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1. Summary of Programs
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4.1 Biological Sciences
4.1.1 First and Second Year Course Selection
4.1.2 Programs in Biochemistry
4.1.3 Programs in Biological Sciences
4.1.4 Programs in Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology
4.1.5 Programs in Ecology
4.1.6 Programs in Plant Biology
4.1.7 Programs in Zoology
4.1.8 Environmental Science - Biological Sciences Concentration
4.1.9 Double Major in the Department of Biological Sciences
4.1.10 Minor in Biological Sciences
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University of Calgary Calendar 2022-2023 Faculty of Science 4. Program Details 4.1 Biological Sciences 4.1.3 Programs in Biological Sciences
4.1.3 Programs in Biological Sciences
Courses constituting the field of Biological Sciences

1Students may apply a maximum of 9 units from independent project courses numbered 507, 528 and 530 towards their major field; of these 9 units, students are permitted a maximum of 6 units of independent project courses labelled as 507 offered by the Department of Biological Sciences.

2Certain courses with restricted enrolments are available in the first instance to those Program Honours and Majors who have met all prerequisites and whose programs require such courses. After a specific registration period for those students, other students who have met all prerequisites may be accommodated.

3Applicability to the field depends upon the actual course content. Additional approvals will be granted on a course-by-course basis.

4No more than 6 units of such courses (approved by the Department prior to registering in the course) can be counted towards the major field.

5 Only students admitted into the Biotechnology Concentration may use this toward the field.

6No more than 3 units of the courses in this group may be counted towards the major field.

Required Courses - Major Program

Students must successfully complete a minimum of 48 units, to a maximum of 66 units, in Courses Constituting the Field of Biological Sciences while fulfilling the following requirements:

18 units - Biology 241, 243, 311, 313, 331, 371

6 units - Chemistry 201 or 211, and 203 or 213

6 units - One of Mathematics 249 or 265 or 275 and one of Mathematics 211 or 213 or 267 or 277 or Statistics 327

6 units:

or
or

3 units - Biochemistry 393

3 units - Chemistry 351


27 units - From the Field of Biological Sciences where:

and
or
  • Completion of one of the three concentrations

18 units - Breadth Requirement: Options from faculties other than the Faculty of Science, excluding courses in Table I. Of these, at least 6 units must be from the Faculty of Arts. Science 311 may be counted among the courses from other faculties.

15 units - Non-Major Field Requirement: Options that are not in the Field of Biological Sciences

18 units - Options

Recommended Program Sequence for the BSc in Biological Sciences

There is a Recommended Course Sequence for this program. This sequence describes both the recommended order in which courses should be taken and the recommended course(s) in instances where multiple courses may fulfill a degree requirement. All possible courses that may fulfill degree requirements are found in the Required Courses listed above.

Taking courses in the order of the Recommended Course Sequence will ensure students can complete their program in a timely fashion. The time to complete a program may be lengthened if students choose to complete their requirements in an alternate order.

Required Courses - Honours Program

Students must successfully complete a minimum of 60 units, to a maximum of 78 units, in Courses Constituting the Field of Biological Sciences while fulfilling the following requirements:

18 units - Biology 241, 243, 311, 313, 331, 371

6 units - Chemistry 201 or 211; and 203 or 213

6 units - One of Mathematics 249 or 265 or 275 and one of Mathematics 211 or 213 or 267 or 277 or Statistics 327

6 units:

or
or

3 units - Biochemistry 393

3 units - Chemistry 351

27 units - From the Field of Biological Sciences where:

  • 9 units are chosen from each of three of the areas that constitute the Fields of Biochemistry; Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology; Ecology; Plant Biology; and Zoology.
    Of these 27 units, at least 18 units must be chosen from courses at the 400 level or higher. At least 6 units from each area must be at the 400 level of higher.
    Courses included in the Fields that are not labelled BCEM, BIOL, CMMB, ECOL, PLBI, MRSC or ZOOL cannot be counted towards this requirement.
or
  • Completion of one of the three concentrations

6 units - From the Field of Biological Sciences

6 units - Biology 530

18 units - Breadth Requirement: Options from faculties other than the Faculty of Science, excluding courses in Table I. Of these, at least 6 units must be from the Faculty of Arts. Science 311 may be counted among the courses from other faculties.

3 units - Non-Major Field Requirement: Options that are not in the Field of Biological Sciences

18 units - Options

Recommended Program Sequence for the BSc Honours in Biological Sciences

There is a Recommended Course Sequence for this program. This sequence describes both the recommended order in which courses should be taken and the recommended course(s) in instances where multiple courses may fulfill a degree requirement. All possible courses that may fulfill degree requirements are found in the Required Courses listed above.

Taking courses in the order of the Recommended Course Sequence will ensure students can complete their program in a timely fashion. The time to complete a program may be lengthened if students choose to complete their requirements in an alternate order.

Concentrations

Students may focus their program on one of three areas of interest by including a specified set of courses in their Major or Honours degree. Successful completion will mean that the area of concentration will appear on the transcript. The concentrations and course requirements are:

A. Concentration in Biodiversity and Conservation

9 units - Biology 315, 401 and 451

6 units - From Biology 435, 453; Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 343; Plant Biology 327; Zoology 401, 403, 435

6 units - From Ecology 417, 419, 425, 429, 439

6 units - From Biology 507, 509, 520, 528, 591; Biochemistry 507, 528; Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 507, 528, 543, 563; Ecology 413, 501, 507, 527, 528, 529; Marine Science 500, 501, 502, 507, 511, 513, 515, 525, 537, 540, 572, 574; Plant Biology 507, 528, 541; Zoology 507, 528, 567, 571, 576, 577

B. Concentration in Biotechnology

3 units - Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 343

3 units - Entrepreneurship and Innovation 201

3 units - From Biology 315 or Medical Science 301

3 units - Biochemistry 561

9 units - From Biochemistry 431, 443, 541, 543; Biology 501, 503, 505; Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 411, 421, 443, 461, 523; Plant Biology 401, 421

6 units - Biology 507, 528; Biochemistry 507, 528, 547; Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 507, 528, 543, 545, 563; or Chemical Engineering 535/Biology 535.

C. Concentration in Genetics and Evolution

6 units - Biology 315 and 401

3 units - Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 411

6 units - From Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 343, 421; Plant Biology 327; Zoology 401, 403, 435

6 units - From Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 403, 413, 461; Plant Biology 543; Ecology 529

6 units - From Biology 505, 507, 528, 591; Biochemistry 507, 528; Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 505, 507, 511, 519, 528, 549, 563; Ecology 507, 528; Plant Biology 507, 528, 541; Zoology 507, 528, 571, 567, 576, 595