Program Overview

Honours BSc Biochemistry - Microbiology and Immunology Option

The Honours BSc in Biochemistry with an option in Microbiology and Immunology is a comprehensive program that provides students with a deep understanding of the chemistry of life and the molecular basis of human disease. This program is designed to prepare students for graduate studies and careers in medical research, academia, and the healthcare industry.

Program Overview

Biochemistry is the foundation for understanding all biological processes, and this program offers a unique opportunity to explore the molecular basis of life and disease. Students will be exposed to cutting-edge research and knowledge, and will have the opportunity to work with renowned faculty members in state-of-the-art facilities.

Program Requirements

The program requires 120 units, including:

• 3 optional course units in English (ENG) at the 1000 or 2000 level
• Compulsory courses at the 1000 level:
  • BIO 1130: Introduction to Organismal Biology
  • BIO 1140: Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
  • CHM 1311: Principles of Chemistry
  • CHM 1321: Organic Chemistry I
  • MAT 1330: Calculus for the Life Sciences I
  • MAT 1332: Calculus for the Life Sciences II
  • PHY 1321: Principles of Physics I
• Compulsory courses at the 2000 level:
  • BCH 2333: Introduction to Biochemistry
  • BIO 2133: Genetics
  • CHM 2120: Organic Chemistry II
  • CHM 2123: Laboratory of Organic Chemistry II
  • CHM 2132: Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences
  • MAT 2379: Introduction to Biostatistics
• Compulsory courses at the 3000 level:
  • BCH 3120: General Intermediary Metabolism
  • BCH 3125: Protein Structure and Function
  • BCH 3170: Molecular Biology
  • BCH 3346: Biochemistry Laboratory II
  • BCH 3356: Molecular Biology Laboratory
  • BIO 3124: General Microbiology
  • BIO 3126: General Microbiology Laboratory
  • BIO 3153: Cell Biology
• Compulsory courses at the 4000 level:
  • BCH 4932: Biochemistry Seminar
  • MIC 4124: Pathogenic Bacteriology
  • MIC 4125: Immunology
  • MIC 4126: Virology
• One option from the following:
  • Option 1: Honours Project
    • BCH 4040: Honours Research - Biochemistry 2
  • Option 2: Honours Project Substitution
    • 3 course units from:
      • BPS 4104: Bioinformatics Laboratory
      • BPS 4127: Advanced Techniques in Biosciences
    • 6 optional course units at the 3000 and 4000 level in science
• Optional Courses:
  • 3 course units from:
    • PHY 1322: Principles of Physics II
    • PHY 2325: Physics in Biology
  • 3 course units from:
    • BCH 4101: Human Genome Structure and Function
    • BCH 4122: Structural Biology of Proteins
    • BCH 4123: Pathological Biochemistry
    • BCH 4124: Carbohydrates and Glycobiology
    • BCH 4125: Cellular Regulation and Control
    • BCH 4126: Structural Biology of Membranes
    • BCH 4172: Topics in Biotechnology
    • BCH 4188: Synthetic Biology
    • BCH 4300: Selected Topics in Biochemistry
    • BPS 3101: Genomics
    • BPS 4129: Advanced Chemical Biology
    • CHM 4139: Enzyme Chemistry and Biocatalysis
• Electives:
  • 9 elective course units from the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences, or the Telfer School of Management
  • 18 elective course units

Research Areas

The program offers a wide range of research areas, including:

• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Chemical biology
• Molecular biology
• Cell biology
• Proteomics
• Genomics
• Systems biology
• Bioinformatics

Language of Instruction

The program is offered in both English and French, with compulsory courses and many optional course units available in either language.

Co-operative Education

Co-operative education is available with this program, providing students with the opportunity to gain practical work experience in their field of study.

French Immersion Stream

The French immersion stream is available with this program, allowing students to complete their degree in French and gain a unique cultural and linguistic experience.