Chair
Fiona Hunter
Professors Emeriti
Alan Bown, Alan J. Castle, R. L. Carlone, Ralph D. Morris, R. Peter Rand, Donald J. Ursino, Yousef Haj-Ahmad, Joffre Mercier, Vincenzo De Luca
Professors
Michael J. Bidochka, Fiona F. Hunter, Debbie L. Inglis, Ping Liang, Gary Pickering, Miriam H. Richards, Gaynor Spencer, Jeff Stuart, Glenn Tattersall, Liette Vasseur
Associate Professors
Charles Despres, Aleksander Necakov, Adonis Skandalis
Assistant Professors
Kiyoko Gotanda, Yifeng Li, Lori MacNeil, Ian Patterson, Stephen Glasgow, Jim Willwerth, Alonso Zavafer
Associate Members
Cheryl McCormick, Michael Pisaric, Charlis Raineki, Kevin Turner
Adjunct Professors
Wangxue Chen, Oualid Ellouz, Johnathan Griffins, David Liscombe, Wendy McFadden-Smith, Tahera Sultana, Antonet Svircev, Katherine Yagi
Laboratory Instructors
John Ciolfi, Christene Carpenter-Cleland, Jacinta Dano, Amanda Lepp, Stephanie Martin, Dorina Szuroczki
Academic Advising
Heather VanVolkenburg
Academic Advising - Faculty of Mathematics & Science (brocku.ca)
General Information
Administrative Assistant
Brittany Kalbfleisch, Nicole Mooney
905-688-5550, extension 3388
Mackenzie Chown MC F234
brocku.ca/biology
The biological sciences, or the life sciences, encompass a broad spectrum of subjects from molecular biology to ecology as well as such disciplines as biochemistry, biophysics, genetics and physiology. The program is designed to provide the student with a broad base in modern biological thought, to fulfill the basic requirements for admission to professional and advanced degree studies and to prepare graduates for careers in the biological sciences and related fields. Although the undergraduate program provides students with flexibility in selecting the areas of biology most compatible with their interests and skills, it also ensures that students develop an overview of the major concepts and problems of modern biology as expressed at all levels of biological organization.
The objectives of the undergraduate program are realized through a group of core courses in years 1 and 2, each with an associated laboratory. Laboratory classes stress the investigative approach to experimental studies. Students move progressively from structured laboratory studies to increasingly independent investigations and in the honours year undertake individual research projects. Working from the core program, students may follow a variety of curriculum patterns to satisfy their interests.
Students wishing to gain entry (or re-entry) into a Biological Sciences program from another university program (including from accredited programs offered outside of the University) must have first completed all first-year requirements of the program being sought (with a minimum of 60 achieved in each of BIOL 1P91 , BIOL 1P92 and BIOL 1P96 ) and hold a minimum major average of 70 and overall average of 60.
Students must consult faculty advisers when planning years 3 and 4 of the BSc (Honours) and BSc with Major programs or year 3 of the BSc (Pass) program.
The honours year provides students with the opportunity for either broadening their understanding of the biological sciences or for increased specialization. Ideally, the honours program provides an opportunity for the synthesis of material presented in earlier years. Students must apply to the Department of Biological Sciences in order to be admitted to year 4 (honours).
Prerequisite requirements are strictly enforced in Biological Sciences courses. Students lacking prerequisites will be automatically deregistered from courses. Students are encouraged to plan their courses two years ahead in order to ensure that appropriate prerequisites are obtained.
Students should be aware that numerous year 3 and 4 courses are offered in alternating years. Consult brocku.ca/mathematics-science/departments-and-centres/biology for details on yearly course offerings.
A student with a major average lower than 70 percent will not be permitted to continue in the Biological Sciences Co-op program but may continue in the non-Co-op with major program.
Eligibility to graduate requires that students maintain a major average of 70 (Honours program) or 60 (with Major program) and an overall average of 60.
BIOL 3P71 and BIOL 3P72 are jointly offered through the Ontario Universities Program of Field Biology (OUPFB). Through this joint initiative, students will have access to different field courses offered at other universities. Students wishing to take a field course should register in BIOL 3P71 and consult the OUPFB website for further information: Ontario Universities Program in Field Biology (oupfb.ca). Students must contact the Brock Coordinator of OUPFB to register for this course. If students already have BIOL 3P71 credit or elect to enrol in a second OUPFB course, they should then enrol in BIOL 3P72 . To aid students in forward course planning, they should be aware that certain courses may be offered in alternating years. Typically, BIOL 3P99 alternates with BIOL 4P64 ; BIOL 3P95 alternates with BIOL 3P96 .
Program Notes
- MATH 1P01 or MATH 1P05 may be substituted for MATH 1P97 .
- Students preparing for professional studies in health sciences should note that many such programs require completion of a laboratory physics course i.e. PHYS 1P91 and PHYS 1P92 .
- One credit from PHYS 1P21 , PHYS 1P22 , PHYS 1P91 is strongly recommended for students who do not have 4U Physics.
- Credit must be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 2(alpha)99 and offered from a department in the Faculty of Mathematics and Science (including CHEM, ERSC, PHYS, COSC, APCO, MATH (2(alpha)00 - 2(alpha)99 only), and STAT, but NOT including BIOL, BTEC, NEUR, or OEVI and EXCLUDING ASTR 1P01 , ASTR 1P02 , CHEM 1P00 , ERSC 1P92 , ERSC 1P94 , SCIE 1P50 , SCIE 1P51 , SCIE 1P52 . An organic chemistry course numbered 2(alpha)00 to 2(alpha)99 is recommended.
- BIOL 1P23 , BIOL 1P24 , BIOL 1F25, BIOL 1P27 , BIOL 1P28 , BIOL 1P30, BIOL 2P95 do not carry major credit for the BSc (Honours) degree. Students who submit this for credit toward the BSc Pass degree must replace it with accepted BIOL credits if they subsequently enter the Honours program.
- For combined BIOL/CHEM majors, CHEM 3P40 is strongly recommended for most projects in CHEM 4F90 , CHEM 4F91 and should be taken in year 3 by students intending to proceed to a year 4 thesis in CHEM.
- For combined BIOL/CHEM majors, honours students who elect BIOL 4F90 , BIOL 4F91 and who have taken only the minimum five credits in CHEM in years 1 through 3 may experience difficulty in obtaining the necessary two additional CHEM credits in year 4.
- For combined BIOL/PSYC majors one of BIOL 4F90 and BIOL 4F91 , BIOL 4F92 , PSYC 4F91 is required.
- Biological Sciences Co-op program students are strongly encouraged to complete Lab Links in Year 1, Year 2 and Fall of Year 3. Fees may apply.
- In 20 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
In 15 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
In some circumstances, in order to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 15 or 20 credits may be taken.