Supervisor Email: integrative-biology@utsc.utoronto.ca
The Integrative Biology program allows students to pursue a specialist program built on a broad, multi-perspective approach towards understanding biological complexity. This program provides students with a solid foundation in core biological areas (cellular and organismal biology, ecology and conservation, genes and development) and builds on this knowledge base in third and fourth years. A key advantage to this program is that it allows students to pursue specialization in more than one area at the same time, providing students with a broad understanding of biology. Many of the biggest issues facing today’s planet require scientists that are capable of bringing different and complementary perspectives to look for solutions, and this program provides the coursework and training to help undergraduates build this knowledge base. Students who are interested in careers in conservation biology, ecology, environmental sciences, cellular/organismal biology, as well as ones interested in careers in medicine and other health professions, will benefit from this program.
Enrolment Requirements
Students apply to the Specialist Program in Integrative Biology 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. 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
Choose from:
BIOB12H3 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
BIOB32H3 Animal Physiology Laboratory
BIOB33H3 Human Development and Anatomy Laboratory
BIOB52H3 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Laboratory
8. 0.5 Credit in Statistics
Choose from:
STAB22H3 Statistics I
PSYB07H3 Data Analysis in Psychology
Third/Fourth Year
9. 2.5 Credits of Biology Foundation Courses
BIOC15H3 Genetics
BIOC17H3 Microbiology
[BIOC37H3 Plants: Life on the Edge or BIOC40H3 Plant Physiology]
BIOC54H3 Animal Behaviour
BIOC61H3 Community Ecology
10. 1.0 Credit of Advanced Courses in Cellular and Organismal Biology
Choose from:
BIOC12H3 Biochemistry I: Proteins and Enzymes
BIOC13H3 Biochemistry II: Bioenergetics and Metabolism
BIOC20H3 Principles of Virology
BIOC21H3 Vertebrate Histology: Cells and Tissues
BIOC23H3 Practical Approaches to Biochemistry
BIOC29H3 Introductory Mycology
BIOC32H3 Human Physiology I
BIOC34H3 Human Physiology II
[BIOC37H3 Plants: Life on the Edge or BIOC40H3 Plant Physiology; whichever course is not used to fulfill Biology Foundation course requirement]
BIOC39H3 Immunology
BIOC65H3 Environmental Toxicology
BIOC70H3 An Introduction to Bias in the Sciences
NROC34H3 Neuroethology
11. 1.0 Credit of Advanced Courses in Ecology and Conservation
Choose from:
BIOC50H3 Macroevolution
BIOC51H3 Tropical Biodiversity Field Course
BIOC52H3 Ecology Field Course
BIOC58H3 Biological Consequences of Global Change
BIOC59H3 Advanced Population Ecology
BIOC60H3 Winter Ecology
BIOC62H3 Role of Zoos and Aquariums in Conservation
BIOC63H3 Conservation Biology
(BIOC67H3) Inter-University Biology Field Course
EESC04H3 Biodiversity and Biogeography
12. 1.0 Credit of Advanced Courses in Genes and Development
Choose from:
BIOC10H3 Cell Biology: Proteins from Life to Death
BIOC14H3 Genes, Environment and Behaviour
BIOC16H3 Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics
BIOC19H3 Animal Developmental Biology
BIOC31H3 Plant Development and Biotechnology
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.
13. 1.0 Credit of D-Level Biology Courses
Choose from:
Any BIO D-level course offered by the Biological Sciences department.
