Bachelor of Science in Biology

at York University - School of Continuing Studies Canada

Did you know that humans have been biotechnologists for nearly 6,000 years? Making wine, beer, cheese and yogurt involve the use of bacteria or yeast to convert a natural product, like milk or grape juice, into a more desirable fermentation product.

Biothechnology is the direct or indirect use of living organisms in an innovative manner in the production of goods and services, or to improve existing processes. Applications of this science include the diagnosis and treatment of disease, genetically modifying agricultural crops and production of vitamins, pharmaceuticals and other economically important products.

York’s Biotechnology program prepares you for a career in this exciting, steadily growing field. This program teaches not only the underlying science but also exposes you to relevant social, legal, ethical and business issues.

Many students ask, how does "biotechnology" differ from "genetic engineering"? Biotechnology is a broad term that applies to all practical uses of living organisms—anything from microorganisms used in the fermentation of beer to the most sophisticated application of gene therapy. Genetic engineering refers to a set of technologies that are being used to change the genetic makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries to produce novel organisms.

This program has been designed to provide a well-coordinated synthesis of carefully selected courses in molecular and cell biology, genetics and biochemistry with others in computer science, economics, business and ethics. It combines the required technical and conceptual scientific rigor necessary for mastery of the discipline with a fundamental education relevant to socio-economic aspects of biotechnology.

York's program is designed to offer you the opportunity to prepare for a career in biotechnology and, at the same time, to provide a sound foundation for postgraduate studies in molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry.
Students frequently compete in the Sanofi-Pasteur Healthcare & Biotechnology Venture Challenge. This is a unique opportunity for Biotechnology and Schulich MBA students to create business plans to get products out of the lab and on to the market. In 2010, teams comprised of York Biotechnology and Schulich MBA students were awarded with over $10,000 in prizes.

Biotechnology is the application of science and engineering in the innovative use of living organisms to create new products that improve the quality of our food, our health and our environment. Applications of this science include the diagnosis and treatment of disease, genetically modifying agricultural crops and production of vitamins, pharmaceuticals and other economically important products. York’s Biotechnology program prepares you for a career in this exciting, steadily growing field. This program teaches not only the underlying science but also exposes you to relevant social, legal, ethical and business issues.

Glendon's Economics and Business program combines studies in business administration and economics with a focus on international business.

Your degree will provide you with the fundamental principles of economic theory and managerial and accounting skills for the business world. The professors’ real-world expertise combines well with Glendon's liberal arts setting, resulting in skills that are highly sought-after in the workplace: communications, analytical thinking, problem solving, adaptability and knowledge that is both broad and deep. Interested in internships? Those offered at Glendon provide practical work experience in capital investment agencies, corporations, banks, accounting firms, the insurance industry and more. Several of our courses are accredited by the Certified Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA).

Recognized as one of the most progressive and socially responsive social work programs in Canada, our Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) combines practical experience with in-class studies in professional techniques and methods.

Social work is concerned with social justice and the impacts of structural inequalities such as poverty, unemployment, discrimination and oppression. It aims to work with individuals, families, and communities and to address policies in order to increase their capacity to bring positive social change, social development, and social cohesion. Social justice work can happen in different employment contexts including family service agencies, children’s aid agencies, general and psychiatric hospitals, school boards, correctional institutions, welfare administration agencies, federal and provincial departments.

Social workers also work in local and international community-based agencies and grassroots organizations to engage in various community organizing and development work to challenge social inequalities and oppression.

The School of Social Work fosters intellectual curiosity and a spirit of inquiry through its emphasis on critical perspectives in social work. In light of its belief in social work as social justice work, the School consistently teaches applied practice skills throughout the curriculum. This curriculum is designed in collaboration with professors, students, field instructors and community representatives to ensure our program responds to the needs of people in their social environments.

You can enter York’s Social Work program two ways:

• The Direct entry program accepts students in their first year of university. You don't need a degree to apply to this program. This is a full-time program with courses offered during the day and evening and takes four years to complete. In the first year, you will concentrate on social sciences, humanities and natural science courses. In the final year, you are required to complete a field placement – giving you vital hands-on experience – in a social service setting.
• The Post-degree program requires you to have a university degree to be admitted. This  program offers courses in the day and evening and could take a minimum of two years to complete. The post-degree program was developed for university graduates who are social work practitioners or who want to pursue a career in social work. You will be exposed to contemporary and socially relevant issues that address the many techniques and approaches used by social work professions as well as partake in a practicum experience that places you in real social work environments.

You will receive a professional social work education that is characterized by a commitment to human rights and social justice. Dedicated instructors, who draw from a strong contemporary curriculum and their own practical experience, give you the opportunity to develop your own social work philosophies and teach applied practice skills throughout the curriculum. You will graduate equipped for professional practice in a wide variety of social work arenas, from work with individuals and families to practice with community, policy, research and international settings.

Challenge what is. Imagine what could be. Transform the Future. The Faculty of Environmental Studies provides a unique educational experience in an expanding field of study, research and employment.

Studying the environment has never been more important or complex. In order to make change, we need to recognize the impact we have on the world around us. Our program examines the interconnections of human life on our natural surroundings and explores the various perspectives, approaches and inequalities that exist in the world today.  An introductory first year allows you to expand your passion for environmental and social justice through a common core course approach. Then, specialize for your future career success in one of the following: Environmental Management; Urban & Regional Environments; Environmental Politics, Justice & the Arts.

Program Highlights
The Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES) defines "environment" as everything that surrounds us. Environmental studies is, therefore, not only about natural environments, but also about built, social, cultural, political and organizational environments as well as all of the relationships between them.

After completing a common first year, you will have the opportunity to focus on one of three Areas of Concentration:

• Environmental Management
• Urban & Regional Environments
• Environmental Politics, Justice & the Arts

Our innovative BA in Educational Studies program provides students with a broad understanding of how and why people learn, and the role education plays in society today.
Courses are clustered into three topical areas, which explore the understanding of education.

• Engagements — focus on the development of professional skills
• Values — focus on who and why we educate
• Representations — focus on understanding the idea of education

Students in this program develop the essential skills necessary to succeed in educational work outside of the traditional classroom and  benefit from the Faculty of Education’s strength in the study of education and York University’s strengths in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
There are highly skilled educators at work anywhere human beings share knowledge, contributing to their communities and succeeding in their chosen fields.. Upon graduation, you’ll have the skills and knowledge needed to educate outside of the classroom.

Experiential Education
During years 3 and 4 of the program, you will have an opportunity to experience your education through learning placements within the community or in related organizations. You’ll develop workplace-specific skills and enhance your professional networks. Our unique community-partnerships will provide you with opportunities to put theory into practice and to gain insight into the kinds of learning and advocacy that contribute to the well-being of society.
The BA in Educational Studies does not lead to teacher certification. Students accepted into the Bachelor of Arts, Educational Studies program may also apply for entry to the Concurrent Bachelor of Education program.

Computer engineering forms the basis of the modern world. Self-driving cars, robotics, mobile devices, electronic commerce, wireless communications, and other advances are all built by Computer Engineers. Computer engineers gain deep knowledge about hardware and software design, as well as are uniquely qualified to work on computer systems involving these aspects. They design and implement solutions to the ever increasing range of engineering problems.

What You’ll Learn
As a Computer Engineering student you will gain deep knowledge about hardware and software design, as well be uniquely qualified to work on computer systems. You will take courses in computation, system design and other specialized areas, including robotics and virtual reality. This theoretical knowledge is balanced with hands-on experience. Lassonde Computer Engineering students have access to our state-of-the-art facilities –Digital Systems Lab and Robotics Lab. 

After second year, the co-op program can provide you with valuable experience, giving you an early start to becoming a licensed Professional Engineer.

Statistics is a field that provides the foundations and techniques to collect, analyze, and present information in an effective and efficient manner. Recent trends involve a resurgence of interest in methods for informal exploratory analysis of data. This relies increasingly on friendly computing environments supported by efficient algorithms. York's Statistics program is an exploration of the nature of measurement, chance variation, probability, uncertainty, inductive logic and inference, and combines naturally with studies in the life and social sciences.

An increasingly important aspect of modern statistics is the design of experiments and surveys — as well as analyzing the resulting data — in areas of application ranging scientific studies to the insurance industry. Statisticians use surveys to predict the patterns of behaviour of large groups based on relatively small samples.

Through its applications in almost every branch of modern professional life and research, statistics is a fast-growing discipline that provides a statistician with a variety of career opportunities. Statistics is offered as both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science options. Why take one instead of the other? All Mathematics students (Mathematics, Applied Math, Statistics, Math for Commerce) take common first- and second-year courses. It is in the third and fourth years that the programs begin to differentiate.

If you're interested in a Bachelor of Arts (BA) math degree, you will combine your math courses with other Arts courses such as psychology or economics.

Anthropology is the study of different societies around the world — their origins, development and cultural similarities and differences.

Using the theories and methods of anthropology we explore how people in the world are subjected to, participate in and contest the processes of living in a world that is interconnected by new and powerful economic, cultural and technological forces.

Our program is ranked in the top 100 Anthropology programs in the world, and top 10 in Canada, according to QS Rankings, 2021. With 17 faculty members and five affiliates, we are one of the largest socio-cultural Anthropology departments in Canada. We offer a comprehensive and engaging program of study with a large selection of course offerings.

We offer a major program, as well as minors/certificates in Medical Anthropology and Advocacy & Public Engagement Training. Our programs focus on experiential education with a capstone placement course.  Our courses explore a wide variety of topics such as:

• Development and the environment
• Media and popular culture
• Health
• Illness and disability
• Gender and sexualities
• Tourism
• Religion and science
• Diasporic communities and displaced peoples
• Violence and conflict
• The colonial process

Other courses focus on processes of change in the prehistoric and historic past. Our overall goal is to prepare you to ask questions about contemporary, past and future social life and to provide you with the critical analytic tools to understand our place in the social and cultural diversity of the world, past and present.

Join the first and only technical blockchain certificate delivered by a Canadian university. Create real-world blockchain solutions as you build upon your existing knowledge and prepare to confidently launch your career.

What is Blockchain Development?
Blockchain is decentralized, transparent, and mostly unalterable. It improves data integrity through using an entire network of computers to record and validate transactions. This technology became popular within commerce, but its potential is being realized across numerous industries, including supply chain management, healthcare, finance, and public administration, specifically with electronic voting systems.

What you will learn
You’ll learn to go beyond understanding cryptography and data structures, by gaining the confidence to advise organizations on how blockchain can offer significant business value and knowing when and when not to implement the technology. You’ll develop the knowledge and competencies to be strategic about implementing blockchain technologies from concept to deployment at your organization. Aside from critical technical skills, you will build and practice foundational cross-functional skills like complex problem solving, business acumen, and social perceptiveness.

Program Benefits
Created in collaboration with industry executives, this full-time 9-course program allows you to create real-world blockchain solutions as you collaborate with like-minded peers. The program concludes with a unique capstone course, allowing you to further demonstrate your knowledge and graduate with a diverse portfolio of work. After completing the program, you’ll be prepared for real blockchain job functions, helping you secure your next career opportunity and greater success.

Learn what it takes to lead HR teams and projects as you investigate everything from compensation practices to labour relations.

What you will learn
This full-time post-degree certificate program was developed by an advisory committee of senior human resources executives to prepare you for excellence. Consisting of ten courses covering the core human resources topics as determined by the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA), this program will help you better understand:

• Human resources management
• Organizational behaviour
• Finance and accounting
• Human resources planning
• Occupational health and safety
• Training and development
• Labour relations
• Recruitment and selection
• Compensation
• Business Communications for Human Resources Professionals

Program Benefits

• Benefit from a curriculum that integrates critical soft skills that employers want in new hires
• Become a member of the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) at the student rate
• Fulfill coursework required for the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation
• Program recognized by the HRPA
• Develop skills through experiential assignments and projects
• Learn from practicing HR instructors
• Build your professional network as you advance through the program with the same cohort of peers
• Complete the program in nine months of accelerated study