Academic Program Supervisor: biodiversity@utsc.utoronto.ca
Co-op Program Coordinator: C. Dixon, coopsuccess.utsc@utoronto.ca
This program presents a foundation for understanding how ecology and evolution shape organismal features (from morphology and physiology to behaviour), and the structure and function of communities and ecosystems. These processes determine the broad patterns of organization of life on earth and biodiversity, and the challenges to biodiversity are daunting: habitat destruction, biological invasions and climate change are causing loss of species and disruption of ecosystems worldwide. In this program, students are trained to understand and actively seek solutions to these problems. This program will also show how ecological and evolutionary perspectives can be used to understand and predict the outcome of dynamic interactions among organisms, populations, species, and communities, Graduates will be well trained to take on positions in government agencies, consulting firms or NGOs, to pursue careers in business or law related to environmental issues, stewardship and sustainable development, or to continue with graduate studies in science for academic careers.
The co-op option of the Conservation and Biodiversity program complements and punctuates academic course work with full-time work terms in the various governmental or non-governmental conservation agencies, in labs or in public or private industry. These work terms help students define and refine their career and/or professional school goals. For information on fees, status in Co-op programs, and certification of completion of Co-op programs, see the Co-operative Programs section and the Arts and Science Co-op section in the UTSC Calendar.
Students apply to the Co-op Specialist Program in Conservation and Biodiversity 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 2.5.
Current Co-op Students:
Students admitted to a Co-op Degree Program in their first year of study (i.e. Life Sciences Co-op) may request this Co-op Subject POSt on ACORN only after completion of 4.0 credits; in addition, students must meet the minimum enrolment requirements for entry as noted above for this program. Students must also submit a formal application to the department to be considered for the program. This includes a one-page statement for why they are suitable candidates to take the program. Short-listed students will be invited to an oral interview to determine interest and eligibility.
Prospective Co-op Students:
Prospective Co-op students (i.e., those not yet admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt) must submit a program request on ACORN, and meet the minimum qualifications noted above. Deadlines follow the Limited Enrolment Program Application Deadlines set by the Office of the Registrar each year. Failure to submit the program request on ACORN will result in that student's application not being considered. Students must also submit a formal application to the department to be considered for the program. This includes a one-page statement for why they are suitable candidates to take the program. Short-listed students will be invited to an oral interview to determine interest and eligibility.
The program requires students to complete a total of 14.5 credits.
A. Required Courses
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 or CHMA12H3 Advanced General Chemistry]
3. 1.0 Credit in Mathematics
Choose from:
[MATA29H3 Calculus I for the Life Sciences and MATA35H3 Calculus II for Biological Sciences] or
[MATA30H3 Calculus I for Physical Sciences and MATA36H3 Calculus II for Physical Sciences]
4. 0.5 Credit in Physics
Choose from:
PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences
PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences
5. 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)
Second Year
6. 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.
7. 0.5 Credit of Biology Core Labs
BIOB52H3 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Laboratory
8. 0.5 Credit in Statistics
Choose from:
STAB22H3 Statistics I
PSYB07H3 Data Analysis in Psychology
Third Year
9. 2.5 Credits of C-level Ecology and Evolution Foundation Courses
BIOC16H3 Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics
BIOC50H3 Macroevolution
BIOC52H3 Field Ecology
BIOC61H3 Community Ecology and Environmental Biology
BIOC63H3 Conservation Biology
Third/Fourth Year
10. 4.0 credits of C- & D-level courses from Bins 1 and 2 below. This must include at least 1.0 credit from each bin and at least 1.0 credit total at the D-level.
Bin 1: C- & D-level Ecology and Evolution Courses
Choose from:
BIOC29H3 Introductory Mycology
BIOC51H3 Tropical Biodiversity Field Course
BIOC58H3 Biological Consequences of Global Change
BIOC60H3 Winter Ecology
BIOC65H3 Environmental Toxicology
BIOD25H3 Genomics
BIOD52H3 Biodiversity and Conservation
BIOD54H3 Applied Conservation Biology
BIOD55H3 Experimental Animal Behaviour
BIOD59H3 Models in Ecology, Epidemiology and Conservation
BIOD60H3 Spatial Ecology
BIOD62H3 Symbiosis: Interactions Between Species
BIOD63H3 From Individuals to Ecosystems: Advanced Topics in Ecology
BIOD66H3 Causes and Consequences of Biodiversity
BIOD67H3 Inter-University Biology Field Course
EESC04H3 Biodiversity and Biogeography
Bin 2: C- & D-level Organismal Biology Courses
Choose from:
BIOC37H3 Plants: Life on the Edge
BIOC40H3 Plant Physiology
BIOC54H3 Animal Behaviour
BIOC59H3 Advanced Population Ecology
BIOC62H3 Role of Zoos and Aquariums in Conservation
BIOD26H3 Fungal Biology & Pathogenesis
BIOD34H3 Conservation Physiology
BIOD37H3 Biology of Plant Stress
BIOD43H3 Animal Movement and Exercise
BIOD45H3 Animal Communication
BIOD48H3 Ornithology
BIOD53H3 Special Topics in Animal Behaviour
EESC30H3 Environmental Microbiology
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.
B. Senior Research Courses (optional)
Students interested in graduate research are encouraged to take one or more of the independent research courses offered in Biological Sciences as part of their degree.
BIOD95H3 Supervised Study in Biology
BIOD98Y3 Directed Research in Biology
BIOD99Y3 Directed Research in Biology
Co-op Work Term Requirements
Students must satisfactorily complete Co-op work term(s) as follows: three 4-month work terms, one 4-month work term and one 8-month work term, or one 12-month work term. To be eligible for their first work term, students must be enrolled in the Specialist (Co-op) Program in Conservation and Biodiversity and have completed at least 7.0 credits, achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and complete COPB50H3 and COPB51H3.
Students must be available for work terms in each of the Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters and must complete at least one of their required work terms in either a Fall or Winter semester. This requires that students take courses during at least one Summer semester.
Co-op Course Requirements
In addition to their academic program requirements, Co-op students complete the following Co-op specific courses as part of their degree:
- Co-op Preparation courses: COPB50H3 and COPB51H3 (completed in first year)
- Work Term Search courses: COPB52H3 (semester prior to first work term), COPC98H3 (semester prior to second work term), and COPC99H3 (semester prior to third work term)
- Co-op Work Term courses: COPC30H3 (each semester a student is on work term)
These courses are designed to prepare students for their job search and work term experience, and to maximize the benefits of their Co-op work terms. They must be completed in sequence, and fall into three categories: Co-op Preparation courses (COPB50H3 & COPB51H3) are completed in first year, and cover a variety of topics intended to assist students in developing the skills and tools required to secure a work term; Work Term Search Courses (COPB52H3, COPC98H3, & COPC99H3) are completed in the semester prior to each work term, and support students while competing for work terms that are appropriate to their program of study, as well as preparing students for the transition into and how to succeed the workplace; Co-op Work Term courses (COPC30H3) are completed during each semester that a student is on work term, and support students’ success while on work term, as well as connecting their academics and the workplace experience.
Co-op courses are taken in addition to a full course load. They are recorded on transcripts as credit/no credit (CR/NCR) and are considered to be additive credit to the 20.0 required degree credits. No additional course fee is assessed as registration is included in the Co-op Program fee.
For information on fees, status in Co-op programs, and certification of completion of Co-op programs, see the Co-operative Programs section and the Arts and Science Co-op section in the UTSC Calendar.
