Faculty of Science 5. Program Details 5.6 Non-Departmental Programs: Environmental Science, Nanoscience, Natural Sciences, Neuroscience 5.6.3 Natural Sciences 5.6.3.1 Programs in Natural Sciences5.6.3.1 Programs in Natural Sciences
Declaration of Concentrations
The program requires students to choose two concentrations*, denoted Concentration One (C1) and Concentration Two (C2) respectively, from the following list: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Energy Science, Geoscience, Mathematics or Physics. Entry into a given concentration may be subject to enrolment limitations. (See Enrolment Limitations.) Students cannot declare their concentrations until they have completed at least four FCE and must do so no later than upon registering for the final year. Students will find that it is in their best interest to declare their concentrations at the earliest possible opportunity. *It is not possible for students in the Natural Sciences program to choose a minor (except for Nanoscience)Ìýin the Faculty of Science. Furthermore, Natural Sciences students may not select a second major or combined degree in areas of their two concentrations. |
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Required Courses - Major Program
See also Section 3 (Faculty Regulations), Subsections 3.4B (Program Requirements - Major Degree Programs) and 3.5B (Introductory Courses for Science Degree Programs). 1. Major Field Courses (Concentrations One and Two) The program must contain two concentrations as described under Declaration of Concentrations. The courses in the two concentrations must be selected as follows: 5.0 FCE - Minimum number of courses in C1 3.0 FCE - Minimum number of courses in C2 6.0 FCE - Maximum number of courses in C1 5.0 FCE - Maximum number of courses in C2 10.0 FCE - Maximum number of courses in C1 plus C2 0.5 FCE - Minimum number of courses in C1 that must be at the 400 level or higher 2. Natural Science Specific Courses 0.5 FCE - Science 301 0.5 FCE - Science 403 0.5 FCE - Science 501 or Science 529 (for Energy Science concentrators) 3. Other Courses outside the Major Field 4.0 FCE - Non-science options as follows (check Table I in 3.4 Program Requirements for ineligible courses; Science 311 may be counted among these courses): Chosen from Faculties other than the Faculty of Science. Of these four FCE, students must take at least one FCE from the Faculty of Arts. 4. Science Breadth The program must include the following:
*Apply these courses to either (1) Major Field courses or (3) Other Courses outside the Major Field as appropriate. |
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Required Courses - Honours Program
Same as for Major Program except: 1.0 FCE - Minimum number of courses in C1 that must be at the 400 level or higher. 1.0 FCE - Science 502 |
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Required Courses - Concentration One
Biology Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C1 in Biology are as follows: 1.0 FCE - Biology 241 and 243 1.5 FCE - Biology 311, 331 and 371 0.5 FCE - Biochemistry 393 or Biology 313 1.5 FCE - Courses from the field of Biological Sciences at the 300 level or higher 0.5 FCE - Courses from the field of Biological Sciences at the 400 level or higher Chemistry Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C1 in Chemistry are as follows: 1.0 FCE - Chemistry 201 or 211 and 203 or 213 2.0 FCE - Chemistry 311, 331 or 333, 351 and 371 or 373 1.5 FCE - Courses from the field of Chemistry at the 300 level or higher 0.5 FCE - Courses from the field of Chemistry at the 400 level or higher Computer Science Concentration1. The minimum requirements for a C1 in Computer Science are as follows: 1.0 FCE - One of the following three sets of courses:
0.5 FCE - Computer Science 319 or 331 3.0 FCE - Courses in the field of Computer Science 0.5 FCE - Courses in the field of Computer Science at the 400 level or higher 1Students interested in completing a C1 in Computer Science should complete Philosophy 279 in their first year. Energy Science Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C1 in Energy Science are as follows: 0.5 FCE - Chemistry 203 or 213 0.5 FCE - Physics 211 or 221 or 227 0.5 FCE - Physics 223 or 255 0.5 FCE - Engineering Energy and Environment 355 0.5 FCE - Chemistry 321 or 425 2.5 FCE - Chosen from Science 421, 423, 521, 525, 531, 533, Physics 301,325, or 397 (a maximum 1.0 FCE can be chosen from Physics 301, 325, 397) Note: Energy Science students completing a Concentration Two in Physics will have the first-year Physics courses count toward both concentrations. No Physics courses beyond required first-year Physics courses can count toward both Energy Science and a Physics concentration. A maximum of 1.0 FCE from Physics 301, 325 and 397 can be used towards completion of the Energy Sciences Concentration. Geoscience Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C1 in Geoscience are as follows: 2.5 FCE - Geology 201, 202 or 203, 341, 381, and Geophysics 355 2.0 FCE - Courses in the fields of Geology and/or Geophysics at the 300 or 400 levels1 0.5 FCE - Courses in the fields of Geology and/or Geophysics at the 400 level or higher1 1Students pursuing a Geoscience concentration are free to mix and match appropriate Geology and Geophysics options. It is recommended that students intending to apply for admission into the Geology program (including the Petroleum Geology concentration) take Geology 311, 323, 337 and 391, those intending to apply for admission into the Applied and Environmental Geology program take Geology 311, 323, 337 and 373 while students intending to apply for admission into the Geophysics program take Geophysics 359, 453, 457 and an additional Geology or Geophysics option. For more details, see the Geoscience Program Section of this Calendar. Mathematics Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C1 in Mathematics are as follows: 0.5 FCE - Mathematics 211 or 213 0.5 FCE - Mathematics 249 or 251 or 281 or Applied Mathematics 217 0.5 FCE - Mathematics 253 or 283 or Applied Mathematics 219 1.0 FCE - Mathematics 311 or 313, 321 1.0 FCE – either Mathematics 349 and 353 or Mathematics 381 and any course in the field of General Mathematics 1.0 FCE - Courses in the field of General Mathematics. 0.5 FCE - Courses in the field of General Mathematics at the 400 level or higher Physics Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C1 in Physics are as follows: 1.0 FCE - Either Physics 211 or 221 and 321 or Physics 227 and 0.5 FCE Physics option 1.0 FCE – Either Physics 223 and 323 or 255 and 397 3.5 FCE - Courses in the field of Physics1 at the 300 level or higher 1Students completing either a C1 or C2 in Physics may use courses in Astrophysics to satisfy requirements from the field of Physics. |
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Required Courses - Concentration Two
Biology Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C2 in Biology are as follows: A minimum of 3 FCE to a maximum of 5 FCE selected from the major field of Biological Sciences. Chemistry Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C2 in Chemistry are as follows: A minimum of 3 FCE to a maximum of 5 FCE selected from the major field of Chemistry Computer Science Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C2 in Computer Science are as follows: A minimum of 3 FCE to a maximum of 5 FCE selected from the major field of Computer Science. Energy Science Concentration. A Concentration Two in Energy Science is not permitted. Geoscience Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C2 in Geoscience are as follows: A minimum of 3 FCE to a maximum of 5 FCE selected from the major field of Geology and/or Geophysics. Mathematics Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C2 in Mathematics are as follows: A minimum of 3 FCE to a maximum of 5 FCE selected from the major field of General Mathematics. Physics Concentration. The minimum requirements for a C2 in Physics are as follows: A minimum of 3 FCE to a maximum of 5 FCE selected from the major field of Physics and/or Astrophysics. |
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Recommendation for both the Major and Honours Programs
Writing Component It is strongly recommended that a course emphasizing writing skills be included in the program, e.g., a Junior English course or Communications Studies 363 or Science 311. International Component This suggestion may be satisfied in various ways, e.g., by completing 1.0 FCE from the list of courses in item 4 of the section "Make Your Degree More International," under "About the University" in the back of the Calendar, or by following one of the other suggestions listed there. If non-science course work is used to satisfy this recommendation, this course work could be part of the breadth requirement. |
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Suggested Program Sequences
1Students should refer to registration materials and the Enrolment Services website () to determine recommended first-year Mathematics courses based on their concentration. 2Computer Science 101 is a non-credit course taught during Block week prior to fall term. It is strongly recommended as preparation for Computer Science 217 or 231. First-year students unable to complete Computer Science 101 should contact the Computer Science Department for supplemental information. 3Energy Science Concentrators must take Science 529 instead of Science 501. 4Required for Honours, replaced by options in the Major program. Notes: 1. The schedule is adjustable to accommodate individual programs. Options include any courses that are prerequisite to the concentration courses, but are from another field, and also include the Science Breadth requirements. 2. If Mathematics courses or Computer Science courses are part of a C1 or C2, the number of C1 and C2 slots in this schedule can be reduced accordingly as per degree requirements. |