Joint Major in Biology & Mathematics (76 credits)

 

This program is built on a selection of mathematics and biology courses that recognizes mathematical biology as a field of research, with 3 streams within biology:

  • Ecology and Evolutionary Ecology
  • Molecular Evolution
  • Neurosciences

Program coordinators: Frederic Guichard (Biology), Stephen Drury and Axel Hundemer (Mathematics).

Advising notes for U0 students

  • It is highly recommended that freshman BIOL, CHEM, MATH, and PHYS courses be selected with an advisor to ensure they meet the core requirements of the program.
  • This program is recommended for U1 students achieving a CGPA of 3.2 or better; and entering CEGEP students with a Math/Science R-score of 28.0 or better.


REQUIRED COURSES (34 CREDITS)

Credits
Department
Courses
Course Title
3
Biology
BIOL 200
Molecular Biology
3
BIOL 201
Cell Biology and Metabolism
(or equivalent: BIOC 212/ANAT 212)
3
BIOL 215
Introduction to Ecology and Evolution
4
Chemistry
* CHEM 212
Introductory Organic Chemistry
3
Computer Science
Either
** COMP 202
Introduction to Computing 1
3
or
** COMP 250
Introduction to Computer Science
3
Mathematics
MATH 222
Calculus 3
3
*** MATH 223
Linear Algebra
3
or
*** MATH 247
Honours Applied Linear Algebra
3
MATH 242
Analysis 1
3
MATH 243
Analysis 2
3
MATH 315
Ordinary Differential Equations
3
MATH 323
Probability
* If a student has already taken CHEM 212 or its equivalent, the credits can be made up with a complementary course in consultation with the program coordinator.
** Students who have sufficient knowledge in a programming language should take COMP 250 instead of COMP 202
*** Students may take either MATH 223 or MATH 247.



COMPLEMENTARY COURSES (42 CREDITS)

For the 42 credits, students complete 24 credits of BINF, BIOL, NEUR, PHGY, PSYC courses including one of the three Streams (Ecology and Evolutionary Ecology, Molecular Evolution, Neurosciences) and 18 credits of MATH courses:

Math or Biology Research Course
Note: Students selecting a BIOL course count this toward their 24 credits of BINF, BIOL, NEUR, PHGY, PSYC courses while students selecting a MATH course count this toward their 18 credits of MATH courses.

3 credits from the following Math or Biology Research courses:
Credits
Department
Courses
Course Title
3
Biology
BIOL 466
Independent Research Project 1
3
BIOL 467
Independent Research Project 2
3
Mathematics
MATH 410
Majors Project
 

Of the remaining complementary courses, at least 6 credits must be at the 400-level or above:
Math Courses
15 credits (if MATH 410 was selected as a research course) or 18 credits of MATH courses chosen from Sequence 1 or 2 and from "Remaining Math Courses" as follows:


SEQUENCE 1: Theoretical
12 credits from the following courses:
3
Mathematics
MATH 314
Advanced Calculus
3
MATH 317
Numerical Analysis
3
or
 MATH 327 Matrix Numerical Analysis
3
MATH 319
Introduction to Partial Differential Equations
3
MATH 326
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos


SEQUENCE 2: Statistical
9 credits from the following courses:
3
MATH 324
Statistics
3
MATH 423
Regression and Analysis of Variance
3
MATH 447
Stochastic Processes


Remaining Math Courses
The remaining 3 to 9 credits of MATH courses may be chosen from any of the two preceding sequences and/or from the following list:
3
MATH 204
Principles of Statistics 2
3
MATH 340
Discrete Structures 2
3
MATH 437
Mathematical Methods in Biology
4
MATH 523
Generalized Linear Models
4
MATH 524
Nonparametric Statistics
4
MATH 525
Sampling Theory and Applications

BIOL, NEUR, PHGY, PHYS, PSYC courses
21 - 24 credits of BIOL, NEUR, PHGY, PHYS, PSYC courses including one of three Streams.
Note: Some courses in the Streams may have prerequisites.

Ecology and Evolutionary Ecology Stream (at least 15 credits)
3 credits from:    
3
Biology
BIOL 206
Methods in Biology of Organisms


3 credits from the following field courses or any other field course, with permission:
3
Biology
BIOL 240
Monteregian Flora
3
BIOL 331
Ecology/Behaviour field course
3
BIOL 334 D1/D2
Applied Tropical Ecology
3
BIOL 432
Limnology


At least 9 credits chosen from the following list, of which 6 credits must be at the 400-level or above:
3
Biology
BIOL 202
Basic Genetics
3
BIOL 304
Evolution
3
BIOL 308
Ecological Dynamics
3
BIOL 310
Biodiversity & Ecosystems
3
BIOL 324
Ecological Genetics – requires BIOL 202
3
BIOL 434
Theoretical Ecology
3
BIOL 435
Natural Selection
3
BIOL 466
Independent Research Project 1
3
BIOL 467
Independent Research Project 2
6
BIOL 468
Independent Research Project 3
3
BIOL 585
Game Theory & Evolutionary Dynamics
3
BIOL 590
Linking Community and Ecosystem Ecology
3
BIOL 594
Advanced Evolutionary Ecology

Molecular Evolution Stream (at least 16 credits)
7 credits from:    
3
Biology
BIOL 202  
Basic Genetics
4
BIOL 301    
Cell and Molecular Laboratory

At least 9 credits chosen from the following list, of which 6 credits must be at the 400-level or above:
3
Biology
BIOL 303
Developmental Biology
3
BIOL 304
Evolution
3
BIOL 313
Eukaryotic Cell Biology
3
BIOL 319
Introduction to Biophysics
3
BIOL 435
Natural Selection
3
BIOL 466
Independent Research Project 1
3
BIOL 467
Independent Research Project 2
6
BIOL 468
Independent Research Project 3
3
Bioinformatics
* BINF 511
Bioinformatics for Genomics
3
or
*BIOL 592
Integrated Bioinformatics
3
BIOL 518
Advanced Topics in Cell Biology (requirements: see Notes)
3
BIOL 569
Developmental Evolution
3
BIOL 572
Molecular Evolution


Neurosciences stream (at least 15 credits)
3 credits from:  
3
Biology
BIOL 306
Neural Basis of Behaviour


At least 12 credits selected from:
3
Biology
BIOL 320
Evolution of Brain and Behaviour
3
BIOL 389
Laboratory in Neurobiology
3
BIOL 466
Independent Research Project 1
3
BIOL 467
Independent Research Project 2
6
BIOL 468
Independent Research Project 3
3
BIOL 530
Advances in Neuroethology
3
Physiology
PHGY 314
Integrative Neuroscience
3
Physiology
PHGY 425
Analyzing Physiological Systems
3
Psychology
PSYC 427
Sensorimotor Behaviour


Notes: 
Program coordinators: Frederic Guichard (Biology), Axel Hundemer (Mathematics)


Remaining BINF, BIOL, NEUR, PHGY, PSYC
For the remaining BINF, BIOL, NEUR, PHGY, PSYC complementary course credits, if any, students top up their credits to the necessary 21-24 credits with any course listed in the above three streams. Other relevant courses may be substituted with the approval of the program coordinator.