Undergraduate Opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
- What am I applying for?
- What is a Major?
- How do I decide on a Major?
- What is considered a Minor?
- What happens if I'm lacking a Grade 12 science course?
- What Co-op options does the B.Sc. offer?
- How much time will I be spending studying compared to high school?
- What postgraduate options exist?
- How does the credit system work?
- What opportunities are available for studying abroad?
What am I applying for?
When you apply to a program from high school at any university you are applying to an undergraduate program. In our Bachelor of Science program (B.Sc.) we offer a General degree (BSCG) and an Honours degree (BSCH). The General B.Sc. is a three year program that covers the basic areas of science. You are not able to major in any one field of science in the General program. The Honours B.Sc. is a four year program and you can choose a major. Many professional programs may require you to have an Honours degree, eg. medicine, physiotherapy, etc.
What can you tell me about Majors?
At the University of Guelph we have 29 different majors in the B.Sc. program to choose from.
All of our majors take similar core courses first semester so you have the flexibility to switch majors within the Bachelor of Science quite easily. Our most flexible and most popular majors are the Biological Science major and Physical Science major. Both of these majors allow you to tailor a program to your interests. You have the opportunity to take courses from many different subject areas ranging from nutrition and ecology to animal science or chemistry and physics to computer science and toxicology.
What major/program should I take to get into the veterinary program DVM?
The Ontario Veterinary College does not base its decision on a specific major. Instead you need specific courses to apply to the DVM program. Therefore choose a major you find interesting and make sure you take the courses needed to apply to veterinary program. Almost all science majors here at Guelph will include (or allow you to take as electives) the core courses needed to apply. You can find out specific course requirement and much more on the Future DVM website. For entrance into the DVM program they will also look at your MCAT score, academic history and then an interview.
What major/program should I take to get into medical school?
Please check out the Ontario Universities' Application Centre Web site for more information on specific medical school requirements, MCAT information and application forms. It is also a good idea to have a back up plan! What would you like to do if you don't get into these programs?
What can you tell me about Minors?
A minor consists of a minimum of 5.00 credits (usually 10 courses) within a certain discipline. This 5.00 credits does not include pre-requisites required for a course. If you take a non-science minor your science requirements may decrease. If you plan to go on to Teacher's College you will need a second teachable, 3.00 credits (approximately 6 courses) but you do not have to declare a specific minor for a subject area to qualify as a second teachable.
For a list of the possible minors within the B.Sc. Degree, click here.
Before declaring a major you should see the Faculty Advisor for the minor and/or your Program Counsellor.
If you are lacking a Grade 12 (4U in Ontario) science course ...
Most university courses have prerequisites, which are prior requirements for entry into a course. Where a course is specified as a prerequisite, a pass standing in that course is required for entry into the course. In the case of introductory science courses, certain prerequisites exist. For example, the first university level chemistry course is CHEM 1040 - General Chemistry I. This course requires that you have completed Grade 12 (4U) Chemistry or equivalent. If you have not successfully completed this level of chemistry, then you must take CHEM 1060 before taking CHEM 1040. Other examples of first year courses where these prerequisites exist include:
BIOL*1070/BIOL*1080/BIOL*1090 - if no Grade 12 (4U) Biology or equivalent, then you are recommended to take BIOL*1020. If you are lacking the Grade 12 (4U) Biology course, please contact your Program Counsellor before further advice before registering for BIOL*1020.
PHYS*1070 - if no Grade 12 (4U) Physics or equivalent, then you must take PHYS*1020
PHYS*1000 - if no Grade 12 (4U) Physics or equivalent, then you must take PHYS*1020
What Co-op options does the B.Sc. offer?
Within the B.Sc., there are 11 programs which offer a Co-op education option. These include: Applied Mathematics & Statistics, Biochemistry, Biological & Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biophysics, Chemical Physics, Chemistry, Food Science, Microbiology, Nanoscience, Physics, Toxicology.
Students can apply to a co-op program directly from high school. If admitted into Co-op this guarantees them a spot in the Co-op program during the first year. Students must maintain a 70% average to continue in the Co-op program beyond first year. There is also an additional $200/semester fee for Co-op. Students in a Co-op program take the same courses as students in regular major, but also include an additional, non- credit course (COOP 1100: Introduction to Cooperative Education) in first year. This course is 1 hour/week and teaches job seeking skills (cover letter and resume writing, mock interviews). The first work term will normally be completed during the fourth semester (Winter semester).
If a student hasn't been offered admission directly into a Co-op program, they may still apply during their first year. If space is available and the admission requirements are met, it may be possible to switch into the Co-op option. It is best to apply as early as possible.
If you are not accepted to the Co-op program that you applied for you will be automatically considered for the non-coop degree option.
How much time will I be spending studying compared to high school?
Here is a table outlining the number of hours spent during a week in classes and laboratories for a full time B.Sc. Student:
| COURSE | | # HOURS of LABS |
| Biology: BIOL 1070 | ||
| Chemistry: CHEM 1040 | ||
| Calculus: MATH 1080 or MATH*1200 | ||
| Physics: PHYS 1070 or PHYS 1000 |
| Total for science classes & labs: | |
| Elective: | |
| Total Contact Hours: | |
| Studying (time + 1/2): | |
| Total time for a full time science student: |
Being a science student takes up more time than most full-time jobs!!
What postgraduate options exist?
When it comes to postgraduate studies,your options include: graduate programs, professional schools (e.g. teacher's college, medical school, law school, etc.).
Check out our Resources link to view links to professional programs or Career Services for career options in your major.
How does the credit system work?
Each course at the University of Guelph has been allocated a credit rating with regards to how many hours of lecture and laboratory time. Most courses in a single semester are 0.5 credits, but not all. A majority of our science majors require 20.0 credits or approximately 40 courses to graduate. Guelph runs on a semester system and in each semester most students take approximately 2.50 credits or 5.00 credits a year. Therefore an Honours degree take approximately 4 years to complete and a General degree takes approximately 3 years to complete (15 credits).
What opportunities are available for studying abroad?
There are lots of opportunities to study abroad during your time here as a student. The Centre for International Programs helps initiate and coordinate study abroad opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
There are two ways to study abroad. One way is to go to an affiliated institute. Here you pay tuition to the University of Guelph. The other option is to go and study at another institute on a Letter of Permission. In this case, you pay tuition to the university that you will be attending, after you apply for admission as a Visiting Student. In both instances, if you pass the courses and the course is accepted here at the University of Guelph then you will receive a credit for the course, not the actual mark you received at the Host Institution. All course must be approved by your Program Counsellor in advance.