91ÅÝܽ

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Fall 2011 Calendar | Biological Sciences |

Biological Sciences Honours Program

Department of Biological Sciences | Faculty of Science
91ÅÝܽ Calendar 2011 Fall

This honours program offers independent research and in-depth study. It requires minimum of 132 units as specified below. Entry requires a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher (B standing), and department permission. Students complete all lower division requirements as shown below, and at least 15 upper division units in biological sciences prior to application for entry. Students should contact an advisor before enrolment.

Program Requirements

Students should complete the lower division core requirements within the first 60 units (four terms). Students are encouraged to choose their stream upon lower division core completion. Students who have had more than five course repeats are normally not permitted to remain in the program.

Lower Division Requirements

Students normally complete the following chemistry, mathematics and physics requirements as well as the lower division biological sciences courses within the first 60 units (four terms) of study. See an example of a typical .

Students complete all of

  • BISC 101 General Biology (4)
  • BISC 102 General Biology (4)
  • BISC 202 Genetics (3)
  • BISC 204 Introduction to Ecology (3)
  • CHEM 121 General Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
  • CHEM 122 General Chemistry II (2)
  • CHEM 281 Organic Chemistry I (4)
  • CHEM 282 Organic Chemistry II (2)
  • MBB 222 Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (3)
  • MBB 231 Cellular Biology and Biochemistry (3)
  • STAT 201 Statistics for the Life Sciences (3)

and one of

  • MATH 150 Calculus I with Review (4)
  • MATH 151 Calculus I (3)
  • MATH 154 Calculus I for the Biological Sciences (3)

and one of

  • MATH 152 Calculus II (3)
  • MATH 155 Calculus II for the Biological Sciences (3)

and one of

  • PHYS 101 Physics for the Life Sciences I (3)
  • PHYS 120 Mechanics and Modern Physics (3)
  • PHYS 125 Mechanics and Special Relativity (3)
  • PHYS 140 Studio Physics - Mechanics and Modern Physics (4)

and one of

  • PHYS 102 Physics for the Life Sciences II (3)
  • PHYS 121 Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (3)
  • PHYS 126 Electricity, Magnetism and Light (3)
  • PHYS 141 Studio Physics - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (4)

Students are encouraged to complete a full year of organic chemistry. Medical, dental or veterinary school applicants should include all CHEM courses that are listed above.

Upper Division Requirements

Entry into courses numbered 300 and above normally requires completion of the lower division requirements. Prerequisites for any course may be waived with the approval of the department. Honours students will complete a minimum of 60 upper division units in biological sciences, or related subjects approved by the department, which must include a research-based honours thesis as specified below.

Students complete a minimum of 12 upper division courses by completing all of the following, with a grade of C- or better (this minimum grade requirement also applies to BISC and MBB prerequisites).

  • BISC 300 Evolution (3)
  • BISC 333 Developmental Biology (3)

and one of

  • BISC 305 Animal Physiology (3)
  • BISC 366 Plant Physiology (3)

and at least one of

  • BISC 303 Microbiology (4)
  • BISC 306 Invertebrate Biology (4)
  • BISC 316 Vertebrate Biology (4)
  • BISC 317 Insect Biology (3)
  • BISC 326 Biology of Algae and Fungi (3)
  • BISC 337 Plant Biology (4)
  • BISC 418 Parasitology (3)

Stream Requirement

In addition to the above requirements, students choose remaining requirements in an area of specialization by completing one of three streams: cells, molecules and physiology; ecology, evolution and conservation; and an open stream. The open stream provides broad biological training, or may be used to specialize in an area not offered by the main streams (consult the undergraduate program advisor, individual faculty, or department website for advice on other areas of specialization).

Cells, Molecules and Physiology Stream

Students who choose this stream will complete two of

  • BISC 302W Genetic Analysis (3)
  • BISC 307W Animal Physiology Laboratory (3)
  • BISC 357 Gene Cloning (3)
  • BISC 367W Plant Physiology Laboratory (3)

and three of

  • BISC 303 Microbiology (4)
  • BISC 313 Environmental Toxicology (3)
  • BISC 403 Current Topics in Cell Biology (3)
  • BISC 405 Neurobiology (3)
  • BISC 429W Separation Methods in Biology (4)
  • BISC 430 Microbe-Plant Interactions (3)
  • BISC 432 Chemical Pesticides and the Environment (3)
  • BISC 439 Industrial Microbiology (4)
  • BISC 445 Environmental Physiology of Animals (3)
  • BISC 449 Histological Techniques in Biology (4)
  • BISC 455 Endocrinology (3)
  • BISC 457 Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (3)
  • BISC 497W Undergraduate Research: Writing Intensive (3)
  • BISC 498 Undergraduate Research I (3)
  • BISC 499 Undergraduate Research II (3)

and three elective courses (nine units) from any upper division undergraduate BISC courses, or from other units at 91ÅÝܽ such as the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Department of Physics, and the Faculty of Health Sciences, which may count as options toward this stream, subject to the approval by the department. Normally no more than two courses from other units and no more than three research intensive courses (BISC 490, 491, 492, 497W, 498, or 499) may be used to satisfy stream requirements and additional upper division biology course requirements. Students complete a total of five lab courses (which may include one of BISC 497W, 498, 499) among their upper division courses.

Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Stream

Students who choose this stream will complete

  • BISC 302 Genetic Analysis (3)

and at least one of

  • BISC 304W Animal Ecology (3)
  • BISC 404W Plant Ecology (3)

and four of

  • BISC 309 Conservation Biology (3)
  • BISC 310 The Natural History of British Columbia (3)
  • BISC 406 Marine Biology and Oceanography (3)
  • BISC 407 Population Dynamics (3)
  • BISC 410 Behavioral Ecology (3)
  • BISC 413 Fisheries Ecology (3)
  • BISC 414 Limnology (3)
  • BISC 419 Wildlife Biology (3)
  • BISC 422 Population Genetics (3)
  • BISC 434 Paleoecology and Palynology(3)
  • BISC 435 Introduction to Pest Management (3)
  • BISC 440W Biodiversity (3)
  • BISC 441 Evolution of Health and Disease (3)
  • BISC 445 Environmental Physiology of Animals (3)
  • BISC 497W Undergraduate Research: Writing Intensive (3)
  • BISC 498 Undergraduate Research I (3)
  • BISC 499 Undergraduate Research II (3)

and two elective courses (six units) chosen from any upper division undergraduate BISC courses. Courses from other units at 91ÅÝܽ such as the Faculty of Environment and MASC courses may count as options toward this stream, subject to approval by the department. Normally no more than two courses from other units and no more than three research intensive courses (BISC 490, 491, 492, 497W, 498, or 499) may be used to satisfy stream requirements and additional upper division biology course requirements. Students complete a total of five lab courses (which may include one of BISC 497W, 498, 499) among their upper division courses.

Open Stream

Students who choose this stream will complete an additional 24 units chosen from any upper division undergraduate BISC courses. Courses from other units at 91ÅÝܽ may count as options toward this stream, subject to approval by the department. Normally no more than two courses from other units and no more than three research intensive courses (BISC 490, 491, 492, 497W, 498, or 499) may be used to satisfy upper division biology course requirements. Students complete a total of five lab courses (which may include one of BISC 497W, 498, 499) among their upper division courses.

Thesis

In addition to the above requirements, honours students will complete a research-based thesis by completing

  • BISC 490 Research Design (5)
  • BISC 491 Research Technique (5)
  • BISC 492W Research Reporting (5)

Minimum Grade Requirement

A grade of C- or better is required on all prerequisite BISC and MBB courses, and all required upper division courses to graduate.

Faculty of Science Requirements

In addition to the above requirements, students must also satisfy Faculty of Science honours program requirements as follows.

  • students are required to complete additional upper division units to total a minimum of 60 upper division units (excluding EDUC 401, 407)
  • students who were enrolled at 91ÅÝܽ between fall 1991 and summer 2006 are required to complete a minimum of 12 units in subjects outside the Faculty of Science (excluding EDUC 401 to 407) including six units minimum to be completed in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to 91ÅÝܽ beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit.
Requirement
Units
 Notes
W - Writing
6
 Must include at least one upper division course, taken at 91ÅÝܽ within the student’s major subject
Q - Quantitative
6
 Q courses may be lower or upper division
B - Breadth
18
 Designated Breadth Must be outside the student’s major subject, and may be lower or upper division
6 units Social Sciences: B-Soc
6 units Humanities: B-Hum
6 units Sciences: B-Sci
6
 Additional Breadth

6 units outside the student’s major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements)
Additional breadth units must be from outside the student's major and may be B-designated (B-Hum, B-Soc, B-Sci courses). Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honors, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

 

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

The University’s residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 units as upper division work.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.

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