Biology
Graduate Co-ordinator: Andrew Cameron, PhD
Department Description
The department offers thesis-based degree programs at both the Master's and Doctoral level. The Department of Biology has expertise in ecology and evolution, cell and molecular biology and organismal physiology/biochemistry. Our field station is located in the picturesque Cypress Hills of southwestern Saskatchewan, and is used for both field-based research and for upper-level courses. We are also home to the Institute for Environmental Change & Society and the Institute for Microbial Systems & Society. As well, the Department of Biology has modern facilities for molecular biology and related disciplines, and is home to a modern aquatics facility for housing a variety of aquatic vertebrates. Our faculty and students conduct research in a wide variety of locations across Canada and elsewhere, and have national and international collaborations. The Biology Department also has close connections and collaborations with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and with various local, provincial and national agencies.
Further information about the Biology graduate programs is available here. We strongly recommend arranging for a supervisor prior to applying for admission; suggestions for how to contact potential supervisors are available in the Graduate section of the Biology Dept. website.
Courses
Typically the PhD program is entered following the completion of a Master's program. The PhD program consists of a minimum of 10 to 16 credit hours of course work and 44 to 50 credit hours of BIOL 901 (for a total of 60 credit hours).
| Course | Credit Hours |
| BIOL 801 | 3 credit hours |
| BIOL 802 | 3 credit hours |
| BIOL 887 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 887 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 8xx* | 0-6 credit hours |
| BIOL 901 | 44-50 credit hours |
| Total | 60 credit hours |
*800-level courses from any unit: courses from outside of Biology require the approval of the supervisory committee and the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
Typically, acceptance to the PhD program is pending the completion of a Master's program. The PhD program consists of 10 to 16 credit hours of course work and 44 to 50 credit hours of BIOL 901 (for a total of 60 credit hours). Students present an exit seminar based on their thesis research.
| Course | Credit Hours |
| BIOL 801 | 3 credit hours |
| BIOL 802 | 3 credit hours |
| BIOL 887 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 887 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888* | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888* | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 8xx** | 0-6 credit hours |
| BIOL 901 | 44-50 credit hours |
| Total | 60 credit hours |
*Students register twice for a total of 2 credit hours; students are expected to attend BIOL 888 seminars in all semesters unless otherwise advised by the supervisor.
**800-level courses from any unit: courses from outside of Biology require the approval of the supervisory committee and the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
In exceptional circumstances, a candidate may transfer into the PhD program without completion of a Master's degree. In these cases, the PhD program consists of a minimum of 16 to 22 credit hours of course work and 68 to 74 credit hours of BIOL 901 (for a total of 90 credit hours).
| Course | Credit Hours |
| BIOL 801 | 3 credit hours |
| BIOL 802 | 3 credit hours |
| BIOL 887 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 887 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 8xx* | 6-12 credit hours |
| BIOL 901 | 68-74 credit hours |
| Total | 90 credit hours |
*800-level courses from any unit: courses from outside of Biology require the approval of the supervisory committee and the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
In exceptional circumstances, a candidate may transfer into the PhD program without completion of a Master's degree. In these cases, the PhD program consists of 13 to 22 credit hours of course work and 68 to 77 credit hours of BIOL 901 (for a total of 90 credit hours). Students present an exit seminar based on their thesis research.
| Course | Credit Hours |
| BIOL 801 | 3 credit hours |
| BIOL 802 | 3 credit hours |
| BIOL 887 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 887 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888* | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888* | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 8xx** | 3-12 credit hours |
| BIOL 901 | 68-77 credit hours |
| Total | 90 credit hours |
*Students register twice for a total of 2 credit hours; students are expected to attend BIOL 888 seminars in all semesters unless otherwise advised by the supervisor.
**800-level courses from any unit: courses from outside of Biology require the approval of the supervisory committee and the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
The MSc program consists of a minimum of 10-16 credit hours of course work, and 14-20 credit hours of BIOL 901 (for a total of 30 credit hours).
| Course | Credit Hours |
| BIOL 887 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 887 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 8xx or related discipline* | 6-12 credit hours |
| BIOL 901 | 14-20 credit hours |
| Total | 30 credit hours |
*800-level courses from any unit: courses from outside of Biology require the approval of the supervisory committee and the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
The MSc program consists of 9-15 credit hours of course work, 15-21 credit hours of BIOL 901 (for a total of 30 credit hours). Students present an exit seminar based on their thesis research.
| Course | Credit Hours |
| BIOL 887 | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888* | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 888* | 1 credit hour |
| BIOL 8xx or related discipline** | 6-12 credit hours |
| BIOL 901 | 15-21 credit hours |
| Total | 30 credit hours |
*Students register twice for a total of 2 credit hours; students are expected to attend BIOL 888 seminars in all semesters unless otherwise advised by the supervisor.
**800-level courses from any unit: courses from outside of Biology require the approval of the supervisory committee and the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.