Program Overview

Program Overview

The B.Sc. Specialized in Biochemistry with an option in Synthetic Biology is a 120-credit program that provides students with a comprehensive education in biochemistry and its applications in medical research. Biochemistry is the chemistry of living organisms, and this program allows students to understand biological processes, the molecular basis of diseases, and their treatments.

Program Objectives

The program aims to prepare students for a career in biochemistry, particularly in emerging and dynamic sectors of medical research. It provides a solid foundation for further studies in biochemistry, medicine, and other health sciences. Students can choose from various options, including a specialized degree, major, or minor in biochemistry.

Program Structure

The program consists of compulsory and optional courses, which are offered in both English and French. Students can pursue a research project under the supervision of a professor or researcher from the departments of chemistry and biomolecular sciences, biology, physics, or biochemistry, microbiology, and immunology.

Compulsory Courses

• 3 credits of optional courses in French letters (FRA) at the 1000 or 2000 level
• BIO 1530: Introduction to Organismal Biology
• BIO 1540: Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
• CHM 1711: Principles of Chemistry
• CHM 1721: Organic Chemistry I
• MAT 1730: Differential and Integral Calculus for Life Sciences I
• MAT 1732: Differential and Integral Calculus for Life Sciences II
• PHY 1721: Principles of Physics I
• BCH 2733: Introduction to Biochemistry
• BIO 2533: Genetics
• CHM 2520: Organic Chemistry II
• CHM 2523: Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
• CHM 2532: Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences
• MAT 2779: Introduction to Biostatistics
• BCH 3520: General Intermediate Metabolism
• BCH 3525: Protein Structure and Function
• BCH 3570: Molecular Biology
• BCH 3746: Biochemistry Laboratory II
• BCH 3756: Molecular Biology Laboratory
• BIO 3524: General Microbiology
• BCH 4172: Topics in Biotechnology
• BCH 4522: Structural Biology of Proteins
• BCH 4588: Synthetic Biology
• BCH 4932: Biochemistry Seminar 1

Optional Courses

• 9 credits from the following options:
  • Option 1: Research Project
    • BCH 4040: Biochemistry Research Project
  • Option 2: Substitute for Research Project
    • 3 credits from BPS 4504: Bioinformatics Laboratory or BPS 4527: Advanced Bioscience Techniques
    • 6 credits of optional courses at the 3000 or 4000 level in sciences
• 3 credits from the following:
  • PHY 1722: Principles of Physics II
  • PHY 2725: Physics in Biology
• 3 credits from the following:
  • BCH 4124: Carbohydrates and Glycobiology
  • CHM 4139: Enzyme Chemistry and Biocatalysis
• 6 credits from the following:
  • BCH 4123: Pathological Biochemistry
  • BCH 4501: Human Genome Structure and Function
  • BCH 4525: Cellular Control and Regulation
  • BCH 4526: Structural Biology of Membranes
  • BCH 4700: Selected Topics in Biochemistry 2
  • BPS 3501: Genomics
  • BPS 4129: Advanced Chemical Biology
• 9 credits of elective courses offered by the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences, or the Telfer School of Management
• 18 credits of elective courses

Research Areas

The program covers a wide range of research areas, including biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, chemical biology, molecular biology, cellular biology, proteomics, genomics, systems biology, and bioinformatics.

Language of Instruction

The program is offered in both English and French. The Co-operative Education program is also available with this program. The French Immersion Stream is offered in the English-language version of this program.

Notes

1. This course spans from September to April.
2. This course may not be offered every year.
3. The course BCH 4040 is highly recommended. A minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 6.5 or higher, or a major CGPA of 6.5 or higher, calculated from the last two years of full-time studies in the specialized program in biochemistry (minimum of 54 credits, including all compulsory 3000-level courses), is required. This course spans from September to April.