Minor Programs

Biology | Science for Arts Students | Biotechnology | Neuroscience

Minor Programs Directed by the Biology Department

MINOR CONCENTRATION IN SCIENCE FOR ARTS STUDENTS (18 CREDITS)
Note: This program is NOT open to Science students but its required course, BIOL 210, IS open - as an elective.

Freshman students interested in this Minor Concentration should seek advice at the earliest opportunity, by contacting the Program Advisor. In general, students should declare their intention to obtain this Minor Concentration during their U1 year and consult the Program Advisor regarding approval of courses to meet the requirements.

This Minor Concentration is administered by the Department of Biology. For more information contact the program advisor, Ms. Nancy Nelson in the Biology Department, Room W3/25, Stewart Biological Sciences Building, 514-398-4109; or the Program Director, Professor Louis Lefebvre, Room W6/10, Stewart Biological Sciences Building, 514-398-6457.

REQUIRED COURSES (3 CREDITS):

Courses
Credits
Course Title
BIOL 210
3
Perspectives of Science

COMPLEMENTARY COURSES (15 CREDITS):
15 credits taken in one of the disciplinary areas given below. Where suggested courses have prerequisites at the 200 or 300 level associated with them, credit for the associated prerequisites may also be counted as part of the 15 credits.

Courses at the 100 level cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration.

With the prior written approval of the Program Advisor, an appropriate alternative set of courses may be substituted.

Students select one of the following disciplinary areas as their area of specialization for the program:

Disciplinary Areas:

Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences:
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: MATH 140 and MATH 141 or equivalents; PHYS 101 or PHYS 131 and PHYS 102 or PHYS 142, or equivalents recommended.

Courses
Credits
Course Title
ATOC 214
3
Introduction: Physics of the Atmosphere
ATOC 215
3
Oceans, Weather and Climate
ATOC 309
3
Weather Radars amd Satellites
ATOC 315
3
Thermodynamics and Convection
MATH 222
3
Calculus 3

Biochemistry:
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: BIOL 111 and BIOL 112, CHEM 110 and CHEM 120 or their equivalents.

15 credits taken from the following courses and their associated 200- or 300-level prerequisites:

Courses
Credits
Course Title
ANAT 262
3
Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology
BIOC 212
3
Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function
BIOL 200
3
Molecular Biology
CHEM 212
4
Introductory to Organic Chemistry 1
Students who have completed CHEM 212 and CHEM 222 or their equivalents may take one or both of the following:
BIOC 311
3
Metabolic Biochemistry
BIOC 312
3
Biochemistry of Macromolecules

Biology:
Students interested in Biology can choose between two streams. One is oriented toward cell and molecular biology and leads to upper level courses in developmental biology, human genetics, molecular biology, or allied fields. The other is oriented more toward organismal biology and leads to upper level courses in biodiversity, ecology, neurobiology, behaviour, or conservation biology.

See Ms. Nancy Nelson in the Biology Department, Room W3/25, Stewart Biology Building, to arrange a counselling session on choice of courses above the 200 level.

Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: BIOL 111 and BIOL 112 plus CHEM 110 and CHEM 120 or their equivalents; in addition, PHYS 101 or 131 for the Organismal Stream, and MATH 140 and PHYS 102 or 142 if taking BIOL 306.

A) Cell and molecular stream
 Note: CHEM 212 or its equivalent is a co-requisite for BIOL 200.

Courses
Credits
Course Title
BIOL 200
3
Molecular Biology
BIOL 201
3
Cell Biology and Metabolism
BIOl 202
3
Basic Genetics
CHEM 212
4
Introductory Organic Chemistry 1

Plus a selected subset of these or related upper level courses:

Courses
Credits
Course Title
BIOL 300
3
Molecular Biology of the Gene
BIOL 303
3
Developmental Biology
BIOL 313
3
Eukaryotic Cell Biolgy
BIOL 314
3
Molecular Biology of Oncogenes
BIOL 370
3
Human Genetics Applied

B) Organismal stream:
Note: CHEM 212 or its equivalent is a co-requisite for BIOL 200.

Courses
Credits
Course Title
BIOL 200
3
Molecular Biology
BIOL 201
3
Cell Biology and Metabolism
BIOL 205
3
Biology of Organisms
BIOL 215
3
Introduction to Ecology and Evolution
CHEM 212
4
Introductory Organic Chemistry 1
Plus one or more of these or related upper level courses:
Courses
Credits
Course Title
BIOL 304
3
Evolution
BIOL 305
3
Animal Diversity
BIOL 306
3
Neural Basis of Behaviour
BIOL 307
3
Behavioural Ecology
BIOL 308
3
Ecological Dynamics
BIOL 310
3
Biodiversity and Ecosystems
BIOL 465
3
Conservation Biology

Chemistry:
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: BIOL 112 and CHEM 110 and CHEM 120 or their equivalents; MATH 140 and PHYS 101or PHYS 131 and PHYS 102 or PHYS 142 or their equivalents if taking CHEM 334.

The Department also strongly encourages students to take one or more courses involving a laboratory because the science of chemistry is rooted in laboratory experience.

Students select 15 credits from the following courses and their associated prerequisites: (Note: CHEM 212 or its equivalent is a prerequisite to all 200-level or higher courses.)

Courses
Credits
Course Title
CHEM 212
4
Introductory Organic Chemistry 1
CHEM 222
4
Introductory Organic Chemistry 2
CHEM 281
3
Inorganic Chemistry 1
CHEM 302
3
Introductory Organic Chemistry 3
   
One of:
  
CHEM 203
3
Survey of Physical Chemistry
CHEM 204
3
Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 1
   
One of:  
CHEM 301
3
Modern Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 381
3
Inorganic Chemistry 2
   
One of:  
CHEM 307
3
Analytical Chemistry of Pollutants
CHEM 334
3
Advanced Materials
   
Both  
CHEM 287
2
Introductory Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 297
1
Introductory Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

Computer Science:
Please see calendar listing for Bachelor of Arts Minors in Computer Science.

Earth and Planetary Sciences:
A combination of EPSC 201 or EPSC 233, together with EPSC 210 and EPSC 212 provide a grounding in Earth and Planetary Sciences and preparation for more specialized courses. Students should meet with an EPSC departmental advisor prior to selecting their courses, as some 200-level courses have specific prerequisites.

Prerequisites which cannot be counted toward the Minor concentration: CHEM 110 and CHEM 120, and MATH 140 or equivalents.

Courses
Credits
Course Title
EPSC 201*
3
Understanding Planet Earth
EPSC 203
3
Structural Geology
EPSC 210
3
Introductory Mineralogy
EPSC 212
3
Introductory Petrology
EPSC 220
3
Principles of Geochemistry
EPSC 231
3
Field School 1
EPSC 233*
3
Earth and Life History
EPSC 320
3
Elementary Earth Physics
EPSC 334
3
Invertebrate Palaeontology
EPSC 425
3
Sediments to Sequences
* Note: Students select either EPSC 201 or EPSC 233.

Geography:
(Students in any Minor or Major concentration or Honours program in Geography cannot choose this disciplinary area.)

Geography advisers recommend including some preparation in chemistry, statistics, and calculus for study in this area even if formal prerequisites are not in place.

Courses
Credits
 Course Title
GEOG 203
3
 Environmental Systems
GEOG 205
3
 Global Change: Past, Present and Future
GEOG 272
3
 Earth’s Changing Surface
GEOG 305
3
 Soils and Environment
GEOG 321
3
 Climatic Environments
GEOG 322
3
 Environmental Hydrology
GEOG 350
3
 Ecological Biogeography
GEOG 372
3
 Running Water Environments

Mathematics and Statistics:
(Students in any Minor or Major Concentration or Honours Program in Mathematics and Statistics cannot choose this disciplinary area.) Prerequisites which cannot be counted toward the Minor: MATH 133, MATH 140 and MATH 141 or equivalents.

Suggested Courses:

Courses
Credits
Course Title
MATH 203
3
Principles Statistics 1
MATH 204
3
Principles Statistics 2
MATH 222
3
Calculus 3
MATH 233
3
Linear Algebra
MATH 338
3
History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Microbiology and Immunology:
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: BIOL 111 and BIOL 112, CHEM 110 and 120 or their equivalents.

Students select the 15 credits from the following courses and their associated prerequisites (Note: CHEM 212 or its equivalent is prerequisite, or co-requisite, to these courses):

Courses
Credits
Course Title
BIOL 200
3
Molecular Biology
BIOL 201*
3
Cell Biology and Metabolism
CHEM 212
4
Introductory Organic Chemistry 1
MIMM 211
3
Introductory Microbiology
MIMM 314
3
Immunology
MIMM 323
3
Microbial Physiology
MIMM 324
3
Fundamental Virology
* Note: Students select BIOL 201 or ANAT 212 or BIOC 212.

Pathology:
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: BIOL 111 and BIOL 112 plus CHEM 110 and CHEM 120, MATH 140 and PHYS 101 or PHYS 131 and PHYS 102 or PHYS142, or their equivalents. PATH 300, together with its associate prerequisites, is well suited to students with an interest in medicine.

Courses
Credits
Course Title
BIOL 200
3
Molecular Biology
BIOL 201*
3
Cell Biology and Metabolism
CHEM 212
4
Introductory Organic Chemistry 1
PATH 300
3
Human Disease
PHGY 209
3
Mammalian Physiology 1
PHGY 210
3
Mammalian Physiology 2
* Note: Students select BIOL 201 or ANAT 212 or BIOC 212.

Physics:

Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: PHYS 131, PHYS 142, MATH 140 MATH 141, MATH 222 or their equivalents.

Honours courses may be substituted for their Major equivalents only with the permission of the Department.

Courses
Credits
Course Title
PHYS 214
3
Introductory Astrophysics
PHYS 224
3
Physics of Music
PHYS 230
3
Dynamic of Simple Systems
PHYS 232
3
Heat and Waves
PHYS 241
3
Signal Processing
PHYS 242
2
Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 257
3
Experimental Methods 1
PHYS 258
3
Experimental Methods 2

Physiology:
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: BIOL 111 and BIOL 112, CHEM 110 and CHEM 120, MATH 140, PHYS 101 or PHYS 131 and PHYS 102 or PHYS 142, or their equivalents.

Students should select:

Courses
Credits
Course Title
BIOL 200
3
Molecular Biology
BIOL 201*
3
Cell Biology and Metabolism
CHEM 212
4
Introductory Organic Chemistry 1
PHGY 209
3
Mammalian Physiology 1
PHGY 210
3
Mammalian Physiology 2

And, if credits permit, one or more of these intermediate-level courses:

Courses
Credits
Course Title
PHGY 311
3
Channels, Synapses & Hormones
PHGY 312
3
Respiratory, Renal, & Cardiovascular Physiology
PHGY 313
3
Blood, Gastrointestinal, & Immune Systems Physiology
PHGY 314
3
Integrative Neuroscience

Psychology:
(Students in any Minor or Major Concentration or Honours Program in Psychology cannot choose this disciplinary area.) Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: PSYC 100

Students in the Minor Concentration 15 credits of Psychology selected as follows:

Courses
Credits
Course Title
PSYC 204
3
Introduction to Psychological Statistics 1
Plus 6 credits from the following core courses:
PSYC 211
3
Introductory Behavioural Neuroscience
PSYC 212
3
Perception
PSYC 213
3
Cognition
PSYC 215
3
Social Psychology

Plus 6 credits Psychology courses at the 300 level or higher (excluding PSYC 305).

For more information, please contact:
Nancy Nelson, Rm W3/25, Stewart Biology Building, 398-4109
or e-mail:  nancy.nelson@mcgill.ca
Professor Lefebvre, Rm W6/10 Stewart Biology Building, 398-6457
or e-mail: louis.lefebvre@mcgill.ca


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