Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics

at Langara College Canada

Biology is the study of life in all its variety and richness. It includes many aspects of your everyday experiences: your relationships with the environment, the foods you consume, the way your body works. In fact, functioning in the present world without biological knowledge is a distinct handicap, since biological advances are at the forefront of social change.

When you study biology at Langara, you will examine all aspects of living things: from the molecules that make up your cells to entire ecosystems. You will get an excellent grounding in a broad range of biology topics. You will also be able to choose courses in numerous specialties, such as ecology, microbiology, genetics, as you focus more closely on your personal interests and career goals.

Information about the living world and opportunities for Biology graduates have grown rapidly over the last few decades. Your career options will depend on your specific interests and educational focus, but could include research, education, journalism, law, public health, conservation, forensics and much more.  Some biology sectors such as biotechnology and environmental sciences are among the faster growing areas of the Canadian economy.

The Langara Biology Department has a firm commitment to providing the practical aspects of a science education. All our university-transfer Biology courses include 2 or 3 hours of lab or field work per week. We have five well-equipped lab rooms, including a dedicated Microbiology laboratory.  Our excellent team of lab demonstrators has a broad range of biology expertise and is available to assist students in the labs and during office hours. Also, a study space for second year students is available in the Biology lab area for biology students to work independently on assignments and projects throughout the term.

To be admitted and participate in a Co-operative Education option, students must:

• Be enrolled in three program courses (minimum 9 credits) or more, not including EXPE 2300 (formerly BUSM 2300/COOP 2300).
• Achieve and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.6 in each term.
• Successfully complete an employability assessment interview with a Co-op Officer, and
• Complete EXPE 2300 (formerly BUSM 2300/COOP 2300) with a minimum "C" grade.

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is a four-year baccalaureate degree in business for students interested in careers in the fields of Accounting, Business, and Marketing. The degree provides a solid foundation of theory and practical knowledge with specialized courses in each of the three concentrations. The BBA is highly applied in that students work closely with organizations, applying their knowledge to business situations as they learn.

Marketing Management is a dynamic field with variety of employment opportunities. Organizations large or small, established or newly-formed require marketing professionals to succeed. Langara graduates have a solid foundation in general marketing, sales, advertising, distribution, e-commerce, and marketing research. As well, they choose from specialized courses in special events marketing, consumer behaviour, customer relationship marketing, retail marketing and public relations. As with all our programs, the curriculum is rounded out with courses in Communications, Math, Economics and general education electives.

Students interested in Marketing Management should apply to the BBA program through the School of Management and then select Marketing Management as their concentration.

Langara College's Creative Writing program explores poetry, prose, fiction, non-fiction, and stageplay. In a reading and writing-rich environment, you will be challenged to express yourself through different voices as you study a variety of forms and techniques.

The General Education Diploma is appropriate for students who prefer a diverse selection of courses and do not necessarily plan to undertake university study. Students will gain knowledge in multiple areas of study. Holistically, the program aims to develop critical thinking abilities, strengthen research skills, and introduce a variety of theories. In many job opportunities, post-secondary experience is essential. The two-year Diploma provides students with a foundation of knowledge that will help in broad range of fields.

We have published authors in both academic and creative areas, but with our small classes and dedication to the needs of individual students, instruction has always been our department’s priority.

The English Department offers you reading and writing skills which will help you to:

• Enter a profession or trade career with practical communication skills
• Arrive at the university with experience and training in academic writing 
• Navigate future career opportunities which you haven't yet thought about
• Critically explore current society which will be interesting in its own right
• Help you to be a more engaged doctor, nurse, teacher or business person 
• Be an aware and critical citizen

We offer courses in the following areas:

• Literature: Most of our courses have a strong literature component because we are convinced that an appreciation for literature will not only open your mind to explore the various forms and genres of literature but also enable you to gain insights into the human condition. Whether you are confronted with the ever-changing world of technical innovation or the daily pressures of life, literature can provide models for reflection and action. 
• Creative Writing: Some of our faculty are published and acclaimed authors and editors. They will share their talents with you in creative writing classes that explore creative writing in workshop situations.
• Communications: Learn to express yourself professionally in the workplace in our communications courses. Whether you are fulfilling a degree requirement (for the BBA) or want to upgrade your communications skills, the presentation skills we teach you will contribute to your future success. Furthermore, the discussion of moral dilemmas as they occur in the workplace is a favourite feature of our communications courses.
• ESL & Academic Preparation: Whether you are a recent immigrant and non-native speaker or a native speaker who feels the need to upgrade your English skills, our ESL & Academic Preparation courses will bring your reading and writing skills up to speed in order to go on to our university transfer courses. Our academic preparation courses have especially small class sizes (20 students max) that allow the instructors to work very closely with you to improve your English skills.

The Diploma in Food, Nutrition, and Health Transfer is a limited enrolment program, developed in collaboration with UBC. Graduates of this program will receive acceptance to the Land and Food Systems Faculty and be eligible to apply to the 3rd year of the dietetics degree program. The diploma provides the first two years of Arts and Sciences prerequisite courses for the Dietetics Major at UBC, and completing this diploma may improve a student’s chances for admission.

The Food, Nutrition and Health Transfer program is a second year entry program, to which students apply after completing the 10 courses listed in the Admission Criteria tab.  Applications received without these courses completed will not be processed.  If you have questions – please contact the Primary Contact listed above.

The Diploma in Food, Nutrition, and Health Transfer Program has rigorous admission criteria. To remain in this program students have 4 years to complete the required curriculum, and must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The application criteria include a resume, showing Canadian work and/or volunteer experience that demonstrates commitment to dietetics as a career choice. This mirrors the requirements to UBC’s dietetic program, and can include:

• involvement in activities related to food and nutrition;
• experience in institutional foodservices and/or in a health care environment;
• activities involving direct exposure to and interaction with dietitians; and
• certificates related to food and nutrition.

Those students who are unable to maintain the cumulative GPA of 3.0, or are unable to complete the diploma requirements in 4 years, will not be able to continue in the Diploma in Food, Nutrition, and Health Transfer Program. Instead, they have the option of transferring to the Associate of Science in Food and Nutrition Program or the Diploma in Nutrition and Food Service Management Program.

Please note, admission to the Dietetics Major is competitive and admission is not guaranteed. While students who complete the Diploma in Food, Nutrition, and Health Transfer receive automatic acceptance to the Land and Food Systems Faculty at UBC, and this places them in a better situation, there is still an application process for one of the limited number of seats at UBC. 

Students who plan on applying to UBC’s Dietetic program should understand that their application to Dietetics has to happen after they get accepted to the Food, Nutrition and Health Program. The Dietetics program also requires that you complete 2 courses through UBC non-degree studies - FNH 200 and LFS 250 - and that these are completed before the application to dietetics is made. It is recommended to begin the process to complete these courses early, as it can be hard to get a seat in the courses.

The animation industry is one of the fastest growing global job sectors. Our 16-month intensive diploma program equips students with the skills they need to thrive in this exciting field.

Combine your artistic abilities with technical skills through our 2D animation and digital art program. Draw and design your own characters and bring them to life through animation, sound, and storytelling. You’ll learn how to capture movement and form through life drawing and how to move a project from storyboard to final product under the guidance of expert instructors. Students receive their own laptop (loaded with all the required licensed software) as well as a drawing tablet and external hard drive, all of which they keep after graduation.

This in-depth program prepares graduates for a range of roles in the animation industry. Our program runs for four consecutive terms to fast-track you into launching your career, simulating the intensity of working in a real-world production studio. Graduates will exit the program with a diploma from one of BC’s most respected public colleges and a professional portfolio and demo reel.

Our Partner
The Centre for Arts and Technology has been running their 2D and 3D animation programs for 20 years, fine-tuning their program to keep pace with industry expectations. We are proud to offer their program curriculum at Langara.

Data Analytics focuses on the entire lifecycle of the data analytics process. The Mathematics and Statistics Department offers two data analytics programs. Both programs cover the entire life-cycle of data from extraction, transformation, analysis of data to the presentation of results. Students in the program will work with industry-standard software applications to analyze data and gain skills to effectively communicate their findings.

Post-Degree Diploma in Data Analytics
This two-year full-time diploma program is designed for anyone who like working with data and interpreting results to support technical and strategic business decisions. The cohort-based program ends with a capstone project to apply their knowledge before starting a new career. Students will have the opportunity to develop strong project management and team building skills.

Data Analytics equips graduates with the skills and tools to divide and conquer massive data sets. Through collaboration with industry partners, students will gain experience handling real-life data from fields such as telecommunications, finance, and health care industries.

The College offers a variety of computing science programs of study with a significant component of academic courses that carry transfer status with the universities. Graduates of our programs can always build on what they know and may take advanced courses from Langara or a university once they have completed the necessary prerequisites. These programs have many common courses in the first and second terms which allow students to enter the Arts and Science Program in Computer Science without committing to one specific option. We specialize in both academic studies and hands-on skills development by teaching in both the classroom and the lab.

The Associate of Science Degree in Computer Science allows students to transfer easily to the third year of Computer Science programs at major BC universities. The Diploma in Computer Studies enables students to take a broad range of computer science, information systems, and other courses.

Accounting and Financial Management professionals are the backbone of any organization and Langara grads are ready to meet that challenge. The BBA Accounting Concentration includes the requirements needed to maximize exemptions for the professional accounting associations (CGA, CMA, CA). In addition, business and general education courses are incorporated to ensure graduates receive a well-rounded business education, with an emphasis on business decision-making and analysis, strategic management, and teamwork. The Financial Management Diploma offers students who are not planning on pursuing an Accounting designation (CGA, CMA, CA) the flexibility to choose electives from other business areas and/or non-business courses.

First-Year Entry
By applying to the School of Management BBA programs and entering in year 1, you have the option of completing a BBA Degree, exiting after two years with a diploma, or earning both the BBA and a diploma. All our programs offer Co-operative Education options.

Third-Year Entry
Students with previous business education may enter the School of Management BBA programs in year 3. Some bridging courses may be required. Please contact the School of Management for details