FW20/21 Biology Courses Offerings

Please note: Bolded courses are currently full. Please do not email us about enrolling into a course that is full as we cannot open a window for you to enroll when the course is full. Instead, please keep trying the enrollment system - should a student drop the course, the space goes back into the enrollment system

Listed below are the courses offered in F/W 20.  Please refer to the York Course Website for further information and updates.

SU 2020 Biology Course Outlines

FW19/20 Biology Course Outlines

Archived Course Outlines

SU 2019
F/W 2018-2019
F/W 2017-2018
SU 2017
F/W 2016-2017
SU 2015
F/W 2015-2016
F/W 2014-2015
SU 2014
F/W 2013-2014
SU 2013
2012-2013
2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
2008-2009

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Honours Thesis--3 Credit

The 3.0 credit course is an in-depth critical literature review and/or research proposal that demonstrates the student’s knowledge and understanding of a topic. The thesis reviews the literature in a particular field or area of interest, identifies gaps or inconsistencies, and develops a specific hypothesis, argument or model. Students are encouraged to propose an experimental strategy to test the hypothesis (with clearly articulated possible outcomes and limitations). The thesis involves considerable self-directed work and must reflect critical thinking and analytical skills and an understanding of the scientific method. A strong thesis is built on carefully reviewing and analyzing the literature, and communicating clearly and professionally. The course concludes with an oral defense of the thesis. Typically students spend 4-6 hours/week preparing the thesis. (Some weeks you will need to put in more hours.) The 3.0 credit course is completed in a single term (Fall, Winter or Summer) under the supervision of a faculty member in Biology. There are no formal lectures.

Please see the BIOL 4000 Honours Information Package 2020-21 for more information on this course.

Honours Thesis--8 Credit

The 8.0 credit course is a hands-on original research project (laboratory- or field-based) that includes a practical and written component as well as an oral thesis defense. This course provides 4th year undergraduate students with research experience in the Biological Sciences and provides an opportunity to enhance critical thinking, analytical and communication skills. The written component should describe the background relevant to the research project, the question(s) being addressed, specific aims, the methodology used, the results obtained, conclusions and a critical discussion and interpretation of the findings and their significance. Students are required to write clearly and concisely (with correct and appropriate grammar, spelling and referencing of materials), and to prepare accurate and clear figures/tables. The research project involves a significant investment of time and effort in the laboratory or field. Typically students spend 10-12 hours/week (although this is likely to depend on the nature and stage of the work). The 8.0 credit course is completed over two consecutive terms (i.e., Fall-Winter, Winter- Summer, or Summer-Fall) under the supervision of a faculty member in Biology. There are no formal lectures in this course.

Please see the BIOL 4000 Honours Information Package 2020-21 for more information on this course.

Prerequisite

BIOL 3100 2.0 is a prerequisite course for all students enrolling in BIOL 4000 3.0 or BIOL 4000 8.0. There will be no exceptions.

SC/BIOL 4200 3.0 Click Here to Register

The course is designed for a student who has a genuine interest in a particular area of Biology for which no course exists in the department. In such a case, the student must identify a faculty member with expertise in that area, and speak to the faculty member about acting as a supervisor for this course. A list of faculty members and their research interests may be found on the Faculty and Research website.

Please see the Selected Readings Enrolment Package (pdf) for more information.

Research Practicum Click Here to Register

Students who wish to gain practical research experience, in a lab or in the field, can make arrangements with a faculty member to participate in his/her research. During this course, the student will learn current research techniques and will use these techniques to make a meaningful contribution to the supervisor’s research program. Students are expected to commit to approximately 5-10 hours per week (on average) for one term. The student and faculty member must sign a form in which they agree on the type and amount of work to be done, and the form must be approved by the Course Director before the student will be allowed to enrol. Students may enrol in this course during any term, and there is no limit to the number of terms in which they are allowed to enrol. Students will not be allowed to enrol in a Research Practicum with their Honours Thesis supervisor (BIOL/BCHM 4000) during the same terms that they are enrolled in BIOL/BCHM 4000 8.0. The course evaluation will be pass/fail only. Students will be required to obtain safety training, such as WHMIS, if appropriate to the type of research undertaken. The course is intended only for majors in Biology (all streams), Biochemistry, Biophysics, Environmental Biology or Environmental Science - Life Science Stream.

Please see the Research Practicum for more information on this course.

Field Courses Interested in Field Courses? Click here!

Information regarding field courses can be located on the Field Courses page. It features information regarding the various routes students can go through to obtain experience in the field.