Bachelor of Science in Zoology

at University of Guelph Canada

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? In the Environmental Management program, you'll gain the knowledge you'll need to play a significant role in protecting the environment. The program combines the applied aspects of environmental science and technology with extensive business training focused on leadership in environmental maintenance, remediation and regulation.

Become an expert on a current major global issue—the natural production of food and upon graduation, enter a workforce where there are more jobs than qualified people to fill them. Explore all areas of agriculture, resources, and applied economics. Study courses in food, hunger and poverty, economics of the agri-food system, and international trade. Prepare yourself for related graduate programs and to become a decision maker and strong leader in the agri-food sector and public agencies.

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.

The Marine and Freshwater Biology major capitalizes on Guelph’s recognized excellence in aquatic research and provides a broad perspective on aquatic environments based on the physical as well as the biological sciences. In this major, students will build upon core courses in ecology, evolution, genetics, and physiology of aquatic biota as they study freshwater and marine environments and work with aquatic organisms experimentally in the field and in the lab. They will have the opportunity to perform independent research projects under a variety of field and laboratory conditions to enhance their learning experience. The major prepares students for post-graduate work in the aquatic sciences, and provides a sound scientific background for students wishing to pursue careers in academia, government service, private sector (e.g., NGOs, fisheries, aquaculture, biotechnology, consulting), conservation, education and research.

Face the challenges of our world today, from the development of space age materials to the synthesis of new pharmaceutical products, with chemistry. Gain practical laboratory training; complete research with the award-winning faculty and participate in the co-op option for work experience. Study physical, theoretical, analytical, organic and inorganic chemistry to harness analytical and practical skills for graduate or professional programs, and your career.

Co-op Option
The Co-op program in Chemistry is a four and a half year program including four 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.

Want an Engineering degree but not yet sure of a specialization? Choose the Undeclared option: your first semester will be the same as all other Engineering majors, then select your major by the start of Semester 3. To pursue Co-op, we recommend that you apply to the Co-op stream of the program you’re most interested in directly from high school; space can be limited.

Note: It is possible to apply for Co-op once you're a registered student. However, entrance into Co-op for in-course students is subject to your University of Guelph average and availability in the program and major.

Knowledge of statistics is crucial for understanding our world. An understanding of statistics is vital in many disciplines including psychology, sociology, political science, marketing and economics. Students can choose to study statistics as a minor in the B.A. Honours Program or as an area of concentration in the General Program.

Examine human identity, embodiment, and self-expression alongside their connections to social, political, and cultural systems. Explore theories around feminism, transnationalism, LGBTQ+, race, masculinity, and (dis)ability. You will engage in outreach and advocacy, and work with a community partner to create meaningful social change. 

Understanding how we conserve organisms within an ecosystem by understanding the role they play in the ecosystem. 

Wildlife Biology and Conservation focuses on both the ecological and evolutionary factors that influence the sustainability of species and communities and an understanding of how these factors can be used to manage natural systems or species that are at risk or invasive.

The objective of the Wildlife Biology and Conservation major is to provide students with an integrated foundation in three disciplines necessary to understand the origins, interactions, and protection of plant and animal diversity: evolution, ecology, and conservation biology. The Wildlife Biology and Conservation curriculum reflects the current interdisciplinary nature of the study of plant and animal diversity that builds on the depth and breadth of expertise in the Department of Integrative Biology.

This major will provide students with a unique interdisciplinary opportunity to study the causes, consequences, and conservation of plant and animal diversity. There is currently no other major in Canada that explicitly integrates ecology, evolution, and conservation into a 4-year major. This major also builds on the University of Guelph’s long-standing reputation in the areas of biology and natural resources management. Although there are a series of required courses associated with each of the ecology, evolution, and conservation core themes, the major offers a significant amount of flexibility from years 2-4 that allows students to focus on 1 or 2 streams. In their 4th year, students will take a 1.0 credit capstone course (BIOL*4110 Ecological Methods) that focuses on the development and execution of a research problem by building of the different skills students have acquired in each of these streams.

Learning Outcomes
You can expect to learn how to:

• Recognize the origins and current methods of protection of plant and animal diversity.
• Develop detailed knowledge of ecological and evolutionary factors that influence the persistence of species and communities.
• Understand how to manage natural and impacted systems (e.g., invasive species, species at risk) and apply scientific approaches to adaptive management strategies in wildlife conservation.
• Assess the complex interplay between science, socioeconomic factors and public opinion in the forging of public policy decisions and the value of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding complex problems in wildlife biology.
• Gain “hands on” experience in the field working with plants and animals in a variety of ecosystems.

This major focuses on the development of leaders in the areas of Food Industry Innovation and Operations. The program combines a solid background in food science, economics and business, using a mix of theoretical and applied study. Students in this major will be able to create a curriculum uniquely tailored to their career goals. The flexibility provided in semesters 5 through 8 enables students to develop their understanding of specific areas of food science and business. Student participation in international exchanges and international summer research programs is encouraged and supported through academic advising on course selection and substitution. Students have the opportunity to incorporate a variety of field trips, experiential learning in the workplace and independent research projects into their program. The combination of a solid understanding of food science and current business practice with specialized skills and experience provided by this program is unique and greatly valued by prospective employers in this important sector of the Canadian and global economies.

CO-OP

The Co-op program in Food Industry Management is a five year program, including 4 work terms. Students must complete a Fall, Winter and Summer work term and must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below

Food Industry Management Academic and Co-op Work Term Schedule

To be eligible to continue in the Co-op program, they 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 and work term report grading.