Supervisor Email: biodiversity@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. Ultimately these processes determine the broad patterns of organization of life on earth and biodiversity. The challenges to biodiversity are daunting. Habitat destruction, biological invasions and climate change are causing loss of species and disruption of ecosystems worldwide. Graduates are trained to understand and actively seek solutions to these problems. This program will show how ecological and evolutionary perspectives can be used to understand and predict the outcome of dynamic interactions among organisms, populations, species, and communities. Students will be well trained to take positions in government agencies, consulting firms or NGO's, able to continue with graduate studies in science for academic careers, or able to pursue careers in business or law related to environmental issues, stewardship and sustainable development.
Note: This program was formerly known as the Specialist in Biodiversity, Ecology & Evolution (BSc).
Enrolment Requirements
Students apply to the 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 2.0.
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.
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
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. 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:
BIOC51H3 Tropical Biodiversity Field Course
BIOC58H3 Biological Consequences of Global Change
BIOC60H3 Winter Ecology
BIOC65H3 Environmental Toxicology
(BIOC67H3) Inter-University Biology Field Course
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:
BIOC29H3 Introductory Mycology
BIOC37H3 Plants: Life on the Edge
BIOC40H3 Plant Physiology
BIOC54H3 Animal Behaviour
BIOC59H3 Advanced Population Ecology
BIOC62H3 Role of Zoos and Aquariums in Conservation
BIOC70H3 An Introduction to Bias in the Sciences
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
