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The Curriculum

The Curriculum in Biology is planned for 3-year B.Sc. programs, and builds on the background provided by Quebec's Junior College System (CEGEP, 2 years after grade 11 or McGill's Freshman Year, or equivalent, program). Entrance requirements include, in addition to the courses of the CEGEP basic science program, one course in Cell Biology (CEGEP Biology Objective 00XU or equivalent, McGill BIOL 112) and one in Organic Chemistry (CEGEP Chemistry Objective 00XV or equivalent, CHEM 212). 

The latter may be taken in the first semester of U1. Students who transfer to Biology from other subject areas or who come to McGill without the appropriate background for entry into programs in biology are required to take the appropriate equivalent courses as electives.

The Department offers the following Programs of Study:

1) Liberal Program in Biology
2) Major Program in Biology*
3) Joint Major in Biology and Mathematics
4) Joint Major in Computer Science and Biology
5) Honours Program in Biology
6) Minor Program in Biology
7) Major Concentration in Biology for the B.A  & Sc. degree
8) Minor Concentration  in Biology for the B.A. & Sc. degree

*New within the Biology Major Program is an Option in Quantitative Biology 

The Department also coordinates the Minor in Science for Arts Students.

Liberal Program in Biology
The Liberal Program in Biology replaces the former Faculty Program offered by the department. It comprises a core Science component in Biology, and requires a minor or breadth program in another area of study.

Major Program in Biology
Students following the Major Program in Biology can also pursue a program in other areas. Major Programs in Biology can also be combined with Minor Programs in Arts, Biotechnology, Computer Science, etc. (for details, consult the University Calendar). Students should consult the departments concerned as early as possible and at the latest during the U1 year.

Biology Major: Option in Quantitative Biology
Interdisciplinary research that draws from the natural and physical sciences is an important aspect of modern biology. The Quantitative Biology program is designed for students with a deep interest in biology who wish to gain a strong grounding in physical sciences and their application to biological questions. The program has two options; an ecology and evolutionary biology stream and a physical biology stream. Both streams provide a balance of theory and experimental components.

Joint Major in Biology and Mathematics
This program is built on a selection of mathematics and biology courses that recognizes mathematical biology as a field of research, with three streams within biology: Ecology and Evolutionary Ecology, Molecular Evolution, and Neurosciences.
  
Joint Major in Computer Science and Biology
This program trains students in the fundamentals of biology – with a focus on molecular biology – and will give them  the computational and mathematical skills needed to handle and analyze large biological data sets.

Honours Program in Biology
The Honours Program in Biology is designed to provide students with an enriched training in Biology and some research experience in a chosen area. A student may apply to enter the Honours program from the Biology Major at the end of the U2 year.

Minor Program in Biology
This 24 credit sequence of Biology courses may be selected by science students taking their primary programs in other departments.

Major Concentration in Biology for the B.A. & Sc. Degree
 This Major Concentration in Biology which is restricted to students in the B.A. & Sc., is a planned sequence of courses designed to permit a degree of specialization in either cell/molecular or organismal  biology.

Minor Concentration in Biology for the B.A. & Sc. Degree
This Minor Concentration in Biology, which is restricted to students in the B.A. & Sc., is a sequence of courses designed to yield a broad introduction to either cell/molecular or organismal biology.

Bluebook 2011-2012 (709kb)

Nancy Nelson
Undergraduate Advisor
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Office hours: 
As of Thursday Jan 25, 2012:
Mon & Thurs: 10am-11:30am
Wed 2:00-3:30 pm

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