Philip Burton, Professor Emeritus
Keith Egger, Professor Emeritus
Art Fredeen, Professor Emeritus
Michael Gillingham, Professor Emeritus
Staffan Lindgren, Professor Emeritus
Hugues Massicotte, Professor Emeritus
Katherine Parker, Professor Emerita
Ken Otter, Professor and Chair
Darwyn Coxson, Professor
Russell Dawson, Professor
Dezene Huber, Professor
Chris Johnson, Professor
Nicola Koper, Professor
Kathy Lewis, Professor
Brent Murray, Professor
Mark Shrimpton, Professor
Erin Baerwald, Associate Professor
Heather Bryan, Associate Professor, and Ian McTaggart Cowan Muskwa-Kechika Research Professor
Scott Green, Associate Professor
Eduardo Martins, Associate Professor
Roy Rea, Associate Professor
Lisa Wood, Associate Professor
Michael Preston, Assistant Professor
Jenia Blair, Senior Lab Instructor
Saphida Migabo, Senior Lab Instructor
Website: www.unbc.ca/biology
The Bachelor of Science in Biology is a broadly-based undergraduate program in biology that is designed to present the major concepts of contemporary biology at the molecular, cellular, organismal, population and community levels. The degree is designed to have sufficient flexibility for students to follow interests ranging from microbial to plant to fish or wildlife biology. Capitalizing on the northern setting of the University, there is an emphasis on northern flora and fauna, morphological, biochemical, physiological and behavioural modifications to temperate and arctic conditions, and the dynamics of microbial, plant and animal populations in northern ecosystems. The Bachelor of Science in Biology prepares students for application to medical, dental, veterinary, or other professional schools, and for a wide range of other biology-related careers. Students who complete the degree are automatically eligible to apply to the College of Applied Biology as a Biologist in Training or a Registered Professional Biologist.
Major in Biology (BSc)
Areas of Specialization
Major in Biology (BSc Honours)
Minor in Biology
Minor in Biology and Conservation
Major in Biology
The major in Biology requires students to take at least 65 credit hours of biology-oriented courses, of which 42 credit hours must be at the 300- or 400- level. Note: can count as up to 6 credit hours toward this requirement (with permission of the Ecosystem Science and Management Program Chair).
The minimum requirement for the completion of a Bachelor of Science with a major in Biology is 125 credit hours.
In order to increase the breadth and utility of their degree, and to demonstrate an interest in a particular biological sub-discipline, students have the option of choosing to complete a maximum of one Area of Specialization during their degree, chosen from the following list:
1. Applied Ecology
2. Botany and Mycology
3. Cell Biology and Genetics
4. Ecology and Evolution
5. Field Biology and Natural History
6. Zoology
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirement
100 Level
| Introductory Biology I | |
| Introductory Biology II | |
| Introductory Biology I Laboratory | |
| Introductory Biology II Laboratory | |
| General Chemistry I | |
| General Chemistry II | |
| General Chemistry Lab I | |
| General Chemistry Lab II | |
| Calculus for Non-majors | |
| or | Calculus I |
| Communications in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies | |
| or | Writing and Communication Skills |
| General Introduction to Physics | |
| or | Physics for Life Sciences I |
| or | Introductory Physics I: Mechanics |
| Any other 100-level or higher, 3 credit-hour course | |
Note: Students who have completed Physics 12 should take PHYS 100-4 or PHYS 110-4 instead of PHYS 115-4.
*Recommended: Calculus II
Students who intend to pursue professional programs - such as medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine - should contact the program advisor regarding the correct course sequences required for individual programs, particularly with respect to PHYS or MATH requirements.
200 Level
| Ecology | |
| Invertebrate Zoology | |
| Microbiology | |
| Plant Biology | |
| Genetics | |
| Organic Chemistry I | |
| Organic Chemistry II | |
| Introductory Biochemistry | |
| Basic Statistics |
Students must also take 6 additional credit hours of courses at the 200 level or above. Students are encouraged to explore a diversity of courses during their undergraduate biology education. While biology content is not specifically required, biology students may find relevant courses among the following prefixes: ANTH, BCMB, CHEM, ENPL, ENSC, ENVS, FNST, FSTY, GEOG, HHSC, INTS, NREM, NORS, ORTM, PHIL, PHYS, POLS, PSYC, and STAT.
It is recommended that students consult with a Student Advisor regarding their interests and the content of various courses.
Upper-Division Requirement
300 Level
| Cell and Molecular Biology | |
| Evolutionary Biology | |
| Ecological Analyses |
One of the following:
| Plants, Society and the Environment | |
| Animal Physiology |
Two of the following:
| Systematic Botany | |
| Ichthyology and Herpetology | |
| Ornithology and Mammalogy | |
| Fungi and Lichens |
400 Level
| Conservation Biology |
One of the following:
| Plant Ecology | |
| Fish Ecology | |
| Wildlife Ecology |
Subject Requirements
A minimum of 18 additional credit hours chosen from the following, of which at least 9 credit hours must be at the 400 level:
Any 300 or 400 level BIOL, FSTY, NREM, NRES, or ORTM courses
Additional Requirements
At least one course with Social Sciences content must be taken from the following list: , , , or (these may also count as Subject Requirements);
or any course with the following prefixes: ANTH, COMM, ECON, EDUC, ENPL, ENVS, FNST, INTS, NORS, ORTM, POLS, PSYC.
Elective Requirement
Elective credit hours must be taken as necessary to ensure completion of a minimum of 125 credit hours.
Biology BSc Areas of Specialization
Biology BSc students have the option to complete one Area of Specialization. Students must take five courses in an Area of Specialization. There is no limit to the number of courses taken within a specialization that may be used to fulfill both common biology requirements and specialization requirements. Students who are considering an Area of Specialization are strongly encouraged to talk to an advisor early in their second year in order to ensure that the prerequisites are met for upper-division courses.
Applied Ecology
| Plants, Society, and the Environment | |
| Population and Community Ecology | |
| Natural Resources Planning |
One of the following:
| Plant Ecology | |
| Fish Ecology | |
| Wildlife Ecology |
One of the following:
| Ethnobotany | |
| Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems | |
| Wildlife Management | |
| Fisheries Management | |
| Insects, Fungi and Society | |
| Environmental Modelling | |
| Forest Ecosystem Modelling | |
| Aboriginal Perspectives on Land and Resource Management | |
| Society, Policy and Administration | |
| Conservation Planning | |
| Recreation and Tourism Impacts | |
| Conservation Area Design and Management |
Botany and Mycology
| Systematic Botany | |
| Fungi and Lichens | |
| Plant Ecology |
Two of the following:
| Plants, Society and the Environment | |
| Ethnobotany | |
| Aquatic Plants | |
| Population and Community Ecology | |
| Insects, Fungi and Society | |
| Disturbance Ecology and Forest Health |
Cell Biology and Genetics
| Intermediary Metabolism | |
| Molecular Cell Physiology | |
| Applied Genetics and Biotechnology |
Two of the following:
| Physical Biochemistry | |
| Basic Science of Oncology | |
| Macromolecular Structure | |
| Advanced Nucleic Acids | |
| Proteins and Enzymology | |
| Animal Physiology | |
| Molecular Evolution and Ecology |
Ecology and Evolution
| Molecular Evolution and Ecology |
Two of the following:
| Plant Ecology | |
| Fish Ecology | |
| Wildlife Ecology |
Two of the following:
| Limnology | |
| Population and Community Ecology | |
| Animal Behaviour | |
| Applied Genetics and Biotechnology | |
| Environmental Modelling | |
| Disturbance Ecology and Forest Health |
Field Biology and Natural History
| Systematic Botany | |
| Fungi and Lichens | |
| Field School |
(Students may substitute another biology-oriented field experience course for BIOL 333 at the discretion of the Chair)
Two of the following:
| Limnology | |
| Plants, Society and the Environment | |
| Animal Diseases and Parasites | |
| Entomology | |
| Ethnobotany | |
| Aquatic Plants | |
| Animal Behaviour | |
| Insects, Fungi and Society | |
| Outdoor, Environmental, and Experiential Education |
Zoology
| Ichthyology and Herpetology | |
| Ornithology and Mammalogy | |
| Animal Physiology |
Two of the following:
| Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems | |
| Population and Community Ecology | |
| Wildlife Management | |
| Fisheries Management | |
| Animal Behaviour | |
| Insects, Fungi and Society |
BSc Honours - Biology
The Honours in Biology recognizes undergraduate students who both excel at their studies and who complete the Undergraduate Thesis (normally ).
To enter the Honours Program, students must have completed 60 credit hours and obtained a minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.33. Attaining the minimum Cumulative GPA requirement does not guarantee entry into the Honours Program, which is at the discretion of the Ecosystem Science and Management Program. Maintenance of a Cumulative GPA of 3.33 is required to remain in the Honours program.
Honours students are required to complete the degree requirements for the BSc in Biology. In addition, each student must also complete an additional 6 credit hours in the form of an undergraduate thesis chosen from , , or under the supervision of a faculty member.
Note: Students are responsible for finding their own undergraduate thesis research supervisor. Faculty members are under no obligation to supervise honours students.
Minor in Biology
The minor in Biology offers students in other disciplines the opportunity to gain a solid foundation in the diversity of life and biological processes.
The minor in Biology requires the completion of 29 credit hours, of which 12 credit hours must be at the upper-division (i.e., 300 or 400) level.
A maximum of 14 credit hours which are used to fulfill requirements for a major or another minor may also be used to fulfill program requirements for a minor in Biology. These 14 credit hours consist of 8 credit hours at the 100 level plus 6 credit hours at the 200 level or above.
Requirements
| Introductory Biology I | |
| Introductory Biology II | |
| Introductory Biology I Laboratory | |
| Introductory Biology II Laboratory | |
| Ecology | |
| Genetics | |
| Evolutionary Biology |
One of the following:
| Invertebrate Zoology | |
| Microbiology | |
| Plant Biology |
One of the following:
| Systematic Botany | |
| Ichthyology and Herpetology | |
| Ornithology and Mammalogy | |
| Fungi and Lichens |
One of the following:
| Plants, Society and the Environment | |
| Cell and Molecular Biology | |
| Animal Physiology |
Three additional credit hours in Biology at the 300 or 400 level.
Minor in Biology and Conservation
The minor in Biology and Conservation provides students with a background in ecological principles and techniques associated with the management and conservation of animal and plant populations and communities associated with a range of ecosystems. Upon completion of the minor, students will have a broad background in genetics and evolution, population and community dynamics, ecological analysis, and the key problems and approaches for conserving biological diversity.
The minor in Biology and Conservation requires the completion of a minimum of 27 credit hours of study (plus associated prerequisites). A maximum of two courses (6 credit hours) used to fulfill the requirements for a major, or another minor, may also be used to fulfill requirements for this minor. Forest Ecology and Management majors will have the following prerequisites as part of the major core requirements. Students from other majors will need to fulfill the prerequisite requirements for this minor.
| Introductory Biology I | |
| Introductory Biology II | |
| Introductory Biology I Laboratory | |
| Introductory Biology II Laboratory | |
| Ecology | |
| Basic Statistics |
Required Courses
| Genetics | |
| Evolutionary Biology | |
| Ecological Analyses | |
| Conservation Biology |
Five of the following courses, three of which must be Biology courses:
| Plants, Society and the Environment | |
| Ichthyology and Herpetology | |
| Ornithology and Mammalogy | |
| Fungi and Lichens | |
| Animal Physiology | |
| Field School | |
| Ethnobotany | |
| Aquatic Plants | |
| Plant Ecology | |
| Fish Ecology | |
| Population and Community Ecology | |
| Wildlife Ecology | |
| Internship | |
| Environmental Impact Assessment | |
| Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries | |
| Conservation Planning | |
| Agroforestry | |
| Protected Area Planning and Management |
Updated: June 27, 2024