Dec 12, 2024  
Undergraduate Calendar 2023-2024 
    
Undergraduate Calendar 2023-2024 [-ARCHIVED CALENDAR-]

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


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Admission


Selection will be based on academic achievement, a written statement of interest and an interview but requires, as a minimum, submission of an online 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 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. 

A required Level II course for admission is BIOLOGY 2A03  since this is a prerequisite for our course BIOLOGY 3P03 . Please note that BIOLOGY 2A03  may or may not be available as a spring course prior to September enrolment.

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

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


  1. 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.
  2. A senior thesis, PHARMAC 4T15 , will be completed in the Summer or Fall term of Level V. 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.
  3. PHARMAC 3A06 A/B , 3B06 A/B , 4A03 , 4AA3 , 4C03 , 4D03  and 4E03  will use a self-directed problem-based learning approach.
  4. Students must be registered full-time and take a full academic workload as prescribed by Level and Term. 
  5. Students are required to complete SCIENCE 2C00  and SCIENCE 3C00  before the first work placement and are strongly recommended to complete SCIENCE 2C00  in Level II.
  6. Students should seek academic advising for this program from the Director of the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-op Program.
  7. 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.
  8. For BHSc students who are interested in taking 4th or 5th year BIOPHARM course for which BIOPHARM 3A06 is a requirement, an alternative to BIOPHARM 3A06 is BIOLOGY 3AA3 .

Course List


Requirements


129 units total (Levels I to IV), of which no more than 48 units may be Level I

Level I: 30 Units


30 units


Completed prior to admission to the program

Level II: 30 Units


30 units


  • Completion of any Level II program including courses as outlined in Admission statement
    (See Admission above.)

Level III


Consists of academic studies (Fall and Winter Terms) and Co-op Work Term (Spring/Summer Term)

Level IV


Consists of academic studies (Fall Term), Co-op Work Term (Winter Term), and completion of senior thesis (Spring/Summer Term)

Fall Term:


Work Term

Winter Term: 15 units:


Spring/Summer Term:


Work Term

Level V


Consists of Co-op Work Term (Fall Term) and academic studies (Winter Term)

Fall Term: 15 units:


15 units

Winter Term: 15 units:


Co-op Program Chart


 

FALL TERM

(September to December)

WINTER TERM

(January to April)

SPRING/SUMMER TERM

(May to August)

Level III Academic Term
Level III
+
SCIENCE 2C00  (if not
completed) and SCIENCE 3C00   
Academic Term
Level III

Work Term

SCIENCE 3WW0  

Level IV

Work Term

SCIENCE 4WW0 

 

Academic Term
Level IV  

Work Term

SCIENCE 5WW0  

Level V

Senior Thesis
Fall term Thesis can be switched with SCIENCE 5WW0 

Academic Term
Level IV
 

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