BSc or BA (120 credit hour) Combined Honours in Biology and another subject
Students who wish to study Biology in conjunction with another subject may wish to pursue a Combined Honours degree program. The other subject may be any discipline from the Faculty of Science (other than Marine Biology), the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Computer Science, or the College of Sustainability. Biology may be the primary subject (defined as the subject with the larger number of honours credits), or the secondary subject. Students planning to enroll in a Combined Honours program should consult with academic advisors from both programs early in their studies. Students must have their program of study approved by Academic Advisors in both subject areas.
To graduate with Honours, students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours above the 1000 level in BIOL or BIOL-approved courses, whether Biology is the primary or the secondary subject. A minimum B+ average (GPA of 3.3), with no grade less than C, is required in the core Biology courses. Students must also have a cumulative B average (GPA of 3.0) at the time of graduation. Students write a research-based Honours thesis and complete an Honours Qualifying Examination in their primary subject area. For Biology, this requirement is satisfied through BIOL 4901.03 AND BIOL 4902.03.
A Co-op option is available for students enrolled in a BSc Combined Honours in Biology. See Co-operative Education Program.
Admission to Honours
Students must apply for admission to Honours programs. To be admitted to the Biology Honours program, students must:
- Have a minimum B+ average (GPA of 3.3) in core 2nd year Biology courses with no grade less than C. A maximum of two of these core courses may be repeated once to achieve this requirement.
- Have a minimum B average (GPA of 3.0) across all courses in the Honours subject.
- If Biology is to be the primary subject area, students must
- Identify and gain the support of a thesis supervisor during their third year of studies (see Biology Honours webpage for supervisor eligibility).
- With the supervisor’s input, draft and submit a thesis proposal to the Biology Honours Committee no later than May 15th of their third year of studies. See Honours webpage for thesis proposal guidelines, and admission procedures for Honours Co-op students.
Biology Honours webpage https://www.dal.ca/faculty/science/biology/honours.html
Course Requirements
In addition to fulfilling the requirements outlined in the Academic Regulations and College of Arts and Science Degree Requirements sections, students in a BSc or BA Combined Honours program in Biology and another subject must complete the following:
1000 level
- BIOL 1010.03: Principles of Biology Part I (or BIOL 1020.03: Introductory Biology I: Cells, Genetics and Evolution or SCIE 1505X/Y.18: Integrated Scienceor SCIE 1506.09 Integrated Science I and SCIE 1507.09 Integrated Science II or equivalent)
- BIOL 1011.03: Principles of Biology Part II (or BIOL 1021.03: Introductory Biology II: Organismal Biology and Ecology or SCIE 1505X/Y.18: Integrated Science or SCIE 1506.09: Integrated Science I and SCIE 1507.09 Integrated Science II or equivalent)
- MATH 1060.03/STAT 1060.03: Introductory Statistics for Science and Health Sciences (or SCIE 1505X/Y.18: Integrated Science or SCIE 1506.09: Integrated Science I and SCIE 1507.09 Integrated Science IIor equivalent)
- CHEM 1011.03: Concepts in Chemistry: Structure and Reactivity
- CHEM 1012.03: Concepts in Chemistry: Energy and Equilibrium
Recommended:
- PHYC 1310.03/PHYC 1320.03 (or PHYC 1300X/Y.06): Physics In and Around You or equivalent
- MATH 1215.03: Life Sciences Calculus or MATH 1000.03: Differential and Integral Calculus I or MATH 1030.03: Matrix Theory and Linear Algebra I
2000 level
Core Biology Courses
3000/4000 level
If Biology is the primary subject, students must complete 12 additional credit hours in BIOL or BIOL-approved courses at the 3000/4000 level. If Biology is the secondary subject, you must complete 18 additional credit hours in BIOL or BIOL-approved courses at the 3000/4000 level. In either case, one of the following course options must be included:
Core Biology Courses
In addition, if Biology is the primary subject, students will also complete:
- BIOL 4901.03: Honours Research and Thesis I and BIOL 4902.03: Honours Research and Thesis II
Students are encouraged to consult the sections on Course Selection Guidelines, and BIOL-approved Courses when selecting their 3000 and 4000 level courses.