Note: This is the 2022–2023 eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or .
Program Requirements
Note: Attainment of the Honours degree requires a CGPA of at least 3.00.
Program Prerequisites
PRE-PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
Students entering from the Freshman program must have included CHEM 110 and CHEM 120 or CHEM 115, BIOL 111 or BIOL 112, MATH 133, MATH 140/MATH 141 or MATH 150/MATH 151, PHYS 131/PHYS 142, or their equivalents in their Freshman year. Quebec students must have completed the DEC with appropriate science and mathematics courses. Note that students who have successfully completed MATH 150 and MATH 151 do not have to take MATH 222.
Required Courses (57 credits)
The required courses in this program consist of 57 credits in chemistry, biology and mathematics, listed below. The courses marked with an asterisk (*) are omitted from the program of students who have successfully completed them at the CEGEP level but the Chemistry courses must be replaced by courses in that discipline if students wish to be eligible for admission to the Ordre des chimistes du Québec. Students from outside Quebec or transfer students should consult the Academic Adviser.
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A computer science course, either COMP 202 or COMP 208, is strongly recommended during U1 for students who have no previous introduction to computer programming. Students should contact their adviser on this matter. Completion of Mathematics MATH 222 during U1 is also strongly recommended.
* Denotes courses with CEGEP equivalents.
** Students who have successfully completed MATH 150 and MATH 151 are not required to take MATH 222.
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BIOL 200 Molecular Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The physical and chemical properties of the cell and its components in relation to their structure and function. Topics include: protein structure, enzymes and enzyme kinetics; nucleic acid replication, transcription and translation; the genetic code, mutation, recombination, and regulation of gene expression.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Champetier, Serge; Roy, Richard D W; Hastings, Kenneth E M; Lasko, Paul; Reyes Lamothe, Rodrigo (Fall)
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BIOL 201 Cell Biology and Metabolism (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : This course introduces the student to our modern understanding of cells and how they work. Major topics to be covered include: photosynthesis, energy metabolism and metabolic integration; plasma membrane including secretion, endocytosis and contact mediated interactions between cells; cytoskeleton including cell and organelle movement; the nervous system; hormone signaling; the cell cycle.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Brouhard, Gary; Champetier, Serge (Winter)
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CHEM 212 Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 (4 credits) *
Overview
Chemistry : A survey of reactions of aliphatic and aromatic compounds including modern concepts of bonding, mechanisms, conformational analysis, and stereochemistry.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Pavelka, Laura; Sirjoosingh, Pallavi; Vlaho, Danielle; Gauthier, Jean-Marc (Fall) Vlaho, Danielle; Gauthier, Jean-Marc; Pavelka, Laura; Luedtke, Nathan (Winter) Pavelka, Laura; Vlaho, Danielle; Huot, Mitchell (Summer)
Fall, Winter, Summer
Prerequisite: CHEM 110 or equivalent.
Corequisite: CHEM 120 or equivalent.
Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken CHEM 211 or equivalent
Each lab section is limited enrolment
Note: Some CEGEP programs provide equivalency for this course. For more information, please see the Department of Chemistry's Web page ().
**Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the fourth lecture day.
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CHEM 213 Introductory Physical Chemistry 1: Thermodynamics (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Thermodynamics. Topics include gas laws, kinetic theory of collisions, heat capacity, enthalpy, thermochemistry, bond energies, the entropy and free energy functions, absolute entropies, Maxwell relations and chemical and thermodynamic equilibrium states, phase rule and phase diagrams, ideal solutions, colligative properties, solubility, electrochemistry, Debye-HĂĽckel Theory.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Blum, Amy (Fall)
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CHEM 222 Introductory Organic Chemistry 2 (4 credits) *
Overview
Chemistry : Modern spectroscopic techniques for structure determination. The chemistry of alcohols, ethers, carbonyl compounds, and amines, with special attention to mechanistic aspects. Special topics.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Vlaho, Danielle; Gauthier, Jean-Marc; Pavelka, Laura; Auclair, Karine (Fall) Pavelka, Laura; Vlaho, Danielle; Gauthier, Jean-Marc (Winter) Pavelka, Laura; Vlaho, Danielle; Huot, Mitchell (Summer)
Fall, Winter
Prerequisite: CHEM 212 or equivalent.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken an equivalent Organic 2 at CEGEP (see McGill University Basic Math and Sciences Equivalence Table at ) or who have or are taking CHEM 234.
**Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the fourth lecture day.
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CHEM 267 Introductory Chemical Analysis (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Qualitative and quantitative analysis. A survey of methods of analysis including theory and practice of semimicro qualitative analysis and representative gravimetric, volumetric and instrumental methods. The laboratory component includes introductory experiments in analytical chemistry emphasizing classical and instrumental methods of quantitative analysis.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Sirjoosingh, Pallavi; Gauthier, Jean-Marc; Sewall, Samuel Lewis; Mauzeroll, Janine (Fall)
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CHEM 273 Introductory Physical Chemistry 2: Kinetics and Methods (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Kinetics: Transition State Theory, complex reactions, free-radical reactions, chain reactions, catalysis, reactions at surfaces, ionic effects of reactions in solution, photochemistry. Methods: physical chemistry laboratory, differential equations and linear algebra applied to physical chemistry, computation methods for data analysis and modeling
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: McCalla, Eric Russell; Gauthier, Jean-Marc (Winter)
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CHEM 281 Inorganic Chemistry 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Basic concepts of electronic structure and molecular bonding will be developed and applied to the understanding of common materials. Acid-base chemistry. Survey of the chemistry of the main group elements. Introduction to coordination and organometallic chemistry.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Légaré, Marc-Andre (Winter)
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CHEM 302 Introductory Organic Chemistry 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Topics covered may include the following: Aromatic compounds, heterocyclic chemistry, sulfur and phosphorus chemistry, organosulfur and organophosphorus compounds, and biomolecules such as lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, polypeptides, DNA and RNA.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Damha, Masad J (Fall)
Fall, Winter
Prerequisites: CHEM 222, or permission of the instructor.
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CHEM 345 Introduction to Quantum Chemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : An introduction to quantum chemistry covering the historical development, wave theory, methods of quantum mechanics, and applications of quantum chemistry.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Reven, Linda (Fall)
- CHEM 355 Applications of Quantum Chemistry (3 credits)
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CHEM 367 Instrumental Analysis 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : An introduction to modern instrumental analysis emphasizing chromatography, atomic spectroscopy and computational data analysis. Analytical methods to be examined in detail include gas-liquid and high performance liquid chromatography, LC mass spectrometry, and common methods of atomic determinations using flames/furnaces/plasma sources.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Thibodeaux, Christopher; Sewall, Samuel Lewis (Fall)
Fall
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 267.
Each lab section is limited enrolment
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CHEM 377 Instrumental Analysis 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Spectroscopic methods of analysis will be studied with respect to fundamentals, operational aspects and instrument design. Topics will range from UV-visible to x-ray spectrometry. Methodologies will be evaluated with respect to their application in spectrometric systems. Laboratory automation will be studied and applied in the laboratory.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Preston, Thomas; Sewall, Samuel Lewis; Sirjoosingh, Pallavi (Winter)
Winter
Prerequisite: CHEM 367
Each lab section is limited enrolment
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CHEM 381 Inorganic Chemistry 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Introduction to transition metal chemistry, coordination numbers and geometry, and nomenclature will be followed by a discussion of crystal field theory and its applications to problems in spectroscopy, magnetochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics. Several aspects related to applications of organometallic compounds in catalysis and bioinorganic systems will be discussed.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Bohle, Scott (Fall)
Fall
Prerequisite: CHEM 281.
Restriction: For Honours and Major Chemistry students
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CHEM 392 Experimental Chemistry 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Experiments related to the theoretical principles, synthetic techniques and instrumental methods used in modern experimental chemistry, including aspects of green chemistry and nanochemistry.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Vlaho, Danielle; Huot, Mitchell (Fall) Vlaho, Danielle; Huot, Mitchell (Winter)
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CHEM 493 Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory (2 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Selected experiments to illustrate more advanced physico-chemical principles.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Sewall, Samuel Lewis; Gauthier, Jean-Marc; Stein, Robin Stephanie (Fall) Sewall, Samuel Lewis; Gauthier, Jean-Marc (Winter)
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CHEM 502 Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : This course will cover biologically relevant molecules, particularly nucleic acids, proteins, and their building blocks. In each case, synthesis and biological functions will be discussed. The topics include synthesis of oligonucleotides and peptides; chemistry of phosphates; enzyme structure and function; coenzymes, and enzyme catalysis; polyketides; antiviral and anticancer agents.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Thibodeaux, Christopher; Luedtke, Nathan (Winter)
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MATH 222 Calculus 3 (3 credits) **
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Taylor series, Taylor's theorem in one and several variables. Review of vector geometry. Partial differentiation, directional derivative. Extreme of functions of 2 or 3 variables. Parametric curves and arc length. Polar and spherical coordinates. Multiple integrals.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Paquette, Elliot; Wrobel, Konrad (Fall) Trudeau, Sidney (Winter) Barill, Gavin (Summer)
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PHYS 242 Electricity and Magnetism (2 credits)
Overview
Physics : Properties of electromagnetic fields, dipole and quadropole fields and their interactions, chemical binding of molecules, electromagnetic properties of materials, Maxwell's equations and properties of electromagnetic waves, propagation of waves in media.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Chiang, Hsin Cynthia (Fall)
Fall
2 hours lectures
Prerequisites: CEGEP Physics, MATH 222
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
18 credits selected as follows:
6 credits of research*:
* Students may take up to 12 Research Project credits but only 6 of these may be used to fulfil the program requirement.
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CHEM 470 Research Project 1 (6 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : A course designed to give students research experience. The student will be assigned a project supervisor and a research project at the beginning of the session. The project will consist of a literature survey, experimental and /or theoretical work, a written research report and an oral examination.
Terms: Summer 2023, Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Légaré, Marc-Andre (Summer) Kakkar, Ashok K (Fall) Kakkar, Ashok K (Winter)
Fall, Winter
Prerequisite: registration by Departmental permission only
**Although this is a research course from May 3rd until August 31st, it does not follow the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines. Therefore, add/drop is July 6th and withdrawal is August 3rd.
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CHEM 480 Undergraduate Research Project 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : A course designed to give students additional research experience. The student will be assigned a project supervisor and a research project at the beginning of the session. The project will consist of a literature survey, experimental or theoretical work, a written research report and an oral examination.
Terms: Winter 2023, Summer 2023, Fall 2022
Instructors: Sewall, Samuel Lewis (Winter) Sewall, Samuel Lewis (Summer) Sewall, Samuel Lewis (Fall)
Fall, Winter, Summer
Prerequisite: CHEM 396 or CHEM 470. Registration by Departmental permission only.
**Although this is a research course from May 3rd until August 31st, it does not follow the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines. Therefore, add/drop is July 6th and withdrawal is August 3rd.
9 credits from the following:
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BIOL 202 Basic Genetics (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Introduction to basic principles, and to modern advances, problems and applications in the genetics of higher and lower organisms with examples representative of the biological sciences.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Moon, Nam Sung; Nilson, Laura; Schoen, Daniel J; Hipfner, David; Champetier, Serge (Winter)
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BIOL 301 Cell and Molecular Laboratory (4 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to biology research and communication with a focus on cell and molecular biology. Through conducting a series of project-based experiments and writing a final report, molecular and synthetic biology techniques such as gene cloning, manipulation, protein isolation and characterization and how research is conducted, analyzed and communicated will be addressed. In addition, an introduction to bioinformatics methods and their role in analysis will be provided.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Reyes Lamothe, Rodrigo; Harrison, Paul; Leroux, Maxime (Fall) Hayer, Arnold; Harrison, Paul; Leroux, Maxime (Winter)
Fall or Winter
1 hour lecture and one 6-hour laboratory
Prerequisites: BIOL 200, BIOL 201 (or ANAT 212/BIOC 212); or BIOL 219
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking BIOC 300, or BIOC 220 and BIOC 320. Requires departmental approval.
For approval email hugo.zheng [at] mcgill.ca. Specify your ID number as well as the term and two lab day preferences.
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CHEM 365 Statistical Thermodynamics (2 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Molecular basis of thermodynamics with applications to ideal gases and simple solids. Topics to be covered will include: calculation of thermodynamic functions, chemical equilibrium constants, Einstein and Debye models of solids, absolute reaction rate theory, Debye-HĂĽckel theory of strong electrolytes.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Simine, Yelena (Winter)
Winter
Prerequisite: CHEM 345
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MATH 315 Ordinary Differential Equations (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : First order ordinary differential equations including elementary numerical methods. Linear differential equations. Laplace transforms. Series solutions.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Berk, Aaron (Fall) BĂ©langer-Rioux, Rosalie (Winter) Roth, Charles (Summer)
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MIMM 211 Introductory Microbiology (3 credits)
Overview
Microbiology and Immun (Sci) : A general treatment of microbiology bearing specifically on the biological properties of microorganisms. Emphasis will be on procaryotic cells. Basic principles of microbial genetics are also introduced.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Cousineau, Benoit; Matlashewski, Greg J; Archambault, Jacques; Chahal, Jasmin; Maurice, Corinne (Fall)
Fall
3 hours of lecture
Corequisite: BIOL 200
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MIMM 214 Introductory Immunology: Elements of Immunity (3 credits)
Overview
Microbiology and Immun (Sci) : Basic immunology, organs and cells, elements of innate immunity, phagocytes, complement, elements of adaptive immunity, B-cells, T-cells, antigen presenting cells, MHC genes and molecules, antigen processing and presentation, cytokines and chemokines. Emphasis on anatomy and the molecular and cellular players working together as a physiological system to maintain human health.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Chahal, Jasmin (Winter)
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MIMM 314 Intermediate Immunology (3 credits)
Overview
Microbiology and Immun (Sci) : An intermediate-level immunology course covering the cellular and molecular basis of lymphocyte development and activation in immune responses in health and disease.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Piccirillo, Ciriaco; King, Irah (Winter)
Winter
3 hours of lecture
Prerequisite: MIMM 214
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MIMM 323 Microbial Physiology (3 credits)
Overview
Microbiology and Immun (Sci) : An introduction to the composition and structure of microbial cells, the biochemical activities associated with cellular metabolism and how these activities are regulated and coordinated. The course will have a molecular and genetic approach to the study of microbial physiology.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Marczynski, Gregory T; Turcotte, Bernard (Fall)
Fall
3 hours of lecture
Prerequisite: MIMM 211
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PHGY 209 Mammalian Physiology 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Physiology : Physiology of body fluids, blood, body defense mechanisms, muscle, peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous systems.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Vollrath, Melissa; Grisaru Wechsler, Ann; Ragsdale, David S; Shrier, Alvin; Cook, Erik; Aguer, CĂ©line (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lectures weekly
Prerequisites: BIOL 112, CHEM 110, CHEM 120, PHYS 101 or PHYS 131, and PHYS 102 or PHYS 142. Pre-/co-requisites: BIOL 200, CHEM 212 or equivalent.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PHGY 211 or students who are taking and who have taken NSCI 200.
Restriction: For students in the Faculty of Science, and other students by permission of the instructor
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PHGY 210 Mammalian Physiology 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Physiology : Physiology of cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and renal systems.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Vollrath, Melissa; Takano, Tomoko; Guevara, Michael R; Lauzon, Anne-Marie; White, John H; Aguer, CĂ©line (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lectures weekly
Prerequisites: BIOL 112, CHEM 110, CHEM 120, PHYS 101 or PHYS 131, and PHYS 102 or PHYS 142. Pre-/co-requisite: BIOL 200, BIOL 201, BIOC 212, CHEM 212 or equivalent.
Restriction: For students in the Faculty of Science, and other students by permission of the instructor
Although PHGY 210 may be taken without the prior passing of PHGY 209, students should note that they may have some initial difficulties because of lack of familiarity with some basic concepts introduced in PHGY 209
and 3 credits of additional Chemistry courses at the 400 level or higher.
Faculty of Science—2022-2023 (last updated Aug. 24, 2022) (disclaimer)
