Health Sciences at U of T Scarborough
Immerse yourself in hands-on experiences, conducting experiments, exploring research, and making groundbreaking discoveries.
Life Sciences
Ignite your passion through a renowned curriculum that combines knowledge with hands-on experience.
From fighting the pathogens that cause human disease to combating climate change, U of T Scarborough’s professors bring leading-edge scientific research and inquiry to their classrooms. This rich, interdisciplinary area of study prepares students to change lives in hospitals, prevent species extinction, and to develop strategies to conserve biological resources in a changing world.
Biology
Biology is the study of life. Students will establish a strong foundation of the basics in Biology, then tailor their program in the upper years toward one or more of biology’s many sub-disciplines.
Many of the world’s most important issues (medical science and disease, conservation and biodiversity, food and energy supplies) requires the scientific population to have a firm understanding of key biological principles and practices.
Students will learn about new and current research, as well as the need to communicate these findings with the rest of the world to promote global change.
Conservation & Biodiversity
This program teaches students how ecology and evolution shape organismal features (from morphology and physiology to behaviour), and ultimately determine the broad patterns of organization of life on earth.
At a time when habitat destruction and climate change are causing loss of species and disruption of ecosystems worldwide, graduates will be well trained to actively seek solutions to these problems.
Laboratory work is an integral component of the program. The labs are sized to offer a small student/demonstrator ratio (maximum 20), which allows for close interaction and positive teaching and learning experiences.
Human Biology
Human Biology is the scientific study of living organisms with an emphasis on humans and their interactions with their environment. Some of the sub-disciplines include morphology, taxonomy, physiology, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, evolution and ecology.
Small group laboratory work is an integral component of the biology programs and allows for students to apply their scientific study to real life settings. The Human Biology Program is designed for students with a strong interest in the Health Sciences, incorporating biology, psychology, physical science and social science courses with a human health focus.
This program provides great preparation for the MCAT and other Health Science aptitude tests. This creates the basic foundations required for health-related careers in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy and policy/management.
Integrative Biology
In today’s rapidly changing world, the development of solutions to combat some of the most pressing global challenges, such as climate change, emerging diseases, hunger, and species extinction, requires an integrative approach in which expertise is drawn from distinct biological and other disciplines.
The Integrative Biology program provides the student with a solid understanding in core and foundational areas of biology while also providing a breadth of knowledge to support specialized studies and focused training in a range of disciplines.
Students who complete this program will be well positioned for a career in many aspects of the biological sciences or further studies at the professional or graduate level.
Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
Molecular Biology & Biotechnology program is a laboratory-rich program that integrates an understanding of chemical and physical processes with our complex biological systems.
Because of broad training in biology and rigorous cross training in cognate disciplines, graduates are well positioned to apply to professional and graduate schools or work in a broad range of government regulatory agencies, clinical or research-focused industries and other careers that require the union of strong analytical and technical skills.
Molecular Biology, Immunology and Disease
This program provides training and background in general biology with specialized courses in immunology, infection, and disease.
In order to further our knowledge and skills in health promotion and disease and infection prevention, students in this program will learn about immunology, microbiology, biochemistry, pathobiology, and disease.
Graduates of this program are prepared to play an integral part in advancing healthcare and disease research.
Neuroscience
Neuroscience encompasses aspects of a variety of disciplines that have the common goal of understanding how the nervous system works. Techniques from constituent disciplines like anatomy, biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, physiology, psychology and zoology are used to unravel some of the mysteries of the brain and its mechanisms of action, including dysfunctions.
The program places past and current clinical and research perspectives into focus, with particular emphasis on the latest innovative cutting edge technology and novel research techniques to prepare students for exciting careers in both clinical and research settings.
Plant Biology
Plants and fungi play critical roles in ecosystems and are used for food, fiber, oil, antibiotics, and pharmaceuticals, and they also can be employed to produce novel molecules of agronomic/economic interest.
This Major program in Plant Biology allows students to explore life on Earth from the molecular to the supra-organismal level, with a focus on plants and fungal systems and processes that underpin growth and development, stress physiology, nutrition and metabolism, molecular genetics, ecology and evolution, and biodiversity.
This educational experience will allow students to recognize the unique niche of plants within the natural world and students will develop the cognitive and technical skills that are used to address local and global challenges. The program encourages active learning through its capstone course and by promoting participation in research activities.
Physical & Environmental Sciences
Gain a balanced and well rounded education to expand your understanding of our planet.
Curious about chemistry? Wonder what we can do about water shortages? Our award-winning instructors will inspire you to delve deeply into subjects from the application of chemical technologies in medical diagnoses to the benefits of electric cars. Qualified environmental scientists are in demand around the world, and our graduates are positioned for success in a wide range of industries from government consulting to health care.
Biochemistry
Biochemistry is chemistry studied through a biological lens; it is the chemistry of living things. This program places a greater emphasis on the biological aspect of chemistry. It is offered for students who are primarily interested in chemistry and wish to apply this knowledge into the biological environment.
At UTSC, students will learn about the chemistry of living systems through theoretical and practical studies incorporating groundbreaking research and current laboratory techniques.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science that examines the building blocks of all matter; it attempts to explain the similarities and differences between substances and materials, and explains and theorizes how some substances react with others.
Chemistry at UTSC is both a challenging intellectual pursuit and a powerful and practical tool for managing resources. The program includes four sub-disciplines: Analytic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry.
Laboratory work is an integral component of the program. The labs are sized to offer a small student/demonstrator ratio (maximum 20), which allows for close interaction and positive teaching and learning experiences.
Environmental Chemistry
In the Environmental Chemistry program, students will examine the chemical processes involved in the formation and survival of ecosystems, as well as the chemistry of pollution.
Students will integrate this focus into their broader understanding of the causes of environmental change and degradation. They will gain a more complete understanding of the mechanisms through which environmental change has an impact on living creatures, including humans.
Environmental Geoscience
In the Environmental Geoscience program, students will examine the geographic and geological composition of the environment.
Students will learn about the physical forces that help form and change physical landscapes, and will also learn how human activity contributes to the transformation of natural spaces as well. They will gain a more complete understanding of the mechanisms through which environmental change has an impact on living creatures including humans.
Environmental Science
Human activity is a major cause of environmental change and the rate of that change has accelerated dramatically over the last century. Understanding the dynamics of both natural and anthropogenic environmental change requires knowledge spanning many scientific disciplines.
Recent environmental degradation such as surface and subsurface water pollution, air and soil pollution, climate change, depletion of resources, extinction of species and problems of waste disposal are all a result of the lack of understanding of environmental systems and processes.
Environmental degradation has an impact not only on human beings but on all species and most natural systems, so that its understanding requires approaches and skills from many areas such as: biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, earth science and ecology. Such an integrated approach needs not only a good understanding of the causes of environmental change and degradation, but also a more complete understanding of the mechanisms through which environmental change has an impact on living creatures.
Global Environmental Change
Recent environmental degradation such as surface water, pollution, climate change, depletion of resources, extinction of species and problems of waste disposal are all a result of the lack of understanding of environmental systems and processes.
The overall purpose of our Environmental Science programs is to provide education and training which will produce highly qualified scientists with excellent field and laboratory experience, with a view to future employment in consulting, government, non-governmental organizations and research and teaching.
Graduates of these programs are eligible to receive their Environmental Professional in Training (EPt) designation, which is a developmental certification for emerging environmental professionals.
Medicinal & Biological Chemistry
Medicinal & Biological Chemistry is intended for students who want to specialize in Chemistry but are also interested in the chemistry of living systems.
Courses comprise of laboratory work, research, and engaging lectures, including but not limited to topics in Analytic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Calculus, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physics.
Psychology & Health Studies
Unravel some of the mysteries of the brain and its mechanisms of action.
Some of the most compelling and longstanding questions in the history of human thought seek to understand the mind and behaviour. How do we learn, adapt and remember? What causes mental disorders from the level of the brain to the impact on everyday life? What are environmental and social determinants of health? This is where we’re unravelling some of the mysteries of the brain, the origin of the human species, and mechanisms of health and disease.
Anthropology: Evolutionary
Earn your BSc and investigate the biological emergence of humans, our relationship to non-hominid primates and the social and biological factors that impact diseases, reproduction and death.
You’ll learn from leading experts and researchers in a renowned department, and work with them on cutting-edge projects through internships, research positions and work-study opportunities
Health Studies: Population Health
Health Studies (Population Health) students focus on the biological determinants of health, epidemiology, aging and the life cycle, and the importance of social and behavioural shapers of health.
Health Studies looks at how individual behavior affects individual health, examines how health systems and public policy work to promote population health, focuses on the identification of health patterns using large-scale survey data, and applications of this data for innovative health promoting strategies.
UTSC continues to foster close relationships with the health sector in Toronto (both inside and outside of the university) in order to provide enhanced experiential opportunities for students. Among these opportunities, Co-op placements and research projects will be especially important. A Major in Population Health will lead to the BSc degree.
Mental Health Studies
Mental Health Studies is related to Psychology, but explores its own very specialized pathway. Whereas Psychology focuses on normal human thought, feelings and behaviour, Mental Health Studies focuses on pathologies of the mind.
It seeks to understand the causes of mental disorders from the level of the brain to the impact on everyday life. Some mental health challenges are normal and can arise as a result of certain life experiences whereas others are more severe, pathological and debilitating.
Mental Health Studies explores this continuum and applies the science of psychology to their assessment, diagnosis and treatment. It is one of the few programs in North America that offers elements of Clinical Psychology at the undergraduate level.
Psycholinguistics
Join U of T Scarborough and get a head start on your education journey — we offer the only psycholinguistics program in Ontario that prepares you specifically for professional programs, such as graduate studies in speech language pathology. You’ll learn to analyze and identify patterns, evaluate evidence and observe people and data as you examine the relationship between language and the human psyche. Choose from an exciting range of specialized psycholinguistics courses, along with courses that use insights and skills from different academic disciplines to investigate linguistics, such as biology and psychology. You’ll use your broad knowledge to apply methodologies from different academic fields, relate language to social contexts and understand historical language change.
Psychology
Psychology is the study of understanding the human mind. It is defined by innovative experiments and ground-breaking research that continuously unlock the infinite secrets of the psyche.
The psychology program offers the opportunity to understand and investigate various areas of psychology: how humans learn, adapt, and remember; how they change over their lifetimes; how they are affected by the presence of others; and, how their behaviour relates to their physiological functions.
Psychology students have the opportunity to choose courses within the fields of either Social Psychology or Psychobiology. Students will combine dynamic academic insights with groundbreaking research, led by some of the best lecturers and professors in Canada.
