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Science for Arts Students
Location
Location
- Prof. Louis Lefebvre
- Rm W6/10, Stewart Biology Building
- Telephone: 514-398-6457
- Email: louis.lefebvre [at] mcgill.ca
- Nancy Nelson
- Rm W4/13, Stewart Biology Building
- Telephone: 514-398-4109
- Email: nancy.nelson [at] mcgill.ca
About Science for Arts Students
About Science for Arts Students
Students in the Faculty of Arts who have an interest in Science can choose between a Minor program (15 credits in an area of Science plus one required course) or can take electives from the list below. Not all courses are available in any given year.
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Science for Arts Students Faculty
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Minor Concentration Science for Arts Students (18 credits)
Freshman students interested in this Minor Concentration should seek advice at the earliest opportunity, either through the Freshman Advisers or by contacting the Program Director. In general, students should declare their intention to obtain this Minor Concentration during their U1 year and consult the Program Director regarding approval of courses to meet the requirements.
THIS MINOR PROGRAM IS IN THE MIDST OF UNDERGOING CHANGES. STUDENTS SHOULD SPEAK WITH AN ADVISER BEFORE BEGINNING THE PROGRAM.
Note: 100-level courses are not counted towards the program requirements in Arts.
Students select one of the following disciplinary areas as their area of specialization for the program:
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Biochemistry
Biology - Cell and Molecular Stream, Organismal Stream
Chemistry
Computer Science
Earth and Planetary Science
Geography
Mathematics and Statistics
Microbiology and Immunology
Pathology
Physics
Physiology
Psychology
This Minor Concentration is administered by the Department of Biology. For more information contact the Biology adviser, Nancy Nelson, in Room W4/13, Stewart Biology Building, 514-398-4109; or the Program Director, Professor Louis Lefebvre, Room W6/10, Stewart Biology Building, 514-398-6457.
Complementary Component (15 credits)
15 credits taken in one of the disciplinary areas given below. Where suggested courses have prerequisites at the 200- or 300-level associated with them, credit for the associated prerequisites may also be counted as part of the 15 credits.
Prerequisites at the 100-level cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration.
With the prior written approval of the Program Director, an appropriate alternative set of courses may be substituted.
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Students should note that MATH 133 (or its CEGEP equivalent) is not essential as a prerequisite for these courses.
In consultation with the Program Advisor or Director, students select courses from the list below and other appropriate courses in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences to total 15 credits for the area.
ATOC 181 | (3) | Introduction to Atmospheric Science |
ATOC 182 | (3) | Introduction to Oceanic Sciences |
ATOC 214 | (3) | Introduction: Physics of the Atmosphere |
ATOC 215 | (3) | Oceans, Weather and Climate |
Biochemistry
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: BIOL 111 and BIOL 112 plus CHEM 120 (or CHEM 121) or their CEGEP equivalents.
15 credits taken from the following courses and their associated 200- or 300-level prerequisites.
Note:
BIOC 212 has BIOL 200 as its prerequisite.
BIOL 200 has CHEM 212 as its corequisite.
ANAT 262 | (3) | Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology |
BIOC 212 | (3) | Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function |
BIOL 200 | (3) | Molecular Biology |
CHEM 212 | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 |
Students who have completed CHEM 212 and CHEM 222 or their CEGEP equivalents may take one or both of the following.
Note:
BIOC 311 has BIOL 200, BIOL 201 or BIOC 212, and CHEM 222 as prerequisites.
BIOC 312 has BIOC 311, BIOL 200, BIOL 201 or BIOC 212 as prerequisites.
BIOC 311 | (3) | Metabolic Biochemistry |
BIOC 312 | (3) | Biochemistry of Macromolecules |
Biology
Students interested in Biology can choose between two streams. One is oriented toward cell and molecular biology and leads to upper-level courses in developmental biology, human genetics, molecular biology, or allied fields. The other is oriented more toward organismal biology and leads to upper level courses in biodiversity, ecology, sociobiology, neurobiology, behaviour, or conservation biology. See Ms. Nancy Nelson in the Biology Department, Room W4/13, Stewart Biology Building, to arrange a session for counsel on choice of courses above the 200-level.
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: BIOL 111 and BIOL 112 plus CHEM 120 (or CHEM 121) or their CEGEP equivalents.
Plus a selected subset of these or related upper level courses to complete 15 credits toward the stream.
BIOL 304 | (3) | Evolution |
BIOL 305 | (3) | Animal Diversity |
BIOL 306 | (3) | Neural Basis of Behaviour |
BIOL 307 | (3) | Behavioural Ecology/Sociobiology |
BIOL 308 | (3) | Ecological Dynamics |
BIOL 310 | (3) | Biodiversity and Ecosystems |
BIOL 465 | (3) | Conservation Biology |
Chemistry
15 credits of Chemistry
Chemistry courses, with the exception of the World of Chemistry series, require CHEM 110, 120 and CHEM 212 or their CEGEP equivalents. CHEM 110 and CHEM 120 may not be counted toward the program.
The 100-level World of Chemistry series can enrich a concentration in this area but the obligation to take 12 credits at the 200-level or higher remains in force.
The department also strongly encourages students forming a concentration in chemistry to take one or more courses involving a laboratory because the science of chemistry is rooted in laboratory experience.
Students select 200- and 300-level courses from the lists below. A minimum of 12 credits at the 200-level or higher is required.
CHEM 212 | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 |
CHEM 222 | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 2 |
CHEM 281 | (3) | Inorganic Chemistry 1 |
CHEM 302 | (3) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 3 |
CHEM 381 | (3) | Inorganic Chemistry 2 |
Computer Science
Students in any Computer Science Minor Concentration, Major Concentration or Honours program cannot choose this disciplinary area.
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: MATH 139 or MATH 140, MATH 141, and MATH 133 and COMP 102 or their CEGEP equivalents.
Students select from:
COMP 202 | (3) | Introduction to Computing 1 |
COMP 203 | (3) | Introduction to Computing 2 |
COMP 250 | (3) | Introduction to Computer Science |
COMP 251 | (3) | Data Structures and Algorithms |
Earth and Planetary Sciences
A combination of Earth and Planetary Sciences EPSC 210, EPSC 212, and one or more of EPSC 180, EPSC 201, and EPSC 181 provide a grounding in these inter-related disciplines in preparation for more specialized courses. Students should verify all prerequisites as some courses may have additional Science prerequisites, for example MATH 222 is a prerequisite for EPSC 320.
*Note: EPSC 182 and ANAT 182 are double-prefix courses and identical in content.
Students select 15 credits from the list below.
ANAT 182* | (3) | Astrobiology |
EPSC 180 | (3) | The Terrestrial Planets |
EPSC 181 | (3) | Environmental Geology |
EPSC 182* | (3) | Astrobiology |
EPSC 201 | (3) | Understanding Planet Earth |
EPSC 203 | (3) | Structural Geology |
EPSC 210 | (3) | Introductory Mineralogy |
EPSC 212 | (3) | Introductory Petrology |
EPSC 220 | (3) | Principles of Geochemistry |
EPSC 231 | (3) | Field School 1 |
EPSC 233 | (3) | Earth and Life History |
EPSC 320 | (3) | Elementary Earth Physics |
EPSC 334 | (3) | Invertebrate Paleontology |
EPSC 425 | (3) | Sediments to Sequences |
Geography
Students in any Minor Concentration, Major Concentration, Honours or Joint Honours program in Geography cannot choose this disciplinary area
Geography advisors recommend including some preparation in chemistry, statistics and calculus for a concentration in this area even if formal prerequisites are not in place.
Students select 15 credits from:
GEOG 203 | (3) | Environmental Systems |
GEOG 205 | (3) | Global Change: Past, Present and Future |
GEOG 272 | (3) | Earth's Changing Surface |
GEOG 305 | (3) | Soils and Environment |
GEOG 321 | (3) | Climatic Environments |
GEOG 322 | (3) | Environmental Hydrology |
GEOG 350 | (3) | Ecological Biogeography |
GEOG 372 | (3) | Running Water Environments |
Mathematics and Statistics
Students in any Minor Concentration, Major Concentration, Honours or Joint Honours program in Mathematics and Statistics cannot choose this disciplinary area.
The 15 credits of courses listed below are suggested for this discipline:
MATH 133 | (3) | Linear Algebra and Geometry |
MATH 203 | (3) | Principles of Statistics 1 |
MATH 204 | (3) | Principles of Statistics 2 |
MATH 222 | (3) | Calculus 3 |
MATH 338 | (3) | History and Philosophy of Mathematics |
Microbiology and Immunology
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: BIOL 111 and BIOL 112, CHEM 120 (CHEM 121) or their CEGEP equivalents.
Students select 15 credits from the following MIMM courses and their associated prerequisites for this area:
MIMM 211 | (3) | Introductory Microbiology |
MIMM 314 | (3) | Immunology |
MIMM 323 | (3) | Microbial Physiology |
MIMM 324 | (3) | Fundamental Virology |
Pathology
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: BIOL 111 and BIOL 112 plus CHEM 120 (or CHEM 121) or their CEGEP equivalents.
15 credits including PATH 300 and its associated pre- and corequisites from the list below comprise a disciplinary area well-suited to students with an interest in medicine.
BIOC 212* | (3) | Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function |
BIOL 200 | (3) | Molecular Biology |
BIOL 201* | (3) | Cell Biology and Metabolism |
CHEM 212 | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 |
PATH 300 | (3) | Human Disease |
PHGY 209 | (3) | Mammalian Physiology 1 |
PHGY 210 | (3) | Mammalian Physiology 2 |
Physics
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: PHYS 131, PHYS 142, MATH 140, MATH 141, MATH 222 or their CEGEP equivalents.
Most of the courses listed require at least CEGEP-level prerequisites or their equivalent in both Mathematics and Physics.
Students select 15 credits from the lists below.
Intermediate to advanced courses with 100-level Physics and Mathematics prerequisites that may not be counted toward the program:
PHYS 225 | (3) | Musical Acoustics |
PHYS 230 | (3) | Dynamics of Simple Systems |
PHYS 232 | (3) | Heat and Waves |
PHYS 241 | (3) | Signal Processing |
PHYS 242 | (2) | Electricity and Magnetism |
PHYS 257 | (3) | Experimental Methods 1 |
PHYS 258 | (3) | Experimental Methods 2 |
With the permission of the Physics Department, honours courses may be substituted for their major equivalents.
Psychology
Students in any Minor Concentration, Major Concentration, Honours or Joint Honours program in Psychology cannot choose this disciplinary area.
Prerequisites which cannot be counted towards the Minor Concentration: PSYC 100 plus BIOL 111 or BIOL 112 or BIOL 115 (or their CEGEP equivalents).
Note: PSYC 204 is prerequisite to this area.
15 credits of Psychology selected as follows:
Plus Psychology courses at the 300-level or higher (excluding PSYC 305) to complete 15 credits for the area.