Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Biotechnology

at University of Lethbridge - Lethbridge Campus Canada

Neuroscience is the study of the brain and how it affects human behaviour on an individual basis. One of the most basic facts in neuroscience is that “You are your brain.” This rapidly expanding discipline aims to solve the mysteries of the brain’s functionality by better understanding its resilient capacity for consciousness, perception, memory and learning.

As a neuroscience student you will be exposed to the razor’s edge of neurological discoveries, learning from the country’s most renowned leaders in the field. You will gain in-depth knowledge about the brain’s functionality, as well as the methods and concepts used to uncover its many secrets.

The primary focus of this multidisciplinary program is to enhance your technical and practical skills with extensive theoretical knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, philosophy and other related areas. With an emphasis on neurological disorders, the program will also give you hands-on experience using the latest instruments, technology and research findings.

The Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience. While studying neuroscience at uLethbridge, you have access to state-of-the-art science and research facilities, such as the Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience (CCBN). This internationally renowned facility provides the infrastructure to support the research interests of our award-winning faculty - your instructors!

This facility is unlike any research facility in the country and houases the laboratories of our principal investigators. The CCBN primarily conducts research in behavioural neuroscience, studying both normal brain processes and the recovery processes in neurological disorders and brain injury.

Aboriginal Health is Canadian Health. The health of Aboriginal peoples in Canada is a complex social justice issue that can only be addressed by people who are creative, skilled, culturally competent, committed and passionate about righting historical wrongs and acting to create a more inclusive, equitable society.

Understand the historical and contemporary causes of current issues such as poverty, water and food security, diabetes, addictions, youth suicide, family violence.

Learn traditional Indigenous teachings and contemporary perspectives by engaging with elders, knowledge keepers, health care professionals and other Indigenous peoples. Learn how Indigenous values, knowledge and practices foster healthy children, youth, adults, elders, families and communities.

Develop transferable and portable skills and practices to assist organizations and communities to respond to critical health issues facing Aboriginal peoples and all Canadians. Apply what you have learned and gain valuable workplace experience by completing a practicum with a provincial or Indigenous organization.

Accountants are central to the operations and strategies of all types of organizations. They require integrity and the ability to think critically, communicate and interact with others effectively. Accounting is the foundation of organizational short and long-term success. It involves measuring, analyzing and reporting on factors that affect organizational performance, resources and risk.

About the Accounting major
You will train to be an accountant, not a bookkeeper. You'll gain technical skills and learn how to address a broad range of business problems. Classes are small, allowing for one-on-one interaction with professors, who have professional accounting designations, PhDs in accounting or both. You will acquire and practice the skills needed for success, including writing, presenting, using professional tools and case analysis.

Agricultural biotechnology examines agriculture and the natural world, emphasizing the relationships between food production, the environment, science and society.

The program focuses on the life sciences, with prominence given to the application of biotechnology in agriculture. It also delves into agriculture’s associated sectors including: government, policy development, farm production, environmental implications and agricultural sciences.

Studying agricultural biotechnology will give you a strong science and economics background rooted in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, and focusing on the issues, research and course materials relevant to agriculture.

In this lab-extensive, hands-on learning environment, you will concentrate on the physiology of microbes, plants and animals, as well as the systems they thrive in — helping you build technical skills in areas such as biochemistry and molecular biology.

As a multidisciplinary major, agricultural biotechnology takes full advantage of resources and course offerings in the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry and Economics. This multi-faceted approach allows you to explore new applications in science and develop fresh perspectives about how to address challenges in food production through changes in economics, production or diversification. 

Student clubs | The Agricultural Students’ Society has an active presence on campus, organizing a number of events including tours of local agriculturally based businesses and research facilities.

Alberta Institute of Agrologists (AIA). Once you have completed your degree, you may apply to the Alberta Institute of Agrologists (AIA) to be registered as a Professional Agrologist within Alberta. Contact us early in your degree for further information.

Philosophy investigates fundamental questions about the nature of things; about the universe as a whole, about human beings, society, science, ethics and art.

As a philosophy student, you will learn about the basic intellectual foundation for our political, social and legal systems, as well as our understanding of the principles of modern science and technology. You will explore deep theoretical, practical and moral issues that do not easily fit into more specialized disciplines.

Philosophy will challenge you with its reflective and critical approach to important, often puzzling, questions about the nature of right and wrong, time and space, perception, and the human mind.

Philosophy pays careful attention to its own long history, spanning more than 2,500 years. These early investigations are the focus of the department’s courses on ancient, early modern, late modern and 20th-century philosophers and philosophical movements.

There are numerous branches within the study of philosophy, touching virtually every topic; from questions about the existence of God, through to aesthetic principles, and the concepts of space and time:

• Justice and goodness: Investigates questions about right and wrong, or good and evil, such as biomedical ethics or environmental philosophy.
• Truth and reality: Looks at truth and reality through areas such as logic, metaphysics, epistemology and the philosophy of science.
• Social philosophical concerns: Delves into fundamental social philosophical issues addressed by political philosophy, ethics and the history of philosophy itself.
• Scientific philosophical concerns: Focuses on the conditions under which enquiry produces genuine truth and accurate representations of objective reality.
• Human creativity and artistic expression: Evaluates concepts like beauty in disciplines such as aesthetics and the philosophy of art.

We encounter religion in many manifestations frequently on TV and the Internet: breathtaking mosques, colossal Buddhas, the Pope addressing huge crowds, brutal religious wars or unusual rituals.

Studying religion enhances our understanding of what it is to be human. It enables us to learn more about the diverse cultures of the world, their ancient histories and their highest values. While you may not discover the meaning of life by studying religion, you will learn how others have answered that perennial human question, and how those answers have shaped people’s lives and the lives of those around them.

The University of Lethbridge is a secular (non-religious) institution of learning; we do not try to promote belief in any of the religions that we study. Rather, we attempt to study religion in as objective a manner as possible. Of course, each person faces challenges when trying to do so with neutrality, because we may have predispositions for or against particular religions, or toward religion in general.

In religious studies, our explorations are wide-ranging, embracing the human religious response, from the great world religions to marginal and quasi-religious phenomena, such as shamanism and magic. We examine history, social and cultural configurations, symbolism, and literature, as well as theologies and metaphysical philosophies within belief systems. You will study shared themes and marked differences in myths and rituals, and how religion permeates even our secular lives.

Forensics. Pharmacology. Food Science. What do these three areas have in common? They are just some of the career paths you can take with a degree in biochemistry.

Biochemistry is the study of all living systems at the molecular level. It looks at the chemical and physical basis of life and how these living systems interact with their environments. It is a demanding field that combines expertise in the biological sciences, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Versatility and intense curiosity are the hallmarks of successful biochemists, as they draw on knowledge from a variety of fields to investigate the molecules that facilitate life.

From the structure, function and dynamics of molecular machines, to the complex regulation of metabolic pathways and biological processes, biochemists study the extraordinary molecules that are produced and utilized by living systems. As a consequence, many of the most spectacular advances in the sciences are driven by discoveries in biochemistry.

Biochemistry will help you develop a strong background in the basic sciences and extensive laboratory skills, while emphasizing the chemical and physical basis of life. As a biochemistry student, you will gain hands-on experience with the latest tools and technology used in chemistry, physics and biological sciences, such as molecular biology, protein crystallography and advanced biophysics. You will also develop skills in molecular techniques like DNA sequencing, gene cloning and enzymology.

Additionally, you will have access to state-of-the-art science and research facilities. These facilities support the research interests of our award-winning faculty, your instructors, as they investigate diverse areas such as cancer research, toxicology, crystallography, bioinformatics and molecular modelling, as well as applied research in medicine, disease research and food development.

Economics is the social science that provides understanding, meaning and relevance of human action under conditions of scarcity. In other words, the study of economics enables a more effective use of scarce resources such as the time and talent people have available, the land, buildings, equipment, other tools on hand, and the knowledge of how to combine them to create products and services to satisfy human wants.

Economics is a value-free science. It never tells people how to act; it merely shows how they need to act to attain specific results.

Physics is the study of matter and energy at all scales, from the sub-nuclear to the dimensions of the universe. It is the fundamental science — all other sciences and technologies rely on the principles of physics.

Physics involves observing and understanding natural phenomena. It is evident in the world around us in everything from the seasons, the motion of objects, the flight of birds, the night sky and the weather, to lasers, electronics and the technology we rely on today.

Physics is very much a “hands-on” science, so the most effective way for you to learn the subject is to actually do physics. Astronomy teaches you how to study objects at a distance and interpret the information gathered. This helps us begin to understand the universe we live in. The skills you will learn in astronomy are also applicable to remote sensing and its application to environmental problems.

The department offers a comprehensive physics major. The foundation of this program is built in the first two years, as you study mechanics, waves, electricity and magnetism, optics, thermal physics and modern physics.

In your third and fourth years, you will gain a deeper understanding of the fundamentals and delve into more advanced and specialized areas. Specialized topics may include the research interests of department faculty members, as all faculty members are involved in rigorous research programs.

Faculty members also ensure you are provided with a wide view of physics, exposing you to all areas of the subject and describing a wide variety of applications. This enables you to make informed decisions when choosing the areas you may wish to pursue in the future.

Computer science is the study of algorithms and data structures and their applications in designing new and efficient solutions to industrial, technological, environmental or social problems.

Learn to tackle difficult problems using a variety of high-tech tools and approaches, and effectively communicate your expertise to others by coupling your technical learning with a solid grounding in liberal education. The program is designed to enable you gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, including access to state-of-the-art hardware and software in our three computer labs whenever you need to use them.