Biology
www.ufv.ca/biology

Biology major concentrations

Students who wish to specialize in a sub-discipline of biology or prepare for professional studies as part of their Biology major may choose to complete a concentration in Pre-Medicine, Pre-Veterinary, 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 (e.g., Pre-Medicine with Cellular and Molecular Genetics).

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.

The pre-medicine concentration requires completion of the following courses as part of a Biology major or Biology honours program:

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

Note: MATH 270 is strongly recommended for students considering Biology Honours.

Pre-Veterinary concentration

The pre-veterinary concentration does not guarantee admission into a veterinary school program. The Biology department advises that the courses in this concentration will better prepare students pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. Students interested in this concentration should consult with an educational advisor in the Science Advice Centre for progam planning.

This concentration requires completion of the following courses as part of a Biology major or Biology honours program:

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

Note: The Biology major accepts MATH 104 as a statistics requirement, but the pre-veterinary concentration requires MATH 106 or MATH 270. MATH 270 is strongly recommended for students considering Biology Honours.

Cellular and Molecular Genetics concentration

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

Depth requirements

4 courses (14–16 credits) from:
• BIO 308
• BIO 325
• BIO 350
• BIO 402
• BIO 403
• BIO 406
• BIO 407
• BIO 414
• BIO 415
• 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 421e
• BIO 430
• GEOG 417

One course from Organisms:
• BIO 301
• BIO 303
• BIO 304
• BIO 305
• BIO 306
• BIO 307
• 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 or Biology Honours, 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 421e
• BIO 430
• GEOG 417

Breadth requirements

One course from Cellular:
• BIO 308
• BIO 325
• BIO 350
• BIO 402
• BIO 403
• BIO 406
• BIO 407
• BIO 414
• BIO 420x (appropriate topic)
• BIO 408 or 409 (appropriate topic)

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

MATH 302 is also strongly recommended.

Biology of Organisms concentration

In addition to the courses required for a Biology major or Biology Honours, 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 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 421e
• BIO 430
• BIO 408 or 409 (appropriate topic)
• GEOG 417

One course from Cellular:
• BIO 308
• BIO 325
• BIO 350
• BIO 402
• BIO 403
• BIO 405
• BIO 406
• BIO 407
• BIO 414
• BIO 415
• BIO 420x (appropriate topic)
• BIO 408 or 409 (appropriate topic)

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.