Biotechnology Minor (for Engineering Students) (B.Eng.) (24 credits)
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering
Program credit weight: 24
Program Description
Minor Adviser: Faculty Student Adviser in the McGill Engineering Student Centre (Student Affairs Office) (Frank Dawson Adams Building, Room 22). For advising regarding Science courses, contact Nancy Nelson, Undergraduate Adviser, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science.
This Minor is offered by the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Science for students who wish to take biotechnology courses that are complementary to their area. It has been designed specifically for Chemical Engineering students; other Engineering students who are interested in the Minor should contact a Faculty Student Adviser in the McGill Engineering Student Centre (Student Affairs Office) (Frank Dawson Adams Building, Room 22).
To obtain the Biotechnology Minor, students must complete 24 credits, 18 of which must be exclusively for the Minor. Approved substitutions must be made for any of the required courses that are part of the student's major program.
The Department of Chemical Engineering permits students taking this Minor to complete BIOT 505 Selected Topics in Biotechnology. as one of their technical complementary courses. Chemical Engineering students complete 15 credits beyond their 141-credit (115-credit for CEGEP students) B.Eng. program to obtain this Minor.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Required Courses (12 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOT 505 | Selected Topics in Biotechnology. | 3 |
Selected Topics in Biotechnology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Current methods and recent advances in biological, medical, agricultural and engineering aspects of biotechnology will be described and discussed. An extensive reading list will complement the lecture material. | ||
| CHEE 200 | Chemical Engineering Principles 1. | 3 |
Chemical Engineering Principles 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to the design of industrial processes. Survey of unit operations, and systems of units. Elementary material balances, first and second laws of thermodynamics, use of property tables and charts, steady flow processes. Relationships between thermodynamic properties, property estimation techniques. Laboratory and design exercise. | ||
| CHEE 204 | Chemical Engineering Principles 2. | 3 |
Chemical Engineering Principles 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Material and energy balances in chemical processes. Introduction to process design. Problem solving in the design of various industrial processes such as combustion, humidification, separation processes (evaporation, crystallization), and other reactive systems used in the diverse areas of chemical engineering. | ||
| CHEE 474 | Biochemical Engineering. | 3 |
Biochemical Engineering. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Bioreactor design for biotechnology and environmental applications; microbial growth kinetics; application of transport phenomena and selected chemical engineering unit operations. Bioreactor instrumentation and performance optimization. Air and media sterilization processes. Selected operations of downstream processing and product recovery. | ||
OR
Alternative Required Courses (for Chemical Engineering students)
A Chemical Engineering student may complete the Biotechnology Minor by taking the courses below plus one course from the list of complementary courses, not including FACC 300 Engineering Economy..
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 200 | Molecular Biology. | 3 |
Molecular Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The physical and chemical properties of the cell and its components in relation to their structure and function. Topics include: protein structure, enzymes and enzyme kinetics; nucleic acid replication, transcription and translation; the genetic code, mutation, recombination, and regulation of gene expression. | ||
| BIOL 201 | Cell Biology and Metabolism. | 3 |
Cell Biology and Metabolism. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course introduces the student to our modern understanding of cells and how they work. Major topics to be covered include: photosynthesis, energy metabolism and metabolic integration; plasma membrane including secretion, endocytosis and contact mediated interactions between cells; cytoskeleton including cell and organelle movement; the nervous system; hormone signaling; the cell cycle. | ||
| BIOL 202 | Basic Genetics. | 3 |
Basic Genetics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to basic principles, and to modern advances, problems and applications in the genetics of higher and lower organisms with examples representative of the biological sciences. | ||
| BIOT 505 | Selected Topics in Biotechnology. | 3 |
Selected Topics in Biotechnology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Current methods and recent advances in biological, medical, agricultural and engineering aspects of biotechnology will be described and discussed. An extensive reading list will complement the lecture material. | ||
| MIMM 211 | Introductory Microbiology. | 3 |
Introductory Microbiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A general treatment of microbiology bearing specifically on the biological properties of microorganisms. Emphasis will be on procaryotic cells. Basic principles of microbial genetics are also introduced. | ||
Complementary Courses
12 credits selected from courses outside the Department of the student's major program and/or from the lists below. If courses are chosen from the lists below, at least three courses must be taken from one area of concentration as grouped.
Biomedicine
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANAT 541 | Cell and Molecular Biology of Aging. | 3 |
Cell and Molecular Biology of Aging. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Complex aging process, including theories and mechanisms of aging, animal model systems used to study aging, age-dependent diseases, for example, Alzheimer's, osteoporosis, and cancer, and age-related diseases, for example, Werner's syndrome and dyskeratosis congenita. | ||
| EXMD 504 | Biology of Cancer. | 3 |
Biology of Cancer. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to the biology of malignancy. A multidisciplinary approach dealing with the etiology of cancer, the biological properties of malignant cells, the host response to tumour cell growth and the principles of cancer therapy. | ||
| PATH 300 | Human Disease. | 3 |
Human Disease. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Provides a fundamental understanding of the diseases prevalent in North America, for upper level students in the biological sciences. Includes: general responses of cells and organ systems to injury; assessment of individual diseases by relating the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention to the primary biological abnormalities in each disorder. | ||
Chemistry
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 482 | Organic Chemistry: Natural Products. | 3 |
Organic Chemistry: Natural Products. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Structure, synthesis, stereochemistry and biosynthesis of terpenes, alkaloids, antibiotics and selected molecules of medicinal interest. | ||
| CHEM 502 | Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry. | 3 |
Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course will cover biologically relevant molecules, particularly nucleic acids, proteins, and their building blocks. In each case, synthesis and biological functions will be discussed. The topics include synthesis of oligonucleotides and peptides; chemistry of phosphates; enzyme structure and function; coenzymes, and enzyme catalysis; polyketides; antiviral and anticancer agents. | ||
| CHEM 552 | Physical Organic Chemistry. | 3 |
Physical Organic Chemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The correlation of theory with physical measurements on organic systems; an introduction to photochemistry; solvent and substituent effects on organic reaction rates, etc.; reaction mechanisms. | ||
General
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FACC 300 | Engineering Economy. | 3 |
Engineering Economy. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Introduction to the basic concepts required for the economic assessment of engineering projects. Topics include: accounting methods, marginal analysis, cash flow and time value of money, taxation and depreciation, discounted cash flow analysis techniques, cost of capital, inflation, sensitivity and risk analysis, analysis of R and D, ongoing as well as new investment opportunities. | ||
Immunology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANAT 261 | Introduction to Dynamic Histology. | 4 |
Introduction to Dynamic Histology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to light and electron microscopic anatomy in which cell and tissue dynamics will be explored in the principal tissues and organs of the body. | ||
| BIOC 503 | Biochemistry of Immune Diseases. | 3 |
Biochemistry of Immune Diseases. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Current selected topics in immunology. The biochemical mechanisms underlying various immuno-pathologies and the clinical significance of therapeutic interventions. | ||
| MIMM 214 | Introductory Immunology: Elements of Immunity. | 3 |
Introductory Immunology: Elements of Immunity. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Basic immunology, organs and cells, elements of innate immunity, phagocytes, complement, elements of adaptive immunity, B-cells, T-cells, antigen presenting cells, MHC genes and molecules, antigen processing and presentation, cytokines and chemokines. Emphasis on anatomy and the molecular and cellular players working together as a physiological system to maintain human health. | ||
| MIMM 414 | Advanced Immunology. | 3 |
Advanced Immunology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course serving as a logical extension of MIMM 314. The course will integrate molecular, cellular and biochemical events involved in the ontogeny of the lymphoid system and its activation in the immune response. The course will provide the student with an up-to-date understanding of a rapidly moving field. | ||
| PHGY 513 | Translational Immunology. | 3 |
Translational Immunology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Advanced key concepts in immunology as they relate to health and disease, including infectious diseases, non-infectious diseases and autoimmunity, and cancer immunology. | ||
Management
Note: Engineering students may not use these courses to count toward a Management minor, nor toward the Complementary Studies requirement.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 208 | Microeconomic Analysis and Applications. | 3 |
Microeconomic Analysis and Applications. Terms offered: Summer 2025 A university-level introduction to demand and supply, consumer behaviour, production theory, market structures and income distribution theory. | ||
| MGCR 211 | Introduction to Financial Accounting. | 3 |
Introduction to Financial Accounting. Terms offered: Summer 2025 The role of financial accounting in the reporting of the financial performance of a business. The principles, components and uses of financial accounting and reporting from a user's perspective, including the recording of accounting transactions and events, the examination of the elements of financial statements, the preparation of financial statements and the analysis of financial results. | ||
| MGCR 341 | Introduction to Finance. | 3 |
Introduction to Finance. Terms offered: Summer 2025 An introduction to the principles, issues, and institutions of Finance. Topics include valuation, risk, capital investment, financial structure, cost of capital, working capital management, financial markets, and securities. | ||
| MGCR 352 | Principles of Marketing. | 3 |
Principles of Marketing. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Introduction to marketing principles, focusing on problem solving and decision making. Topics include: the marketing concept; marketing strategies; buyer behaviour; Canadian demographics; internal and external constraints; product; promotion; distribution; price. Lectures, text material and case studies. | ||
| MGCR 372 | Operations Management. | 3 |
Operations Management. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Design, planning, establishment, control, and improvement of the activities/processes that create a firm's final products and/or services. The interaction of operations with other business areas will also be discussed. Topics include forecasting, product and process design, waiting lines, capacity planning, inventory management and total quality management. | ||
Microbiology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MIMM 323 | Microbial Physiology. | 3 |
Microbial Physiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to the composition and structure of microbial cells, the biochemical activities associated with cellular metabolism and how these activities are regulated and coordinated. The course will have a molecular and genetic approach to the study of microbial physiology. | ||
| MIMM 324 | Fundamental Virology. | 3 |
Fundamental Virology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the fundamental properties of viruses and their interactions with host cells. Bacteriophages, DNA- and RNA-containing animal viruses, and retroviruses are covered. Emphasis will be on phenomena occurring at the molecular level and on the regulated control of gene expression in virus-infected cells. | ||
| MIMM 413 | Parasitology. | 3 |
Parasitology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the biology, immunological aspects of host-parasite interactions, pathogenicity, epidemiology and molecular biological aspects of selected parasites of medical importance. Laboratory will consist of a lecture on techniques, demonstrations and practical work. | ||
| MIMM 465 | Bacterial Pathogenesis. | 3 |
Bacterial Pathogenesis. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Familiarizes students with key principles and recent advances in our understanding of the strategies that bacteria use to infect and cause disease, as well as the approaches used in the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections. | ||
| MIMM 466 | Viral Pathogenesis. | 3 |
Viral Pathogenesis. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the biological and molecular aspects of viral pathogenesis with emphasis on the human pathogenic viruses including the retroviruses HIV and HTLV-1; herpes viruses; papilloma viruses; hepatitis viruses; and new emerging human viral diseases. These viruses will be discussed in terms of virus multiplication, gene expression virus-induced cytopathic effects and host immune response to infection. | ||
Molecular Biology (Biology)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 300 | Molecular Biology of the Gene. | 3 |
Molecular Biology of the Gene. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A survey of current knowledge and approaches in the area of regulation of gene expression, post-transcriptional control of gene expression, and signal transduction. | ||
| BIOL 314 | Molecular Biology of Cancer. | 3 |
Molecular Biology of Cancer. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The molecular basis of human cancers, including analyzing the events that promote the formation of oncogenes and inhibit tumour suppressor genes, the biochemical properties of the proteins encoded by these genes, and their functions. Current molecular targets for cancer therapy and the concepts and consequences of inheriting mutations in genes that predispose to cancer. | ||
| BIOL 520 | Gene Activity in Development. | 3 |
Gene Activity in Development. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An analysis of the role and regulation of gene expression in several models of eukaryotic development. The emphasis will be on critical evaluation of recent literature concerned with molecular or genetic approaches to the problems of cellular differentiation and determination. Recent research reports will be discussed in conferences and analyzed in written critiques. | ||
| BIOL 524 | Topics in Molecular Biology. | 3 |
Topics in Molecular Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Molecular genetics and molecular, cellular and developmental biology, including signal transduction, cell differentiation and function, genetic diseases in eukaryotes. | ||
| BIOL 551 | Principles of Cellular Control. | 3 |
Principles of Cellular Control. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Fundamental principles of cellular control, with cell cycle control as a major theme. Biological and physical concepts are brought to bear on control in healthy cells.. | ||
Molecular Biology (Biochemistry)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 311 | Metabolic Biochemistry. | 3 |
Metabolic Biochemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The generation of metabolic energy in higher organisms with an emphasis on its regulation at the molecular, cellular and organ level. Chemical concepts and mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis are also emphasized. Included: selected topics in carbohydrate, lipid and nitrogen metabolism; complex lipids and biological membranes; hormonal signal transduction. | ||
| BIOC 312 | Biochemistry of Macromolecules. | 3 |
Biochemistry of Macromolecules. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Gene expression from the start of transcription to the synthesis of proteins, their modifications and degradation. Topics covered: purine and pyrimidine metabolism; transcription and its regulation; mRNA processing; translation; targeting of proteins to specific cellular sites; protein glycosylation; protein phosphorylation; protein turn-over; programmed cell death (apoptosis). | ||
| BIOC 450 | Protein Structure and Function. | 3 |
Protein Structure and Function. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of enzymes. Active site mapping and site-specific mutagenesis of enzymes. Enzyme kinetics and mechanisms of catalysis. Multienzyme complexes. | ||
| BIOC 454 | Nucleic Acids. | 3 |
Nucleic Acids. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. RNA processing, localization and stability. RNAi mechanisms, regulation and applications. Regulation of DNA replication. Genomics: human genome sequence, regulation and organization. DNA repair mechanisms. Special topics on transgenics, genetic diseases and cancer. | ||
Physiology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EXMD 401 | Physiology and Biochemistry Endocrine Systems. | 3 |
Physiology and Biochemistry Endocrine Systems. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Offered in conjunction with the Department of Physiology. The course provides a basic knowledge of endocrine systems encompassing biosynthesis, metabolism and physiological actions of hormones. Specific topics covered are hormones of the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenals, thyroids, parathyroids, pancreas, gut and the gonads. The role of hormones and growth factors in pregnancy and fetal development are also discussed. | ||
| EXMD 502 | Advanced Endocrinology 1. | 3 |
Advanced Endocrinology 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course is designed for U3 students who are in a major or honours program in anatomy, biology, biochemistry or physiology and for graduate students. A multidisciplinary approach will be used to teach biosynthesis and processing of hormones, their regulation, function and mechanism of action. The material will cover hypothalamic, pituitary, thyroid, atrial and adrenal hormones as well as prostaglandins and related substances. | ||
| EXMD 503 | Advanced Endocrinology 02. | 3 |
Advanced Endocrinology 02. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Study of the parathyroids, gut and pancreatic hormones and growth factors. In addition, the role of hormones and growth factors in reproduction and fetal maturation will be discussed. | ||
| PHAR 562 | Neuropharmacology. | 3 |
Neuropharmacology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in pharmacology with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms of drug-action and cellular targets in the nervous system. | ||
| PHAR 563 | Endocrine Pharmacology. | 3 |
Endocrine Pharmacology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This advanced course covers selected topics in pharmacology of reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic disorders. | ||
| PHGY 518 | Artificial Cells. | 3 |
Artificial Cells. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physiology, biotechnology, chemistry and biomedical application of artificial cells, blood substitutes, immobilized enzymes, microorganisms and cells, hemoperfusion, artificial kidneys, and drug delivery systems. PHGY 517 and PHGY 518 when taken together, will give a complete picture of this field. However, the student can select one of these. | ||
Pollution
Note: Engineering students may not use these courses to count toward the Environmental Engineering Minor.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIVE 225 | Environmental Engineering. | 4 |
Environmental Engineering. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to environmental chemistry; mass balance analyses in engineered and natural systems; water, soil and air pollution characterization and control; water quality parameters; drinking water and wastewater treatment technologies; global climate change: possible causes and effects; risk assessment for pollutant exposure; solid- and hazardous-waste management. | ||
| CIVE 430 | Water Treatment and Pollution Control. | 3 |
Water Treatment and Pollution Control. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Principles of water and sewage treatment. Water and sewage characteristics; design of conventional unit operations and processes; laboratory analyses of potable and waste waters. | ||
| CIVE 557 | Microbiology for Environmental Engineering. | 3 |
Microbiology for Environmental Engineering. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Microbiological concepts applied to the practice of environmental engineering and biotechnologies including the following topics: cellular and pathway organizations, evolution, growth, gene expression, horizontal gene transfer, metabolic microbial diversity, ecosystem structures, and quantitative mathematical modelling. | ||