Incoming Direct-Entry Students | Office of the Associate Dean | Life Sciences & Biochemistry

Welcome to the Life Sciences and Biochemistry programs at Queen's University! On this page, you will find information about course planning and what to expect in your first year as a direct-entry student in the Biochemistry program.

The Queen’s Life Sciences and Biochemistry first year course requirements are similar to those for students in the common first year Queen’s Science program. This year the first year courses have a new 3.0-unit computing course requirement along with either a 3.0-unit Introduction to Biochemistry core course or a 3.0 unit Understanding Human Disease in the 21st Century core option. Students can take PHYS 115/3.0 as a supporting course in first year or they can defer a first year Physics course in an upper year to meet their degree requirements.

First Year Core Courses for Biochemistry and Life Sciences Honours Students are as follows:

BIOL 102/3.0 (core fall term),
CHEM 112/6.0 (core full year course),
MATH 121/6.0 (core full year course),
BIOL 103/3.0 (core winter term course),
CISC 151/3.0 (core winter term half year course),
Either BCHM 102/3.0 or PATH 120/3.0 (core fall term half year courses), and
PHYS 115/3.0 (supporting half year course that can be taken after first year).

Electives for Upper Year Students:

In terms of electives, the Faculty of Arts and Science digital calendar provides a list of courses in their “Courses of Instruction” pdf, link below. Courses in Art, Languages, Film, Gender Studies, Health Studies, History, Environmental Sciences, Psychology, Religion, etc. can be taken. Your electives can be taken from all areas offered through the Faculty of Arts and Science and will need to “fit” into your schedule but can be freely chosen by you.

https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/sites/default/files/a_courses_of_instruction_2.pdf

Student Handbook:

The Faculty of Arts and Science has a Student Handbook that will be of assistance to you. The first year schedule for the direct entry for Life Sciences and Biochemistry students and registration information will be available shortly. We will be emailing the first year direct entry students directly about course registration as soon as possible.

https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/new-1st-year

Degree Program Outlined in the Digital Calendar:

The Life Sciences and Biochemistry Honours plan information is outlined below, as per the degree information found in the Faculty of Arts and Science digital calendar.through links to be included below, as soon as this updated information for 2022-2023 is available.

Second Year

You will take:

BCHM 218/3.0 Molecular Biology
CHEM 211/3.0 and CHEM 212/3.0
CHEM 222/3.0 and CHEM 223/3.0
BIOL 243/3.0 Introduction to Statistics

Third Year

You are required to take:

BCHM 313/3.0 Physical Biochemistry (Core winter term course)
BCHM 315/3.0 Proteins and Enzymes (Core fall term course)
BCHM 316/3.0 Metabolism (Core winter term course course)
BCHM 317/6.0 (Core full-year Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory course)

Fourth Year

You are required to take:

BCHM 410/3.0 Protein Structure and Function (Core fall term course)
BCHM 411/3.0 Advanced Molecular Biology (Core winter term course)
BCHM 421/6.0 Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory I (Core fall term course)
BCHM 422/6.0 Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory II (Core winter term course)
BCHM 432/3.0 The Molecular Basis of Cellular Function (Core fall term course)
BCHM 442/3.0 Seminars in Biochemistry (Core winter term course)

In addition, students are required to also complete 3.0 units from Biochemistry List A.

YouTube Videos and Lab Tours Available:

You can learn more about our program by reviewing our video from our website. Dr. Louise Winn, Associate Dean of Life Sciences outlines the Life Sciences and Biochemistry programs.

https://healthsci.queensu.ca/liscbchm/home/virtual-open-house

We hope this information is helpful. Please do reach out to biochem@queensu.ca or

lifesci@queensu.ca if you have other questions.