Academic Program Supervisor: molecular-biology-biotechnology@utsc.utoronto.ca
Co-op Program Coordinator: coopsuccess.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 combine 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 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.
The co-op option of the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology program complements and punctuates academic course work with full-time work terms in research laboratories, government, health care, 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.
Note: This program was formerly known as the Specialist Co-operative in Cell and Molecular Biology (BSc).
Enrolment Requirements
Students apply to the Specialist Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Co-op) after completing a minimum of 4.0 credits, including 1.0 credit in Biology (excluding BIOA11H3, BIOA12H3), 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 2.5 or higher is required for admission.
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
Note: Co-op students who started in Co-op prior to Fall 2025 are allowed to follow the calendar requirements in effect at that time.
Prospective Co-op Students
Students who have not yet been admitted into a Co-op Degree POSt must submit a co-op program request through ACORN and ensure they meet the minimum enrollment requirements as noted above. These qualifications may include a higher CGPA specific to the co-op program.
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 the student's application/request not being considered.
Please note that meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee enrolment in the Co-op Program of Study or Degree POSt. The required CGPA may be higher than the minimum threshold and depends on the applicant pool and number of spaces available. We strongly encourage you to also request the non-co-op option of this program as an alternative as we are not able to grant your admission to the non-co-op without a request.
Minimum Qualifications for Prospective Co-op Students:
Credits: Minimum of 4.0 credits to a maximum of 10.0 credits.
Required Courses: Program-specific courses described in the Enrolment Requirements above.
Cumulative GPA: 2.50
Current Co-op Students
Students admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt must also request a Co-op Program of Study through ACORN upon completion of 4.0 credits and meet the minimum qualifications for entry as noted below.
Minimum Qualifications for Current Co-op Students:
Credits: 4.0 credits
Required Courses: Program-specific courses described in the Enrolment Requirements above
Cumulative GPA: 2.50 or higher across all attempted courses.
Program Requirements
The program requires students to complete a total of 14.5 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 I: Reactions and Mechanisms or CHMA12H3 Advanced General Chemistry]
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]
5. 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
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. Please see BIOB90H3 in the Calendar for important information.
7. 0.5 Credit of Biology Core Labs
BIOB12H3 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
8. 1.0 Credit of Organic Chemistry Courses
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
Note: Computer Science might be taken in this year and will enhance Co-op placement options.
Third Year
9. 3.5 Credits of Biology C-level Courses
BIOC12H3 Biochemistry I: Proteins and 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)
10. 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)
Third/Fourth Year
11. 0.5 Credit of Cognate Biology Courses
Choose from:
BIOC10H3 Cell Biology: Proteins from Life to Death
BIOC14H3 Genes, Environment and Behaviour
BIOC18H3 Looking Inside Cells Current Methods in Cell Biology
BIOC19H3 Animal Developmental Biology
BIOC21H3 Vertebrate Histology: Cells and Tissues
BIOC30H3 From Genetic Codes to Fantastic Creatures
BIOC31H3 Plant Development and Biotechnology
BIOC35H3 Principles of Parasitology
BIOC40H3 Plant Physiology
BIOC70H3 An Introduction to Bias in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine)
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. Please see BIOC90H3 in the Calendar for important information.
Fourth Year
12. 0.5 Credit in Advanced Molecular Techniques
BIOD21H3 Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory
13. 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
BIOD18H3 Practical Approaches in Infection and Immunity
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
BIOD36H3 Advanced Topics in Molecular Parasitology
BIOD95H3 Supervised Study in Biology
BIOD98Y3 Directed Research in Biology
Note: Any of these courses not used to satisfy this requirement can be used to fulfill the '0.5 credit of Cognate Biology Courses.'
Planning Your Co-op Work Terms & Academics
Enrollment in a Co-op program requires careful planning of both academics and work terms. Students should consult their Co-op Program Coordinator and Department Academic Program Advisors, as well as review the standard co-op sequences and course maps available on the Arts & Science Co-op website and Arts and Science Co-op Compass for guidance.
Co-op Work Term Requirements
Students must successfully complete three Co-op work terms, totaling 12 months in duration, which can be fulfilled through the following options:
- Three 4-month work terms, or
- One 4-month work term and one 8-month work term, or
- One 12-month work term.
Students must be available for work terms during the Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters, and are required to complete at least one of their work terms in either the Fall or Winter semester. As a result, students must also take courses during the Summer semesters.
To be eligible for their first work term, students must be enrolled in the program, have completed at least 7.0 credits, and maintain a CGPA of 2.50 or higher. In addition to their academic courses, students must also complete the required Co-op preparation courses.
Co-op Course Requirements
Co-op students complete the following Co-op-specific courses as part of their degree:
Co-op Preparation Courses (Completed in First Year):
Work Term Search Courses:
- COPB55H3/(COPB52H3) (Completed in the semester prior to the first work term)
- COPC98H3 (Taken in the semester prior to the second work term)
- COPC99H3 (Taken in the semester prior to the third work term)
Required Work Term Courses:
Additional Work Terms & Courses:
After successful completion of the three required work terms, students interested in additional work terms will require approval from the Arts & Science Co-op Office. Additional coursework will also be required:
Note: Co-op courses are taken alongside a full course load and are recorded on transcripts as Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR). These courses have no credit weight and are considered additional credits beyond the 20.0 required degree credits. No additional course fee is charged, as registration is included in the Co-op Program fee.
For information on course codes, 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.
