This program will allow students to further their Biology degree through additional course requirements with greater course expectations and a higher degree of research in the form of a project. The in-depth research project will prepare students for admission to graduate schools and/or professional work.
Students may apply for entry into the program after completing the first and second year Biology major program 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 an Advisor as early as possible in their studies, and to apply to the honours program at the earliest possible entry date.
Entrance requirements
60 credits including all lower-level Biology major program requirements, with a minimum GPA of 3.33.
How to apply
Once students have the entrance requirements, 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 department. In this case, a faculty advisor would be assigned to monitor the progress of students in the program.
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. Students must complete the Biology Honours
Application form, available from the department assistant.
Program outline
This section specifies the Biology Honours discipline requirements only. Please refer to the Bachelor of Science section for information on additional requirements. A minimum of 120 credits are required to graduate with a Bachelor of Science.
Lower-level requirements
Course
Title
Credits
BIO 111
Introductory Biology I
5
BIO 112
Introductory Biology II
5
BIO 201
Cell Biochemistry/Metabolism
4
BIO 202
Cell Signaling/Gene Regulation
4
BIO 210
Introductory Ecology
4
BIO 220
Genetics
4
CHEM 113
Principles of Chemistry I
5
CHEM 114
Principles of Chemistry II
5
CHEM 213
Organic Chemistry I
4
Plus:
One additional CHEM course numbered 200 or higher
3–4
MATH 111
Calculus I
4
MATH 112
Calculus II
4
or MATH 118
Calculus II for Life Sciences
PHYS 105
Heat, Waves, and Optics
5–10
or the combination of:
PHYS 111
Mechanics
and PHYS 112
Electricity and Magnetism
STAT 106
Statistics I
4
or MATH 270/
STAT 270
Introduction to Probability and Statistics
One of:
3
STAT 271
Introduction to Data Analysis and Statistical Modeling
STAT 272
Statistical Graphics and Languages
STAT 307
Data Visualization
STAT 315
Applied Regression Analysis
STAT 330
Design of Experiments
STAT 350
Survey Design and Sampling
Upper-level requirements
Course
Title
Credits
Two of:
6
BIO 310
Conservation Biology
BIO 312
Developmental Biology
BIO 320/ BIOC 320
Biochemistry
BIO 416
Evolution
Plus:
BIO 499
Honours Research Thesis
9
Plus:
24 credits of BIO courses numbered 300 and above (see Note)
24
Plus:
Five credits of upper-level university courses in any discipline, three credits of which must be non-BIO
5
Note: Included in these 24 upper-level BIO credits must be at least eight credits chosen from four-credit BIO courses with labs. Directed studies courses may not be used toward this requirement. A maximum of eight field school credits of BIO 442 may be used as part of this requirement.
Upper-level courses at other institutions may be counted as upper-level Biology transfer credit. See Courses at other institutions for details.
Research project
Successful completion of a research project (BIO 499) is required prior to graduation. This project is developed in consultation with a faculty supervisor and demonstrates students' skill and knowledge in the area of biological research being pursued.
Graduation requirements
A minimum final CGPA of 3.33, and a grade of B+ or better in BIO 499, must be attained in order for an honours designation to be awarded.
