This section presents the requirements for programs in:

• Biotechnology B.Sc. Honours
• Biology and Biotechnology B.Sc. Honours

B.Sc. Regulations

The regulations presented in this section apply to all Bachelor of Science programs. In addition to the requirements presented here, students must satisfy the University regulations common to all undergraduate students including the process of Academic Continuation Evaluation (see the Academic Regulations of the University section of this Calendar).

Breadth Requirement for the B.Sc.

Experimental Science Requirement

Students in a B.Sc. degree program must present at graduation at least two full credits of Experimental Science chosen from two different departments or institutes from the list below:

Course Categories for B.Sc. Programs

Co-operative Education

For more information about how to apply for the Co-op program and how the Co-op program works please visit the Co-op website.

All students participating in the Co-op program are governed by the Undergraduate Co-operative Education Policy.

Undergraduate Co-operative Education Policy

Admission Requirements

Students can apply to Co-op in one of two ways: directly from high school, or after beginning a degree program at Carleton.

If a student applies to a degree program with a Co-op option from high school, their university grades will be reviewed two terms to one year prior to their first work term to ensure they meet the academic requirements after their first or second year of study. The time at which the evaluation takes place depends on the program of study. Students will automatically receive an admission decision via their Carleton email account.

Students who did not request Co-op at the time they applied to Carleton can request Co-op after they begin their university studies. To view application instructions and deadlines, please visit carleton.ca/co-op.

To be admitted to Co-op, a student must successfully complete 5.0 or more credits that count towards their degree, meet the minimum CGPA requirement(s) for the student's Co-op option, and fulfil any specified course prerequisites. To see the unique admission and continuation requirements for each Co-op option, please refer to the specific degree programs listed in the Undergraduate Calendar. 

Participation Requirements

Co-op Participation Agreement

All students must adhere to the policies found within the Co-op Participation Agreement.

COOP 1000

Once a student has been admitted to the Co-op Program, they will be given access to register in COOP 1000. This zero-credit online course must be completed at least two terms prior to the student's first work term.

Communication with the Co-op Office

Students must maintain contact with the Co-op Office during their job search and while on a work term. All email communication will be conducted via the students' Carleton email account.

Employment

Although every effort is made to ensure a sufficient number of job postings for all Co-op students, no guarantee of employment can be made. The Co-op job search process is competitive, and success is dependent upon factors such as current market conditions, academic performance, skills, motivation, and level of commitment to the job search. It is the student's responsibility to apply for positions via the Co-op job board in addition to actively conducting a self-directed job search. Students who do not obtain a co-op work term are expected to continue with their academic studies. It should be noted that hiring priority for positions within the Federal Government of Canada is given to Canadian citizens.

Registration

• Students must be registered as full-time during all fall and winter study terms beginning the term in which they enroll in COOP 1000.
• Students will be registered in a Co-op Work Term course while at work. This course does not carry academic course credit, but is noted on academic transcripts.
• Students may register in a 0.5 credit during a work term, provided the course is offered during the evening or is offered asynchronously online.
• Students must have at least one term of full-time studies left to complete following their final co-op work term. Students cannot end their degree on a work term.

Work Term Assessment and Evaluation

Work Term Evaluation

Employers are responsible for submitting to Carleton University final performance evaluations for their Co-op students at the end of their work terms.

Work Term Assessment

In order to successfully complete the co-op work term, students must receive a Satisfactory (SAT) grade on their Co-op Work Term Report, which they must submit at the completion of each four-month work term.

Graduation with the Co-op Designation

In order to graduate with the Co-op Designation, students must satisfy all requirements of the degree program in addition to the successful completion of three or four work terms (the number is dependent upon the student's academic program). Students found in violation of the Co-op Participation Agreement may have the Co-op Designation withheld.

Note: Participation in the co-op option will add up to one additional year for a student to complete their degree program.

Voluntary Withdrawal from the Co-op Option

Students who are currently on a co-op work term or who have already committed to a co-op work term either verbally or in writing may not leave the position and/or withdraw from the co-op option until they have completed the work term and all related requirements.

Involuntary or Required Withdrawal from the Co-op Option

Students may be removed from the Co-op Program for any of the following reasons:

1. Failure to achieve a grade of SAT in COOP 1000;
2. Failure to attend all interviews for positions to which the student has applied;
3. Declining more than one job offer during the job search;
4. Reneging on a co-op position that the student has accepted either verbally or in writing;
5. Continuing a job search after accepting a co-op position;
6. Dismissal from a work term by the co-op employer;
7. Leaving a work term without approval from the Co-op Management Team;
8. Receipt of an unsatisfactory work term evaluation;
9. Receiving a grade of UNS on the work term report.

International Students

All international students are required to possess a Co-op Work Permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada before they can begin working. The Co-operative Education Office will provide students with a letter of support to accompany their Co-op Work Permit application. Students are advised to discuss the application process and application requirements with the International Student Services Office.

Co-op Fees

All participating Co-op students are required to pay Co-op fees. For full details, please see the Co-op website.

 B.Sc. Honours Biotechnology: Co-op Admission and Continuation Requirements

• Maintain full-time status in each study term;
• Be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work);
• Have successfully completed COOP 1000 .

Co-operative Education - Bachelor of Science

The following programs in the Bachelor of Science Honours offer a co-operative education option:

Applied Physics, Biochemistry (including computational), Bioinformatics, Biology (including computational), Biotechnology, Chemistry (including computational), Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Food Science and Nutrition, Geomatics, Neuroscience, Neuroscience and Mental Health, Physical Geography and Physics.

Students in all streams of the Bachelor of Science must successfully complete three (3) work terms to obtain the co-op designation.

Co-op Admission and Continuation Requirements for Students in the Bachelor of Science

For admission to and continuation in the co-op option, all students must:

• Maintain full-time status in each study term (2.0 credits);
• Be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work)
• Have successfully completed COOP 1000

Program-Specific Admission and Continuation Requirements:

Applied Physics, Biochemistry (including computational), Bioinformatics, Biology (including computational), Biotechnology, Chemistry (including computational), Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Neuroscience, Neuroscience and Mental Health and Physics:

1. Completion of 5.0 or more credits at Carleton University;
2. Registered as a full-time student in the Bachelor of Science Honours degree program;
3. Obtained and maintained a major CGPA of 8.0 or higher and an overall CGPA of 6.50 or higher

Food Science and Nutrition

1. Registered as a full-time student in the Bachelor of Science Honours in Food Science and Nutrition;
2. Obtained and maintained a major CGPA of 9.0 or higher and an overall CGPA of 7.5 or higher in the first three years of academic study
3. Have obtained third-year standing;
4. Successfully completed, by the start date of the first work term, at least 2.0 credits from the following list of courses:  FOOD 3001, FOOD 3002, FOOD 3003, FOOD 3004, and FOOD 3005

Geomatics and Physical Geography:

1. Registered in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Programs in Physical Geography or Geomatics;
2. Obtained and maintained an overall minimum CGPA of 9.5 and a major CGPA of 9.5;
3. Have obtained third-year standing;
4. Successfully completed, by the start-date of the first work term:
   1. the required second-year methods courses in their program (GEOG/ENST 2005, GEOG/ENST 2006)
   2. the required field course in their program (ENST 3900/GEOG 3000/GEOG 3010/GEOG 3030)
5. Be registered as a full-time student.

Co-op Work Term Courses

Work-Study Patterns

Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computational Biochemistry, Computational Biology, Computational Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Neuroscience, Neuroscience and Mental Health, Physics

Food Science and Nutrition

Physical Geography, Geomatics

Legend
S: Study
W: Work

Admissions Information

Admission Requirements are for the 2026-27 year only, and are based on the Ontario High School System. Holding the minimum admission requirements only establishes eligibility for consideration. The cut-off averages for admission may be considerably higher than the minimum. See also the General Admission and Procedures section of this Calendar. An overall average of at least 70% is normally required to be considered for admission. Some programs may also require specific course prerequisites and prerequisite averages and/or supplementary admission portfolios. Higher averages are required for admission to programs for which the demand for places by qualified applicants exceeds the number of places available. The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program by program basis. Consult admissions.carleton.ca for further details.

Note: Courses listed as recommended are not mandatory for admission. Students who do not follow the recommendations will not be disadvantaged in the admission process.

Admissions Information

Admission requirements are based on the Ontario High School System. Prospective students can view the admission requirements through the Admissions website at admissions.carleton.ca. The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program-by-program basis. Holding the minimum admission requirements only establishes eligibility for consideration; higher averages are required for admission to programs for which the demand for places by qualified applicants exceeds the number of places available. All programs have limited enrolment and admission is not guaranteed. Some programs may also require specific course prerequisites and prerequisite averages and/or supplementary admission portfolios. Consult admissions.carleton.ca for further details.

Note: If a course is listed as recommended, it is not mandatory for admission. Students who do not follow the recommendations will not be disadvantaged in the admission process.

Degrees

• B.Sc. (Honours)
• B.Sc. (Major)
• B.Sc. 

Admission Requirements

B. Sc. Honours 

First Year

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent including a minimum of six 4U or M courses. For most programs including Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Combined Honours in Biology and Physics, Chemistry and Physics, Computational Biochemistry, Food Science, Nanoscience, Neuroscience and Biology, Neuroscience and Mental Health, and Psychology, the six 4U or M courses must include Advanced Functions, and two of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Sciences, or Physics. (Calculus and Vectors is strongly recommended).

Specific Honours Admission Requirements
For the Honours programs in Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Geomatics, Integrated Science, and Physical Geography, Calculus and Vectors may be substituted for Advanced Functions.

For the Honours programs in Physics and Applied Physics, and for double Honours in Mathematics and Physics, Calculus and Vectors is required in addition to Advanced Functions and one of 4U Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Earth and Space Sciences. For all programs in Physics, 4U Physics is strongly recommended.

For Honours in Psychology, a 4U course in English is recommended.

For Honours in Environmental Science, a 4U course in Biology and Chemistry is recommended.

Advanced Standing

Applications for admission beyond first year will be assessed on their merits. Applicants must normally be Eligible to Continue in their year level, in addition to meeting the CGPA thresholds described in Section 3.1.9 of the Academic Regulations of the University. Advanced standing will be granted only for those subjects deemed appropriate for the program and stream selected.

B.Sc. Major and B.Sc. 

First Year

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent including a minimum of six 4U or M courses. The six 4U or M courses must include Advanced Functions and two of Calculus and Vectors, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, or Physics (Calculus and Vectors is strongly recommended). For the B.Sc. Major in Physics, 4U Physics is strongly recommended. 

Advanced Standing

Applications for admission beyond first year will be assessed on their merits. Applicants must normally be Eligible to Continue (EC) in their year level. Advanced standing will be granted only for those subjects deemed appropriate for the program and stream selected.

Co-op Option

Direct Admission to the First Year of the Co-op Option
Applicants must:

1. meet the required overall admission cut-off average and prerequisite course average. These averages may be higher than the stated minimum requirements;
2. be registered as a full-time student in the Bachelor of Science Honours program;
3. be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work placements).

Note that meeting the above requirements only establishes eligibility for admission to the program. The prevailing job market may limit enrolment in the co-op option.

Note: continuation requirements for students previously admitted to the co-op option and admission requirements for the co-op option after beginning the program are described in the Co-operative Education Regulations section of this Calendar.