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Science – Biology

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The program core (24 credits) is defined as:

Bachelor Program

A. General education:

B.  Major requirements:  

  • the program core specified above (24 credits);
  • additional credits from biology courses, as required for an overall total of at least 46 credits from biology courses, including at least 12 credits at the 3000 level or above.

C.  Science breadth: 24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above.  15 of these 24 credits are satisfied by the General Education requirement.

D.  Upper level: a minimum of 18 credits at the 3000 level or above.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required, for an overall total of 90 credits.

F.  Standing requirements: a minimum overall grade point average of 4.00 (C) is required in order to be eligible to graduate with a BSc degree (bachelor program).

Honours Programs

Specialized Honours Program

Students may follow a stream in biology, biomedical science or biotechnology.

A. General education: 

B.  Major requirements:

Biology Stream

  • The program core, as specified above (24 credits);
  • SC/BIOL 3100 2.00; SC/BIOL 4000 8.00 or SC/BIOL 4000 3.00;
  • additional credits from biology courses, as required for an overall total of at least 68 credits from biology courses, including at least 18 credits at the 3000 or higher level, of which  at least 12 credits are at the 4000 level.

Biomedical Science Stream

Biotechnology Stream

C.  Science breadth: a total of 24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above. 15 of these 24 credits are satisfied by the General Education requirement. In the biomedical science and biotechnology streams, this requirement is fully satisfied by the above requirements.

D.  Upper level: a minimum of 42 credits at the 3000 level or above.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required, for an overall total of 120 credits.

F.  Standing requirements: to declare Specialized Honours requires successful completion of at least 24 credits, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 6.00 (B) over all biology courses completed.

To proceed in each year of a Specialized Honours program requires a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 6.00 (B) over all biology courses completed.

To graduate in a Specialized Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 6.00 (B) over all biology courses completed, and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed.

Honours Major Program (BSc)

In addition to the Biology Honours Major, students may follow a stream in biomedical science.

Biology Honours Major

A. General education:

B.  Major requirements:

Biology stream

  • The program core, as specified above (24 credits);
  • additional credits from biology courses, as required, for an overall total of at least 51 credits from biology courses, including at least 18 credits at the 3000 or higher level, of which at least 12 credits are at the 4000 level.

Biomedical Science Stream

C.  Science breadth: a total of 24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above. 15 of these 24 credits are satisfied by the General Education requirement. In the biomedical science stream this requirement is fully satisfied by the above requirements.

D.  Upper level: 42 credits at the 3000 level or above.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required, for an overall minimum total of 85 credits from science disciplines (including the major) and an overall total of 120 credits .

F.  Standing requirements: to graduate in an Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all biology courses completed, and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed.

Honours Double Major Program

All Honours BSc degree candidates should consult departmental advisers as early as possible concerning course requirements for particular Honours Double Major programs. Possible subject combinations for Honours Double Major BSc degree programs are listed under Undergraduate Degree Programs in the Faculty of Science Undergraduate Degree and Certificate Programs section. Students should consult with a departmental advisor to plan their studies in order to meet the requirements for both majors and their prerequisites.

A. General education:

B. Major requirements:

  • SC/BIOL 1000 3.00 and SC/BIOL 1001 3.00 (or SC/BIOL 1010 6.00);
  • at least 12 credits from 2000-level biology courses in the program core;
  • additional credits from biology courses, as required for an overall total of at least 42 credits from biology courses, including at least 18 credits at the 3000 level or above, of which at least 12 credits are at the 4000 level;
  • the course requirements for the second major .

C.  Science breadth: a total of 24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above. 15 of these 24 credits are satisfied by the General Education requirement. Satisfied if the other major is another science discipline.

D.  Upper level: 42 credits at the 3000 level or above.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of 120 credits.

F.  Standing requirements: to graduate in an Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all biology courses completed, and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed.

Honours Major/Minor Program

An Honours Major in biology may be combined with an Honours Minor in another subject area in an Honours Major/Minor BSc degree program. Possible subject combinations are listed under Undergraduate Degree Programs in the Faculty of Science Undergraduate Degree and Certificate Programs section.

Students may follow a stream within the Honours Major/Minor program in Biomedical Science (stream requirements are listed under the Biology Honours Major program). This stream may be combined with other approved science minors.

A. General education:

B.  Major requirements:

Biology stream

  • the program core as specified above (24 credits);
  • additional credits from biology courses, as required, for an overall total of at least 51 credits from biology courses, including at least 18 credits at the 3000  or higher level, of which at least 12 credits are at the 4000 level.
  • The course requirements for the minor.

Biomedical Science Stream

C.  Science breadth: a total of 24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above. 15 of these 24 credits are satisfied by the General Education requirement. Satisfied if the minor is another science discipline.

D.  Upper level: 42 credits at the 3000 level or above.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of 120 credits.

F.  Standing requirements: to graduate in an Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all biology courses completed, and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed.

Honours Minor

  • SC/BIOL 1000 3.00 and SC/BIOL 1001 3.00 (or SC/BIOL 1010 6.00);
  • at least 12 credits from biology courses at the 2000 level;
  • at least nine credits from biology courses at the 3000 or higher level, normally including six credits at the 400 level;
  • additional credits from biology courses at the 2000 or higher level, as required for an overall total of at least 30 credits from biology courses.

Note: it is recommended that students interested in cell biology, genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry take the following courses: SC/BIOL 1000 3.00 and SC/BIOL 1001 3.00, SC/CHEM 1000 3.00, SC/CHEM 1001 3.00, SC/BIOL 2020 3.00, SC/BIOL 2021 3.00, SC/BIOL 2040 3.00, SC/BIOL 2070 3.00, SC/CHEM 2020 3.00 and SC/CHEM 2021 3.00, plus a minimum of nine additional credits from biology courses at the 3000 or higher level. For other areas of interest, students are advised to choose their 2000-level biology courses wisely, based on the prerequisites for the courses they wish to take at the 3000 or higher level. Check the course outlines in this publication for course prerequisites.

International Bachelor of Science

All Honours iBSc degree candidates must complete an international  component in addition to the normal requirements of biology and the BSc.  For further information about the international bachelor of science, refer to the International Bachelor of Arts and International Bachelor of Science in the Faculty of Science Programs of Study section.

Specialized Honours in Biology (Honours iBSc)

A. General education:

B.  Major requirements: 

  • the program core as specified above (24 credits);
  • SC/BIOL 3100 2.00;
  • SC/BIOL 4000 8.00 or SC/BIOL 4000 3.00;
  • additional credits from biology courses, as required for an overall total of at least 62 credits from biology courses, including at least 18 credits at the 3000 or higher level, of which at least 12 credits are at the 4000 level.

In addition, the following must be completed for the international component:

  • a minimum of 12 credits of language study in one of the languages offered at York University;
  • a minimum of 12 credits of non-science courses with an international component (refer to sample list of courses in the section on international degrees), which will also serve to meet the non-science requirement of the general education component;
  • an additional six credits of language study or non-science international component courses, for a total of 30 credits;
  • one to two exchange terms abroad as a full-time student at an institution with which York University has a formal exchange agreement.

C.  Science breadth: 24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above. 15 of these 24 credits are satisfied by the above requirements.

D.  Upper level: a minimum of 42 credits at the 3000 level or above.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required, for an overall total of 120 credits.

F.  Standing requirement:  to declare Specialized Honours requires successful completion of at least 24 credits, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 6.00 (B) over all biology courses completed.

To proceed in each year of a Specialized Honours program requires a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 6.00 (B) over all biology courses completed.

To graduate in a Specialized Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 6.00 (B) over all biology courses completed, and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed.

Honours Major Program (iBSc)

Students may follow a stream within the Honours Major program in biomedical science.

A. General education:

B.  Major requirements: 

Biology stream

  • the program core as specified above (24 credits);
  • additional credits from biology courses, as required, for an overall total of at least 45 credits from biology courses (42 credits if SC/CHEM 2020 3.00 and SC/CHEM 2021 3.00 are chosen in the core);

Biomedical Science Stream (iBSc)

In addition, the following must be completed for the international component:

  • a minimum of 12 credits of language study in one of the languages offered at York University;
  • a minimum of 12 credits of non-science courses with an international component (refer to sample list of courses in the section on international degrees), which will also serve to meet the non-science requirement of the general education component;
  • an additional six credits of language study or non-science international component courses, for a total of 30 credits;
  • one to two exchange terms abroad as a full-time student at an institution with which York University has a formal exchange agreement.

C. Science breadth: 24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above.  15 of these 24 credits are satisfied by the above requirements.

D. Upper level: a minimum of 42 credits at the 3000 level or above.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required, for an overall total of  85 credits from science disciplines (including the major)  and an overall total of 120 credits. 

F.  Standing requirements: to graduate in an Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all biology courses completed, and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed.

Honours Major/Minor Program (iBSc)

Students may follow a stream within the Honours Major/Minor program in biomedical science (stream requirements are listed under the Biology Honours Major program). This stream may be combined with other approved science minors. 

A. General Education:

B. Major requirements:

Biology stream

  • the program core as specified above (24 credits);
  • additional credits from biology courses, as required, for an overall total of at least 45 credits from biology courses (42 if SC/CHEM 2020 3.00 and SC/CHEM 2021 3.00 are chosen in the core), including at least 18 credits at the 3000 or higher level, of which at least 12 credits are at the 4000 level;
  • the course requirements for the minor.

Biomedical science stream

In addition, the following must be completed for the international component:

  • a minimum of 12 credits of language study in one of the languages offered at York University;
  • a minimum of 12 credits of non-science courses with an international component (refer to sample list of courses in the section on international degrees), which will also serve to meet the non-science requirement of the general education component;
  • an additional six credits of language study or non-science international component courses, for a total of 30 credits;
  • one to two exchange terms abroad as a full-time student at an institution with which York University has a formal exchange agreement.

C.  Science breadth: a total of 24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above. On the biology stream, 15 of these 24 credits are satisfied by the General Education requirement. In the biomedical science stream this requirement is fully satisfied by the above requirements. Satisfied if the minor is another science discipline.

D.  Upper level:  42 credits at the 3000 level or above.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required, for an overall total of 120 credits.

F.  Standing requirements: to graduate in an Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all biology courses completed, and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed.

Important note: some major/minor combinations will require students to complete more than 120 credits. Students are advised to consult minor requirements as early as possible and to plan their program of study in consultation with an academic adviser and the iBSc supplemental calendar. Courses taken to meet requirements of the minor can also count as international component and/or non-science requirements for the BSc General Education Requirement. In fact, in order to complete the degree requirements within the minimum number of credits some double counting will be necessary. Minors that can, with appropriate planning, be completed with the biology major within 120 credits include African studies, culture and expression, East Asian studies, environmental studies, European studies, geography, German studies, French studies, history, international development studies, Italian culture, Italian studies, Latin American and Caribbean studies, Portuguese studies, psychology, race, ethnicity and indigeneity, South Asian studies and Spanish.

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