Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physical Science

at University of Guelph Canada

Computers play many roles in our lives. At the School of Computer Science, we recognize that relationship and its variable nature. If you enjoy solving problems, nothing is more exciting than working and studying at the leading edge of computer science.  You will develop skills throughout your degree as you explore different course materials within the field of computer science and across other disciplines. The program provides you with a strong foundation in hardware and theory with a particular focus on applied software development. By the time you graduate you will be a sought-after expert with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills that will make you indispensable.

Computer Science
Help explore problems, build innovative computing solutions and contribute to the evolution of technology. This major will provide you with a theoretical foundation in computer science, as well as practical experience in software development and an introduction to hardware. You will explore pressing computer science issues, from large system software development to emerging technologies. This major will focus on programming and the theory of computation, with plenty of flexibility in selecting computer science electives to fit your interests, such as Computational Intelligence, Computer Security, Game Programming and Human Computer Interaction.

Co-op Option
The Co-op program in Computer Science is a five year program, including five work terms. Students must complete a Fall, Winter and Summer work term and must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below.

To be eligible to continue in the Co-op program, students must meet a minimum 70% cumulative average requirement after second semester, as well as meet all work term requirements. Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to work term performance grading, work term report grading and program completion requirements. 

Explore genetics, physiology, behaviour, welfare and nutrition. Obtain a broad overview of animal production systems and animal bioscience, and learn the science of breeding, feeding, care and management of domesticated animals. Expand your knowledge with electives, senior courses and undergraduate research projects. Build a career in veterinary medicine, the nutrition industry, animal care and welfare, or education and research. Also see B.Sc. (Agr.) Animal Science.

The Management Economics and Finance major is designed to offer students an appreciation of business and economic problems particularly in the area of finance.

The major provides a suitable education for a career in the business world or in the public service. It also constitutes a useful preparation for more advanced studies, including graduate studies in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Industrial Relations, Law, and Public Policy.

Molecular Biology and Genetics covers genomes and the genetics of microorganisms, plants and animals, and the structure and function of cells.

The variety of courses offered in the program covers a broad range of topics such as molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, developmental biology and agricultural genetics. Undergraduate laboratories will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge needed to perform basic procedures commonly used in the field of molecular biology and genetics. Additionally, you will develop the ability to analyze and interpret experimental results obtained in a laboratory setting. In your upper years, you will also have the opportunity to access some of the University of Guelph’s outstanding research labs and facilities.

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Explain the molecular mechanisms of genetic inheritance that drive the evolution of populations.
• Describe the synthesis and structure of macromolecules and their roles in cellular processes.
• Explain how gene regulation networks and signal transduction cascades enable development and adaptation to the environment.
• Design and implement experimental procedures using relevant techniques in gene analysis and manipulation and genetic engineering in model systems.

Co-Op Options
Molecular Biology and Genetics co-op is a five-year program, which includes four work terms. Below is an example of how the academic and work sequence will look for a Microbiology 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 fall semester of second 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.

Food is a multi-billion dollar industry that is influenced by changing socio-economic conditions and evolving agricultural and industrial technologies. As a Food Science student, in the Bachelor of Science degree program, you will apply chemistry, microbiology and physics to study the processing and development of food products and processes. The program also covers aspects of law, health, nutrition, and security as they relate to food safety and quality.

You will obtain hands-on experience in the industrial processes such as pasteurization, sterilization, fermentation, and packaging and apply these to commodity groups such as dairy, meats, cereals and beverages. In addition, you will gain experience in sensory evaluation and in the development of new food products and effective food safety and quality assurance programs. Communication skills are also emphasized to help ensure success in your future career.

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.

The Environmental Biology major, offered as part of the Bachelor of Science degree program, emphasizes biological diversity at the molecular, population, community and biosphere levels. You will become familiar with how organisms, such as plants, insects, fungi and bacteria, interact with the physical environment (water and soils) and respond to human activities.

Methods of measuring and monitoring the impact of human activities on natural and agricultural ecosystems will be presented. To counter negative impacts, solutions, such as bioremediation of effluent, waste management, restoration of stream quality, and agroforestry will be applied. Upon graduation, you will have an awareness of the social and economic implications of environmental bio-sciences and be prepared to initiate solutions for a diversity of environmental problems.

For the benefit of hybrid learning, physics and chemistry are combined in this major, which includes classes in such areas as materials science and the quantum mechanical basis of molecular structure. Working in the laboratory with state-of the- art equipment, you will acquire the skills and knowledge of a variety of techniques, including x-ray diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Molecular Biology and Genetics covers genomes and the genetics of microorganisms, plants and animals, and the structure and function of cells.

The variety of courses offered in the program covers a broad range of topics such as molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, developmental biology and agricultural genetics. Undergraduate laboratories will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge needed to perform basic procedures commonly used in the field of molecular biology and genetics. Additionally, you will develop the ability to analyze and interpret experimental results obtained in a laboratory setting. In your upper years, you will also have the opportunity to access some of the University of Guelph’s outstanding research labs and facilities.

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Explain the molecular mechanisms of genetic inheritance that drive the evolution of populations.
• Describe the synthesis and structure of macromolecules and their roles in cellular processes.
• Explain how gene regulation networks and signal transduction cascades enable development and adaptation to the environment.
• Design and implement experimental procedures using relevant techniques in gene analysis and manipulation and genetic engineering in model systems.

Explore the music, literature, cinema, art and politics of France, Quebec and the Francophone world. Do an internship teaching French in a local school, contribute to international research or support organizations in need of translation services. Exercise your knowledge in a small classroom environment, spend a semester in France and become bilingual and acquire intercultural skills.

Sample Careers:

• Communication officer
• Language editor
• French teacher
• Technical writer