Introduction

Given by Members of the Departments of Botany and Zoology

Students are advised to consult courses listed by these Departments.

Biology is the scientific study of life. At no time in history has biology been more visible and important to human life and the future of our planet. The study of biology has vast applications - in understanding one’s own body, in grappling with the ethical questions that face humanity, and in understanding the interdependent web of living organisms on the planet. Today the biological sciences are experiencing a revolution. Important discoveries occur almost weekly as scientists and their students around the world develop and use new techniques, theories, and approaches.

The University of Toronto has many faculty conducting research and teaching courses in the biological sciences. Within the Faculty of Arts and Science, St. George campus, there is no single biology department; instead, biology courses are taught by members of the departments of Botany and Zoology. Each department offers its own programs and courses, but also jointly teaches Biology courses. Biology courses are available in the subject areas of behaviour, evolution, ecology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, and developmental biology. In addition, there are courses offering a field experience for students of Biology, Botany or Zoology. Students should consult the Biology, Botany and Zoology entries in this Calendar. Because many areas of biology draw on mathematics and the physical sciences, background preparation in mathematics, chemistry and physics is recommended for students pursuing a major or specialist in biology.

Students entering their first year in the life sciences typically take BIO150Y1. BIO150Y1 is taken by students who have successfully completed OAC or grade 12 Biology (or an equivalent course) and is a prerequisite for almost all further courses in the life sciences. All students, regardless of campus or Faculty, must abide by the stated course prerequisites and exclusions.

Counselling:

Botany Undergraduate Office, Room 3055A, Earth Sciences Centre, (416-978-7172) or Zoology Undergraduate and BIO150Y1 Office, Room 019, Ramsay Wright Zoological Laboratories (416-978-2084). BIO250Y1 and BIO349H1 Office, Room 3053, Earth Sciences Centre (416-978-6442).

Biology Programs

Biology (Science program)

Specialist program:
(12.5 or 13 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; CHM (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1
See also Higher Years Group 1. below. (In selecting 100-series CHM and MAT courses, students should consider prerequisites for courses they intend to take in higher years.)

Higher Years:
1. Any two of CHM (CHM220H1, CHM247H1)/CHM249H1; PHY110Y1/PHY138Y1/PHY140Y1; PSY (PSY201H1, PSY202H1)/STA220H1, (STA221H1/JBS229H1)/(250H1, 255H1)/(257H1, 261H1)
NOTE: One of the two courses selected here could also be taken in First Year
2. BIO250Y1, BIO260H1; BOT251Y1; ZOO252Y1
3. One 200+ series half-course from BCH, BIO, BOT, ENV234Y1, HMB321H1, HPS323H1, HPS333H1, JZP, MGB312H1, ZOO (excluding BOT202Y1, ZOO200Y1, ZOO214Y1)
4. One 300+ series BOT course
5. One 300+ series from BIO/HMB321H1/HPS323H1/HPS333H1/JZP/MGB312H1/ZOO
6. One additional 400- series BIO/BOT/ ZOO
7. Any 300+ series course in ANA, ANT428H1, ANT433H1, ANT436H1, BCH, BIO, BOT, HMB321H1, HPS323H1, HPS333H1, IMM, JZP, MBY, MGB, PSL, or ZOO

Major program:
(8 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; CHM (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1

Higher Years:
1. BIO250Y1; BOT251Y1; ZOO252Y1
2. One 200+ series course from BCH, BIO, BOT, ENV234Y1, HMB321H1, HPS323H1, HPS333H1, JZP, MGB312H1, ZOO (excluding BOT202Y1, ZOO200Y1, ZOO214Y1)
3. Two 300+ level courses in: ANA, BCH, BIO, BOT, HMB321H1, HPS323H1, HPS333H1, IMM, JZP, MBY, MGB, PSL, or ZOO

Minor program:
(4 full courses or their equivalent)
1. BIO150Y1
2. BIO250Y1/BOT251Y1/ZOO252Y1
3. One course from BIO, BOT (excluding BOT202Y1), ENV234Y1, MGB460H1
4. One course from BIO, ENV234Y1, HMB321H1, HPS323H1, HPS333H1, JZP, MGB312H1, ZOO (excluding ZOO200Y1, ZOO214Y1)
NOTE: One of the courses chosen from 3. or 4. must be at the 300+ level.
Biogeography: see Geography
Biology, Human: see Human Biology
Biophysics: see Physics

Developmental Biology (Science program)

Specialist program:
(11.5 -12 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; CHM (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1

Higher Years:
1. BCH210H1; BIO250Y1, BIO260H1; BOT251Y1/ZOO252Y1; CHM220H1/CHM247H1/CHM249H1
2. BIO349H1/MGB311Y1*
3. BOT340H1; ZOO328H1
4. 1.5 courses from: ANA301H1; BCH304H1, 305H1; BIO461H1; BOT310H1, BOT341H1; MGB312H1, MGB420H1, MGB425H1, MGB451H1, MGB452H1, MGB460H1; ZOO327H1, ZOO329H1, ZOO344H1, 426H1
5. Two courses from BIO482Y1; BOT460Y1; ZOO498Y1
* With permission of Undergraduate Secretary, Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology

Ecology (Science program)

Specialist program:
(13.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; CHM (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1

Higher Years:
1. BIO250Y1, BIO260H1, BIO323H1; BOT251Y1/ZOO252Y1; ENV234Y1
2. PSY (PSY201H1, PSY202H1)/STA220H1, (STA221H1/JBS229H1)/STA (STA250H1, STA255H1)/STA257H1, STA261H1)
3. BIO302H1/BIO303H1/BIO305H1/BIO306H1/BIO308H1/ZOO304H1/ZOO309Y1/ZOO360H1/ZOO361H1
4. Four courses from: BIO319H1, BIO321H1, BIO324H1, BIO328H1, ZOO322H1, ZOO433H1
5. One course from: BIO494Y1, BIO495Y1, BIO496Y1
6. Two courses from: ANT428H1, ANT433H1, ANT436H1, BIO, BOT (except BOT202Y1), CHM, ENV (except ENV200Y1), GGR (only science courses), GLG (except GLG100H1, GLG103H1, GLG105H1, GLG110H1), HMB321H1, HPS323H1, HPS333H1, JZP, MAT, PHY (except PHY100H1, PHY110Y1), STA, ZOO (except ZOO200Y1, ZOO214Y1) and at least 0.5 course at the 300+ level. BIO365H1, BIO370H1, BIO428H1, BIO465H1, BIO469H1, BIO470H1, ZOO373H1, ZOO375H1 are recommended for this program
Environmental Biology (Minor): see Division of the Environment

Evolutionary Biology (Science program)

Specialist program:
(12.5 or 13 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; CHM (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1

Higher Years:
1. BIO250Y1, BIO260H1; BOT251Y1/ZOO252Y1
2. CHM (CHM220H1, CHM247H1)/CHM249H1/ PSY (PSY201H1, PSY202H1)/STA220H1, (STA221H1/JBS229H1)/STA (STA250H1, STA255H1)/(STA257H1, STA261H1)
3. CHM (CHM220H1, CHM247H1)/CHM249H1/ GLG (GLG110H1, GLG216H1)/MAT235Y1/MAT237Y1/PHY110Y1/PHY138Y1/PSY100Y1/(PSY201H1, PSY202H1)/STA220H1, (STA221H1/JBS229H1)/STA (STA250H1, STA255H1)/(STA257H1, STA261H1)
4. BIO319H1, BIO321H1, BIO323H1, BIO324H1; ZOO362H1
5. Three courses from: ANT428H1, ANT433H1, ANT436H1, BIO, BOT (except BOT202Y1), ENV234Y1, HMB321H1, HPS323H1, HPS333H1, JZP, ZOO (except ZOO200Y1, ZOO214Y1). Of the three courses, one must be from: BIO302H1/BIO303H1/ BIO305H1/BIO306H1/BIO308H1/ZOO304H1/ZOO309Y1/ZOO360H1/ZOO361H1, and one from: BIO494Y1, BIO495Y1, BIO496Y1, ZOO480Y1—496Y1 (BIO494Y1 is recommended). BIO365H1, BIO370H1, BIO460H1, BIO470H1, ZOO462H1 are recommended for this program.