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Program Requirements

2026-2027 Academic YearUndergraduate Academic Calendar information header

 

Chair –  Tamara Anne Franz-Odendaal, BSc, BSc(Med)(Hons), MSc (University of Cape Town), PhD (University of Cape Town), Post-doc (Dalhousie Univ.), Professor

 

Biology is the scientific study of past and present life. The Department of Biology offers programs and courses that provide a solid foundation in a broad range of biological fields, ensures students gain transferable skills to prepare for a diverse range of jobs and provides opportunities for students to experience research excellence by gaining practical skills. We strive to provide flexibility and accessibility in our program. The BSc Major, Combined Major and Major with Honours programs all provide a thorough grounding in the organismal and cellular perspective of biology – that is, in the many ways organisms (including humans) make, live, grow, develop, interact with other organisms and their environments, regulate internal conditions and processes, and reproduce. Required courses in the BSc programs introduce students to the incredible diversity of the animal, plant and microbial worlds and to the unifying disciplines (cell and molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry and metabolism, developmental biology, ecology and evolutionary biology). Most required courses have laboratory components in which students develop practical lab skills, learn data-analysis techniques and gain written and oral scientific communication skills.
Students in BSc programs can acquire specialized knowledge in Biology by completing elective biology courses at the 2000-, 3000- and 4000-levels. A student may choose courses that deepen knowledge of a particular group of organisms (plants, animals, humans, microbes or fungi) or follow a path of required and elective courses that would prepare them for careers in a range of biological areas, such as:
  • Health, Veterinary and Plant Sciences
  • Evolution, Ecology and Environment
  • Neuroscience and Biological Psychology
  • Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology

Our graduates have pursued careers in the animal and human health professions, environmental sciences, resource and wildlife management, journalism, public relations, biotechnology, education, conservation and research. Consult department faculty to learn about pathways to these careers.

Students curious about research can gain experience in hands-on research by becoming involved in active faculty research. This may take the form of one or more 4000-level course that is literature, laboratory or field research based and which can extend over a single term or a full academic year (BSc Honours).  Alternatively, students can work as part-time or full-time research assistants or volunteer in our research laboratories. Our research laboratories are well equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure to support a range of biological questions and research field areas.

The Biology department’s program outcomes are that students are able to:

(1) demonstrate, apply and explain core biological concepts, principles and mechanisms,

(2) obtain effective oral, written and visual scientific communication skills,

(3) apply safe laboratory practices, design experiments, and analyze and interpret scientific data, and

(4)  gain generalised skills such as the ability to critically read and evaluate scientific research, demonstrate deductive reasoning, generate meaningful arguments using scientific concepts and apply the principles of ethical scientific conduct and academic integrity.

Any student wishing to complete a major, concentration or minor in Biology should contact the Centre for Academic Advising and Student Success for help with planning their academic program.

Numerous scholarships are available for students in biology. Visit our department website for details on the application process.

Admission Requirements

Review sections 2.1.4 Admission Requirements and 2.1.6 Additional Admission Requirements.

Students may count courses from a major, concentration and/or minor towards a second major, concentration and/or minor; however, students must complete a minimum of 50 percent of unique courses toward the second major, concentration and/or minor, unless otherwise stated in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar.

Major

The degree with a major is intended for those students with a clearly focused interest who wish to gain knowledge in depth of a single discipline..

Students intending to complete the major degree must declare their intention to do so before they register for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment BSc internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units with the following requirements:
❏ a minimum of 8.0 and a maximum of 10.0 units in the major as follows:

  • BIOL 1152, 1153, 2240, and 3312
  • 1.0 unit selected from BIOL 2203, 2204, 2207
  • 1.0 unit selected from BIOL 3309, 3310, 3322
  • BIOL 3374
  • 2.0 additional units of BIOL at the 2000 level or above
    Note: BIOL 2201 and 2202 may not be used to fulfill the requirements for a major in Biology
  • 1.0 additional unit of BIOL at the 3000 level or above
  • 0.5 additional unit of BIOL at the 4000 level
  • a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 8.0 units of BIOL

❏ CHEM 1011, 1012 and 2401
❏ MATH 1113, 2208 and 2209
or
❏ MATH 1113, 2500 and 3304
❏ a minor consisting of 3.0 units in a science field (Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Science Communication, Statistics and Data Analytics or designated Applied Human Nutrition courses) as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units
❏ students may choose a second 3.0 unit minor in any area that offers a minor or up to 2.5 additional units of arts or science electives
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (exclusive of the major):

  • Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
    (Note: Core A is fulfilled by CHEM/MATH requirement)
  • Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
  • Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ at least 9.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above
❏ Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.

Special Studies
Students may count a maximum of 4.0 units of directed/independent/research studies courses towards the degree, with no more than 2.0 units in any single discipline.

Major Certificate

Students who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Science General Studies degree may apply to do a major certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the major degree listed above.

Combined Major

The combined major degree is intended for those students who wish to gain in-depth knowledge of two disciplines. Students must declare a major or combined major before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment BSc Combined major internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units. In order to complete a combined major in Biology, the following requirements must be met:
❏ a minimum of 6.0 units and a maximum of 8.0 units in the Biology combined major as follows:

  • BIOL 1152, 1153, and 2240
  • 1.0 unit selected from BIOL 2203, 2204, 2207
  • 1.0 unit selected from BIOL 3309, 3310, 3322
  • BIOL 3374
  • 1.5 additional units of BIOL at the 2000 level or above
  • 0.5 additional unit of BIOL at the 3000 level or above

❏ CHEM 1011, 1012, and 2401
❏ MATH 2208 or MATH 2500
❏ a second combined major specified by another program (Aging, Canadian Studies, Chemistry, Communication, Cultural Studies, Economics, English, Family Science, French, History, Mathematics, Political Studies, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, Women’s Studies)
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 6.0 units of each combined major
❏ at least 5.0 units of the 12.0 units overall required for the combined majors must be at the 3000 level or above
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (inclusive of the majors):

  • Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
    (Note: Core A is fulfilled by CHEM/MATH requirement)
  • Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
  • Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ at least 9.0 units of the total 20.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above
❏ Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.

Students wishing to combine an arts major and a science major (e.g. Chemistry and English or Biology and Political Studies):
❏ must meet all of the requirements listed above
and
♦ to complete a BSc (Combined Major) primary science discipline plus secondary arts discipline

  •  must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in science disciplines

♦ to complete a BA (Combined Major) primary arts discipline plus secondary science discipline

  • must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in arts disciplines

Honours Degree

The honours degree option is available to students who wish to study a single discipline in depth, usually with post-graduate study as a goal.

Students wishing to do an honours degree should apply via our website by March 1st of the year preceding enrolment in BIOL 4499 Honours Thesis. Application may be made after successful completion of 10.0 units of study. Minimum requirements for honours program entry are GPA of 3.0 in biology courses, excluding BIOL 1152 and 1153, a GPA of 3.0 in courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units completed, and the agreement of a faculty member to supervise the thesis. Approval of the department is necessary for a student to be accepted into the honours program.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units with the following requirements:
❏ a minimum of 10.0 and a maximum of 12.0 units in the honours subject as follows:

  • BIOL 1152, 1153, 2240, and 3312
  • 1.0 unit selected from BIOL 2203, 2204, 2207
  • 1.0 unit selected from BIOL 3309, 3310, 3322
  • BIOL 3374
  • BIOL 3999
  • BIOL 4499
  • 2.5 additional units of BIOL at the 2000 level or above (Note: BIOL 2201 and 2202 may not be used to fulfill the requirements for the honours in Biology)
  • 1.5 additional units of BIOL at the 3000 level or above

❏ CHEM 1011, 1012, 2401, and 3501
❏ MATH 1113, 2208 and 2209
or
❏ MATH 1113, 2500 and 3304
❏ a minor consisting of 3.0 units in a science field (Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Science Communication, Statistics and Data Analytics or designated Applied Human Nutrition courses) as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C (exclusive of the honours subject):

  • Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
    (Note: Core A is fulfilled by CHEM/MATH requirements)
  • Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
  • Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in all 9.0 units of the required BIOL honours courses excluding BIOL 1152 and 1153
❏ achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis (BIOL 4499)
❏ obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken
❏ Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor as designated on page 71 will not be counted as professional electives.

Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better in 10.0 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units.

Honours Certificate

Students who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biology may apply to do an honours certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the honours degree listed above and meet the University regulations regarding honours certificates.

Concentration

To obtain a concentration in Biology, students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ BIOL 1152 and 1153
❏ 0.5 unit selected from BIOL 2203, 2204, 2207
❏ 2.5 additional units of BIOL at the 2000 level or above, of which at least 1.0 unit must be at the 3000 level or above

Minors

Minor in Biology

To obtain a minor in Biology, students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ BIOL 1152 and 1153

❏ 2.0 additional units of BIOL

Minor in Neuroscience

To obtain a minor in Neuroscience, students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ BIOL 1152 and PSYC 1110

❏ BIOL/PSYC 2260

❏ and an additional 1.5 units from PSYC 2214, 2216, BIOL/PSYC 2217, including a minimum of 0.5 unit from BIOL  3322, BIOL/PSYC 3332, PSYC 4417 or PSYC 4432

Note: Because of overlap, minors in Biology and Neuroscience and/or Psychology and Neuroscience cannot be used to satisfy the requirements of the “double minor” option of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor Science. Any students who satisfy existing degree requirements and complete the above-noted sequence of courses shall be acknowledged in the usual way as having completed the minor in Neuroscience.

Academic Note: This web-based calendar information is applicable for the 2026-2027 academic year which runs from September 01, 2026 to August 31, 2027.

For information on previous years, please consult the University Academic Calendars web page.

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