Supervisor Email: molecular-biology-biotechnology@utsc.utoronto.ca
The Molecular Biology and Biotechnology program strives to help students construct a broad foundation of knowledge across the major disciplines of biology in the first two years of study, and combines this knowledge with an increasingly analytical and reflective approach to learning. Upon this base, students deepen their knowledge of biological processes that occur at the cellular and molecular level through the course work of their third and fourth years. This is a laboratory-rich program that integrates an understanding of chemical and physical processes with our complex biological systems. Because of broad training in biology and rigorous cross-training in cognate disciplines, graduates are well-positioned to apply to professional and graduate schools or work in a broad range of government regulatory agencies, clinical or research-focused industries and other careers that require the union of strong analytical and technical skills.
Note: This program was formerly known as the Specialist in Cell and Molecular Biology (BSc).
Enrolment Requirements
Students apply to the Specialist Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology after completing a minimum of 4.0 credits, including 1.0 credit in Biology (excluding BIOA11H3), 1.0 credit in Chemistry, and 0.5 credit in Mathematics (excluding MATA02H3) or Statistics and with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.0.
Application for admission is made to the Office of the Registrar through ACORN, in April/May and July/August. See the UTSC Office of the Registrar's website for more information on program selection.
Program Requirements
This program consists of 14.5 required credits.
First Year
1. 1.0 Credit of Introductory Biology Courses
BIOA01H3 Life on Earth: Unifying Principles
BIOA02H3 Life on Earth: Form, Function and Interactions
2. 1.0 Credit of Introductory Chemistry Courses
CHMA10H3 Introductory Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding
CHMA11H3 Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms
3. 1.0 Credit in Mathematics
Choose from:
[MATA29H3 Calculus I for the Life Sciences or MATA30H3 Calculus I for Physical
Sciences]
and
[MATA35H3 Calculus II for Biological Sciences or MATA36H3 Calculus II for Physical Sciences]
4. 1.0 Credit in Physics
[PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences or PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences]
[PHYA21H3 Physics II for the Physical Sciences or PHYA22H3 Physics II for the Life Sciences]
and
0.5 Credit in Statistics
Choose from:
STAB22H3 Statistics I (this course could also be taken in the second year)
PSYB07H3 Data Analysis in Psychology (this course could also be taken in the second year)
Second Year
5. 3.0 Credits of Biology Core Courses
BIOB10H3 Cell Biology
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
BIOB34H3 Animal Physiology
BIOB38H3 Plants and Society
BIOB50H3 Ecology
BIOB51H3 Evolutionary Biology
BIOB90H3 Integrative Research Poster Project (CR/NCR 0.0 credit)*
*Note: Completion of BIOB90H3 is a graduation requirement for students in this program. Concurrent enrolment in at least one of the BIO B-level courses listed above is required for enrolment in BIOB90H3. Please see BIOB90H3 in the Calendar for important information.
6. 0.5 Credit of Biology Core Labs
BIOB12H3 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
7. 1.0 Credit of Organic Chemistry Courses
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
Third Year
8. 3.5 Credits of Biology C-level Courses
BIOC12H3 Biochemistry I: Proteins & Enzymes
BIOC13H3 Biochemistry II: Bioenergetics and Metabolism
BIOC15H3 Genetics
BIOC17H3 Microbiology
BIOC20H3 Principles of Virology
BIOC23H3 Practical Approaches to Biochemistry
BIOC39H3 Immunology (can be completed in third or fourth year)
9. 0.5 Credit in Computer Science
Choose from:
CSCA08H3 Introduction to Computer Science I (most appropriate course for computer science students)
CSCA20H3 Introduction to Programming (most appropriate course for non-computer science students)
(computer science could also be taken in an earlier year)
Third/Fourth Year
10. 0.5 Credit of Cognate Biology Courses
Choose from:
BIOC10H3 Cell Biology: Proteins from Life to Death
BIOC14H3 Genes, Environment and Behaviour
BIOC19H3 Animal Developmental Biology
BIOC21H3 Vertebrate Histology: Cells and Tissues
BIOC31H3 Plant Development and Biotechnology
BIOC35H3 Principles of Parasitology
BIOC40H3 Plant Physiology
BIOC70H3 An Introduction to Bias in the Sciences
BIOD37H3 Biology of Plant Stress
BIOC90H3 Integrative Multimedia Documentary Project (CR/NCR 0.0 credit)*
*Note: Completion of BIOC90H3 is a graduation requirement for students in this program. Concurrent enrolment in one of the participating BIO C-level courses is required for enrolment in BIOC90H3. Please see BIOC90H3 in the Calendar for important information.
Fourth Year
11. 0.5 Credit in Advanced Molecular Techniques
BIOD21H3 Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory
12. 0.5 credit of D-level Research-oriented "Cell & Molecular" Course Work
Choose from:
BIOD12H3 Protein Homeostasis
BIOD13H3 Herbology: The Science Behind Medicinal Plants
BIOD15H3 Mechanisms of Gene Regulation in Health and Disease
BIOD17H3 Seminars in Cellular Microbiology
BIOD19H3 Epigenetics in Health and Disease
BIOD20H3 Special Topics in Virology
BIOD22H3 Molecular Biology of the Stress Response
BIOD23H3 Special Topics in Cell Biology
BIOD24H3 Human Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
BIOD25H3 Genomics
BIOD26H3 Fungal Biology and Pathogenesis
BIOD27H3 Vertebrate Endocrinology
BIOD29H3 Pathobiology of Human Disease
BIOD30H3 Plant Research and Biotechnology: Addressing Global Problems
BIOD95H3 Supervised Study in Biology
BIOD98Y3 Directed Research in Biology
Note: Any of these courses not used to satisfy this requirement may be used to fulfill the '0.5 Credit of Cognate Biology Courses'.
