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    * Major in Life Sciences

  Major in Life Sciences

      60 Units

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      * Program Requirements

      The Major in Life Sciences provides a strong foundation in cellular biology, molecular biology, organic chemistry and biochemistry. It should provide you with the prerequisites to apply to schools of medicine, dentistry or pharmacy, as well as to biomolecular graduate program. Be sure to carefully check the admission requirements of professional and graduate schools you are considering.

      This program is offered in English and in French.

      The table below includes only discipline-specific courses. Please refer to the Academic Regulations for information on including a major to your degree.

      The French Immersion Stream is available when taken as part of an honours degree.

      This major cannot be combined with the following disciplines: major in Biochemistry (BCH), major in Biology (BIO), minor in Biochemistry (BCH), minor in Biology (BIO) or minor in Life Sciences.

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

      Course List
        Code                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Title                                          Units  
        Compulsory courses at the 1000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
        BIO 1141                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology     3 Units
        CHM 1311                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Principles of Chemistry                        3 Units
        CHM 1321                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Organic Chemistry I                            3 Units
        MAT 1330                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Calculus for the Life Sciences I               3 Units
        MAT 1332                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Calculus for the Life Sciences II              3 Units
        Compulsory courses at the 2000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
        BCH 2333                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Introduction to Biochemistry                   3 Units
        BIO 2133                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Genetics                                       3 Units
        CHM 2120                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Organic Chemistry II                           3 Units
        CHM 2123                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Laboratory of Organic Chemistry II             3 Units
        STA 2392                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Introduction to Biostatistics                  3 Units
        Compulsory courses at the 3000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
        BCH 3120                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    General Intermediary Metabolism                3 Units
        Optional courses                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3 Units                                      
          BIO 1131                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Introduction to Organismal Biology                    
          BIO 1150                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  BioZoo: An Introduction Laboratory in Biology         
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3 Units                                      
          PHY 1321                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Principles of Physics I                               
          PHY 1322                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Principles of Physics II                              
          BPS 2110                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Introduction to Biopharmaceutical Science             
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3 Units                                      
          BCH 3170                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Molecular Biology                                     
          BIO 3170                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Molecular Biology                                     
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3 Units                                      
          BCH 3356                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Molecular Biology Laboratory                          
          BIO 3151                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Molecular Biology Laboratory                          
        15 optional course units at the 3000 or 4000 level in biochemistry (BCH), biology (BIO), biomedical science (BIM), biopharmaceutical science (BPS), chemistry (CHM), environmental science (EVS), microbiology and immunology (MIC), PHA 4107 , PHS 3341 , PHS 3342 , PHS 4300, PHS 4336 .  15 Units                                     
        Total:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      60 Units                                     
        
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