Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology and Chemistry

at Lakehead University - Thunder Bay Campus Canada

Are you interested in a Bachelor of Science, but feeling uncertain as to which program is right for you? Lakehead Science One allows you to explore a range of disciplines from the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies without having to select a particular major until the end of your first year.

University is a time for exploration – Lakehead Science One allows you to take a mix of different courses throughout your first year to uncover your true passion. You will have the opportunity to choose courses from a variety of science-based disciplines including:

• Anthropology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Economics
• Environmental Studies
• Geoarchaeology
• Geology
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Water Resource Science 

To compliment this flexibility, you will also meet with a dedicated advisor who will help you discover your interests and career goals, and majors that suit your aspirations. Additionally, our Department holds workshops on exploring program options, and monthly coffee talks with faculty members to learn more about your options.

As you near the end of your first year at Lakehead University, you will be ready to confidently select the program and major that is best suited to you.

Lakehead Advantage
Our Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies is small and comprehensive, creating ample opportunity to access professors and teaching assistants and benefit from the intimate and interactive learning environment. We enjoy helping you find your passion as a student, and shape your future as a prospective graduate.

In addition to your dedicated advisor, you will benefit from regular Strong Interest Inventory Assessments to gain insight into potential career paths, monthly workshops and coffee talks with faculty members from different programs, a meet-and-greet with the Chair of your chosen program, and assistance in developing your first year schedule. We are very invested in your success and we will do what it takes to ensure you are confidently moving toward a bright future as a Lakehead University graduate.

The study of Sociology emphasizes the social relationships between people, communities and cultures. By exploring fundamental sociological theories, contemporary thinkers, and a variety of research methods, you will have the opportunity to examine topics including:

• Health and Aging
• Marriage and the Family
• Crime and Deviance
• Media and Popular Culture
• Science and Technology
• Gender and Sexuality
• Education
• Northern Communities
• Discrimination
• Social Change 

Research and hands-on application is at the core of our programs. You will graduate with the necessary skills to facilitate quantitative and qualitative research and to think creatively and inquisitively in order to better understand social patterns, behaviours and issues. 

Our faculty is actively engaged in diverse areas of research such as Gerontology, Education, Health, Demography, Media, Work and Occupations, Social Psychology, and Northern Studies, providing you with well-rounded course options taught by some of the foremost leaders in the field.

It is our goal to enhance your knowledge of the society in which you live and to increase your ability to think independently and critically.  You will graduate with a strong understanding of social interaction, preparing you for success in virtually any profession.

Outdoor recreation plays an increasingly important role in our contemporary lives, contributing to our health, family cohesion, enrichment of culture, environmental appreciation, and economic development. Our Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism program is the only one of its kind in Canada due to our integration of both theoretical and applied perspectives.

With mountains, lakes, and trails at our doorstep, our program takes advantage of this unique terrain as well as our campus’ proximity to world-class kayaking, climbing, hiking, and other recreational pursuits that are ideal for the practical experience required to excel within the discipline. Our field trips and outdoor schools take place locally and expose you to a variety of landscapes, weather patterns, and populations preparing you to work in any environment.

Many of our courses involve interaction with experts in the field as well as technological elements such as geographic information systems, computer programs and multimedia/video. It is our goal to prepare you for success in this challenging and rapidly changing industry, from planning and leading guided tours to assessing and creating visitor experiences for communities and parks organizations.

Mathematics seeks hidden patterns that help us to understand life and the complex problems that surround us. This discipline of numbers, quantity, and space can be applied to many fields and industries, from Life Science to Finance.

As a student in our Department of Mathematics, you will develop advanced analytical and critical thinking skills in addition to:

• Research techniques 
• Scholarly writing proficiency
• Comprehensive understanding of mathematical structures
• Mathematical proof formulation and solution skills

Mathematics is a very diverse and intellectually stimulating field of study. In addition to our traditional Mathematics programs, we offer Mathematical Physics and the flexibility to combine your Mathematics degree with a degree in Education, Economics, or Physics. You will benefit from our small class sizes, world-class faculty, unique research opportunities, and the ability to pursue mathematical topics you find most appealing.

Economics is a social science dedicated to the study of decision-making under scarcity, and the factors that influence wealth. Economics involves financial topics and broader historical, sociological and cultural topics ranging from the individual (microeconomics) to governments, industries and central banking (macroeconomics). This extensive and multidisciplinary study of the economy is what sets it apart from other seemingly similar topics such as Business or Finance.

As an economics student you will gain insight into the long-term effects of policy on communities by studying:

• Resource Allocation
• Current Policy Debates
• Statistics
• Economic Theory
• Incentives
• Econometrics
• Decision-Making 

You will also gain a marketable edge through field and speciality courses focused on labour, natural resources and industrial organisation. The natural ebb and flow of the economy means that economics is a changing and dynamic field. Our continually updated course content reflects new theories, information and current events impacting the Economics field. Mathematics is a large component of many of our Economics courses; therefore, our recommendation is that you have some knowledge and skill in the area.

While the pursuit of knowledge has evolved into specialized disciplines, philosophy continues to address the larger, fundamental questions underlying these disciplines such as "What is knowledge?", "What is truth?", "What is justice?". By studying philosophy, you will learn about the intellectual foundations of our society, but you will also develop critical thinking and problem solving skills that will enable you to re-examine society with an inquisitive mind and a discerning lens. 

We will explore fundamental philosophical concepts, from Ancient Greek to the modern era, in order to understand contemporary thinking about ethics and justice in context. Our programs emphasize reasoning skills, oral debate, and writing proficiency with the balance of coursework dedicated to such philosophical topics as:

• Gender 
• Popular Culture 
• Paranormal 
• Love 
• Biomedical Ethics 
• Existentialism 
• Environmental

You will graduate from our program with the ability to:

• Analyze and interpret arguments
• Justify beliefs with reference to standards of proof
• Describe major philosophical trends
• Apply a historical understanding to key philosophical questions
• Identify theoretical assumptions 
• Plan and conduct research that is accurate, thorough, and broadly based

Due to the multidisciplinary relevance of the field, you may combine your studies with disciplines such as English, History, French, Indigenous Learning, Psychology, or Political Science.  We are also one of the few universities in Canada to offer a minor in Professional Ethics. This is a great option if you are interested in examining ethical issues in business, biomedical science, the environment, or - digital technology.

Modern Natural Resources Management is about people, science and technology. It manages the natural environment for the benefit of society, through the application of both natural and social science. As a student, you will acquire a complement of business skills, scientific expertise, along with practical experience; in fact, everything necessary to create meaningful and lasting solutions environmental challenges of today. You have the opportunity to discover methods that will sustain our forests and ecosystems for generations to come. Should you decide to enrol in Environmental Management, you may choose between three options after your second year of study: Wildlife Conservation and Management, Sustainable Land Use, or Conservation Management and Planning.

As your understanding of the natural environment grows, you will obtain the tools to tackle the current issues that natural resource managers face. You can also engage in the high-tech world of modern management through the use of GPS/GIS technologies, 3-D visualization satellite imagery, genetic research and much more. It's up to you!

Whether you decide to take either the forestry or environmental management degree, the curriculum is common to both programs, for the first two years. By gaining a broad introduction to the topics and issues surrounding the natural world, you will develop a better appreciation of your own role and potential contributions, both personally and professionally.

Each year, employers visit the Thunder Bay campus to recruit, because we have a reputation for providing valuable, hands-on experience to students, making them assets in the work force from the very beginning. Graduates no longer limit themselves solely to "typical" careers in big industry or government; instead, they become planners and facilitators, one who keep in touch with the nature throughout their careers. Our graduates work all over Canada and beyond, with large and small organizations, as entrepreneurs or consultants.

Economics is a social science dedicated to the study of decision-making under scarcity, and the factors that influence wealth. Economics involves financial topics and broader historical, sociological and cultural topics ranging from the individual (microeconomics) to governments, industries and central banking (macroeconomics). This extensive and multidisciplinary study of the economy is what sets it apart from other seemingly similar topics such as Business or Finance.

As an economics student you will gain insight into the long-term effects of policy on communities by studying:

• Resource Allocation
• Current Policy Debates
• Statistics
• Economic Theory
• Incentives
• Econometrics
• Decision-Making 

You will also gain a marketable edge through field and speciality courses focused on labour, natural resources and industrial organisation. The natural ebb and flow of the economy means that economics is a changing and dynamic field. Our continually updated course content reflects new theories, information and current events impacting the Economics field. Mathematics is a large component of many of our Economics courses; therefore, our recommendation is that you have some knowledge and skill in the area.

Government policies influence virtually every aspect of our lives, from housing to education to crime. Our Political Science program studies the institutions, ideas, practices, and power that shape government and policy at all levels. Students will gain a thorough understanding of political systems - with a particular focus on Canadian politics - and overarching notions of freedom, equality, and justice.

Our goal is to provide a well-rounded Political Science education by applying both theoretical and practical modes of analysis to examine sociological, economic, and historical contexts.

If you have an interest in political systems abroad, you will also have the opportunity to explore the politics of America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Additionally, you will study:

• International Relations
• Political Theory
• Law and Politics
• Public Administration and Policy
• Indigenous Governance
• Comparative Politics

The MSc in Civil Engineering satisfies the demand in academia and industry for highly-qualified personnel in the field of Civil Engineering.

The MSc in Civil Engineering satisfies the demand for highly-qualified personnel in the field of Civil Engineering. This demand is fueled by the requirements to maintain an aging infrastructure and to maintain and develop natural resources with minimal environmental impact to natural systems.  Sustainability and structural durability and the impact of climate change on civil engineering works have become increasingly important challenges in the field of civil engineering.

This program offers students the opportunity for advanced study and the development of independent research abilities in the discipline areas of construction, environmental, geotechnical and geoenvironmental, rock, structural, transportation and water resources engineering.  Students will have the opportunity to conduct advanced study in emerging areas such as:  intelligent construction equipment management and computer-integrated construction engineering; electrokinetic ground improvement and remediation;  rockburst dynamics and dynamic stability of structures;   structural fire engineering;  structural health monitoring and structural dynamics;  and studies on multiphase jets and plumes and dynamics of complex fluids.  The program requirements are achieved through a combination of course work and research towards the completion of a thesis.

Several laboratories are equipped to support the broad range of advanced experimental research, including a new state-of-the-art Structural Fire Testing and Research Laboratory. This world-class facility has a large fire testing furnace that allows study of the fire resistance of various large-scale building components, such as beams, columns and floor assemblies.

Research areas include the following:

• Construction Engineering: Automated construction performance monitoring; Intelligent data collection systems; Greenhouse gas emission reduction in construction; Innovative methods for construction in cold regions.
• Environmental Engineering: Water and wastewater treatment; Cold regions environmental engineering.
• Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering: Electrokinetic ground improvement; Durability of cement-based concrete; Electrokinetic remediation; Hydrogeological and contaminant transport monitoring and analysis; Waste containment barriers; Hazardous waste site characterization.
• Rock Engineering:  Rock mechanics and mining engineering; Tunnelling and underground excavations; Landslides and open pit slopes; Rockburst dynamics; Structural reliability; Dynamic stability of structures.
• Structural Engineering: Fire resistance testing of steel, concrete and heavy timber structures; Finite element modelling of structural components subjected to fire; Performance-based design of structures; Building fire and smoke computer modelling; Health monitoring and rehabilitation of civil engineering structures under natural or man-made excitations; Structural dynamics; Vibration and control; Sensors and sensing technology; Earthquake engineering; Experimental studies of steel connections.
• Transportation Engineering: Design, operational and safety performance evaluation of transportation systems including intersection analysis, capacity analysis, transportation safety studies, transportation software applications and pavement performance.
• Water Resources Engineering: Experimental and numerical investigations on hydraulic structures; Experimental and numerical studies on multiphase flows; Investigations on non-Newtonian and complex fluids; River modelling; Hydrologic systems analysis and investigations; Drought analysis; Drainage and irrigation systems analysis; Flow through porous media analysis.

Our Water Resource Science program is the only undergraduate program of it's kind in Canada, and will provide you with the necessary skills and scientific knowledge to protect and advocate for our most valuable resource. The study of Water Resource Science emphasizes how the ecology, physical processes and chemistry of natural systems interact and produce the diverse environments present on Earth. As a student, you will learn:

• The effects of human activity on the environment
• Techniques for rehabilitating damaged systems
• Water-related public policies
• The biological, physical and chemical aspects of aqueous systems

Our well-rounded curriculum is designed to give you the opportunity to look at wetland, lake, river and groundwater systems from various perspectives, and explore their interconnectedness. In addition to the program's unique subject matter, its interdisciplinary nature and focus on hands-on, field-based learning sets it apart from other environmental studies and environmental sciences programs across Canada. Our location on the shore of the largest lake in the world makes Lakehead University the perfect place to study Water Resource Science.

The Department of Sociology is committed to fostering the development of socially responsible citizens of the world. We offer a graduate program dedicated to enhancing students' knowledge of the societies in which they live, while increasing their ability to think independently and critically about important social issues. The Gerontology Program collaborates with five departments including Sociology, to provide students with an innovative, interdisciplinary learning perspective. Students have the opportunity to access multifaceted resources and work together with complementary disciplines.

Research and theory in Gerontology is reviewed, and the thesis or major project taken in the collaborating academic unit will have a gerontological focus. For additional information on the Interdisciplinary Graduate Specialization in Gerontology, please visit the Gerontology website.

The Department of Women's Studies at Lakehead University is dedicated to furthering an understanding of the importance of gender as a category of analysis in scholarly inquiry. Through interdisciplinary instruction, students will critically assess the relevance of existing models of knowledge in reflecting women's experience and scholarship. The aim of the program is to encourage the development and integration of feminist teaching, learning, and research within the university community and the community at large. This Collaborative Master's program allows students to combine advanced disciplinary research with feminist scholarship from the interdisciplinary field of Women's Studies. Upon completion of the program, the degree awarded specifies the discipline of the participating academic unit and notes the Specialization in Women's Studies.