Science Academic Programs and Plans

Advisors: See Faculty of Science, academic advisors.

The Honours Co-operative Environmental Science, Ecology Specialization program provides students with knowledge in the fields of biology and earth sciences to address environmental challenges such as climate change, habitat destruction, and invasive species. Graduates will be prepared for employment in areas relating to environmental concerns, conservation and ecological monitoring within government, and the environmental consulting industry.

Continuing in Honours Co-operative Environmental Science, Ecology Specialization requires a cumulative overall average of 60% and a cumulative Science average of 60%.

Successful completion of this program requires:

1. 21.25 units distributed as follows:
   
   • 6.75 BIOL units: BIOL 110, BIOL 120, BIOL 150, BIOL 165, BIOL 239, BIOL 240, BIOL 240L, BIOL 350, BIOL 351, BIOL 354, BIOL 359, BIOL 361, BIOL 451, and BIOL 457
   • 0.5 BIOL unit from: BIOL 456 or BIOL 458
   • 2.0 CHEM units: CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, CHEM 123, CHEM 123L, and CHEM 266
   • 0.5 CHEM unit from: CHEM 233 or CHEM 237
   • 3.0 EARTH units: EARTH 121, EARTH 121L, EARTH 122, EARTH 122L, EARTH 123, EARTH 223, and EARTH 342
   • 0.5 PHYS unit: PHYS 111
   • 1.5 BIOL units from: BIOL 309, BIOL 310, BIOL 312, BIOL 321, BIOL 323, BIOL 325, BIOL 335L, BIOL 346, BIOL 370, BIOL 371, BIOL 383, BIOL 414, BIOL 426, BIOL 439, BIOL 447, BIOL 448, BIOL 450, BIOL 452, BIOL 455, BIOL 461, BIOL 462, BIOL 470, BIOL 479, BIOL 485, BIOL 488, BIOL 489, BIOL 490A, BIOL 490B, BIOL 490C, or BIOL 499A and BIOL 499B with the following condition:
     
     • 0.5 BIOL unit must be at 400-level
   • 0.5 EARTH unit from: EARTH 321, EARTH 333, EARTH 358, EARTH 421, EARTH 440, EARTH 458, or EARTH 459
   • 0.5 BIOL or EARTH elective unit from: BIOL 211, BIOL 241, BIOL 309, BIOL 310, BIOL 312, BIOL 321, BIOL 323, BIOL 325, BIOL 335L, BIOL 346, BIOL 370, BIOL 371, BIOL 383, BIOL 414, BIOL 426, BIOL 439, BIOL 447, BIOL 448, BIOL 450, BIOL 452, BIOL 455, BIOL 461, BIOL 462, BIOL 470, BIOL 479, BIOL 485, BIOL 488, BIOL 489, BIOL 490A, BIOL 490B, BIOL 490C, or BIOL 499A and BIOL 499B; EARTH 221, EARTH 232, EARTH 235, EARTH 238, EARTH 281, EARTH 321, EARTH 333, EARTH 358, EARTH 421, EARTH 440, EARTH 458, or EARTH 459
   • 0.5 ERS unit: ERS 215
   • 0.5 MATH unit: MATH 127
   • 0.5 STAT unit: STAT 202
   • 0.5 ENGL unit: ENGL 193/SPCOM 193
   • 3.5 elective lecture course units
2. Co-operative program requirements that include:
   • A minimum of four work terms: COOP 1, COOP 2, COOP 3, and COOP 4.
   • A minimum of three work-term reports: one as part of PD 11, WKRPT 200S, and WKRPT 300S.
   • A minimum of four Professional Development courses: PD 1, PD 11, and two other PD courses.

Notes

1. Students must select ENGL 109 as an elective if they wish to gain membership in the College of Applied Biology of British Columbia (e.g., Registered Professional Biologist, R.P. Bio.); this designation is an employment requirement for certain ecological and environmental science positions in British Columbia.
2. Many positions in ecology and environmental science require knowledge of environmental law. Students are encouraged to select ENVS 201 (Introduction to Canadian Environmental Law) as an elective.
3. One 400-level BIOL field course is recommended. Field courses are intensive two-week courses held at off-campus locations during the spring term. Enrolment in field courses works differently than regular course enrolment.

Recommended Course Sequence

Year One

Fall

BIOL 150 Organismal and Evolutionary Ecology
CHEM 120/CHEM 120L General Chemistry 1/General Chemistry Laboratory 1
EARTH 121/EARTH 121L Introductory Earth Sciences/Introductory Earth Sciences Laboratory
PHYS 111 Physics 1
One elective (0.5 unit)

Winter

BIOL 165 Diversity of Life
CHEM 123/CHEM 123L General Chemistry 2/General Chemistry Laboratory 2
EARTH 122/EARTH 122L Introductory Environmental Sciences/Introductory Environmental Sciences Laboratory
MATH 127 Calculus 1 for the Sciences
One of ENGL 193/SPCOM 193 Communication in the Sciences

Year Two

Fall

BIOL 110 Introductory Zoology
CHEM 266 Basic Organic Chemistry 1
EARTH 123 Introduction to Hydrology
EARTH 223 Field Methods in Hydrology
STAT 202 Introductory Statistics for Scientists

Spring

BIOL 239 Genetics
BIOL 240/BIOL 240L Fundamentals of Microbiology/Microbiology Laboratory
BIOL 354 Environmental Toxicology 1
CHEM 233 Fundamentals of Biochemistry
 or CHEM 237 Introductory Biochemistry
One elective (0.5 unit)

Year Three

Winter

BIOL 120 Introduction to Plant Structure and Function
BIOL 351 Aquatic Ecology
BIOL 359 Evolution 1: Mechanisms
BIOL 361 Biostatistics and Experimental Design
One elective (0.5 unit)

Fall

BIOL 350 Ecosystem Ecology
EARTH 342 Geomorphology and GIS Applications
One BIOL elective 300-level or higher (0.5 unit) - specifically for Ecology Specialization
One BIOL or EARTH elective (0.5 unit) - specifically for Ecology Specialization
One elective (0.5 unit)

Year Four

Fall and Winter

BIOL 456 Population Biology
 or BIOL 458 Quantitative Ecology (fall)
BIOL 451 Advanced Ecology and Evolution (fall)
BIOL 457 Analysis of Communities (winter)
ERS 215 Environmental and Sustainability Assessment I
One BIOL elective 300-level or higher (0.5 unit) - specifically for Ecology Specialization
One BIOL elective 400-level (0.5 unit) - specifically for Ecology Specialization
One EARTH elective 300-level or higher (0.5 unit) - specifically for Ecology Specialization
Three electives (1.5 units)