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: NRES 430-6 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
| BIOL 103-3 | Introductory Biology I |
| BIOL 104-3 | Introductory Biology II |
| BIOL 123-1 | Introductory Biology I Laboratory |
| BIOL 124-1 | Introductory Biology II Laboratory |
| CHEM 100-3 | General Chemistry I |
| CHEM 101-3 | General Chemistry II |
| CHEM 120-1 | General Chemistry Lab I |
| CHEM 121-1 | General Chemistry Lab II |
| MATH 152-3 | Calculus for Non-majors |
| or MATH 100-3 | Calculus I |
| NRES 100-3 | Communications in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies |
| or ENGL 170-3 | Writing and Communication Skills |
| PHYS 115-4 | General Introduction to Physics |
| or PHYS 100-4 | Physics for Life Sciences I |
| or PHYS 110-4 | 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: MATH 101-3 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
| BIOL 201-3 | Ecology |
| BIOL 202-3 | Invertebrate Zoology |
| BIOL 203-3 | Microbiology |
| BIOL 204-3 | Plant Biology |
| BIOL 210-3 | Genetics |
| CHEM 201-3 | Organic Chemistry I |
| CHEM 203-3 | Organic Chemistry II |
| CHEM 204-3 | Introductory Biochemistry |
| STAT 240-3 | 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
| BIOL 311-3 | Cell and Molecular Biology |
| BIOL 323-3 | Evolutionary Biology |
| BIOL 325-3 | Ecological Analyses |
One of the following:
| BIOL 304-3 | Plants, Society and the Environment |
| BIOL 321-3 | Animal Physiology |
Two of the following:
| BIOL 301-3 | Systematic Botany |
| BIOL 307-3 | Ichthyology and Herpetology |
| BIOL 308-3 | Ornithology and Mammalogy |
| BIOL 318-3 | Fungi and Lichens |
400 Level
| BIOL 411-3 | Conservation Biology |
One of the following:
| BIOL 404-3 | Plant Ecology |
| BIOL 406-3 | Fish Ecology |
| BIOL 412-3 | 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: BIOL 304-3, BIOL 350-3, BIOL 420-3, or BIOL 421-3 (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
| BIOL 304-3 | Plants, Society, and the Environment |
| BIOL 410-3 | Population and Community Ecology |
| NREM 400-4 | Natural Resources Planning |
One of the following:
| BIOL 404-3 | Plant Ecology |
| BIOL 406-3 | Fish Ecology |
| BIOL 412-3 | Wildlife Ecology |
One of the following:
| BIOL 350-3 | Ethnobotany |
| BIOL 409-3 | Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems |
| BIOL 413-3 | Wildlife Management |
| BIOL 414-3 | Fisheries Management |
| BIOL 421-3 | Insects, Fungi and Society |
| ENSC 406-3 | Environmental Modelling |
| FSTY 405-3 | Forest Ecosystem Modelling |
| NREM 303-3 | Aboriginal Perspectives on Land and Resource Management |
| NREM 306-3 | Society, Policy and Administration |
| NREM 409-3 | Conservation Planning |
| ORTM 300-3 | Recreation and Tourism Impacts |
| ORTM 400-3 | Conservation Area Design and Management |
Botany and Mycology
| BIOL 301-3 | Systematic Botany |
| BIOL 318-3 | Fungi and Lichens |
| BIOL 404-3 | Plant Ecology |
Two of the following:
| BIOL 304-3 | Plants, Society and the Environment |
| BIOL 350-3 | Ethnobotany |
| BIOL 402-3 | Aquatic Plants |
| BIOL 410-3 | Population and Community Ecology |
| BIOL 421-3 | Insects, Fungi and Society |
| FSTY 307-3 | Disturbance Ecology and Forest Health |
Cell Biology and Genetics
| BCMB 306-3 | Intermediary Metabolism |
| BIOL 312-3 | Molecular Cell Physiology |
| BIOL 425-3 | Applied Genetics and Biotechnology |
Two of the following:
| BCMB 340-3 | Physical Biochemistry |
| BCMB 401-3 | Basic Science of Oncology |
| BCMB 402-3 | Macromolecular Structure |
| BCMB 403-3 | Advanced Nucleic Acids |
| BCMB 404-3 | Proteins and Enzymology |
| BIOL 321-3 | Animal Physiology |
| BIOL 423-3 | Molecular Evolution and Ecology |
Ecology and Evolution
| BIOL 423-3 | Molecular Evolution and Ecology |
Two of the following:
| BIOL 404-3 | Plant Ecology |
| BIOL 406-3 | Fish Ecology |
| BIOL 412-3 | Wildlife Ecology |
Two of the following:
| BIOL 302-3 | Limnology |
| BIOL 410-3 | Population and Community Ecology |
| BIOL 420-3 | Animal Behaviour |
| BIOL 425-3 | Applied Genetics and Biotechnology |
| ENSC 406-3 | Environmental Modelling |
| FSTY 307-3 | Disturbance Ecology and Forest Health |
Field Biology and Natural History
| BIOL 301-3 | Systematic Botany |
| BIOL 318-3 | Fungi and Lichens |
| BIOL 333-3 | Field School |
(Students may substitute another biology-oriented field experience course for BIOL 333 at the discretion of the Chair)
Two of the following:
| BIOL 302-3 | Limnology |
| BIOL 304-3 | Plants, Society and the Environment |
| BIOL 315-3 | Animal Diseases and Parasites |
| BIOL 322-3 | Entomology |
| BIOL 350-3 | Ethnobotany |
| BIOL 402-3 | Aquatic Plants |
| BIOL 420-3 | Animal Behaviour |
| BIOL 421-3 | Insects, Fungi and Society |
| ORTM 332-3 | Outdoor, Environmental, and Experiential Education |
Zoology
| BIOL 307-3 | Ichthyology and Herpetology |
| BIOL 308-3 | Ornithology and Mammalogy |
| BIOL 321-3 | Animal Physiology |
Two of the following:
| BIOL 409-3 | Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems |
| BIOL 410-3 | Population and Community Ecology |
| BIOL 413-3 | Wildlife Management |
| BIOL 414-3 | Fisheries Management |
| BIOL 420-3 | Animal Behaviour |
| BIOL 421-3 | 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 NRES 430-6).
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 NRES 430-6, ENSC 430-6, or BCMB 430-6 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
| BIOL 103-3 | Introductory Biology I |
| BIOL 104-3 | Introductory Biology II |
| BIOL 123-1 | Introductory Biology I Laboratory |
| BIOL 124-1 | Introductory Biology II Laboratory |
| BIOL 201-3 | Ecology |
| BIOL 210-3 | Genetics |
| BIOL 323-3 | Evolutionary Biology |
One of the following:
| BIOL 202-3 | Invertebrate Zoology |
| BIOL 203-3 | Microbiology |
| BIOL 204-3 | Plant Biology |
One of the following:
| BIOL 301-3 | Systematic Botany |
| BIOL 307-3 | Ichthyology and Herpetology |
| BIOL 308-3 | Ornithology and Mammalogy |
| BIOL 318-3 | Fungi and Lichens |
One of the following:
| BIOL 304-3 | Plants, Society and the Environment |
| BIOL 311-3 | Cell and Molecular Biology |
| BIOL 321-3 | 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.
| BIOL 103-3 | Introductory Biology I |
| BIOL 104-3 | Introductory Biology II |
| BIOL 123-1 | Introductory Biology I Laboratory |
| BIOL 124-1 | Introductory Biology II Laboratory |
| BIOL 201-3 | Ecology |
| STAT 240-3 | Basic Statistics |
Required Courses
| BIOL 210-3 | Genetics |
| BIOL 323-3 | Evolutionary Biology |
| BIOL 325-3 | Ecological Analyses |
| BIOL 411-3 | Conservation Biology |
Five of the following courses, three of which must be Biology courses:
| BIOL 304-3 | Plants, Society and the Environment |
| BIOL 307-3 | Ichthyology and Herpetology |
| BIOL 308-3 | Ornithology and Mammalogy |
| BIOL 318-3 | Fungi and Lichens |
| BIOL 321-3 | Animal Physiology |
| BIOL 333-3 | Field School |
| BIOL 350-3 | Ethnobotany |
| BIOL 402-3 | Aquatic Plants |
| BIOL 404-3 | Plant Ecology |
| BIOL 406-3 | Fish Ecology |
| BIOL 410-3 | Population and Community Ecology |
| BIOL 412-3 | Wildlife Ecology |
| BIOL 440-3 | Internship |
| ENPL 305-3 | Environmental Impact Assessment |
| NREM 204-3 | Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries |
| NREM 409-3 | Conservation Planning |
| NREM 413-3 | Agroforestry |
| ORTM 305-3 | Protected Area Planning and Management |
Updated: June 27, 2024