Planning Your Biology Degree

Course Sequencing and Prerequisites

When planning a program of courses, you should maintain a long-term view. Core/required Biology courses are only offered once per calendar year; BIOL 100 is the exception, and is typically offered in May-June in addition to every Fall semester). Please ensure you that take the required prerequisite courses when they are offered, or you may find that you cannot enroll in the courses you want to take later in your degree. For example, BIOL 380 (Animal Behaviour) has prerequisites of BIOL 275 (Ecology) and two Statistics courses (STAT 100 & 200).

Chemistry courses (CHEM 104, 104, 140) are also important for the Biology program, and biochemistry courses (e.g. BIOC 220) may also be important (depending on your interests, or "area of concentration").

Biology Program Advising

If you have specific questions about your Biology degree program, please make an appointment to speak with a Faculty of Science program advisor. Appointments can be made at the Science Academic Hub (LB 238, science@uregina.ca, 306-585-4199). Alternatively, the Science Academic Hub also offers Zoom drop-in advising most weekday mornings.

As well, further information about Biology undergraduate programs is available in the U of R Calendar (undergraduate).

SCI 099

SCI 099 is a non-credit course that must be completed during the first semester in which students register with the Faculty of Science (through Campion College, Luther College, First Nations University of Canada, or the University of Regina). Students register themselves into the class.

Courses to take in your first year

BIOL 100 & 101	Are prerequisites for all majors 200-level Biology courses, and BIOL 100 is a prerequisite for BIOC 220.
CHEM 104	Is a prerequisite or corequisite for many 200-level Biology courses, and also for CHEM 140 (Organic Chemistry I).
CHEM 105 (perhaps)	Is a prerequisite for BIOC 220 (Biochemistry I - Biomolecules). If you plan on taking BIOC 220 in second year, you will need to take CHEM 105 in first year.

Note: Biology 30 and Chemistry 30 (high school biology and chemistry) are not prerequisites for BIOL 100 or BIOL 101, but are strongly recommended. As well, Chemistry 30 is a prerequisite for CHEM 104, which is part of the Biology BSc programs. Students who do not have Chemistry 30 (or equivalent) must take CHEM 100 (see Undergraduate Calendar) prior to taking CHEM 104.

In order to progress smoothly through the Biology BSc program, at minimum:

Your first semester should include BIOL 100 & probably CHEM 104 (alternatively, take CHEM 100 in your first semester if you do not qualify for CHEM 104, and take CHEM 104 in your second semester).
Your second semester should include BIOL 101 & at least one of CHEM 105/140 (or CHEM 104 if you took CHEM 100 in your first semester); CHEM courses are very useful in understanding Biology, and CHEM 140 (Organic Chemisty I) is a prequisite for BIOL 305 (Genetics).

Courses to take early in your program

STAT 100 and STAT 200	Are required for all Biology BSc and BSc Hons programs and one or both are prerequisites for some of the 300- and 400-level BIOL courses (e.g. BIOL 316, 341, 375, 376, 380, 440). To maximize your course options in 3rd and 4th year, especially if you are interested in ecological/environmental courses, take the required STAT courses in your first two years. Please note that STAT 160 is not part of the Biology BSc program, and that students who have received credit for STAT 160 cannot receive later credit for STAT 200.
BIOC 220	Is a prerequisite for other BIOC courses. If you are planning on taking BIOC courses as part of your Biology BSc degree, take BIOC 220 early in your program.
CS 110	Comes in handy if you are planning on taking Population & Community Ecology (BIOL 376), Genomics (BIOL 406) or Modelling Biological Data (BIOL 440).