Bachelor of Science in Biology

at University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) - Prince George Campus Canada

Geography studies the cultural, social, economic, and political connections between people and their environment.
Examine the factors that shape the complex relationship between human societies and the built and natural landscape. Prepare for career opportunities in community development, land and resource management, or continue your graduate studies.

Canada's North is roughly 75% of the country's land mass. Despite the North's geographic significance, UNBC is one of only a few universities in Canada to have a major in Northern Studies. This program is integral to the overall mandate of UNBC and exposes students to myriad issues facing northern BC and northern regions around the world. This program draws upon the northern expertise of faculty from a wide array of programs. Students will gain an understanding of the whole North - its geography, peoples, and issues.Over the past few decades, the north has become an area of growing significance. At the centre of northern issues is non-renewable resource development, including mining, oil and gas and forestry. Related socio-economic and cultural issues, such as competing land use (i.e. recreation, protected areas), First Nations land claims, and rural infrastructure development (i.e. transportation, services), and renewable resource development are also important to developing the north. These issues have in turn led to unique opportunities to discover what the North means to the individual, the nation and world as a whole.

Learn to be an effective agent of environmental, sustainability and social innovation as you promote the mitigation of, and/or adaptation to, environmental and sustainability challenges. A degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies leads to a rewarding career in sectors such as government, Indigenous government and agencies, the non-profit sector, law (with additional training), international development, environmental consulting, environmental health and more.

Program Details
Study the natural environment, societal challenges and sustainable solutions to environmental and sustainability challenges, surrounded by the spectacular natural environment of UNBC.

Explore the social science and humanities perspective on environmental and sustainability issues. Study the concepts of environmental citizenship, societal relationships with ecology, sustainability initiatives such as carbon management and energy, global perspectives and more. 

Management Information Systems is about using information systems to provide value to organizations. Students in this field have the opportunity to acquire the skills to use, analyse, and manage information systems to succeed in the business world. A major in Management Information Systems provides skills that include: designing information systems for businesses; using data to find lucrative opportunities for firms; and determining users’ computing needs. People with these skills find opportunities in a diverse set of organizations from large government organizations to local companies. Concepts in Management Information Systems are particularly important for those who have a passion for using technology to help organizations reach their goals.

First Nations Studies takes the points of view of First Nations people and communities as the starting point for description and analysis, and contextualizes issues from this perspective. Courses in First Nations Studies will re-orient students to question the underlying assumptions of everyday understanding and will develop clarity in thought and presentation critical to advanced study.

First Nations Studies is a valuable part of any good undergraduate education in the contemporary world; it is an appropriate undergraduate major for students aspiring to careers in education, business, public administration, law, communications, cultural property management, social services, health care delivery and administration, and many other fields. With an undergraduate major in First Nations Studies students may apply for admission to graduate programs in several academic disciplines, and to many professional programs. Students intending to apply for graduate or professional programs should ensure that their programs include all required prerequisites.

The Bachelor of Health Sciences degree is a four-year program consisting of a range of courses that relate directly to the science of health, in the recognition that health is a complex entity defying a simple explanation or a single disciplinary perspective.  The courses identified within the School of Health Sciences offer learning opportunities from a variety of disciplines, including the life sciences, social sciences, behavioural sciences, and ethics and law, to enable students to develop a body of knowledge and understanding relating to the dimensions of health.  Some of these courses are considered to be ‘core’ and therefore central to the basic understandings of health, while others offer the student opportunities to learn about a specific health perspective that is focused on one of three Majors:

1. Biomedical Studies,
2. Community and Population Health-Environmental Health, or,
3. Community and Population Health-Aboriginal and Rural Health.

Graduation from either of the Community and Population Health Majors enables students to embark on careers or graduate programs related to health care management, administration, information systems or public health.

Students pursuing the Biomedical Studies Major are required to complete a set of courses that enables them to be prepared for application to professional programs such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, occupational therapy, dentistry, speech pathology or physiotherapy.  This major provides a foundational, multidisciplinary knowledge base that is focused on the natural,  physical, and social sciences, and includes population health and research methodology. Students interested in other fields requiring extensive biomedical laboratory skills may enroll in the degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB).

Finance involves evaluating profitability and valuing real investments such as capital projects, as well as financial securities such as stocks, bonds, options and futures. In addition to the study of sources of capital and financing decisions of the firm and individual investors, the Finance major also studies the management of financial institutions such as banks and trust companies. The tools of Finance are used by small and large firms, government and individual investors. Instruction in Finance provides valuable information regarding financing and evaluating investment opportunities to students planning to enter into business for themselves. Government and firms employ Finance majors as financial analysts as well as in general management positions. In addition, the financial services industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Canada. Individuals interested in positions in the financial sector, or pursuing either the Chartered Financial Planner (CFP) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations, or completing the Canadian Securities Course (CSC), should consider majoring in Finance.

Economics
Economics is concerned with how societies provide for the well-being of their citizens and residents, along with public policies to promote well-being. Faculty members in the Department of Economics are excellent teachers and committed to providing students with an active learning and inclusive environment, and to developing knowledge of contemporary issues and practical thinking skills. Economics courses address a range of current issues, such as: what are the impacts of carbon taxes? How can health care be efficiently and equitably provided? Should water be privatized? What is the best portfolio choice to maximize my investment?

Global and International Studies
Global and International Studies examines the drivers and impacts of our planet’s inter-connectedness in technology, culture, sustainability, governance and economics. You will be prepared for a rewarding career in global and international organizations including governments, inter-governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and international businesses.

English
Study for a degree in English and prepare to be an effective communicator, critical thinker, or creative writer. Apply your skills to many rewarding careers including public relations and writing novels, blogs, textbooks and advertising copy.

History
Historians study what people have thought, said, and done in the past. You will learn to think critically about the historical processes that shape the present. As a history major, you will develop the knowledge needed to pursue careers in law, education, journalism, civil service, politics, museum and library archives, or post-secondary professorship.

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biology B.Sc. Program combines the rigour of chemistry with the fascination of living systems, and is therefore the traditional major for students with biomedical interests.Majors begin their studies with a broad set of courses in the natural sciences. In the second year, biochemistry is introduced, leading to third year explorations of DNA, the blueprint of life, proteins, the machines that make our bodies work, and a wide range of other molecular topics. Finally, your degree culminates in the fourth year with courses that let you see why BCMB is the largest and most dynamic scientific discipline. Topics include oncology, the evolution of life, advanced genetics, and much more.With its strong emphasis on analytical skills, the BCMB major is an excellent launching point for a variety of science-based careers, as described below. The BCMB major also includes extensive training in practical laboratory skills, such as DNA fingerprinting, which are essential for careers in the natural sciences, criminal forensics, laboratory technician programs, and a variety of industries.