GENERAL INFORMATION
The Biology Department offers the following programs: Honours (by Thesis or by Course), Major and Minor.
Either of the Honours programs provides students with the preparation required for graduate work in Biology, while pre-professional students will usually find that they can adapt the Honours by Course Program to meet the prerequisites for admission to professional schools.*
The Major program is designed to provide concentration in Biology while maximizing a student's access to the offerings of other Departments and Faculties. It will therefore be of use to students with interdisciplinary educational and career objectives. With care, pre-professional students should be able to use this to satisfy prerequisites to many professional schools.*
These programs have common lower level (Year I and Year II) requirements totalling 74 ch.
The Minor program is structured to meet the individual needs of the student and will complement his/her major program.
Admission to these programs is by application to the Chair of Biology. Minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) requirements and prerequisites may be required for admission.
An advisor, assigned to each successful applicant, must approve course selections according to the guidelines given below.
Students are reminded that courses offered by other Departments form an important complementary part of the overall program of studies. A minimum of 12 ch of electives selected from the course offerings of the Faculty of Arts are required in the Honours and Major programs.
Note: In addition to their Biology advisor, Pre-professional students must consult the Assistant Dean of Science for information about prerequisites and advice on program planning.
Lower Level (Year I and Year II) Requirements
Year I (38 ch minimum)
BIOL 1001 , 1006 , 1012 , 1017 ;
CHEM 1001 , 1006 , 1012 , 1017 ;
MATH 1003 or 1053
and one of MATH 1013 , 1063 or STAT 2264 .
2 more term courses of first year science lectures (Physics or Geology).
6 ch electives
Year II
CHEM 2401 (3 ch) and STAT 2264 (3 ch)* (see Note 4)
(10 ch) Cellular Core Module: BIOL 2025 Research Foundations in Cellular Biology (4 ch) plus two of:
BIOL 2033 Biochemistry (3 ch)
BIOL 2043 Cell Biology (3 ch)
BIOL 2053 Genetics (3 ch)
(10 ch) Organismal Core Module: Required to take any two of the following:
BIOL 2073 Bacteriology (5 ch-3C/3L)
BIOL 2083 Botany (5 ch-3C/3L)
BIOL 2093 Zoology (5 ch-3C/3L)
(10 ch) Ecology/Evolution Core Module: BIOL 2105 (Research Foundations in Ecology/Population Biology) (4 ch) plus :
BIOL 2113 An Introduction to Ecology (3 ch)
BIOL 2143 Evolution (3 ch)
Notes:
Students in all Biology programs will not be allowed to take any third or fourth year Biology courses, until they have passed (C minimum) all first year requirements for Biology programs.
Students should plan ahead and anticipate upper level course prerequisites when choosing courses to satisfy the lower level requirements.
While the Department of Biology will attempt to maximize and optimize course offerings, circumstances are such that the Department cannot guarantee to offer all courses in any particular year. Students should therefore try to take important or essential courses at the first practical opportunity.
If STAT 2264 is counted as a first year requirement, an extra 3 ch of Biology must be taken.
Students are urged to register early (by the end of classes, Winter term) for courses they plan to take in the next academic year that are required for their program and that have limited enrollment.
Upper Level (Year III and IV) Requirements
The Department of Biology offers four main programs: Major, Honours by Course or by Thesis, and a Minor Program. Their specific requirements are outlined below. Applications for admission to these programs can be made to the Chair of Biology as early as preregistration at the end of Year I, or at any appropriate time thereafter.
The Honours and Major Programs differ in their admission requirements, upper level biology course content, and total credit hours expected.
Major Program:
To receive a Major in Biology, each student must complete a total of 132 ch, including the Year I and II requirements (74) plus completion of at least 28 additional ch of Biology courses beyond the Level I and II requirements. Acceptable courses include Year II core courses in excess of the minimum requirement, and upper level courses as outlined in this Calendar*. Electives must include a minimum of 12 ch of Arts electives.
Notes: Students must take one of the following lecture plus lab combinations: BIOL 3521 ; 3801 plus 3908 ; ( 3031 or 4082 ) plus 4056 ; or ( 3261 or 3491 ) plus 3206 .
Honours Program:
To receive Honours in Biology, each student must complete a total of 150 ch, including the requirements for the Major Program, plus an additional 18 ch of acceptable Biology courses, as described for the Major Program.
The two Honours Programs differ as follows.
Honours by Course: Students must have (and maintain) a minimum cgpa of 3.3 to be accepted into (and remain in) this program.
Honours by Thesis: Students must have (and maintain) a minimum cgpa of 3.5 to be accepted into (and remain in) this program. The initial application to this Program is normally made to the Chair of Biology before preregistration at the end of Year III. Students must make arrangements to complete their dissertation research with a Faculty member in the Department of Biology, and to obtain a letter of support from their intended supervisor to file with the Chair at the time of application. BIOL 4090 (Honours Thesis Project) is required and the course description should be consulted for further information and specific procedures.
Minor Program:
The Minor in Biology is designed for students in other Departments of the Faculty of Science, and outside the Science Faculty, who are interested in a coherent package of Biology courses. The Minor follows the University guidelines in B.9 and B.10 of the calendar and consists of a sequential grouping of courses totalling at least 24 credit hours with a grade of C or better, approved by the Department.
Notes:
Some upper level courses (3000 and 4000 level) have limited enrolment. Students should register in the Winter term for these courses, since assignments will be made in May following pre-registration. Priority for admission is as follows: Year IV Honours, Year IV Majors, Year III Honours, Year III Majors. Within each category, students will be selected based on cgpa (and at the discretion of the instructor). If space permits, students in a Minor program may also enroll in these courses
Some Biology courses are designed for non-Science students. Students enrolled in Biology programs may take these courses but they can only be considered as electives for the purposes of the Biology Programs. Such courses include: BIOL 2501 , 2512 , 2752 , 2792 , and 2251 . For courses offered see “Description of Courses, Biology”.
Co-operative Work Experience in Biology
Admission to the Program is selective and will be approved by the Departmental Co-operative Program committee. Students must have (and maintain) a cgpa of 3.0 to be admitted and retained in the Program. Refer to the description in the Biology Option for degree requirements of a major or honours program.
Students must successfully complete Year II in Science to be accepted into either the Co-op Biology Major or Honours Programs.
Students must be fully registered at the University of New Brunswick (Fredericton) during each work-term so that they can be considered as full-time students while working.
A fee will be charged for each registered 4-month work-term to cover placement and administrative costs.
Students must undertake a minimum of 4 work-terms during the course of their program. The work-terms may alternate with study-terms, or the terms may run consecutively over two terms. Students must complete at least one study-term after their last work-term.
Each 4-month work term will be monitored directly by the employer and Departmental Co-operative Program Director through oral and written communications with the employer and student. The student is required to complete a report after each 4-month work-term. Work-term evaluations by the employer and work-term reports must be satisfactory to remain in the program and for the Co-op designation to appear on University transcripts. Details of each successful work-term will appear on the student’s transcript.
“Co-operative Education in Biology” will follow the degree designation on the student’s final transcript.
In addition to the general biology concentration, a variety of special concentrations are available to students electing to do a honours or major in Biology. These concentrations are designed to give students more concentrated education in specific areas. The concentrations are suggested course sequences. Each of the concentrations has a basic portion, which should be taken, and an elective portion, from which students may select courses best suited to their future goals.
Aquaculture and Fisheries Biology Concentration
Basic program: BIOL 3383 or 3173 , 3703 , 3801 , 3873 , 4741 , 4861 , 4746 , 4773 , 4991 .
Primary electives: BIOL 3673 , 3688 , 3908 , 4162 , 4223 , 4233 , 4570 .
General Zoology Concentration
Basic program: BIOL 3602 , 3703 , 3801 , 3908 .
Highly recommended: BIOL 3173 and/or BIOL 3383 .
Primary electives: BIOL 3181 , 3673 , 3873 , 4162 , 4723 , 4732 , 4741 .
Marine Biology Concentration
Students should complete the 2nd Year Core prior to entering this concentration. The Advanced Courses Basic Program is offered in the Fall term in a block format, where 5 courses are offered consecutively over the term and a 6th course is offered concurrently through the whole term.
Preferred courses from the organismal core requirement (Biology Option Yr 2): BIOL 2083 , BIOL 2093 .
Field Courses Basic program (strongly recommended): BIOL 3173 .
Advanced Courses Basic Program (all 6 courses normally taken together in the Fall term): BIOL 4211 , BIOL 4221 , BIOL 4631 , BIOL 4641 , BIOL 4851 , BIOL 4991 .
Advanced Courses recommended electives: BIOL 3602 , BIOL 4233 , BIOL 4741 , BIOL 4746 , BIOL 4773 , BIOL 4863 , BIOL 4899 , BIOL 5473 .
Molecular and Microbiology Concentration
Second Year: CHEM 2422 , MATH 2003 , 2213 , or 2503 / 2513 .
Third and Fourth Years: BIOL 3031 , 3132 , 3206 , 3261 , 3491 , 4056 , 4151 , 4272 , CHEM 3503 , 3523 .
Parasitology Concentration
Basic program: BIOL 3602 , 3673 , 3688 , 3703 , 3801 .
Primary electives: BIOL 3873 , 4991 .
Physiology Concentration
Basic program: BIOL 3521 , 3801 , 3873 , 3908 , 4863 .
Primary electives: BIOL 3031 , 3132 , 3206 , 3261 , 4162 .
Plant Biology Concentration
Second Year: BIOL 2043 , 2053 , 2083
Advanced Courses: BIOL 3301 , 3321 , 3332 , 3342 , 3521 , 3541 , 4223 , 4363 , BIOL 2422 (This last course counts only as an elective).
Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation Concentration
Second Year: BIOL 2053 , 2083 , 2093
Advanced Courses: BIOL 3541 , 3703 , 3873 , 4191 , 4233 (OR FOR 5095 ), 4352 , 4723 , 4732 , 4741 , 4863 , 4899
Field courses: BIOL 3173 , 3383 , 4443 , BIOL 6183
Maintained by: casey@unb.ca
Last Update: 23 September 2008
This document: http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/science/biology/Degree_Info/Undergrad.html