Memo To: the Academic Regulations and Curriculum Committee (ARCC)

NDF program template

Memo To: The Academic Regulations and Curriculum Committee (ARCC)

Memo From: Dr. Dave Hackett, Chair, Department of Biology and Chemistry

Re: Three new courses to allow the Department of Biology and Chemistry to react to occasional opportunities to provide senior students with special training.

Date: January 23, 2012

This document contains motions that propose 3 new courses approved by the Department of Biology and Chemistry at its Departmental Meeting of January 20, 2012.

Motion 1: That ARCC recommend to the Arts & Science Executive that BIOL 4986: Directed Studies be approved.

Rationale: There are times when an opportunity arises that could provide a senior student with valuable career-related experience. For example, there might be a chance for a student to work on a project with a community partner (such as the Community Waterfront Friends) or a research partner (such as the MNR). This might be a project that is short, or a pilot project, or in some other way unsuitable to be presented as a 6-credit thesis course. For cases such as these, it would be very useful to have a 3-credit Directed Studies course that could be adapted to the individual student and project.

Descriptive Data for BIOL 4986: Directed Studies

Course code: / BIOL 4986
Course title: / Directed Studies
Short title:
(maximum 29 characters)
If this course belongs to a major that has course groupings, please indicate which group the course belongs with:
Course Prerequisites: / Restricted to students in the fourth year of an Honours program with a minimum 70% overall average in the program. The approval of the discipline is required prior to registration. Students wishing to take this course during the following Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter Session must apply in writing to the discipline no later than February 15.
Course Co-requisites:
Antirequisite:
Total Hours:
(Lecture / Lab / Seminar) / The student will be expected to invest the equivalent of 36 hours of academic class.
Breakdown of Hours
(e.g. Two hours of lecture and one hour of laboratory work per week for one term.) / The professor and student will discuss this during their negotiations about the project.
Course Credits: / 3 credits
Course Description:
(as it will appear in the academic calendar) / This course provides an opportunity for students to do advanced studies in the field of biology. The work is supervised by a faculty member who is qualified in the student's area of interest. Work load normally involves periodic discussions, activities designed to provide discipline-related skills, the presentation of seminar, and the creation of a major report.
Program Implications:
Cross-listing or cross-coding
(please indicate if this course is approved for either cross-listing or cross-coding, and to which discipline)

Comparative Data for BIOL 4986: Directed Studies

University / Equivalent Course(s) and Titles / Non-Equivalent but 50% or more overlap
Brock / BIOL 4F92
Library Research Essays
Each student will be required to carry out two detailed studies of the scientific literature under faculty supervision.
Restriction: open to BCHM, BIOL (single or combined) and BTEC majors with approval to year 4 (honours), a minimum 75 percent major average and permission of the Co-ordinator.
Note: results of the studies will be presented in major essays and formal seminars. One research topic is to be completed each term.
Carleton / BIOL 4900 [1.0 credit]
Directed Special Studies and Seminar
Prerequisite: permission of the Department.
BIOL 4901 [0.5 credit]
Directed Special Studies
Independent or group study, open to third- and fourth-year students to explore a particular topic, in consultation with a Faculty supervisor. May include directed reading, written assignments, tutorials, laboratory or field work.
Prerequisite: permission of the Department. Students normally may not offer more than 1.0 credit of Directed Special Studies in their program.
Guelph / IBIO*4500 Research in Integrative Biology I F,W (1-5) [0.75] The student will undertake an independent research project of a practical or theoretical nature that relates either to organismal biology or the teaching of organismal biology and is conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. Students must make arrangements with both a faculty supervisor and the course coordinator at least one semester in advance. A departmental registration form must be obtained from the course coordinator and submitted no later than the second class day of the semester in which the project is to be completed. Equate(s): ZOO*4490, ZOO*4500, BOT*4820 Restriction(s): Normally a minimum cumulative average of 70% in the biology courses during the first 6 semesters of a major in the College of Biological Science. Instructor consent required.
IBIO*4510 Research in Integrative Biology II F,W (1-5) [0.75] The student will undertake an independent research project of a practical or theoretical nature that relates either to organismal biology or the teaching of organismal biology and is conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. Students must make arrangements with both a faculty supervisor and the course coordinator at least one semester in advance. A departmental registration form must be obtained from the course coordinator and submitted no later than the second class day of the semester in which the project is to be completed. Prerequisite(s): IBIO*4500 Equate(s): ZOO*4510, BOT*4830 Restriction(s): Normally a minimum cumulative average of 70% in the biology courses during the first 6 semesters of a major in the College of Biological Science. Instructor consent required.
Lakehead / Biology 4610 Biology Tutorial I
Credit Weight: 0.5
Description: Topics to be arranged to suit student specialization. The student will present his/her work at a Biology Department seminar. Students should consult the Department of Biology, and specific faculty members, for course availability.
SpecialTopic: Y
Notes: May only be taken with the written consent of the instructor or the Chair of the Department.
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Biology 4630 Biology Tutorial II
Credit Weight: 0.5
Description: Topics to be arranged to suit student specialization. The student will present his/her work at a Biology Department Seminar. Students should consult the Department of Biology, and specific faculty members, for course availability.
SpecialTopic: Y
Notes: May only be taken with the written consent of the instructor or the Chair of the Department.
Laurentian / BIOL 4017 E Literature Review
A major study of the literature on a specific biological topic, under the supervision of one or more faculty members. The subject of the study is chosen in consultation with the coordinator and supervisor(s). The results of the study are presented as a major essay in the form of a review paper. Available only to 4th-year students of the specialized program. Students cannot take both BIOL 4017 and 4035. (exp 6) cr 3
McMaster / BIOLOGY 4F06 SENIOR PROJECT
Students undertake an experimental or library project in a specialized area of biology under the direction of a member of the Biology department. Arrangements to take BIOLOGY 4F06, including the agreement of the supervisory committee, should be made according to Departmental Guidelines before the end of March in Level III. For information on Departmental Guidelines, please refer to the Biology web site at http://www.biology.mcmaster.ca/bio_ugrad.htm and click on BIOLOGY 4F06, or contact the Course Administrator.
Prerequisite(s): Registration in Level IV of any Honours Biology program and permission of the Course Administrator, Life Sciences Building, Room 215A. Students are expected to have a C.A. of at least 8.5.
Antirequisite(s): BIOLOGY 4C09, LIFE SCI 4A03, 4B06, 4C09, ORIGINS 4A09, SCIENCE 4A03, 4B06, 4C09
Not open to students with credit or registration in ISCI 4A12.
Enrolment is limited.
Ottawa / BIO4004 / Projet de recherche / Honours Research / 3 cr.
Under the supervision of a professor in the department, the student will conduct a project designed to broaden the student's general knowledge of a selected field of biology. Projects could include either an extensive literature review of a selected topic or a small laboratory or field project. Requires the submission of a comprehensive paper.
Sous la supervision d'un professeur du département, l'étudiant réalisera un project de recherche qui lui permettra d'élargir ses connaissances dans un des domaines de la biologie. Les projets peuvent consister en une revue poussée de la littérature sur un sujet déterminé ou encore en un court projet expérimental sur le terrain ou en laboratoire. L'étudiant devra soumettre, par écrit, un rapport détaillé de ses travaux. (Cours contingenté).
Prerequisites: Reserved for students registered in a major or specialization program in Biology and that have completed a minimum of 81 university credits. Corequisite: BIO4900. Limited enrolment.
Préalables : Cours réservé aux étudiants ayant complété un minimum de 81 crédits universitaires et inscrits dans un programme de spécialisé approfondi en Biologie ou de majeure en Biologie. Concomitant : BIO4900. Cours contingenté.
Queen’s
RMC
Ryerson / BLG / 481 / Biology and Chemistry Project Laboratory
This course will offer students the opportunity to undertake two laboratory projects (12-12 laboratory hours). The student will also be expected to research the theory required to understand the experimental work and the methodology being used; to suggest or to adapt appropriate experimental procedures; to make an oral presentation of the work and to write a report(s) in a format appropriate to the subject matter investigated. This course will not be available to students registered in CHY 40A/B.
Lab: 3 hrs.
Prerequisites: BLG 888 and CHY 362, Antirequisite: CHY 40A
Course Weight: 1.00
Billing Units: 1
Toronto / Research Opportunity Program: 299Y1 Courses
Director: Anne-Marie Brousseau, Associate Dean Undergraduate Academic Programs (416-978-0359)
The Research Opportunity Program (ROP) provides an opportunity for Arts & Science degree students (St. George) in their second year (i.e., after completing at least 4 but not more than 8.5 credits) to earn one course credit by participating in a faculty member’s research project.
Each 299Y1 course has a program-specific designator, such as ANT, CLA, CSB, VIC, etc. Not all departments or programs will necessarily participate in the ROP each year.
Descriptions of ROP projects are available on the Faculty's web site and in the Program Office (room 1067, Sidney Smith Hall, 100 St. George Street) mid February. Students wishing to participate should email online ROP Application forms to by the due date indicated on the website. Students can apply to a maximum of five ROPs in total, but can accept only one. Students are informed whether they have been accepted in early July for Fall/Winter courses (mid April for Summer courses). Successful applicants are registered by the Program office.
Students are expected to keep a journal recording meetings, progress, and what was learned about the project in particular and the nature of research in general. / EEB397Y1Y - Research Project in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
An intermediate research project requiring the prior consent of a member of the Department to supervise the project. The topic is to be one mutually agreed on by the student and supervisor. They must arrange the time, place, and provision of any materials and submit to the Undergraduate Office a signed form of agreement outlining details prior to being enrolled. This course is open to highly self-motivated students who are in their Third Year and have a strong interest in ecology and/or evolutionary biology. Students are required to write up the results of their research in a formal paper, often in the format of a research article, and may be required to present the results at a poster session and/or participate in an oral presentation. Students should contact their potential supervisors over the summer before classes begin in September.
Distribution Requirement Status: This is a Science course
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)
Please note that students must first apply for EEB397Y1.
Trent / BIOL 3900Y, 3901H, 3902H, 3903H – Reading course This course provides an opportunity for more intensive or broader study of a selected topic under the guidance of a faculty member. Open to students who have earned at least 3.0 credits in Biology courses taught by members of the Trent Biology department and have achieved a cumulative average of at least 75% in Biology courses completed. Application forms are available from the Biology Office. All University deadlines as specified in the University Calendar apply. These courses may not be taken in the same academic session as BIOL 4900Y, 4901H, 4902H and 4903H.BIOL 3890Y, 3891H –
Waterloo
Western / Biology 4970F/G - Independent Study in Biology
A project course in a particular field under the direction of a faculty member.
Antirequisite(s): Biology 4999E, the former Biology 450F/G, 451F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Registration in year 4 of an Honors Specialization module offered by the Department of Biology. Students must have arranged a project with a supervisor before completing registration. A current listing of projects is available from the Biology Department Office. See research notice boards for areas of specialization of the faculty and fields available.
Corequisite(s):
Pre-or Corequisite(s):
Extra Information: 8 laboratory/tutorial hours, 0.5 course.
Wilfrid Laurier /

BI495Directed Studies0.5 Credit

A detailed study of an aspect of biology not available through the regular program.††
Additional Course Information
Prerequisites
Registration status: Year 4 Honours Biology and permission of both the department and the instructor.
Notes
Irregular course
Windsor
York / SC/BIOL 4601 0.00 Research Practicum / / New Student?
All about Passport York
(Crosslisted to: SC/ENVB 4601 0.00)
Course Description:
This course offers the student research experience as part of a Biology research team. The student must make arrangements with a faculty member before enrolling in this course. Prerequisites: None. Note: This course does not count for degree credit in any program. Students are expected to commit to approximately 5-10 hours per week (on average) for one term. The student and faculty member must sign a form in which they agree on the type and amount of work to be done, and the form must be approved by the Course Director before the student will be allowed to enroll. Students may enroll in this course during any term, and there is no limit to the number of terms in which they are allowed to enroll. Students will not be allowed to enroll in a biology research practicum course with their Honours Thesis (BIOL 4000) supervisor during the same terms that they are enrolled in BIOL 4000 8.0. The course evaluation will be pass/fail only. Students will be required to obtain safety training, such as WHMIS, if appropriate to the type of research undertaken. The course is intended only for students in Biology or Biochemistry majors.
Language of Instruction:
English

A)  Statement of Need - This course will allow senior students to undergo a term of career-related training, one-on-one with a professor, when opportunities for such an experience arise. This course will help Nipissing University produce highly trained and marketable graduates, and it will provide a means by which our students can participate in the projects of our community and research partners.