Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History (Co-op Optional)

at University of Guelph Canada

Biochemistry is the study of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level. The study of biochemistry showcases the complexity of life.

The Honours B.Sc. major in Biochemistry (BIOC) is offered by the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, home to many distinguished biochemists, microbiologists, geneticists, and molecular & cellular biologists. The variety of courses will cover everything from the atomic structure of proteins to the organization of cells in humans, plants, and animals. Undergraduate laboratories will provide you with many practical skills in manipulating and analyzing biological molecules. In your upper years, you will also have the opportunity to access some of the University of Guelph’s outstanding research labs and facilities. Our biochemistry program provides you with a degree that is truly interdisciplinary, ensuring that upon graduation you have acquired an expertise and proficiency in great demand by employers.  

Combine practical laboratory training in biochemistry, molecular biology and microbiology with courses in areas such as immunology, enzymology or physiology. Students in biochemistry can focus in the areas plants, nutrition, physiology, immunology or toxicology, just to name a few. Gain real-world experience from co-op work terms and complete an undergraduate research project.  

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Apply thermodynamic principles to the molecular basis of biological energy generation, storage and usage  
• Conduct research by applying scientific methods and processes and interpreting data to draw appropriate and scientifically based conclusions. 
• Design and implement experimental procedures using relevant techniques to purify, characterize and quantify metabolites and macromolecules. 
• Describe how cells are capable of producing almost all required metabolites and macromolecules from diverse precursors.  
• Understand the relationship between the structure and the functional properties of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates.  

Co-Op Options
Biochemistry co-op is a four- and half-year program, which includes four work terms. Below is one example of how the academic and work sequence will look for a biochemistry major.

*Please note this sequence may change. The current undergraduate calendar will house the most accurate sequence that students must follow.   

Students in this co-op major complete a course, COOP*1100, in the winter semester of first year.  This course helps students prepare for their work term by developing professional attitudes and skills for the workplace. This course also provides students with a toolkit of resume and cover letter writing as well as interview skills, which helps students to apply, interview and secure their work term positions

Anthropology explores human societies and cultures within contemporary global structures. Students complete courses such as Kinship, Family, and Power; Culture, Rights and Development; and the Anthropology of Health, and gain a critical understanding of multiculturalism and the globalization of our daily experience and explore diverse contemporary questions and debates within Canadian and international contexts, including environment and resource use, food, agriculture, and agribusiness, indigenous issues, labour and work, youth and homelessness, indigenous issues, police and society, and social movements in developing countries. The program offers a solid foundation for a wide variety of careers in policy, development, government, and community sectors.

WHY CO-OP?
As a co-op student, you will be able to gain relevant work experience, build professional networks, and develop essential transferable skills needed to succeed in the workplace, all while getting paid and earning your university degree. Guelph’s co-op program is unique due to the exceptional level of support provided to students, including a job search preparatory course, a personal connection with a Co-op Coordinator to assist you during the employment process, and targeted work term reports to help you develop relevant skills.

Design a major to fit your interests and career goals with Biological Science. Foundation courses cover molecular biology and genetics, biochemistry, evolution, physiology, ecology and statistics. Build on this with science electives chosen from a broad range of subject areas. Add a minor in the arts, social sciences, sciences, or business. Pursue an international exchange. Gain the entrance requirements for professional schools including medical and veterinary schools.

Sample Careers

• Public Health administrator
• Sales
• Research and development
• Teacher

Combine politics, law and business and explore the unique intersection of the public sector with business and economics. Examine issues like whether government should be run in a more “business-like” manner, and equality and justice in decision-making. Develop transferable business skills in law, human resources, marketing, accounting and finance, and pursue diverse career opportunities within the public, private and voluntary sectors. A great choice for students hoping to pursue law school.

The Food Industry Management (FIM) major is a one-of-a-kind program in Canada. It combines a solid background in food science, economics and business, using a mix of theoretical and hands-on learning. Students will graduate with the knowledge, skills and professional network needed for effective management in the food sector.

What is Food Industry Managment
Food industry management bridges food science and business. Combining business practice and industry and market analysis with the science of food safety, processing and food composition, food industry management graduates ensure the success of food businesses.

Professionals in food industry management have broad career options with the ability to focus on either the processing or business side of the industry. They understand the impact of changing a single ingredient on both a product’s flavour and the company’s bottom line.

Biomedical Engineering is a field of engineering that deals with health and medicine. (e.g.: electronic and mechanical devices used on biological materials, animals and humans, medical implants and instruments, ergonomics, bioinstrumentation, imaging and pharmacology). Graduates in Biomedical engineering are able to apply mathematical, scientific and engineering principles to a wide variety of fields and find employment across the private and public sectors of the health care industry. The program provides students with a common base of knowledge essential to engineering, and then allows them to select from a menu of electives to attain a degree of specialization in one of three areas, or to choose electives which broaden their general knowledge base. Elective concentrations are available in the areas of biomechanics; biosignal processing; and pharmaceuticals. The program is built around the concept of interdisciplinary application of engineering principles to health related problems.

By combining the conceptual and quantitative elements of accounting while promoting the integration of theory and practice, the accounting major provides graduates with the academic requirements for the postgraduate pursuit of a Professional Accounting designation. Students will develop the technical, analytical, evaluative and communication skills needed for a successful career in accounting and related management areas.

The program provides a strong foundation of accounting and general business knowledge while allowing significant opportunity to develop breadth and depth of knowledge in related areas of study.

Our Honours and BA programs are specifically designed so students can explore English literature in greater depth and detail as they progress throughout the course of their degree. As a department we have diverse strengths in the following areas:

• Colonial, Postcolonial, and Diasporic Studies 
• Canadian Literature 
• Early Modern Studies 
• Media, Technology, and Literacy in the Humanities 
• Studies in Performance and Politics 
• Sexuality and Gender Studies 
• Transnational Nineteenth-Century Studies'
• Critical and Cultural Theory 
• Environmental Writing and Topics in Social Justice 

The areas above are taught in a variety of lecture and seminar based courses. In order to familiarize students with both modes of learning, The School of English and Theatre Studies offers a first-year core course that provides students with the opportunity to attend weekly seminars in order to discuss material covered in the week's preceding lectures. As students proceed in their respective programs they can expect to take classes that incorporate and build on both models of delivery. 

Bring about positive change in the world. Explore the nature and impacts of economic and social development in Canada and around the world and gain experience engaging with development organizations. Tackle the big issues like poverty, social justice, food insecurity, gender, inequality and climate change. You can choose from five areas of emphasis: Agriculture and Food Security; Development in the Canadian Context; Development in Fragile Contexts; Environment and Sustainable Development; and Gender and Inclusive Development.

Environmental Engineering is the application of scientific theories and principles to minimize the impact of human activities on the environment.

The Environmental Engineering program at Guelph was designed from the ground up as a complete, comprehensive environmental program.  It provides in-depth knowledge of relevant physical, chemical and biological systems with a strong emphasis on engineering design.  Our students experience the important role Environmental Engineering plays in serving the current and future needs of all humanity.