General Science

Program Overview

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Program Overview & Highlights

• General 3-Year Program
• BSc

General Science is ideal for students who want to explore more than one area or are undecided about what subjects to study. You’ll focus on two core science areas – biology, chemistry, biochemistry, computer science, earth and environmental science, mathematics, physics, or economics – and still get the chance to pursue other areas, as well. Many students who start in this program transfer to a more specialized four-year honours program.

We also offer opportunities to study abroad, from the volcanoes of Iceland to the jungles of Costa Rica, service learning for credit, internships in all of our programs and co-op in many. Our science degrees combine the right balance of classroom instruction and hands-on learning in the lab and in the field.

Experiential Learning

Our world-class faculty are active in research and internationally recognized

Peer Mentoring

Learn More About Our Program

Our faculty to student ratio is the best in Ontario!

Over $2 Million in scholarships given annually1

1 to Faculty of Science students

Over 70% of science students will participate in undergraduate research

Admission Requirements

High School Student from Canada

• Required Courses: Advanced Functions/MHF4U andtwo of Chemistry/SCH4U, Biology/SBI4U, Physics/SCH4U, English
• Strongly Recommended: Calculus & Vectors/MCV4U
• Min. Average: 70% (70% average of all attempted science and math courses)
• Mean Average: 84%

High School Student from Outside Canada and the United States (International)

• Required Courses: Advanced Functions/MHF4U andtwo of Chemistry/SCH4U, Biology/SBI4U, Physics/SCH4U, English
• Strongly Recommended: Calculus & Vectors/MCV4U
• Min. Average: 70% (70% average of all attempted science and math courses)
• Mean Average: 84%

Academic Calendars

The University of Windsor Academic Calendar is your source for official information about academic programs and regulations of the University of Windsor.

Career Tracks

• Health Sciences
• Health Technologies
• Education (with additional studies)
• Quality Control
• Government or Industrial Researcher

Plan Your Program

Term: Fall 2025

Important Notes

1. Students using this program guide should also attend Head Start or make an appointment with an academic advisor in their program area during the first two weeks of the Fall 2025 semester.
2. Science academic advising and course selection questions can also be obtained by contacting us at the email address .
3. Open Choice means any course that fulfils the degree requirements. Many students choose to select a Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS) course in the first year.

Required Course Notes

Two sets of two courses from two different Departments or Schools (* Course with lab)

• BIOL 1101* and BIOL 1111*
• CHEM 1100* and CHEM 1110*
• COMP 1400* and COMP 1410*
• ECON 1100 and ECON 1110
• ESCI 1100* and ESCI 1111
• MATH 17201 or MATH 17601, and MATH 1730
• PHYS 1400* and PHYS 1410*

One set of two courses from a third Department or School (* Course with lab)

• BIOL 1101* and BIOL 1111*
• CHEM 1100* and CHEM 1110*
• COMP 2067 and COMP 2087
• COMP 1400* and COMP 1410*
• ECON 1100 and ECON 1110
• ESCI 1100* and ESCI 1111
• MATH 1760 or MATH 17201, and MATH 1730
• MATH 1760 or MATH 17201, and STAT 2910
• PHYS 1300* and PHYS 1310*
• PHYS 1400* and PHYS 1410*

Two Additional Courses

• Open choice
• Open choice

Various other Science or Arts and Social Science courses count toward a degree. Seek program advising for more information. Email for an appointment or electronic advice.

1 Students who “have ” credit for MCV4U Calculus and Vectors should register in MATH 1720 and MATH 1250; those who “do not ” have this credit should register in MATH 1760 and MATH 1260.

In person advising regarding the General Science program or course selection is available at the Faculty of Science office. All students are encouraged to seek advising regularly, especially before the registration periods. Email for an appointment or to ask your question(s) electronically. Some advising can be done remotely.

Required Courses

COMP 1400: Introduction to Algorithms and Programming I

This course is the first of a two-course sequence designed to introduce students to algorithm design and programming in a high-level language such as C. The main objectives of the course are to develop the ability to identify, understand and design solutions to a wide variety of problems. Topics include: computer system overview, hardware and software, problem solving steps, concepts of variables, constants, data types, algorithmic structure, sequential logic, decisions, loops, modular programming, one-dimensional arrays, text files. If possible, problems like searching/sorting will be addressed. (3 lecture hours and 1.5 laboratory hours a week).

MATH 1720: Differential Calculus

This course will cover trigonometric functions and identities, inverse trigonometric functions, limits and continuity, derivatives and applications, mean value theorem, indeterminate forms and l’Hôpital’s rule, antiderivatives and an introduction to definite integrals. This course is for students who have taken both Ontario Grade 12 Advanced Functions (MHF4U) and Ontario Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U). Students who do not have credit for MCV4U should take MATH-1760. (Prerequisites: Ontario Grade 12 Advanced Functions (MHF4U) and Ontario Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U) or MATH-1780.) (Antirequisite: MATH-1760.) (3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour per week.)

MATH 1760: Functions and Differential Calculus

This course will cover a review of functions, trigonometric functions and identities, transcendental functions, inverse trigonometric functions, introduction to limits, continuity, derivatives and applications, mean value theorem, indeterminate forms and l’Hôpital’s rule, antiderivatives and an introduction to definite integrals. This course is for students who have taken Ontario Grade 12 Advanced Functions (MHF4U), but have not taken Ontario Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U). Students who have credit for MCV4U should take MATH-1720. The course is equivalent to MATH-1720 for all prerequisite purposes. (Prerequisite: Ontario Grade 12Advanced Functions (MHF4U).) (Antirequisite: MATH-1720.) (4 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour per week.)

PHYS 1400: Introductory Physics I

First semester in a four-semester sequence in calculus-based introductory physics with an emphasis on mechanics. (Prerequisites: Grade 12“U” Advanced Functions and Introductory Calculus or equivalent. Recommended co-requisite: MATH-1720.) (3 lecture hours per week, 3 laboratory hours per week.) Open to students in Engineering, Human Kinetics, Forensic Science, Bachelor of Arts and Science, and all programs within in the Faculty of Science; exceptions only with the permission of the Head or designate. (Antirequisites: PHYS-1300, PHYS-1305.)

PHYS 1300: Introductory Physics for Life Sciences I

This is an algebra-based course intended for students interested in the biological or health sciences, or related disciplines. The topics covered include the basic mechanical concepts of force, work and energy, properties of matter, and heat, with examples and applications drawn from the modeling of biological systems. (Prerequisites: one 4 “U” or OAC mathematics course or equivalent.) (3 lecture hours a week, 3 laboratory hours per week) (Anti-requisites: PHYS-1305, PHYS-1400.) (Open to students in Human Kinetics, Forensic Science, Bachelor of Arts and Science, and all programs within in the Faculty of Science; exceptions only with the permission of the Head or designate.)

BIOL 1101: Cell Biology

Examination of the principles governing living systems, with emphasis on the molecular and cellular basis of life, molecular genetics, energetics, differentiation, and development. (Grade 12 “U” Biology or equivalent, or BIOM-1003 and BIOL-1013 are strongly recommended) (3 lecture, 3 laboratory hours a week.)

ECON 1100: Introduction to Economics I

An introduction to microeconomics intended to provide students with the tools necessary to begin to understand and evaluate how resources are allocated in a market economy. Specific topics include how markets function, theories of the business firm, of consumer behaviour and of income distribution. The economic roles of labour unions and government are also covered. The theories are applied to contemporary Canadian economic problems.

ESCI 1100: Environmental Systems – An Introduction to Environmental Science

An introduction to the components of Earth’s environment (geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere) and the principles and processes defining and influencing environmental systems (energy and matter cycles). Human interactions with, and influences on, the environment will be examined (resource and land use, waste and pollution, development, conservation and sustainability). This course is designed for Science majors. (3 lecture hours a week, optional field trips).

COMP 2067: Programming for Beginners

This course introduces fundamental computer programming principles and structured programming concepts, with an emphasis on good programming. Stages of the software development cycles are introduced: analysis, design, implementation, debugging and deployment. May not be used to fulfill the major requirements of any major or joint major in Computer Science, except fro the Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT program.) (3 lecture hours).

CHEM 1100: General Chemistry I

Introductory concepts in chemistry, including reactions of atoms, ions, and molecules, solution stoichiometry, thermochemistry, electronic structure of atoms, basic chemical bonding and molecular geometry, periodic properties of the elements, and the theory of gases. (Prerequisite: Grade 12“U” Chemistry or equivalent,or consent of the instructor.) (3 lecture, 3 laboratory/tutorial hours a week.)