Bachelor of Science in Animal Biology

at University of Guelph Canada

Microbiology is the study of organisms invisible to the naked eye. This major explores the diversity of micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, archaea, and fungi. Applications of microbiology range from antibiotic development and resistance, to the relevance of the gut micro-flora in diseases, and finally yeast production for beverage and food development.

The variety of courses offered in the program cover a broad range of topics such as medical microbiology, infectious diseases, immunology, and antimicrobials, as well as environmental and food microbiology. Undergraduate laboratories will provide you with many practical skills in working with a variety of microbes and analyzing microbial processes at both the cellular and molecular levels. In your upper years, you will also have the opportunity to access some of the University of Guelph’s outstanding research labs and facilities through coursework or independant research projects.

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Integrate the different levels of biological organization, from molecules to cells to organisms.
• Describe the metabolic and cellular diversity of microbes, and explain the critical roles of microbes in health, disease and the biosphere.
• Describe the use of microorganisms in industry, biotechnology and as model organisms for scientific discovery.
• Design and implement experimental procedures using relevant techniques to isolate, characterize and culture microbiological samples.

Position yourself as an expert in interesting and puzzling issues of our time, like fluctuations in interest rates and oil prices, or the implications of continental free trade. Integrate pure and applied economic theories with modes of thought, techniques and critical analysis drawn from the arts. 

The Department of Political Science is a dynamic, research-intensive and teaching-oriented department, offering students an effective and engaging learning environment. Faculty are leading experts who engage with students to develop their ability to understand and analyze the complex relationships between power, authority and governance, and how these shape the lives of individuals and groups around the world.

As a Political Science student, you’ll explore the forces of power, authority and governance that shape the world. Analyze governmental actions and their effect on a local and global scale. Understand the power of politics and its ability to influence the lives of individuals, families and communities.

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.

Biological Science focuses on the study of living organisms, their evolution, interactions with other organisms and the ecosystems that they live and rely on. The many areas of study under the umbrella of biological science allows for flexibility within the major and allows you to tailor the major to your interest.   

The B.Sc. major in Biological Science (BIOS) will provide you with opportunities to acquire the skills you need to be successful in a variety of careers. This major allows you to choose courses that fit your interests and career goals. Foundation courses cover molecular biology and genetics, biochemistry, evolution, physiology, ecology and statistics which will allow you to explore multiple areas of biology or focus in on one more specifically. The breadth of science that we offer at the University of Guelph provides students a unique opportunity to discover what fields of biology truly connects with their interests and professional goals. 

Understand the geographical, political and economic factors that shape environmental issues. Learn how to identify and manage these issues across sectors. Address environmental challenges through creative partnerships between governments, communities and businesses. Train to be an environmental professional at the leading edge of sustainability.

The Honours B.Sc. major in Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences is an exciting and unique major in Canada. Offered within the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, this major will provide you with a broad and basic grounding in the biology of nutrition, physiology, pathology, pharmacology and nutraceuticals.

The study of Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences is concerned with understanding the contribution of food, beverage and nutritional supplement consumption to growth, development of optimal biological function, maintenance of health, and treatment of disease. This major will also explore how we can use nutrients, minerals and food’s chemical properties to develop innovative products that will benefit humans, animals and the environment.

Beginning in your first year with a course entitled “Biological Concepts of Health” and followed in second year by “Fundamentals of Nutrition” you will examine the biology of nutrition from a whole organism level to the molecular and cellular aspects of metabolism and a functioning systems. In your third or fourth years, you will complete courses examining the efficacy, regulatory policies and relationships of functional foods and nutraceuticals to food and drugs and the roles nutrients and phytochemicals play in maintaining health and preventing/treating disease. You may also have an opportunity to complete a research course with a faculty member in a discipline related to nutrition, food, nutraceuticals, health and disease. The program is supported by a number of facilities on campus that you can be involved with during your undergraduate degree including the Human Nutraceutical Research Unit, Health and Performance Centre and the Food Technology Centre.

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Apply an integrated and broad foundation in life sciences to problems in human nutrition, nutri-pharmacology, nutri-toxicology and health.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the impact of human nutrition, nutri-pharmacology and nutri-toxicology on health and performance and provide mechanistic explanations for associated biological events at the molecular, cellular and whole organism levels of organization.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the science of prospective health; the pivotal role of individual nutrigenomic and nutri-epigenetic analyses and the critical role of evidence-based, lifestyle medicine in the effective application of this prospective health approach to healthcare.
• Define and analyze the interactions of nutrition and exercise on the metabolic control of health and disease.
• Critically analyze experimental design, data analysis and interpretation in human nutrition, nutri-pharmacology and nutri-toxicology research.

Microbiology programs are designed to give students a good understanding of microorganisms, including diversity, ecology, physiology, molecular genetics, current approaches in bacterial genomics/proteomics, and microbial associations with animal hosts and the environments. Such knowledge will provide the basis for further work with microbes in medicine, agricultural industries (including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage) and the environment (surveillance and bioremediation).

Co-Op Options
Microbiology 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. 

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.

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.

Criminal Justice and Public Policy is offered as a minor in the honours program and as a major in the honours program. It is designed to provide students seeking a career in the criminal justice system, or planning to pursue an advanced degree with a knowledge base that will enable them to pursue their career objectives. The program offers a unique blend of sociological courses dealing with the criminal justice system as well as courses in Political Science dealing with public policy formation and implementation. It also provides students with the conceptual and methodological tools needed for further study.