Enrolment Limitations in
Programs, Admissions and Student Standing
Admission to programs in the department is competitive. Admission will be granted for Fall Term only and will be based upon academic merit. Academic performance will be measured on the basis of the grade point average calculated over the most recent five FCE (University of Calgary courses and/or transferable courses taken at other institutions). (New admissions to the University are always subject to A.2 "Admission Requirements" as stated in the Undergraduate Admissions section of this Calendar.)
Applications to the Department of Biological Sciences programs are accepted:
- Directly from High School (see Section 3.2 Admissions) into either the Biological Sciences program, or into Honours Biochemistry; Honours Botany; Honours Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology; Honours Ecology or Honours Zoology.
- As space permits, into the Biological Sciences program, after the completion of any two of Biology 231, 233, 241, and 243; Chemistry 201 or 211, Chemistry 203 or 213; one of Mathematics 249 or 251 or 281 or Applied Mathematics 217 and one of Mathematics 211 or 213 or 253 or 283 or Applied Mathematics 219 with a grade of “C-” or better in each course.
- After completion of the first-year courses specified above and subject to the Honours qualifications set out in Subsection 3.2 – Honours Programs, and to availability of space, students may request placement into any of the Honours programs offered by the Department.
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Additionally, as space permits, applications to all programs in the Department are accepted after completion of any two of Biology 231, 233, 241 and 243, as well as Biology 311, 331 and 371 and at least one of Biochemistry 393 or Biology 313 with a grade of “C-“ or better in each course. In addition applicants must present Chemistry 201 or 211 and 203 or 213, one of Mathematics 249 or 251 or 281 or Applied Mathematics 217 and one of Mathematics 211 or 213 or 253 or 283 or Applied Mathematics 219 with a grade of "C-" or better in each course.
Note: Students admitted directly from High School into Honours programs are encouraged to sign up also for the Graduation Guarantee, Subsection 3.4.A.
Note: Any student in an Honours program is subject to the provisions for continuation in an Honours program, Subsections 3.2 and 3.4D.
Note: GPA requirements for Honours programs
| End of Year 1, 2 and 3 |
Year 4 and Graduation |
| 3.300 or above: satisfactory standing |
3.300 or above: BSc Honours degree |
| Less than 3.300: transfer out of Honours* |
2.000 to less than 3.300: BSc degree |
*Students who do not qualify for continuation should probably consider transferring into one of the Biological Sciences or Natural Sciences Programs provided they meet the continuation requirements for those programs. Students with a GPA of less than 2.000 are subject to the provisions of 3.7 Student Standing, A. Performance Review, Probationary Status and Dismissal.
Note: Students will be notified of the results of their application by email (results will not be provided by telephone).
Note: Biology 371 will be offered for the first time in Fall of 2013. Students who registered in Biological Sciences programs prior to the Fall of 2012 should follow the 2011-2012 or earlier appropriate Calendars.
Enrolment Limitations in Courses
Enrolment in many courses offered by the Department of Biological Sciences is limited by available laboratory or tutorial space. The following courses are available in the first instance only to those students in good standing who meet the prerequisite(s) and have been admitted into a major program that requires the course(s):
- Biochemistry 341, 393, 401, 403, 431 and 443
- Biology 311, 313, 315, 331, 371, 401, 435, 505
- Botany 303, 321, 327, 543
- Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 343, 403, 411, 421, 443, 451, 527
- Ecology 413, 417, 419, 425, 429, 439, 501
- Zoology 375, 377, 461, 463, 477.01, 477.02, 567, 577
Consult the Schedule of Classes for details regarding enrolment in these courses.
Faculty of Science