Prior to their first work term, students complete two full years of course work. During this time, students in all programs are required to complete a two-semester overview of all areas of biology (the 200-level “Principles of…” courses) as well as foundation courses on research methods, statistics, and math.

In Academic Terms 5 through 7 students take more advanced courses in individual areas of Biology, with the option to focus on one of the three core areas of concentration: Cell and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Conservation Biology, and Marine Biology. They may also specialize in modelling and quantitative methods through advanced courses in statistics, modelling, and bioinformatics.