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Department of Biological Sciences | Faculty of Science Simon Fraser University Calendar | Summer 2025

Biological Sciences Major

Bachelor of Science

The Biological Sciences Major combines a broad foundation in the lower division with specialization in upper division. After completing their lower division courses, students select one of 3 concentrations: Cells, Molecules, Physiology (CMP); Ecology, Evolution, Conservation (EEC); or Open concentration.

Admission Requirements

Students meeting the admission requirements to the Faculty of Science may receive direct entry to the BISC Major upon acceptance to SFU either from high school or as a transfer student. Students already at SFU may apply to the BISC Major once they have completed all Lower Division Requirements (details below). Students must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher on the Lower Division Requirements to be accepted into the program.

Grade Requirements

Prerequisites. Students are normally required to obtain at least a C- on all course prerequisites, but in some cases the minimum grade requirements may be higher. Students are encouraged to plan ahead and consult the course calendar. In some cases, prerequisites may be waived for BISC courses with the approval of the Department.

Continuation. To remain in the program, students must be in good academic standing, must maintain a CGPA of 2.0 in the Major Program Requirements (i.e., excluding electives), and must not exceed SFU’s limits on course repeats. Students who do not meet these requirements will be dropped from the Major Program. Students may apply for readmission to the Major Program if they complete all Lower Division Requirements (details below) with a GPA of 2.0 or higher, without exceeding the course repeat limit. Students may also apply for admission to the General Science Double Minor Program within the Faculty of Science or other programs across the university.

Program Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 120 units, including 44 units at the upper division level.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete all of

BISC 101 - General Biology (4)
BISC 102 - General Biology (4)
BISC 202 - Genetics (3)
BISC 204 - Ecology (3)
BISC 205 - Principles of Physiology (3)
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II (2)
CHEM 281 - Organic Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
MBB 222 - Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (3)
MBB 231 - Cellular Biology and Biochemistry (3)
STAT 201 - Statistics for the Life Sciences (3)

and one of

CHEM 282 - Organic Chemistry II (2)
CHEM 283 - Organic Chemistry IIb (3)

and one of

MATH 150 - Calculus I with Review (4)
MATH 151 - Calculus I (3)
MATH 154 - Mathematics for the Life Sciences I (3)

and one of

PHYS 101 - Physics for the Life Sciences I (3)
PHYS 120 - Mechanics and Modern Physics (3)
PHYS 125 - Mechanics and Special Relativity (3)
PHYS 140 - Studio Physics - Mechanics and Modern Physics (4)

Students are encouraged to complete all lower division requirements before registering for upper division courses. Students who intend to apply for medical, dental, veterinary, or other professional program may need additional courses and are encouraged to consult with the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Advisor.

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 12 upper division courses (a minimum of 36 units), consisting of three core courses plus nine concentration specific courses, as specified below. Once students have completed their lower division requirements, they should meet with the Undergraduate Advisor to declare their concentration. Students must obtain a C- or better on all Upper Division Requirements.

All students complete three core courses, as follows.

BISC 300 - Evolution (3)
BISC 333 - Developmental Biology (3)

and at least one of

BISC 303 - Microbiology (4)
BISC 306 - Invertebrate Biology (4)
BISC 316 - Vertebrate Biology (4)
BISC 317 - Insect Biology (3)
BISC 318 - Parasitology (3)
BISC 327 - Algal Biology (4)
BISC 328 - Fungal Biology and Ecology (3)
BISC 337 - Plant Biology (4)

Cells, Molecules, and Physiology (CMP) Concentration

This concentration is for students who wish to specialize in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, and Physiology. The program provides flexibility for students to pursue their interests across these disciplines.

Students who choose this concentration will complete two of the following techniques courses

BISC 302W - Genetic Analysis (3)
BISC 303 - Microbiology (4)
BISC 357 - Genetic Engineering (4)
BPK 408W - Cellular Physiology Laboratory (4)

and at least five additional stream electives from

BISC 302W - Genetic Analysis (3)
BISC 303 - Microbiology (4)
BISC 305 - Animal Physiology (3)
BISC 313 - Environmental Toxicology: A Mechanistic Perspective (3)
BISC 357 - Genetic Engineering (4)
BISC 366 - Plant Physiology (3)
BISC 403 - Current Topics in Cell Biology (3)
BISC 405 - Neurobiology (3)
BISC 421 - Models in Biology: From Molecules to Migration (3)
BISC 423 - Developmental Neurobiology (3)
BISC 424 - Applied Genomics (3)
BISC 425 - Sensory Biology (3)
BISC 428 - Cell Anatomy (3)
BISC 430 - Microbe-Plant Interactions (3)
BISC 433 - Environmental Microbiology (3)
BISC 445 - Environmental Physiology of Animals (3)
BISC 447 - Stem Cells - Current Trends (3)
BISC 455 - Endocrinology (3)
BISC 457 - Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (3)
BISC 471 - Special Topics in Cells, Molecules and Physiology (3)
BISC 472 - Special Topics in Cells, Molecules and Physiology (3)
BISC 475 - Special Topics in Biology (3)
BISC 497W - Undergraduate Research: Writing Intensive (3)
BISC 498 - Undergraduate Research I (3)
BISC 499 - Undergraduate Research II (3)
BPK 408W - Cellular Physiology Laboratory (4)

and two upper division electives (minimum of six units) from BISC, BPK, HSCI, MBB, PHYS, or STAT, subject to approval by the department. Students are encouraged to see the departmental website for a list of pre-approved non-BISC CMP electives. Normally, no more than two research intensive courses (such as BISC 497W, 498, or 499) may be used to satisfy stream requirements. Students complete a total of five lab courses (which may include one of BISC 497W, 498, 499) among their upper division courses. A minimum of three CMP stream electives must be at the 400-level.

Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation (EEC) Concentration

This concentration integrates theoretical and applied approaches to Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation. Students interested in obtaining additional field biology experience may also take courses at Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, listed under Marine Sciences (MASC) in the course calendar. The EEC concentration is accredited by the College of Applied Biology (see the Biological Sciences website for details).

Students who choose this concentration will complete both

STAT 302 - Analysis of Experimental and Observational Data (3)
BISC 360W - Techniques in Ecology and Evolution (3)

and at least one additional organismal course from

BISC 306 - Invertebrate Biology (4)
BISC 316 - Vertebrate Biology (4)
BISC 317 - Insect Biology (3)
BISC 327 - Algal Biology (4)
BISC 328 - Fungal Biology and Ecology (3)
BISC 337 - Plant Biology (4)

and at least one applied course from

BISC 308 - Environmental Toxicology: An Ecological Perspective (3)
BISC 309 - Conservation Biology (3)
BISC 413 - Fisheries Ecology (3)

and at least five additional stream electives from

BISC 305 - Animal Physiology (3)
BISC 308 - Environmental Toxicology: An Ecological Perspective (3)
BISC 309 - Conservation Biology (3)
BISC 366 - Plant Physiology (3)
BISC 407 - Population Dynamics (3)
BISC 410 - Behavioural Ecology (3)
BISC 412 - Aquatic Ecology (3)
BISC 413 - Fisheries Ecology (3)
BISC 414 - Limnology (3)
BISC 420 - Community Ecology (3)
BISC 421 - Models in Biology: From Molecules to Migration (3)
BISC 422 - Population Genetics (3)
BISC 433 - Environmental Microbiology (3)
BISC 440W - Biodiversity (3)
BISC 441 - Evolution of Health and Disease (3)
BISC 445 - Environmental Physiology of Animals (3)
BISC 473 - Special Topics in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (3)
BISC 474 - Special Topics in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (3)
BISC 497W - Undergraduate Research: Writing Intensive (3)
BISC 498 - Undergraduate Research I (3)
BISC 499 - Undergraduate Research II (3)

Students may substitute up to two upper division stream electives from the Faculty of Environment, Bamfield (MASC courses), or other relevant unit, subject to approval by the department. Students are encouraged to see the departmental website for a list of pre-approved EEC substitute stream electives. Students complete a total of five lab courses (which may include one of BISC 497W, 498, 499) among their upper division courses. A minimum of three EEC stream electives must be at the 400-level.

Open Concentration

This concentration allows students to build their own program and combine interests spanning the full diversity of courses offered in the Department.

Students who choose this concentration will complete one of the following techniques courses

BISC 302W - Genetic Analysis (3)
BISC 303 - Microbiology (4)
BISC 357 - Genetic Engineering (4)
BISC 360W - Techniques in Ecology and Evolution (3)
BPK 408W - Cellular Physiology Laboratory (4)

and an additional eight upper division BISC courses (totaling a minimum of 24 units). Students may substitute up to two upper division courses from other units (e.g., BPK, FENV, HSCI, MASC, MBB, PHYS, or STAT), subject to approval by the department. Students are encouraged to see the departmental website for a list of pre-approved open concentration electives. Normally, no more than two research intensive courses (such as BISC 497W, 498, or 499) may be used to satisfy stream requirements. Students complete a total of five lab courses (which may include one of BISC 497W, 498, 499) among their upper division courses. A minimum of three BISC courses must be at the 400-level.

University Degree Requirements

Students must also satisfy University degree requirements for degree completion.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Students who transfer into the Biological Sciences Major from other institutions may count a maximum of 2 transfer courses toward their upper division program requirements. Transfer students are encouraged to meet with the Undergraduate Advisor for further details.