Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology (Co-op)

at Toronto Metropolitan University Canada

The Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS) through the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering offers the BEng in Biomedical Engineering four-year degree program. The Bachelor of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering program is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB). Our Biomedical Engineering program aims to take advantage of the strategic location of Ryerson University in proximity to Toronto's Discovery District and seven world-class hospitals.

The Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering in collaboration with the Departments of Aerospace Engineering, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, and Mathematics at Ryerson University will deliver the curriculum.

According to the working definition of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), biomedical engineering integrates physical, chemical, mathematical and computational sciences and engineering principles to study biology, medicine, behaviour, and health. It advances fundamental concepts, creates knowledge from the molecular to the organ system levels, and develops innovative biologics, materials, processes, implants, devices and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease; for patient rehabilitation; and for improving health.

The Biomedical Engineering program has been developed to benefit from, enhance and expand the multidisciplinary collaboration among the various engineering and science programs at Ryerson; to attract more students of higher quality to the university and retain them, as well as enhance the reputation of engineering education at Ryerson. It will offer students excellent opportunities to build strong backgrounds in biomedical engineering and benefit from the collaborative interdisciplinary relationships between engineering and life sciences, being key strategic areas of strength at FEAS, Ryerson. The Faculty has expertise in almost all of the areas of biomedical engineering. At this point the expertise is primarily devoted to the research activities of the faculty members.

This program is run within the framework of engineering programs at Ryerson. In the first year, all engineering students are enrolled in common courses, followed by a more program-specific second term. During the second year, Biomedical Engineering students will study fundamental courses in electronic circuits, biomaterials, cell biology, physiology, engineering algorithms, digital systems, statics and mechanics of materials. In third year the students will focus in microprocessor systems, fluid mechanics, biomedical transducers, bioinformatics, biomechanics, biostatistics, signals and systems, control systems, and biomedical instrumentation. In the fourth year, the students will study a range of state-of-the-art topics in biomedical engineering, and will also be involved in a capstone design project.

Optional Co-operative Internship
Third-year full-time students may be eligible to enroll in the optional Co-operative Internship Program. Upon successful enrolment in the program and securing an approved co-op job, students are required to spend a period of 8-16 consecutive months in a work placement. After completing the requirements of the co-operative internship work placement, students return to the academic program to complete their final year of studies. Enrolment in the Co-operative Internship extends the program length to five years.

Studying History will develop students’ proficiency in critical thinking, and enhance their ability to question, research, argue, understand, and communicate. All of these skills are vital in enabling them to succeed in a wide range of careers and participate in the life of the world around them as informed citizens.

History students take courses in the subject to pursue their interests (along with foundational, elective, and liberal studies offerings). They might wish to explore the formation of societies in the ancient world, or contemporary problems in historical perspective, or the great diversity of themes in the centuries between. Beyond examining significant issues that fascinate historians, Ryerson’s program has distinctive career-focused components. Students take a progression of specially designed foundational, historian’s craft, and senior seminar courses to develop their research, analytical, and communications skills in ways that will help them succeed in today’s knowledge-based world. They also may wish to explore distinctive options: heritage management courses for those thinking of museums, historic sites, and related fields as potential career choices; experiential learning opportunities to perform real-world work in History; and a thesis course for students considering graduate school or wishing to conduct in-depth investigations on historical topics that have captured their imaginations.

Curriculum Information
History draws on the theories, methods, and practices of a broad range of humanities and social sciences. Therefore, the History program builds on a common first-year platform shared with other programs in the Faculty of Arts, with specialization in History occurring in years two through four of the degree.

Semesters One and Two: In the first year, which is shared with the BA programs in Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, Language and Intercultural Relations, Philosophy, Politics and Governance, Psychology, and Sociology, students take their first two university-level History courses from a number of choices that explore the subject across a range of themes, time periods, and geographical contexts. Students also acquire skills and knowledge in two foundational courses, Academic Writing and Research, and Critical Thinking, and they choose electives from a broad range of areas.

Semesters Three through Six: In second year, students take their third foundational course, Research Design and Qualitative Methods, and the first of the Department of History’s signature Historian’s Craft (or H-Craft) offerings, Reading, Writing and Using History as well as Hearing, Seeing and Speaking History, followed by another two H-Craft courses in third year. Additionally, students select from a range of focused courses in History and other subjects during this two-year period, applying the skills developed in their foundational and H-Craft studies to their broader educational endeavours as they develop their intellectual and professional prowess.

Semesters Seven and Eight: In the last year of the program, as students consider the opportunities they will pursue after graduation, they solidify their historical expertise and sharpen their professional competence by taking two senior seminars (or a senior seminar and a thesis course), as well as other offerings to complete the 40 courses of the degree (of which 20 are in History).

Spanning much of the period of recorded culture, courses in this program offer students a well-rounded understanding of philosophy's central debates. The program focuses on the history of philosophical ideas and develops students' critical argumentation skills. It also provides students with the chance to examine the practical applications of philosophical theories and methods.

By studying the great ideas of the past and present, along with their applications to the real world, students in this unique program acquire the analytical skills that will help prepare them for exciting careers in the future.

The core goals of the program are to:

• Develop students' analytical reasoning skills;
• Develop students' understanding of the broad intellectual contours and social relevance of our shared philosophical heritage
• Develop oral and written and communication skill
• Develop a sophisticated understanding of how philosophical theories and methods are applicable to contemporary political and social issues

Curriculum Information
The discipline of Philosophy draws on the theories, methods, and practices of a broad range of humanities and social sciences. Therefore, the Philosophy program builds on a common first-year platform shared with other programs in the Faculty of Arts, with specialization in Philosophy occurring in years two through four of the degree.

Semesters One and Two:  In the first year, which is shared with the programs in Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Politics and Governance, Psychology, and Sociology, students take their first two university-level Philosophy courses from a number of options that explore the subject across a range of themes, time periods, and geographical contexts. In addition to taking further electives in a broad range of areas, students will also acquire skills and knowledge in two foundational courses: Academic Writing and Research and Critical Thinking.

Semesters Three through Six: In second year, students take their third foundational course, Research Design and Qualitative Methods. They will also take a number of Required Philosophy courses including Introduction to Modern Philosophy, Ancient and Modern Ethics, and senior seminars in the Analytic and Continental traditions of philosophical thought. Students will have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of Philosophy electives as well as electives from outside the discipline.

Semesters Seven and Eight: In the last year of the program, as students consider the opportunities they will pursue after graduation, they solidify their philosophical expertise and sharpen their professional competence by taking a senior seminar in Metaphilosophy or in one of two seminars dedicated to the social applications and relevance of philosophy. Other Philosophy and non-Philosophy electives are also taken to complete the 40 courses of the degree (of which 20 are in Philosophy).

The International Economics and Finance program combines the theoretical aspects of economics and quantitative methods with the practical skills and social awareness needed to apply this knowledge in an effective manner. It is the only Economics degree of its kind in Canada - combining a mandatory internship/co-op as a degree requirement, helping students build careers in the public sector, financial markets, international organizations, healthcare, big data and much more.

Internship
Integral to the degree is an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills in a practical context. All students in the program are required to participate in a three-month internship between the programs third and fourth years*. The benefits of this work placement are considerable. Students gain a valuable employment record while forging vital professional contacts for their future careers. They also deepen their understanding of real world opportunities and challenges as they refine their career goals. Moreover, the internship’s position between the third and fourth years of the program means it will help enrich each student’s final year of study.

* Students may be offered the opportunity by some employers to extend their internship to 16 months.

Internship courses are graded on a pass/fail basis. Participation and successful completion of an internship course, however, appears on the student’s academic transcript.

Media Communications in Canada is a rapidly changing environment which requires motivated individuals who possess discipline, flexibility and creativity. The information age is open to those with analytical and conceptual skills and the flair to recognize and act on new opportunities.

An appropriate academic background for this program would include the foundation skills developed in the traditional secondary/post-secondary courses which stress research, information synthesis and application of process to achieve results. Performance, arts and media courses should be chosen sparingly to develop and indicate career interest.

The Media Production program centres on content creation/storytelling, media production, critical theory, the law and business of media in radio, television, music and new media industries. The BA in Media Production will offer seven Concentrations: Radio and Sound, TV and Video, Digital Media, Media Business, Screenwriting, Social Media, and Critical Media Theory.

The combination of intensive practical training and academic university theory truly distinguishes Ryerson’s Performance programs. While learning to achieve their professional goals, students gain a well-rounded education in the humanities and liberal arts. They develop valuable skills in problem solving, adaptability, critical thinking, research, and communication. These skills are essential for success in the current arts and cultural industry and they enrich all facets of the student’s life.

The four-year Acting and Dance programs offer an intensive conservatory approach in performance complemented by academics which are a crucial part of the program curriculum. Actors and dancers spend a portion of each day in the studio, and each year brings fresh opportunities to perform in productions of original, innovative and established works. The program trains performers who are distinguished by their capacity to generate original artistic material and their ability to bring a rich mixture of skills into the multi-disciplinary environment. Graduates of the program will be ready for immediate entry into a wide range of performance-related careers and for future professional growth.

The Program of Study
The Performance program challenges students with creative study, critical analysis, and exciting traditional and innovative areas of application for their performance skill development.

In the tradition of all Ryerson programming, the program offers a very strong conservatory perspective to the theoretical exploration of dance or acting. There is a wide variety of practical/studio work, active learning projects, and performance-related assignments. Everyone has the opportunity to perform under the guidance of working professionals who are leaders in the artistic community.

The Core Years - Production
The first two general years of the Production program introduce the student to the multi-disciplinary and collaborative nature of production work. In core courses consisting of lectures and labs, students learn the basics of the skills required to mount a show and apply those skills in junior capacities on the School’s shows. Lecture courses include instruction in the management of the process, theatre history and the research skills required for critical thinking.

In the third and fourth years, through a large menu of lecture and lab electives, students concentrate on those areas where their interests are greatest. They take the gained knowledge with the skills learned in their first two years and apply both to their duties in more senior positions on the School’s various dance and theatre productions. Academic courses broaden the understanding of the holistic process required for producing. Students also take business and management electives to broaden their understanding of those issues.

The School of Fashion is launching a revised undergraduate curriculum for students admitted Fall 2020 and after. The revised curriculum provides students the flexibility to gain an understanding of the range of opportunities available within the interdisciplinary field of fashion. Students will have the ability to shape their individual curricular pathways, supported by academic advising, a foundation of core and fundamentals courses, and the option to choose increasingly advanced electives from a range of concentration areas (listed below).

Over the course of four years, students will be able to identify their areas of interest and develop specialized expertise in those areas all while establishing a breadth of knowledge in fashion theory and practice. Working closely with subject matter experts, students will develop creative, technical, and theoretical skills to advance in the interdisciplinary field of fashion.

The Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering offers highly structured programs that emphasize not only the theoretical fundamentals but also the practical aspects of the engineering profession.

The first-year courses of the Electrical Engineering program will provide the students with grounding in engineering science fundamentals such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science and the theory of electric circuits. The second year of the program introduces discrete mathematics, data structures and engineering algorithms, and electrical engineering core subjects such as analog and digital electronic circuits and systems. In the third year of the Electrical Engineering program, the emphasis will shift to advanced subjects such as communication systems, electromagnetics, microcomputer systems, electrical devices and systems, and control theory. The fourth year curriculum provides a wide range of technical elective courses. Students can further specialize in Digital Hardware Design, Communication Systems, Signal Processing, Control Systems and Power Systems by selecting appropriate courses in the fourth year of the program. During this final year of the program, all students complete a mandatory group design project.

Optional Co-operative Internship Program
Third year full-time students may be eligible to enrol in the optional Co-operative Internship Program. Upon successful enrolment in the program and securing an approved co-op job, students are required to spend a period of 8-16 consecutive months in a work placement. After completing the requirements of the co-operative internship work placement, students return to the academic program to complete their final year of studies. Enrolment in the Co-operative Internship extends the program length to five years.

Workplaces in Canada are safer than ever before, thanks in large part to occupational health and safety professionals. Ryerson graduates working in this progressive field help prevent injury and illness by anticipating, evaluating and controlling physical, biological, chemical and other hazards in workplaces. Drawing on their specialized knowledge, these professionals help develop and implement initiatives that improve health, safety and well-being in work environments across every sector.    

Why Occupational Health and Safety at Ryerson?

• Occupational Health and Safety at Ryerson is the only degree-level program of its kind in Canada.
• Our curriculum integrates a strong foundation in occupational health and safety with relevant courses in the sciences, law, epidemiology, and a range of specialist areas (e.g. occupational hygiene, ergonomics, physical agents, control measures, safety management systems, toxicology and risk assessment). A balanced education prepares you to become the well-rounded and highly skilled professional that industry demands.
• You’ll have access to outstanding learning opportunities in the classroom and in the workplace. Qualified students can apply to gain important real-world experience through paid co-operative education opportunities.
• Plus, we support your success with:
  • Workplace visits
  • Opportunities for laboratory testing and analysis
  • Presentations and seminars
  • Independent research project

The degree consists of a range of required interdisciplinary courses that allow students to focus on those thinkers whose ideas have most deeply affected our society, the courses in the 'Ideas that Shape the World' series. In these courses, students also develop key skills and competencies: the ability to read precisely and critically, to communicate effectively, to develop strategies for life-long learning, to mediate conflict and work in teams, as well as to do analysis and engage in research design. Students may choose an area of concentration from the professional courses from Professional Table I. Nine options are available; four of these options are subject-based and the other five are interdisciplinary.

Subject-Based Options
The subject-based options allow students to combine their interdisciplinary studies with a focus in one of four humanities disciplines:

• English Option – This option provides students with a course of study that focuses on how to read critically—that is, analyze, historicize, and politicize—a wide range of literary and cultural texts. Students examine how such things as genre, form, method, historical period, geography and nation inform narrative media, including works of literature, film, television, digital culture, and the visual arts. Through an engagement with narratives of the past and the present, students develop a critical understanding of contemporary cultural production.
• French Option – This option provides students with the opportunity to gain a specialization in this important linguistic and cultural field. It allows students to develop a better understanding of the culturally diverse populations of the Francophone world in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, while acquiring critical insights into the important role that French and Francophone culture play both at a national level in this country and in the broader international context.
• History Option – This option offers not only a study of the past, as a way to understand the present, but also a range of skills applicable to many jobs – those which require an understanding of research techniques, analysis, and logic. Each of these is a requirement of historical studies, as students must understand how to collect data, how to analyze it as to accuracy and sufficiency, and how to construct a logical argument from the evidence, if it is judged that there is sufficient evidence to support an argument.
• Philosophy Option – This option provides students with a broad understanding of the main historical trends and contemporary developments within the discipline of philosophy. With its sustained and systematic plan of study in Philosophy, the option has two general objectives. First, it encourages students to read and think about philosophical issues and problems in an active and critical manner. Second, it provides students with an understanding of, and appreciation for, the contributions made by some of the greatest thinkers of the past and present. 

Interdisciplinary Options
The four interdisciplinary options allow students to focus in on one of four themes:

• Anthropology Studies Option - This option examines the study of anthropology in its attempts to understand the human experience, past and present, using holistic, comparative, and field based evolutionary perspectives and practices. Students will earn a strong base in anthropological history, theory and methods as well as acquire important skills allowing them to conduct research and analysis in the mode of an anthropologist, examining and interpreting the immediate world around them.
• Culture Studies Option – Students examine the forms of cultural expression that have become a measure of who we are and who we dream of becoming. They explore cultural identity through both high culture and popular entertainment.
• Diversity and Equity Studies Option – Our diverse and politically charged social space is the focus of this interdisciplinary option. It explores the encounters of language, perspective and value that shape contemporary politics, culture and society.
• Global Studies Option – This option explores the often volatile mix of global issues and perspectives, environmental concerns and corporate interests that drive contemporary society and culture at a time when global transformations are transcending political boundaries.
• Inquiry and Invention Option – This option explores the institutions and ideas that generate – and depend on – scientific discovery and technological innovation. The focus is on ways in which science and technology influence our lives, individually and as a society, in the 21st century. 

Students will also select courses in professionally-related areas such as Criminology, Curatorial Studies, Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Film Studies, Finance, Human Resources Management, Information Systems and Telecommunications Management, Law, Marketing, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management, Politics, Professional Communication, Psychology, Sociology, and Visual Cultures. Students can pursue a Minor in some of these areas if desired.

This unique program combines the intellectual agility and other benefits of a liberal arts education with the hands-on, applied skills and competencies in areas critical to career flexibility in the 21st century. The option of pursuing one or more complementary Minors in professionally-related areas will round out and equip the graduate for success and mobility through a wide range of private and public career choices.

The goals of the program are: to offer a context in which students can explore the nature of change and the theories about change in order to analyze it, understand it, anticipate it, plan it, and precipitate it. The program allows students:

• To examine types of communication, including spoken, cultural, and computer languages, to study the relationship between economic, political and cultural groups, and to explore the great humanist and scientific ideas that have shaped the modern world.
• To develop competencies in basic qualitative and quantitative research skills, cognitive skills such as critical thinking and ethics analysis, and interpersonal skills such as conflict resolution and negotiation.
• To develop the literacy skills of oral and written language, methodologies of textual analysis and contextual knowledge, digital literacy skills that involve understanding of and training in the digital (or computer) world and its impact on our society, and numeracy skills involving an understanding of numbers and statistics and their impact on the way society does things.
• To educate students in the meanings that societies attach to themselves depending on differing cultural points of view.
• To develop a capacity for imaginative, critical, and ethical thinking that provides the foundation for professional and business activity through a study of the humanities and social sciences that focuses on the dynamics of cultural and technological change within diverse, evolving cultural and linguistic parameters.

Graduates of this four-year interdisciplinary program will be prepared for career opportunities in art and cultural advocacy, event planning and organization, equity advising in human resources, career consultancy, mediation, policy development and analysis, marketing, producing and criticism in culture and entertainment.