Honours Biology (72 credits)
Acceptance into the Honours program at the beginning of U3 requires a CGPA of 3.50 and approval of a 9- credit Independent Studies project (see listing of BIOL 479D1/BIOL 479D2, for details). For an Honours degree, a minimum CGPA of 3.50 at Graduation and adherence to the program are the additional requirements.
First Class Honours will be awarded to students graduating with a CGPA of 3.75 or better, and having successfully completed the Honours program.
Your research should be finished within the academic year. Feel free to consult your PI and the Honours Program Director for guidance: they are there to help you. See also Guidelines for Independent Studies, or visit the Independent Research Projects page.
Honours Independent Studies Research Project
BIOL 479D1. Honours Research Project 1.
Credits: 4.5
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Introduces students to original research, and to its design, execution and reporting.
- Fall, Winter
- 8-12 hours per week research project and related seminars
- Restriction: Biology Honours students. Projects must be arranged individually with, and accepted by a staff member of the Biology Department
- Students must register for both BIOL 479D1 and BIOL 479D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both BIOL 479D1 and BIOL 479D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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BIOL 479D2. Honours Research Project 1.
Credits: 4.5
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
- Winter
- Prerequisite: BIOL 479D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both BIOL 479D1 and BIOL 479D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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Your HONOURS Independent Research Project research project must be written up in the form of a research manuscript. The thesis should be 20 double-spaced typewritten pages or more (Arial, 12-point), not including figures or references. Consult your supervisor for the exact style to follow. Your Honours Thesis must be submitted electronically to the advisor, your supervisor and the Director by the last day of classes of the Winter term. Once submitted, no changes or additions can be made.
Honours Seminars in Biology
BIOL 499D1. Honours Seminar in Biology.
Credits: 2
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
The practical aspects of science and scholarship in biology, including scientific writing, research presentations, bibliographies, methods, and peer review, as relating to Biology Honours research projects and theses. Attendance at research
seminars in areas of related research.
- Fall, Winter
- Students must register for both BIOL 499D1 and BIOL 499D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both BIOL 499D1 and BIOL 499D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- In some weeks, conference attendance will be replaced by research seminar attendance.
- Restriction: Open to students in the Biology Honours program. Students in the Quantitative Biology or Computer Science and Biology Honours programs may enroll with instructor permission.
- In some weeks, conference attendance will be replaced by research seminar attendance.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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BIOL 499D2. Honours Seminar in Biology.
Credits: 2
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
View offerings for
Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
- Winter
- Prerequisite: BIOL 499D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both BIOL 499D1 and BIOL 499D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- In some weeks, conference attendance will be replaced by research seminar attendance.
- Restriction: Open to students in the Biology Honours program. Students in the Quantitative Biology or Computer Science and Biology Honours programs may enroll with instructor permission.
- In some weeks, conference attendance will be replaced by research seminar attendance.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
This seminar covers the practical aspects of science and scholarship in biology, including scientific writing, research presentations, generating bibliographies, research and quantitative methods, and peer review. Attendance at research seminars in areas of related research is also required (as well as a written summary of seminars). Students will also be required to make an oral presentation of their Honours thesis to peers and Academic staff of the department at the Honours Symposium held in March or April. A student’s final grade for this seminar course will depend on grades for various assessments, including written assignments, oral presentations, and class participation as well as performance during the honours symposium.
TIMELINE (details to be covered in course outline):
- By June 1—potential Honours students declare their intent to the Biology Advisor, go over credits and program completion.
- Late August—students change their primary curriculum on Minerva to Honours Biology, register for BIOL 499D1/D2.
- By first day of fall classes—students submit Honours application on MyCourses for BIOL 499; copy to Advisor.
- First two weeks of BIOL 499 courses—students work on their abstracts in class; submit abstracts 3 business days before end of add/drop;
- Students register for BIOL 479D1/D2 before end of add/drop.
- December—Students and PIs complete Mid-Year Progress Review form, submit on MyCourses for BIOL 499 in first week of January.
- End winter term—students submit their theses, and present at the Symposium which they organize.