Dr. Michael D. Kawaja Associate Dean Life Sciences and Biochemistry

Professor, Dept. Biomedical and Molecular Sciences

Researcher, Centre for Neuroscience Studies

Undergraduate programs in Life Sciences (LISC) and Biochemistry (BCHM)

What is “Life Sciences” at Queen’s? This is a highly sought after undergraduate program that offers students both lecture instruction and laboratory opportunities to learn about human life. With courses ranging from the anatomy and physiology of the organs in our bodies to the bacteria and viruses that compromise organ functions to the cells that give rise to carcinomas to the drugs used to cure us of infection and disease.

What is “Biochemistry” at Queen’s? This undergraduate program offers students a unique opportunity to learn about the machinery in cells that governs their shape, movement, and functional importance, as well as how this machinery is altered in response to injury and disease.

Programs in Life Sciences & Biochemistry

Bachelor of Sciences (General)

Bachelor of Sciences (Honours)

Major or Specialization

Bachelor of Sciences (Honours) Specialization

(Cooperative in Biochemistry)

First year sciences at Queen’s General Sciences (Honours)

Biology

Chemistry*

Math

Physics**

& 1 elective (1 x 6 units or 2 x 3 units )

Advancing to 2nd year

Automatic acceptance into Life Sciences with

GPA 3.3 + pass in Physics**

Automatic acceptance into Biochemistry with

GPA 2.9 + pass in Chemistry*

First year sciences at Queen’s

Advancing to 2nd year

Automatic acceptance into Life Sciences with

GPA 3.3 + pass in Physics**

Automatic acceptance into Biochemistry with

GPA 2.9 + pass in Chemistry*

PLUS …. No fewer that 27 units

GPA no less than 2.65 for ~ 335 LISC and ~60-70 BCHM

4 YEAR DEGREES

CORE COURES

Specialization vs Major 2nd year 2nd year ANAT (2 x 3), BIOL (1 x 3), CHEM (2 x 3), BIOL (1 x 3), CHEM (2 x 3), PHGY (1 x 6), MICR (1 x 3), BCHM (1 x 3) MICR (1 x 3), PHGY (1 x 6)

3rd year 3rd year BCHM (2 x 3), MICR (1 x 3), STAT (1 x 3), PHAR (1 x 3) No core courses

4th year 4th year Biomedical Sciences - no core courses No core courses Biomedical Discovery – PHAR (1 x 3) + research project

Honours Bachelor of Science, Life Sciences Specialization OR

Honours Bachelor of Science, Life Sciences Major

4th year research project in …

Anatomy and Cell Biology Cancer Biology

Epidemiology and Community Health Microbiology and Immunology

Neuroscience Studies Pathology and Molecular Medicine

Pharmacology and Toxicology Physiology

Honours Bachelor of Science, Life Sciences Specialization

Biomedical Discovery

Research Poster Day!

4 YEAR DEGREES

CORE COURES

Specialization vs Major 2nd year 2nd year BIOL (1 x 3), BCHM (1 x 3) , CHEM (4 x 3), BIOL (1 x 3), BCHM (1 x 3), CHEM (4 x 3), STAT (1 x 3) STAT (1 x 3)

3rd year 3rd year BCHM (4 x 3) + 300-level course with lab (1 x 3 or 6) BCHM (4 x 3)

4th year 4th year BCHM (4 x 3) + research project course (2 x 6) BCHM (4 x 3)

Honours Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry Specialization

OR Honours Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry Major

Apply in Fall of 3rd year

2 placements (8 and 4 months)

Extending program to 5 years

Placements in research laboratories with industry, hospital research institutes, university laboratories, and/or government laboratories

in Canada and the United Sates

Honours Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry Specialization

The Cooperative Program

3 YEAR DEGREE

CORE COURES

2nd year BIOL (1 x 3 units) CHEM (4 x 3 units) BCHM (1 x 3 units) 3rd year BCHM (3 x 3 units)

Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry General

CORE COURES

2nd year CHEM (1 x 3 units) CHEM (1 x 3 units) or PHAR (1 x 3 units) 3rd year No core courses

Bachelor of Science, Life Sciences General

EXIT STRATEGY ….. Gain acceptance to medical school, etc after 3 years undergraduate …

Eligible for 3-year undergraduate LISC or BCHM degree

Who teaches in the Life Sciences and Biochemistry programs? Both scientists and physicians are the lecturers and laboratory instructors in these two undergraduate programs. The majority of this faculty is drawn from the Departments of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Pathology and Molecular Medicine, and Public Health Sciences, with contributions from faculty in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Most of teaching faculty hold competitive research grants from national and provincial agencies.

Awards Presentations

Heather Nicol – Gold Medal LISC SSP LISC (neuroscience) … now graduate studies at McGill Sean Robinson – TriColour Award MAJ LISC / MIN French … now medicine at McMaster

Convocation

On the 13th of June 2013, 196 LISC students and 38 BCHM students graduated

with Bachelor of Science (Honours) degrees

71% LISC with Distinction and 53% BCHM with Distinction

Botterell Hall – research labs + offices The New Medical Building – teaching labs

State-of-the-art teaching labs World-class human anatomy labs

Research

in

action!

Career opportunities after Life Sciences and Biochemistry

at Queen’s

Medicine

Health Care, Policy, Administration, etc

Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dentistry Chiropractic

Veterinary Medicine

Law

Biomedical Research

Industry

Education

Canadian University Report G & M in association with Higher

Education Strategy Associates

Most stasified students A- Campus Atmosphere A Student/Faculty interaction A Reputation with employers A+ Quality of learning and teaching A Among medium enrolment of 10,000 – 22,000 students

Maclean’s 2013 Canadian Universities Guidebook cited Life Sciences at Queen’s as a Standout Program, having strength in “the integration of basic health sciences with natural and physical science”.

What extracurricular activities are available? Biochemistry and Life Science students both have an active, elected student council that organize sports, social and academic related activities for their students, including an annual banquet, BBQ’s, book and clothing sales. Life Science students also have their own quarterly newspaper “Life Beat” and research publication “QSURJ”.

http://healthsci.queensu.ca/liscbchm/

http://healthsci.queensu.ca/liscbchm/