The Department of Cell and Systems Biology studies life from the molecular level to functioning individual organisms. Cell biology seeks to understand the underlying molecular processes that control cell behaviour in a developmental and physiological context. Systems biology studies dynamic networks in biological systems through the integration of large datasets arising from the genomics revolution.

• Department of Cell and Systems

• Calendar Listing

Within the Faculty of Arts and Science, there is no single biology department. For more information, please see the Biology information page.

Admission Information

• Apply to the Life Science admission category on the St. George campus

• Senior high school credits in Biology and Chemistry are required preparation for first-year courses
  
• Chemistry is not required for minor option
• Senior high school Physics is recommended for Animal Physiology, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and Neuroscience
• Physics is required for the Cell and Molecular Biology specialist option
• Students outside of Ontario should have the equivalent senior high school credits

Honours Bachelor of Science Programs

• Animal Physiology (major)

• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (specialist)

• Cell and Molecular Biology (specialist and major options)

• Developmental Biology (specialist)

• Genome Biology (major)
  

• Neuroscience (specialist and major options)

First-Year Courses

• BIO 130H1 – Molecular and Cell Biology

Advice for First Year

Students who are interested in studying cell and systems biology should take:

• BIO 120H1 – Adaptation and Biodiversity and BIO130H1 – Molecular and Cell Biology
  
• Most programs also require first year chemistry (CHM 138H1 and 139H1), math (JMB 170Y1 or MAT 135Y1) and/or physics (PHY131H1 and 132H1)
  

Careers

A BSc degree in Cell and Systems Biology will form a strong foundation for individuals who choose to pursue a professional degree in areas such as: medicine; dentistry; nursing and other health sciences; veterinary medicine; forensic sciences; business administration; and law.  

Students who go on to complete graduate degrees may find employment as professors and/or lead researchers in universities, government, research institutes and industry.

Occupations also include those associated with bioinformatics; high-throughput technologies; pharmaceutical discovery, testing, and regulation; and patent law.

Direct career options include:

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