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    * Honours BSc Biology - Ecology, Evolution, Behaviour Option

  Honours BSc Biology - Ecology, Evolution, Behaviour Option

      120 Units

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      * Overview
      * Program Requirements

        Recent discoveries and new technologies are revolutionizing the biological sciences, placing increasing emphasis on integrating knowledge across all levels of organization, from molecules to ecosystems. Our programs give students both the intellectual tools and the hands-on experience they need to pursue careers in fields as diverse as conservation and endangered species; land-use management; ecotoxicology; academic, industry or government research; or health care. Learning takes place through traditional classroom instruction, innovative laboratory projects with state-of-the-art technologies, field-based courses around the world, and a strong research program in which undergraduate students of all years are intensively mentored in a research lab.

        The honours program in biology allows for in-depth study in one or more biological disciplines. Students can concentrate on a particular area by choosing one of three options: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Physiology, or Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour. This route includes a compulsory independent research project to equip students with advanced research, analysis and communication skills applicable to diverse careers. Alternatively, they can pursue diverse interests by selecting a general course of study that includes a number of advanced courses, and they can gain work experience while studying through the Co-Operative Education Programs.

        This program is offered in English and in French.

        Co-operative education is available with this program.

        The French immersion stream is available with this program.

        Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2025-2026 calendars for the previous requirements.

      Course List
        Code                                                                                                                                                                                                        Title                                          Units  
        Basic Skills                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
        3 optional course units in English (ENG) at the 1000 or 2000 level                                                                                                                                          3 Units                                      
        Compulsory Courses at the 1000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
        BIO 1131                                                                                                                                                                                                    Introduction to Organismal Biology             3 Units
        BIO 1141                                                                                                                                                                                                    Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology     3 Units
        BIO 1150                                                                                                                                                                                                    BioZoo: An Introduction Laboratory in Biology  3 Units
        CHM 1311                                                                                                                                                                                                    Principles of Chemistry                        3 Units
        CHM 1321                                                                                                                                                                                                    Organic Chemistry I                            3 Units
        GEO 1111                                                                                                                                                                                                    Introduction to Earth Systems                  3 Units
        MAT 1330                                                                                                                                                                                                    Calculus for the Life Sciences I               3 Units
        MAT 1332                                                                                                                                                                                                    Calculus for the Life Sciences II              3 Units
        PHY 1321                                                                                                                                                                                                    Principles of Physics I                        3 Units
        Compulsory Courses at the 2000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
        BCH 2333                                                                                                                                                                                                    Introduction to Biochemistry                   3 Units
        BIO 2129                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ecology                                        3 Units
        BIO 2133                                                                                                                                                                                                    Genetics                                       3 Units
        BIO 2135                                                                                                                                                                                                    Animal Form and Function                       3 Units
        BIO 2137                                                                                                                                                                                                    Introduction to Plant Science                  3 Units
        CHM 2120                                                                                                                                                                                                    Organic Chemistry II                           3 Units
        STA 2392                                                                                                                                                                                                    Introduction to Biostatistics                  3 Units
        Compulsory Course at the 3000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
        BIO 3122                                                                                                                                                                                                    Evolutionary Biology                           3 Units
        Compulsory Course at the 4000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
        BIO 4009                                                                                                                                                                                                    Honours Research                               9 Units
        BIO 4158                                                                                                                                                                                                    Applied Biostatistics in R                     3 Units
        BIO 4922                                                                                                                                                                                                    Evaluating and Developing Science              3 Units
        Optional Courses                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
        9 course units from:                                                                                                                                                                                        9 Units                                      
          BIO 3102                                                                                                                                                                                                  Molecular Evolution                                   
          BIO 3103                                                                                                                                                                                                  Field Biology                                         
          BIO 3115                                                                                                                                                                                                  Conservation Biology                                  
          BIO 3117                                                                                                                                                                                                  Ecosystem Ecology                                     
          BIO 3119                                                                                                                                                                                                  Population Genetics                                   
          BIO 3128                                                                                                                                                                                                  Biology of Algae and Fungi                            
          BIO 3146                                                                                                                                                                                                  Integrative Plant Biology                             
          BIO 3154                                                                                                                                                                                                  Population and Community Ecology                      
          BIO 3176                                                                                                                                                                                                  Animal Behaviour                                      
          BIO 3310                                                                                                                                                                                                  Plant Systematics and Diversity                       
          BIO 3360                                                                                                                                                                                                  Computational Tools for Biological Sciences           
          BIO 4146                                                                                                                                                                                                  Ecotoxicology                                         
          BIO 4150                                                                                                                                                                                                  Spatial Ecology                                       
          BIO 4156                                                                                                                                                                                                  Freshwater Ecology                                    
          BIO 4159                                                                                                                                                                                                  Evolutionary Ecology                                  
          BIO 4551                                                                                                                                                                                                  Physiologie évolutive et écophysiologie               
        9 optional course units in biology (BIO), biopharmaceutical science (BPS) or environmental science (EVS), ITI 1120 , BCH 3120 , BCH 3125 , BCH 3356 , BCH 4122 , BCH 4125 , BCH 4188 , PHA 4107 , SCI 3101  9 Units                                      
        Elective Courses                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
        9 elective course units offered by the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Social Sciences or the Telfer School of Management                                     9 Units                                      
        24 elective course units                                                                                                                                                                                    24 Units                                     
        Total:                                                                                                                                                                                                      120 Units                                    
        

        Note(s)

        Within your program of study, you must complete a minimum of 15 course units at the 3000 or 4000 level with a laboratory component. A complete list of courses having a laboratory component can be found below. Please note: if a course listed below has already been used to fulfill a compulsory or optional requirement in your program listed above, these course units count towards this total of 15 units.

          List of Optional Courses with a Laboratory Component

        Course List
          Code      Title                                        Units  
          BIM 4316  Modern Bioanalytical Chemistry               3 Units
          BIO 3103  Field Biology                                3 Units
          BIO 3126  General Microbiology Laboratory              3 Units
          BIO 3128  Biology of Algae and Fungi                   3 Units
          BIO 3137  Experiments in Animal Physiology             3 Units
          BIO 3146  Integrative Plant Biology                    3 Units
          BIO 3151  Molecular Biology Laboratory                 3 Units
          BIO 3152  Cell Biology Laboratory                      3 Units
          BIO 3154  Population and Community Ecology             3 Units
          BIO 3158  Vertebrate Zoology                           3 Units
          BIO 3310  Plant Systematics and Diversity              3 Units
          BIO 3333  Entomology                                   3 Units
          BIO 3360  Computational Tools for Biological Sciences  3 Units
          BIO 4004  Honours Research                             3 Units
          BIO 4009  Honours Research                             9 Units
          BIO 4150  Spatial Ecology                              3 Units
          BIO 4156  Freshwater Ecology                           3 Units
          BIO 4158  Applied Biostatistics in R                   3 Units
          BIO 4302  Animal Movement                              3 Units
          BPS 4104  Bioinformatics Laboratory                    3 Units
          BPS 4127  Advanced Techniques in Biosciences           3 Units
          
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