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    * Major in Biochemistry

  Major in Biochemistry

      60 Units

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        Biochemistry is the chemistry of life. It provides the foundation for understanding all biological processes as well as the molecular basis and treatment of human disease.

        The biochemistry bachelor's provides you with the education you need to play a leading role in new and exciting areas of medical research. You will be exposed to cutting-edge research and knowledge. Our program prepares you for graduate studies and for an academic or research career in the medical sciences. What's more, biochemistry provides an excellent foundation for further studies in medicine and other areas of health care.

        You can choose an Honours BSc in Biochemistry, a major or a minor.

        If you want to pursue a career in experimental biochemistry, choose the Honours program. If you prefer a basic biochemistry education, choose a major. And if you want to focus on another discipline but are interested in biochemistry, choose a minor.

        If you have a particular interest in microorganisms and the role that the immune system plays in health and disease, you can also choose an Honours BSc in biochemistry with an option in microbiology and immunology. We also offer an integrated biotechnology program that lets you combine studies in biochemistry and chemical engineering and receive both a BSc in biochemistry and a BASc in chemical engineering in five years.

        As for the language of instruction, compulsory courses and many optional course units are available in either English or French.

        If you choose the Honours in Biochemistry, you have the opportunity to complete a full-year research project under the supervision of a professor from the departments of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Biology, Physics, or Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, or under the supervision of an affiliated principle investigator from one of the many research institutes in the National Capital Region. Given the breadth of research expertise within our program, you can conduct research in many areas of modern biomedicine, including biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, chemical biology, molecular biology, cell biology, proteomics, genomics, systems biology and bioinformatics.

        This program is offered in English and in French.

      The table below includes only the discipline-specific courses. Please refer to the Academic Regulations for information on the Honours bachelor's with double major and the Honours bachelor's with major and minor.

        Co-operative education is available when taken as part of an honours degree.

        The French immersion stream is available when taken as part of an honours degree.

        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 1131                              Introduction to Organismal Biology          3 Units
        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
        PHY 1321                              Principles of Physics I                     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 2132                              Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences    3 Units
        STA 2392                              Introduction to Biostatistics               3 Units
        Compulsory courses at the 3000 level                                            
        BCH 3120                              General Intermediary Metabolism             3 Units
        BCH 3125                              Protein Structure and Function              3 Units
        BCH 3170                              Molecular Biology                           3 Units
        BCH 3346                              Biochemistry Laboratory II                  3 Units
        BCH 3356                              Molecular Biology Laboratory                3 Units
        Optional courses                                                                
        3 courses units from:                 3 Units                                   
          PHY 1322                            Principles of Physics II                           
          PHY 2325                            Physics in Biology                                 
        6 course units from:                  6 Units                                   
          BCH 4101                            Human Genome Structure and Function 1              
          BCH 4116                            Analytical Biochemistry                            
          BCH 4122                            Structural Biology of Proteins 1, 2                
          BCH 4123                            Pathological Biochemistry                          
          BCH 4124                            Carbohydrates and Glycobiology                     
          BCH 4125                            Cellular Regulation and Control 1                  
          BCH 4172                            Topics in Biotechnology                            
          BCH 4188                            Synthetic Biology 2                                
          BCH 4300                            Selected Topics in Biochemistry                    
          BPS 3101                            Genomics 1                                         
          BPS 4129                            Advanced Chemical Biology                          
          CHM 4139                            Enzyme Chemistry and Biocatalysis                  
        Total:                                60 Units                                  
        

        Note(s)

        1

        A maximum of 3 course units may be selected amongst these courses.

        2

        These courses may not be available every year.

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