A student peeking into a microscope
Table of Contents
Overview
Co-op & internships/Facilities
Classes
Admissions requirements

Life Sciences at McMaster prepares students for a variety of careers in science and elsewhere by giving them a firm foundation in traditional scientific disciplines while exposing them to multidisciplinary approaches to solving pressing problems.

An understanding of the tapestry of life comes not from a single discipline but is woven from all of the Life Sciences: biochemistry, cell biology, genomics, developmental biology, neurobiology, psychology, ecology, and earth sciences. The avalanche of information available from these fields allows scientists to look at biological systems in unprecedented detail. The key is to integrate knowledge across disciplines in order to understand organisms and their place in the ecosystem.

Whether you know exactly what area of science you are interested in or are still undecided (or change your mind after you arrive!), the structure of our Level I Life Sciences Gateway program will provide you with a range of Level II program options.

While some students continue in a Level II program from the same area of study as their Level I program (for example, selecting Level II Honours Biology after completion of Life Sciences Gateway), others discover a new area of interest and change their original direction (for example, a Life Sciences Gateway student may choose to move into Honours Medical and Biological Physics or Honours Mathematics and Statistics). Regardless of your path, at the end of first year you will rank order and apply to up to four Level II programs.

Life Sciences Gateway student’s experience exciting and engaging lectures and hands-on lab experience in state-of-the-art facilities, interactive classroom lectures as well as dynamic and exciting online content.

The Science Career and Cooperative Education (SCCE) office has a variety of resources to help students research and explore co-operative, experiential education and career opportunities they can pursue during and following their degree. Our vision is to see every McMaster Science student reach their career potential and have a meaningful impact on the scientific community.
Cooperative Education is an integrated “hands-on” approach to higher education that enables highly motivated students to alternate academic terms with paid, relevant work experience.

Current Faculty of Science Co-Op programs, all of which begin at Level III:

  • Actuarial and Financial Mathematics
  • Chemical Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Life Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics (including sub-plans)
  • Medical and Biological Physics
  • Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Physics
  • Sustainable Chemistry

Experiential Education provides students with the opportunity to gain real-world, academically relevant experience in a community, research or professional setting. This combination of academic and applied learning helps students to further develop the necessary qualities and skills that will be transferable to future career paths. Students in the Faculty of Science can gain experience through Applied Placement courses, Research Practicum courses, or Undergraduate Science Internships.

Visit the Science Career and Cooperative Education (SCCE) website for more information.

Life Sciences Gateway students have an opportunity to participate in the following state-of-the-art labs and facilities throughout their undergraduate degree:

  • Cell Biology Laboratory
  • Chemistry & Chemical Biology Laboratory
  • Rock & Mineral Analysis Laboratory
  • Living Systems Laboratory
  • Crystal Growth Laboratory
  • Greenhouse and Plant Growth Chambers
  • Psychology LiveLab Facility
  • Facilities for Fish Holding Recombinant DNA Research
  • Centralized Facilities for DNA Synthesis, Automated DNA Sequencing, Electron Microscopy, NMR Spectroscopy

Explore some of these state-of-the-art labs and facilities used daily by undergraduate students here.

Your Classes

What you’ll take:

  • BIOLOGY 1A03 – Cellular and Molecular Biology 
  • BIOLOGY 1M03 – Biodiversity, Evolution and Humanity 
  • MATH 1LS3 – Calculus for the Life Sciences I 
  • PHYSICS 1A03 – Introductory Physics 
  • CHEM 1A03 – Introductory Chemistry I 
  • CHEM 1AA3 – Introductory Chemistry II 
  • PSYCH 1X03 – Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour 
  • ENVIRSC 1C03 – Climate, Water And Environment 
  • 6 units of electives 

The structure of our Level I Life Sciences Gateway program will provide you with a range of Level II program options including:

  • Honours Life Sciences (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Life Sciences – Origins of Disease Specialization (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Life Sciences – Sensory Motor Systems Specialization (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biochemistry (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biology (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biology and Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour – Mental Health Specialization (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour – Music Cognition Specialization (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Medical and Biological Physics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Molecular Biology and Genetics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biology – Discovery Sub-Plan (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biology – Physiology (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Chemical Biology (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Chemistry (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Neuroscience (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Actuarial and Financial Mathematics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Astrophysics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biology and Environmental Sciences (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Biology and Mathematics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Earth and Environmental Sciences (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Environmental Sciences (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Mathematics and Computer Science (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Mathematics and Physics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Mathematics and Statistics (B.Sc.) (including subplans)
  • Honours Physics (B.Sc.)
  • Honours Human Behaviour (B.A.Sc.)
  • Honours Human Behaviour – Autism and Behavioural Science Specialization (B.A.Sc.)
  • Honours Human Behaviour – Early Childhood Education Specialization (B.A.Sc.)
  • Honours Sustainable Chemistry (B.A.Sc.)
For a full list of courses that can be available in this program, please consult the academic calendar.

Admissions