Biology is the study of living organisms: their structure, function, organization, origin, and evolution.
As a biologist, you’ll have career options that span a wide range of professions, including laboratory and field research, environmental assessment, the health professions, education, and industry. By choosing one of our areas of specialization (no longer available after Fall 2020), such as Animal Physiology, Ecology and Environmental Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, or Plant Biology, you can better prepare yourself for these exciting career opportunities.
Our Biology program is versatile, allowing you to complement your Genetics, Cell Biology, Physiology, Ecology, Plant Biology, and Human Anatomy courses with studies from the arts, humanities, languages, and mathematics areas. Related labs, tutorial sessions, and field trips provide hands-on experience in a wide range of biological disciplines.
The Department of Biology offers undergraduate degrees in Bioinformatics, Biomedical Sciences (formerly Pre-Optometry/Pre-Health), Honours Biochemistry, Honours Biochemistry/Biotechnology (Regular and Co-op), Honours Environmental Sciences (Ecology Specialization) and Honours Biology (Regular and Co-op). View the degrees and programs. More information about our graduate programs is available on our graduate program site.
Learn more about the Department of Biology's vision/strategic plan.
News
Applying AI in the genetic studies of cerebral palsy
Two co-op students from the Faculty of Science have made a big impact during a recent work term at the SickKids Research Institute. Murto Hilali and Kritika Grover are using AI as a tool to understand cerebral palsy — and their efforts have earned them recognition as contributing authors in an upcoming paper published in Nature Genetics.
OUSA’s 2023 Teaching Excellence Award Winner
Congratulations to Josh D. Neufeld for receiving OUSA’s Teaching Excellence Award! Biology and WUSA thanks you for exhibiting and encouraging teaching excellence on campus!
The Department of Biology and the Faculty of Science mourns the passing of Anne Innis Dagg
The Department of Biology and the Faculty of Science is saddened to share that Anne Innis Dagg, a groundbreaking Canadian zoologist, feminist and environmentalist, passed away on April 1, 2024. She studied and worked at the University of Waterloo from the 1960s through 2013, pursuing a wide range of research interests.