appropriate topic)
• BIO 421c
• BIO 421d
• BIO 430
• BIO 408 or 409 (appropriate topic)
• GEOG 417

One course from Cellular:
• BIO 325
• BIO 350
• BIO 402
• BIO 403
• BIO 405
• BIO 406
• BIO 414
• BIO 420x (appropriate topic)
• BIO 408 or 409 (appropriate topic)

BSc, Biology honours program

Lower-Level Program

Remains the same except students will not be able to take PSYC 110 to fulfill their statistics requirement.
Note students must receive a minimum grade of B in MATH 104 or C+ in MATH 106 to fulfill the prerequisite requirements for MATH 302.
The Biology department strongly recommends MATH 270.

Upper-Level Requirements
40 Credits in Biology plus;
Biology 499 - Honours Research Project (9 credits)
Biology 497 - Biology Seminar Course (1 credit)

Plus addition requirement
Math 302

Plus General BSc requirements
Any 14 upper-level elective credits.
Additional electives at any level to 132 credits.

Application Procedures

Once a student has completed 75 credits of coursework, including all lower level biology and mathematics requirements and CHEM 213, with a minimum 3.33 GPA, they are eligible to apply for entry into the Biology Honours program. Students will be required to identify a faculty advisor who is willing to supervise the research project. Students can also be admitted if they identify a research supervisor from outside the department who would need to be approved by the departmental Honours Advisory Committee. In this latter case, a faculty advisor would be assigned to monitor the progress of the student in the program. The purpose to the application process is to ensure students have the background preparation to enable successful completion of the program in a timely manner and that a research supervisor is available.

Students may apply for entry into the program at any time after completing the minimum requirements but before they are awarded a BSc degree in Biology. However, interested students are encouraged to seek out information and advice on the Honours program from Biology faculty or a Science Advisor as early as possible in their coursework, and to apply to the Honours program at the earliest possible entry date.

In order to submit an application, students will need to provide the following:

• A Biology Honours program application form (available from the Department Assistant).
• A completed checklist (available from the Department Assistant) demonstrating successful completion of required coursework for application.
• A copy of their transcripts (these do not need to be official transcripts).
• A letter from a faculty member or external research supervisor agreeing to supervise the research project.

Students should submit their application materials to the Department Assistant. The department Honours Advisory Committee (HAC) will then approve the project supervisor. In the case of students whose research project is to be supervised by an external researcher, the HAC will assign a faculty Honours supervisor. Students are encouraged to approach a departmental faculty member appropriate to their research interests by the end of the second year of their Biology program.

Review and Graduation Procedures

Prior to enrolling in BIOL 499 (Honours Research Project), each Honours candidate will need to meet with their honours supervisor to assess their progress in the honours program. At this time, the candidate should submit an updated transcript to their supervisor for review.

Successful completion of a research project is required prior to graduation. This project, which will be developed in consultation with a faculty (or research and Honours) supervisor, will demonstrate a student’s skill and knowledge in the area of biological research being pursued.

Each Honours applicant will then be required to present the findings of their research at a professional or university conference, or at some other venue approved by the HAC.

Following project completion and presentation, the Honours supervisor will recommend a letter grade. The HAC will choose whether or not to accept this grade based on further review of the student’s work in Biology 499.

GPA Requirements

The student’s final GPA must be at least 3.33, and a grade of B+ or better must be achieved BIOL 499, in order for an Honours designation to be awarded.