Official course descriptions and information on when courses are next offered are in the official academic calendar.  Also see full listing of courses in the Biology program.  

Biology 112: Diversity of Life

Taught: Winter Term
Description: This course emphasizes the interrelationships of living systems and their roles in the global ecosystem. Students explore evolution and the origins of life, organismic diversity, adaptations, and ecology. Human interactions with the diversity of life are considered throughout the course. Basic skills that underpin success as an undergraduate student are also emphasized. Required for all students continuing in biology. Three credits and lab.

Biology 342: Invertebrate Zoology

Taught: Fall Term
Description: A comparative study of invertebrate animals and their adaptations, including their morphology, behaviour, physiology, ecology and evolution. Students will learn the remarkable diversity of both form and function in these animals. At the same time, students will refine their powers of observation, improve their ability to ask and answer critical questions about organisms, and design experiments that will lead to further insight into invertebrate zoology. Prerequisite: BIOL 201. Three credits and lab.

Biology 484: Animal Behaviour

Taught: Fall Term
Description: An introduction to the principles of ethology drawing on examples from all animal phyla, with an emphasis on vertebrates. Students learn both the physiological and evolutionary bases of behaviour. Topics covered will span simple reflexes through complex social behaviours, including survival, predation, habitat selection, communication, and mating behaviours. Participation in field trips is required. Prerequisite: BIOL 201 or PSYC 230. Three credits and lab.

Coordinator of Students Responsibilities

Biology 391: Career Development Junior Seminar

Taught: Full Year
Modular course helping students prepare for careers and programs that follow graduation. Various optional activities help in choosing a career, gaining admission to graduate or professional programs, getting involved in research, and developing transferable professional skills. Honours students are guided in choosing a supervisor and preparing for thesis work. Required for all biology advanced major and honours students in their third year. Recommended but not required for major students in their third year. No credit.

Biology 491: Senior Seminar

Taught: Full Year
Seminars on topics of major biological interest are presented by faculty members, staff, and visiting scientists. Provides an opportunity for deeper engagement with contemporary ideas from across all aspects of biology. Required for all biology advanced major and honours students in their final year of study. Recommended but not required for major students in their final year of study. No credit.

Biology 475: Accessing the Biological Literature

Provides credit for background research and preparation of the Introduction to the Honours Thesis. Required for and restricted to Honours Students only, who must register in both Biol 475 and 493. Three credits.

Biology 493: Honours Thesis

The Biology Honours program exposes undergraduates to original research, including the design of an investigation, data collection and analysis, and presentation of the findings. The program also provides the most in-depth training in critical thinking and communication skills that are broadly applicable following graduation. Preparation for the honours program begins in Biol 391. For details, see the department website or contact the departmental Coordinator of Students. Three credits.