Biology
ufv.ca/biologyStudents 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, Ecology and Biology of Organisms, or Cellular, Molecular, and Genetics.
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, Molecular, and Genetics concentration with a Chemistry minor) or students may wish to complete a double concentration (e.g., Pre-Medicine/Pre-Veterinary with Cellular, Molecular, and Genetics).
Students are strongly advised to consult an Advisor for information on course sequencing prior to starting a concentration.
Note: A special topics course or any other appropriate course can be designated for credit under a particular concentration.
The Pre-Medicine/Pre-Veterinary concentration does not guarantee admission into a medical or veterinary school program. The concentration requires more course work than is usually required for Canadian medical or veterinary programs. 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 or veterinary medicine. Students interested in this concentration should consult with an Advisor for program planning.
The Pre-Medicine/Pre-Veterinary concentration requires completion of the following courses as part of a Biology major or Biology Honours program:
Course | Title | Credits |
CHEM 214 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
BIO 309 | Microbiology I | 4 |
BIO 320/ BIOC 320 | Biochemistry | 3 |
Plus: | Any two ENGL courses numbered 105 or above | 6 |
Four of: | 12–18 | |
BIO 305 | Anatomy and Physiology of Vertebrates I | |
BIO 306 | Anatomy and Physiology of Vertebrates II | |
BIO 312 | Developmental Biology | |
BIO 350 | Medical Genetics | |
BIO 383 | Human Physiology | |
BIO 385 | Neurobiology | |
BIO 415 | Cancer Biology | |
BIO 425 | Introductory Medical Microbiology | |
BIO 448 | Immunology | |
KIN 215 | Introduction to Biomechanics | |
KIN 270 | Human Physiology I | |
KIN 272 | Human Physiology II | |
KIN 370 | Human Physiology II | |
BIO | BIO special topics course or directed studies course designed for credit under the Pre-Medicine/Pre-Veterinary concentration (contact the department for more information) |
In addition to the courses required for a Biology major or Biology Honours, this concentration requires completion of the following:
Course | Title | Credits |
BIO 320/ BIOC 320 | Biochemistry | 3 |
BIO 401 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
Four of: | 12–18 | |
BIO 309 | Microbiology I | |
BIO 312 | Developmental Biology | |
BIO 350 | Medical Genetics | |
BIO 403/ BIOC 403 | Molecular Techniques I | |
BIO 406 | Advanced Genetics | |
BIO 407 | Applied Biotechnology | |
BIO 414/ BIOC 414 | Genomics | |
BIO 415 | Cancer Biology | |
BIO 425 | Introductory Medical Microbiology | |
BIO 448 | Immunology | |
BIO | Special topics course or directed studies course designated for credit under the Cellular, Molecular, and Genetics concentration |
In addition to the courses required for a Biology major or Biology Honours, this concentration requires completion of the following:
Course | Title | Credits |
BIO 310 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
BIO 416 | Evolution | 3 |
Four of: | 12–18 | |
BIO 301 | Anatomy and Physiology of Invertebrates | |
BIO 305 | Anatomy and Physiology of Vertebrates I | |
BIO 306 | Anatomy and Physiology of Vertebrates II | |
BIO 307 | Anatomy and Diversity of Plants | |
BIO 308 | Plant Physiology | |
BIO 312 | Developmental Biology | |
BIO 319/ GEOG 319 | Swamps and Bogs | |
BIO 330 | Plants and Animals of British Columbia | |
BIO 335/ GEOG 335 | Methods in Freshwater Ecology | |
BIO 340 | Population and Community Ecology | |
BIO 357/ GEOG 357 | Conservation GIS | |
BIO 360 | Insect Biology | |
BIO 370 | Introduction to Mycology | |
BIO 380 | Ornithology | |
BIO 385 | Neurobiology | |
BIO 390 | Animal Behaviour | |
BIO 410/ GEOG 410 | Plant Ecology | |
BIO 419/ GEOG 419 | Paleoecology | |
BIO 426 | Environmental Microbiology | |
BIO 430 | Forest Ecology | |
BIO 477/IPK 477 | Traditional Ecological Knowledges | |
BIO | Special topics course or directed studies course designated for credit under the Ecology and Biology of Organisms concentration |
For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.