Bachelor of Science in Zoology

at University of Guelph Canada

Plant science is the study of the intricacies of plant diversity, growth and development, plant-environment interactions, advances in molecular biology, and the wide variety of economic uses for plants.

Explore the intricacies of plants through the study of their diversity, growth, development, environmental interactions, and various economic uses. Gain knowledge of advances in molecular biology, plant ecology, systematics, physiology, botany, genetics, agriculture, ethnobotany and biotechnology. Opportunities exist for hands-on experience in labs, field courses and individual research projects, and access to an active herbarium, special growth facilities and a renowned arboretum. Become a leader in the field of plant science and contribute to society's need for the efficient production of healthy foods and improved environmental management.

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Demonstrate knowledge in mechanisms related to the molecular, biochemical, physiological, organismal and ecological levels of plant organization from systems-based approaches
• Demonstrate knowledge in the fundamental vegetative, reproductive and genetic attributes of plants
• Demonstrate knowledge in the ecological interaction of plants with biotic and abiotic factors in natural and agricultural systems
• Demonstrate knowledge in plant diversity and genetic variability and their relationship to evolution, speciation and adaptation
• Demonstrate knowledge in the role of plants and their improvement to impact global, cultural and societal issues

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

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 Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) major prepares students to assume positions of responsibility within the world’s largest industry.

In the first two years of study, students are introduced to foundational business skills and knowledge; and provided with an in-depth overview of the industry’s three sectors: hotel and lodging; restaurant and foodservice; and tourism.

By the end of the second year, students must choose one of those sectors as their area of emphasis. For the remainder of the program, the courses and learning opportunities that students encounter have one goal: to help them cultivate the knowledge, skills and understanding required of a managerial leader in their chosen area.

Topics of study for all three areas of emphasis includes:

• Human resources management;
• Marketing;
• Accounting;
• Communications

The hotel and lodging area includes:

• Operations;
• Event management;
• Design

The restaurant and foodservice area includes:

• Food systems;
• Restaurant management;
• Beverage management

The tourism area includes:

• Planning and development; 
• Sustainability;
• International tourism

An integral part of the HTM major is experiential learning, which means that theory is balanced with practice. Students are encouraged to participate in guided learning opportunities outside the conventional classroom, such as independent study courses, study abroad, and numerous networking events with industry leaders.

Explore the powerful inner workings of the human mind, how it works and how it affects behaviour. Analyze the emotions and motivations of individuals and groups. You'll gain a broad understanding of psychological theory and methodology including courses in research methodology, social psychology, cognitive psychology and behavioural neuroscience. Learn what makes us human and how the principles of psychology can be used to improve life.

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.

Explore human societies and cultures within contemporary global structures through Anthropology. Courses include Contemporary Native Peoples of Canada; Kinship, Family, and Power; Culture, Rights and Development; and the Anthropology of Health, giving you a critical understanding of issues of multiculturalism and the globalization of our daily experience. You can also choose to continue on in graduate studies in anthropology, law, public health, and social work.

Play a role in building a healthier society with Bio-Medical Science. Focus on the prevention of disease and the maintenance of good health; on the study of nutrition, physiology, anatomy, genetics and epidemiology. Plan, conduct and analyze your own research project and develop fundamental related skills. Use that knowledge and those skills to pursue professional studies, graduate programs or a career in the health sciences.

Sample Careers:-

• Physician/Dentist/Veterinarian
• Professor/Scientist
• Medical sales

Biomedical Toxicology is the study of dose-response relationships in systems related to mammals with the understanding that the “Dose makes the poison”.

This interdisciplinary program at the University of Guelph combines studies in biomedical science, chemistry, human health and nutritional sciences, molecular and cellular biology and pathobiology, allowing students to understand mechanisms of toxic action and how to apply toxicological testing to assure the safety of new drugs, pesticides and industrial chemicals before they can be released into the marketplace.

In first year, students study the core sciences of biology, chemistry, physics and mathematical science. Second through fourth years are very interdisciplinary and include courses in chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology and genetics, nutrition and toxicology. Students take courses that provide a high-quality laboratory experience ranging from analytical and organic chemistry to molecular biology.

All students graduate with exceptional laboratory experience in analytical instrumental laboratories (with instrumentation used in modern analytical, forensic and pharmaceutical labs) as well as molecular biology and biochemistry laboratories.  

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Demonstrate a working knowledge of target organ toxicity and the processes involved in absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of toxicants.
• Apply methods for evaluating the hazards associated with exposure to toxicants.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to measure and quantify the amount of toxic substances in a variety of matrices including drinking water, blood and urine samples.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to analyze and interpret results from a dose/response assay used to measure toxicity.

Co-op Options
Biomedical Toxicology 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 Biomedical Toxicology 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

The Real Estate and Housing major in the B.Comm. program is one of only a few undergraduate programs in Canada that specialize in the real estate sector. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of residential and commercial/investment real estate.

The purpose of this major is to develop the conceptual, analytical and management skills required for careers in real estate and housing. Students graduate with a degree that can lead to a variety of professional positions in the private or public sectors of the Canadian real estate industry or they can continue on to graduate work in business, planning or the social sciences.

A principal aim of the Co-op program in Real Estate and Housing is to facilitate the transition of students from academic studies to a professional career by enhancing the integration of theory and practice. The Co-op program in Real Estate and Housing 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 (also found on the Co-operative Education website: https://www.recruitguelph.ca/cecs/). Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to adjusting this schedule.

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.