Honours Biology & Pharmacology Co-op Program (B.H.Sc.)

Health Sciences Centre, Room 2E21A, ext. 22312
https://healthsci.mcmaster.ca/biopharm
biophrm@mcmaster.ca

DIRECTOR

Jan D. Huizinga/B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
huizinga@mcmaster.ca

BIOPHARM STUDENT SOCIETY
macbiopharm@gmail.com

Program Overview

The Honours Biology & Pharmacology Coop Program is the longest-standing undergraduate co-operative education program at McMaster University, offered jointly between the Faculties of Health Sciences and Science. Highlights of the program include:

limited enrolment program guarantees class sizes of 22 students or less. Most PHARMAC courses are taught in groups of 11.
we offer specialized Pharmacology courses that explore human physiology as well as human pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics: what drugs do to the body and what the body does to drugs.
a dedicated full year laboratory course
a full-time 4-months research thesis
three mandatory semesters of paid coop work terms in industry, academia or government, in Hamilton, surrounding area or world-wide.

The program equips students with a wide spectrum of skills and experiences and provides excellent preparedness for graduate and professional schools such as medicine, pharmacy, veterinary or employment in industry or government.

Admission

Enrolment in this program is limited and possession of the published minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Admission is by selection.

Selection will be based on academic achievement, a written statement of interest and an interview but requires, as a minimum, submission of an on-line application by the stated deadline, completion of Level II (or above) of a Science or Health Sciences program with a Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 on the McMaster 12-point scale (Note: normally, a Grade Point Average of at least 8.0 is required). Refer to the “Apply” tab on the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-op program website (https://biopharm.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/prospectivestudent/university-student/applying-to-biopharm/) for further information and important dates and deadlines. Applicants from other disciplines may also be a good fit depending on their educational background. Successful completion of courses from the following areas of study are strongly recommended: human or animal physiology, genetics, organic chemistry, cell biology, microbiology and biotechnology, ecology, bio-analytical chemistry, physical chemistry.

The program will be open to applicants who have completed equivalent Level I and II courses at another university. Applicants who have completed a University degree are also eligible to apply as a second degree student.

Admission Requirements

Required courses include 6 units from Lists A (Biology), B (Chemistry) and C (Science). A required Level II course for admission is BIOLOGY 2A03 or HTHSCI 2F03 and HTHSCI 2FF3. Please note that BIOLOGY 2A03 may or may not be available as a spring course prior to September enrolment.

List A (Biology) (6 units) - BIOLOGY 1A03, BIOLOGY 1P03, BIOLOGY 2B03, BIOLOGY 2C03, BIOLOGY 2EE3, BIOLOGY 3P03, BIOLOGY 3S03, HTHSCI 2E03, HTHSCI 2F03, HTHSCI 2FF3, HTHSCI 2K03, HTHSCI 2L03, HTHSCI 2LL3, HTHSCI 1D03, HTHSCI 1LL3, HTHSCI 2H03

List B (Chemistry) (6 units) - CHEMBIO 2A03, CHEMBIO 2L03, CHEMBIO 2OD3, CHEMBIO 2OG3, CHEMBIO 2Q03, CHEMBIO 2P03, CHEMBIO 3P03, BIOCHEM 2B03, BIOCHEM 2BB3, BIOCHEM 2EE3, BIOCHEM 3D03, BIOCHEM 3G03, BIOCHEM 3H03, BIOCHEM 3CB3, CHEM 1A03, CHEM 1AA3, CHEM 2E03, CHEM 2II3, CHEM 2OA3, CHEM 2OB3, CHEM 2OD3, CHEM 2OG3

List C (Science) (6 units) - BIOTECH 2BC3, BIOTECH 2M03, BIOTECH 2MB3, LIFESCI 2BP3, LIFESCI 2CC3, LIFESCI 3AA3, LIFESCI 3BB3, LIFESCI 3M03, LIFESCI 3Q03, MOLBIOL 2C03, MOLBIOL 3A03, MOLBIOL 3B03, MOLBIOL 3D03, MOLBIOL 3O03, MOLBIOL 3V03, ISCI 1A24, ISCI 2A18

Note

Information about this program and the selection procedure can be obtained from Science Career and Cooperative Education and the Director of the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-op Program.

Program Notes

This is a ﬁve-level (year) co-op program, three terms of which must be spent in work related to biology or pharmacology placements under the auspices of the Science Career & Cooperative Education office in the Faculty of Science.
A senior thesis, PHARMAC 4T15, will be completed in the Summer term of level IV or Fall term of Level V. If 4T15 is taken in the summer term of level IV, a work term is done in the fall term of Level V; if 4T15 is taken in the fall term of Level V, a work term is done in the summer term of level IV. Work terms must be completed in the Spring/Summer term of Level III, Fall term of Level IV and Spring/Summer term of Level V. See Co-op program chart below.
PHARMAC 3A06 A/B, 3B06 A/B, 4A03, 4AA3, 4C03, 4D03 and 4E03 will use a self-directed problem-based learning approach.
Students must be registered full-time and take a full academic workload as prescribed by Level and Term.
Students are required to complete SCIENCE 2C00 prior to the Fall Term of Level III. Students are required to complete SCIENCE 3D00 before the ﬁrst work placement (note SCIENCE 3D00 is only available in the fall term).
Students should seek academic advising for this program from the Academic Program Advisor or the Director of the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-op Program.
If BIOCHEM 2B03 and 2BB3 have not been completed at the time of admission, BIOCHEM 3G03 must be completed in Level III. Students with credit in BIOCHEM 2B03 and 2BB3 are not required to complete further Biochemistry courses.
For B.H.Sc. students who are interested in taking a level III or IV BIOPHARM course for which BIOPHARM 3A06 is a requirement, an alternative to BIOPHARM 3A06 is BIOLOGY 3AA3.
Admission enquiries made after the deadline can be sent to biophrm@mcmaster.ca for consideration.

Academic Regulations

Student Academic Responsibility

You are responsible for adhering to the statement on student academic responsibility found in the General Academic Regulations of this calendar.

Access to Courses

All undergraduate courses at McMaster have an enrolment capacity. The University is committed to making every effort to accommodate students in required courses so that their program of study is not extended. Unless otherwise specified, registration is on a first-come basis and in some cases priority is given to students from particular programs or Faculties. Students will be informed of their enrolment periods and are encouraged to enroll as soon as online enrolment is available to them in the Student Centre in Mosaic.

In addition to the regulations in the General Academic Regulations section of this Calendar, the following Program regulations apply.

Minor

A Minor is an option available to a student enrolled in a four or five‐level program. A Minor consists of a minimum of 24 units in the Minor subject. No more than six of these units can be at Level I, unless otherwise stated in the specific requirements of the Minor. A student is responsible for registering for courses to be applied towards a Minor using elective units only. In the case of cross‐listed courses, students must ensure that they register in the appropriate subject for the Minor designation. Those who have the necessary requirements may apply for recognition of that Minor when they graduate. If recognition for a Minor is granted, this recognition will be recorded on the student’s transcript. Minors cannot be revoked once approved. Students may return for a second degree in the subject in which they have obtained a Minor, but only at the Honours level. For further information please refer to Minors in the General Academic Regulations section in this Calendar.

A minor is not available in Biology and Pharmacology.

Continuation in the Program

Students who have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 6.0 may continue in the program.

If a GPA of 3.0 to 5.9 is obtained a student may remain in the program but will be placed on program probation for one reviewing period. A student may be on program probation only once.

Students previously on program probation who achieve a GPA between 3.0 and 5.4, may transfer to a program for which he/she qualifies or graduate with a B.H.Sc. three year degree provided a minimum 3.5 GPA is achieved and all program requirements have been met.

Students whose GPA is less than 3.0 at any academic review may not continue at the University.

Letters of Permission

Students enrolled in the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-op program may apply to take courses at another university on a Letter of Permission (LOP) by submitting an LOP request in MOSAIC. Students must achieve a grade of at least C- to receive credit.

Students are responsible to forward the transcript from the other university directly to the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-op Program Office (HSC-2E21A). If a grade of C- or better is attained, the transcript designation reads T indicating Transfer Credit, or NC indicating Not Complete if less than a C- grade is attained.

Courses taken at another university cannot be used to satisfy the university’s minimum residence requirements, will not be included in the calculation of the Cumulative or Fall/Winter Averages, and therefore cannot be used to raise standing. Students may take up to six units of courses towards a Minor on a Letter of Permission. Students must be in good standing to be eligible to take courses on a Letter of Permission.

Reinstatement to the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-op Program

A student who may Not Continue at the University may apply for reinstatement. Students seeking reinstatement should complete the Reinstatement Request Form available at the Office of the Registrar (Gilmour Hall, Room 108). The completed form and the fee must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by July 15 for September entry.

The form should explain the reasons for the student’s inadequate performance, corroborated by two letters of support, and should also include relevant documentary evidence such as, for example, a physician’s letter documenting an illness that may have impacted upon the student’s prior academic performance. Reinstatement cases will be carefully screened and the evidence considered will include the student’s academic performance before and following admission to McMaster, as well as the nature of the reasons cited in the letter, the letters of support and the accompanying documentation. Reinstatement is not guaranteed.

If students are reinstated to the University, their Grade Point Average will be reset to 0.0 on zero units. Following reinstatement, students will be on academic probation and must complete a minimum of 60 units of work after reinstatement to be eligible for graduation with Distinction or other recognition based on the Grade Point Average. If at any review after reinstatement the student’s Grade Point Average falls below 3.5, the student will be required to withdraw from the University for a period of at least 12 months.

Registration and Course Changes

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the program of work undertaken meets the requirements for the degree. It is highly recommended that students review their advisement report in MOSAIC on the working day following each time courses are dropped or added and seek academic counselling from the Program Office if they have questions. Dates for final registration and course changes appear in the Sessional Dates section of this Calendar and are enforced.

Academic Advising

Academic advising is available throughout the year but only from the Faculty of Health Sciences. Address your question first to the Academic Program Advisor Tara Young (biophrm@mcmaster.ca). If needed, the Director of the program is available for any further advice (huizinga@mcmaster.ca).

Graduation

A GPA of 5.0 is required for graduation. Please refer to the General Academic Regulations section in this Calendar for additional information related to graduation .

Transferring to Graduate with a B.H.Sc. Degree from the B.H.Sc. (Honours) Biology and Pharmacology Co-op Program: Students who successfully complete at least 120 units including all admission requirements and program-specific course requirements up to the end of at least Level IV of the B.H.Sc. (Honours) Biology and Pharmacology Co-op Program, with a minimum Grade Point Average of 5.0 may request permission from the Biology and Pharmacology Program office for transfer to graduate with a non-honours B.H.Sc. (exit) degree.

Programs

Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-op (B.H.Sc.)