Bachelor of Science in Plant Science (co-op optional)

at University of Guelph Canada

The Environmental Biology major, offered as part of the Bachelor of Science degree program, emphasizes biological diversity at the molecular, population, community and biosphere levels. You will become familiar with how organisms, such as plants, insects, fungi and bacteria, interact with the physical environment (water and soils) and respond to human activities.

Methods of measuring and monitoring the impact of human activities on natural and agricultural ecosystems will be presented. To counter negative impacts, solutions, such as bioremediation of effluent, waste management, restoration of stream quality, and agroforestry will be applied. Upon graduation, you will have an awareness of the social and economic implications of environmental bio-sciences and be prepared to initiate solutions for a diversity of environmental problems.

Students will study elements of physics including the exotic aspects of the universe, such as black holes and subatomic particles, or be involved in the development of exciting modern devices such as particle accelerators and gamma-ray spectrometers.

With an emphasis on hands-on lab work, the physics major covers the fundamentals of mechanics, electromagnetism, and quantum physics, grounding students in foundational physics while preparing them for more specialized study in upper years. The strong analytical, computational, and lab skills developed during the degree provide the flexibility to pursue a broad range of careers upon graduation.

The major builds upon nationally recognized expertise in teaching and research with many of our faculty members having received both national and international awards. Students take an integrated MATH and PHYS course in first year along with the chemistry and biology taken by other science students. Second through fourth year, students will focus on physics specialty courses with an emphasis on hands-on, laboratory learning. Unique to the University of Guelph, students will also take a Science Communications course where they develop activities to help people understand the concepts of physics.

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Demonstrate mastery in advanced Electricity and Magnetism, Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, Optics, and Quantum Mechanics
• Apply Intermediate level Mathematics techniques to enhance understanding in the aforementioned major subject areas
• Demonstrate advanced laboratory skills in order to practically realize concepts in Electricity & Magnetism, Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Quantum Physics, Optics, Nuclear Physics, Spectroscopy, and Electronics and apply these skills in self-directed learning
• Apply modern computational techniques to investigate various physical phenomena and demonstrate proficiency in mathematical software such as Maple, MatLab, and/or Mathematica

Designed around a framework of sustainability, Mechanical Engineering empowers you to design and develop processes and systems that improve our environment, technology and quality of life.

Our innovative Mechanical Engineering program has been built to prepare you for a challenging and rewarding career in this versatile field. This program emphasizes the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the design, production, and operation of machines and tools. By emphasizing collaboration and integration, you will experience practical design-based learning and develop the tools to create new and effective solutions to issues in our world.

The Co-op program in Mechanical Engineering s a five year program, including five work terms. Students must complete a Fall, Winter and Summer work term and must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below.

To be eligible to continue in the Co-op program, students must meet a minimum 70% cumulative average requirement after second semester, as well as meet all work term requirements. Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to work term performance grading, work term report grading and program completion requirements. 

Criminal Justice and Public Policy is offered as a minor in the honours program and as a major in the honours program. It is designed to provide students seeking a career in the criminal justice system, or planning to pursue an advanced degree with a knowledge base that will enable them to pursue their career objectives. The program offers a unique blend of sociological courses dealing with the criminal justice system as well as courses in Political Science dealing with public policy formation and implementation. It also provides students with the conceptual and methodological tools needed for further study.

Discover how mathematics and statistics can be applied to the sciences can solve real world issues. Combine your studies with a secondary field of interest to customize your degree to your interests and career goals. Mathematical science is key to understanding and changing the world around us, and will prepare you for a wide range of opportunities. Areas of emphasis: Bioinformatics; Biological Modeling; Computer Science.

The Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) major prepares students to assume positions of responsibility within the world’s largest industry.

In the first two years of study, students are introduced to foundational business skills and knowledge; and provided with an in-depth overview of the industry’s three sectors: hotel and lodging; restaurant and foodservice; and tourism.

By the end of the second year, students must choose one of those sectors as their area of emphasis. For the remainder of the program, the courses and learning opportunities that students encounter have one goal: to help them cultivate the knowledge, skills and understanding required of a managerial leader in their chosen area.

Topics of study for all three areas of emphasis includes:

• Human resources management;
• Marketing;
• Accounting;
• Communications

The hotel and lodging area includes:

• Operations;
• Event management;
• Design

The restaurant and foodservice area includes:

• Food systems;
• Restaurant management;
• Beverage management

The tourism area includes:

• Planning and development; 
• Sustainability;
• International tourism

An integral part of the HTM major is experiential learning, which means that theory is balanced with practice. Students are encouraged to participate in guided learning opportunities outside the conventional classroom, such as independent study courses, study abroad, and numerous networking events with industry leaders.

Molecular Biology and Genetics covers genomes and the genetics of microorganisms, plants and animals, and the structure and function of cells.

The variety of courses offered in the program covers a broad range of topics such as molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, developmental biology and agricultural genetics. Undergraduate laboratories will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge needed to perform basic procedures commonly used in the field of molecular biology and genetics. Additionally, you will develop the ability to analyze and interpret experimental results obtained in a laboratory setting. In your upper years, you will also have the opportunity to access some of the University of Guelph’s outstanding research labs and facilities.

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Explain the molecular mechanisms of genetic inheritance that drive the evolution of populations.
• Describe the synthesis and structure of macromolecules and their roles in cellular processes.
• Explain how gene regulation networks and signal transduction cascades enable development and adaptation to the environment.
• Design and implement experimental procedures using relevant techniques in gene analysis and manipulation and genetic engineering in model systems.

Co-Op Options
Molecular Biology and Genetics co-op is a five-year program, which includes four work terms. Below is an example of how the academic and work sequence will look for a Microbiology major.

*Please note this sequence may change. The current undergraduate calendar will house the most accurate sequence that students must follow. 

Students in this co-op major complete a course, COOP*1100, in the fall semester of second year.  This course helps students prepare for their work term by developing professional attitudes and skills for the workplace. This course also provides students with a toolkit of resume and cover letter writing as well as interview skills, which helps students to apply, interview and secure their work term positions.

This program provides opportunities for study of the processes and properties of the biophysical environment and a core foundation in the analytical techniques (i.e. Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing) used for their interpretation, analysis and presentation.

Graduates of the program will have unique specialty in the application of spatial technologies to the study and assessment of biophysical and Earth surface processes.

The Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management (B.B.R.M) program is Canada's first degree program to offer a specialization in equine management. The unique program combines learning the biology, physiology and behaviour of horses with developing competencies in handling horses and knowledge of the economic and managerial aspects of the equine industry. It features a hands-on approach to managing horses and provides a solid foundation in business principles and ethics with a focus on the environment and sustainability.

This major combines a foundation in the breadth of environmental science while giving students practical experience in integrating the basic science in environmental problem solving. The integration of biophysical sciences with real-world applications provides students with a unique skill set for engaging with current and future environmental issues. The many opportunities in the major for experiential learning and independent research give students an ability to collect, analyze and interpret environmental data, and propose solutions that account for both the biophysical science and the socio-economic context. The second year core curriculum develops a cross-disciplinary understanding of the biophysical environment, while the third and fourth years allow students to engage more deeply with issues of interest to them. Students will graduate from this major ready to address diverse problems such as pollinator conservation, soil and water conservation, greenhouse gas mitigation, plant disease management and chemical movement in the environment. It provides a solid background for careers in environmental protection, resource management and research, in both the public and private sectors.