Microbiology and Immunology Honours (B.Sc.) (72 credits)
Offered by: Microbiology & Immunology (Faculty of Science)
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Program credit weight: 72
Program Description
The Honours program is designed to offer, in addition to the substantial background given by the Major program, a significant research experience in a laboratory within the Department during the U3 year. Students are prepared for this independent research project by following an advanced laboratory course in U2. This program is intended to prepare students for graduate study in microbiology and immunology or related fields, but could also be chosen by students intending to enter medical research after medical school, or intending to enter the job market in a laboratory research environment.
Students intending to apply to Honours must follow the Major program in U1 and U2 and must obtain a CGPA of at least 3.50 at the end of their U2 year. For graduation in Honours, students must pass all required courses with a C or better, and achieve a sessional GPA of at least 3.30 in the U3 year.
Degree Requirements — B.Sc.
This program is offered as part of a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree.
To graduate, students must satisfy both their program requirements and their degree requirements.
- The program requirements (i.e., the specific courses that make up this program) are listed under the Course Tab (above).
- The degree requirements—including the mandatory Foundation program, appropriate degree structure, and any additional components—are outlined on the Degree Requirements page.
Students are responsible for ensuring that this program fits within the overall structure of their degree and that all degree requirements are met. Consult the Degree Planning Guide on the SOUSA website for additional guidance.
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
U1 Required Courses (26 credits)
| 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 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. | ||
| CHEM 212 | Introductory Organic Chemistry 1. 1 | 4 |
Introductory Organic Chemistry 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025 A fundamental study of aliphatic compounds and saturated functional groups including modern concepts of bonding, reaction mechanisms, conformational analysis, spectroscopy, and stereochemistry. | ||
| CHEM 222 | Introductory Organic Chemistry 2. 2 | 4 |
Introductory Organic Chemistry 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Modern spectroscopic techniques for structure determination. The chemistry of alcohols, ethers, carbonyl compounds, and amines, with special attention to mechanistic aspects. Special topics. | ||
| 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. | ||
| MIMM 212 | Laboratory in Microbiology. | 3 |
Laboratory in Microbiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This laboratory course is designed to complement MIMM 211. Sessions introduce general techniques peculiar to the handling of microorganisms. | ||
| 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. | ||
- 1
Students who have taken CHEM 212 Introductory Organic Chemistry 1. in CEGEP are exempt and must replace these credits with an elective course(s).
- 2
Students who have taken CHEM 222 Introductory Organic Chemistry 2. in CEGEP are exempt and must replace these credits with an elective course(s).
One of:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 212 | Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function. | 3 |
Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introductory course describing the biochemistry and molecular biology of selected key functions of animal cells, including: gene expression; mitochondrial production of metabolic energy; cellular communication with the extra-cellular environment; and regulation of cell division. | ||
| 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. | ||
U1, U2, or U3 Required Course (3 credits)
One of:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 373 | Biometry. | 3 |
Biometry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Elementary statistical methods in biology. Introduction to the analysis of biological data with emphasis on the assumptions behind statistical tests and models. Use of statistical techniques typically available on computer packages. | ||
| MATH 203 | Principles of Statistics 1. | 3 |
Principles of Statistics 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Examples of statistical data and the use of graphical means to summarize the data. Basic distributions arising in the natural and behavioural sciences. The logical meaning of a test of significance and a confidence interval. Tests of significance and confidence intervals in the one and two sample setting (means, variances and proportions). | ||
| PSYC 204 | Introduction to Psychological Statistics. | 3 |
Introduction to Psychological Statistics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The statistical analysis of research data; frequency distributions; graphic representation; measures of central tendency and variability; elementary sampling theory and tests of significance. | ||
U2 Required Courses (19 credits)
| 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. | ||
| MIMM 301 | Scientific Writing Skills in MIMM. | 1 |
Scientific Writing Skills in MIMM. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Scientific and communication skills, including searching the literature, reading primary papers, managing citations and using them appropriately, as well as interpreting scientific data, synthesizing findings from the scientific literature, and writing a scientific paper. This course will allow students to practice scientific writing skills through various steps intended to provide feedback. | ||
| MIMM 314 | Intermediate Immunology. | 3 |
Intermediate Immunology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An intermediate-level immunology course covering the cellular and molecular basis of lymphocyte development and activation in immune responses in health and disease. | ||
| 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 384 | Molecular Microbiology Laboratory. | 3 |
Molecular Microbiology Laboratory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A series of laboratory exercises in molecular biology and microbial genetics during the Fall term. As part of a term paper writing project, students will explore contemporary research subjects that represent the wide interests of the Microbiology and Immunology departmentâ•Žs faculty. The general objective is to provide practical and theoretical introduction to the technology and methodology used in contemporary microbiology research. | ||
| MIMM 385 | Laboratory in Immunology. | 3 |
Laboratory in Immunology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This laboratory course allows students to gain expertise in following protocols and performing key techniques in immunology. Students also develop basic experimental design and scientific thinking skills by designing their own experiments based on available reagents to solve a problem. Students learn to keep a lab book and communicate scientific findings in written and oral form. | ||
U3 Required Courses (15 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 501D1 | Honours Research Project in Immunology. 1 | 6 |
Honours Research Project in Immunology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Presentation of students' research findings in a seminar and a final written report. | ||
| MIMM 501D2 | Honours Research Project in Immunology. 1 | 6 |
Honours Research Project in Immunology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See MIMM 501D1 for course description. | ||
| MIMM 502D1 | Honours Research Project in Microbiology. 1 | 6 |
Honours Research Project in Microbiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Presentation of students' research findings in a seminar and a final written report. | ||
| MIMM 502D2 | Honours Research Project in Microbiology. 1 | 6 |
Honours Research Project in Microbiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See MIMM 502D1 for course description. | ||
- 1
Students take either MIMM 501D1 Honours Research Project in Immunology. and MIMM 501D2 Honours Research Project in Immunology. or MIMM 502D1 Honours Research Project in Microbiology. and MIMM 502D2 Honours Research Project in Microbiology..
U3 Complementary Courses (6 credits)
6 credits selected from:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
Complementary Courses (3 credits)
3 credits selected from:
| 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. | ||
| ANAT 262 | Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology. | 3 |
Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The architectural, functional and temporal continuity of organelles and the cytoskeleton of mammalian cells is introduced as well as their functional integration in the phenomena of exocytosis, endocytosis, protein trafficking and cell motility and adhesion. | ||
| ANAT 365 | Cellular Trafficking. | 3 |
Cellular Trafficking. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course explores the fundamental mechanisms that govern the organizations of intracellular membranes, how vesicle generation is signaled, how the membranes curve and bud, and how vesicles know where to go and fuse. In addition to intracellular vesicles, the principles of mitochondrial dynamics and process of cellular autophagy are examined. Also, there is a focus on "Applied Cell Biology", with respect to how the exquisite regulation of cellular transport plays a central role in complex biological systems. A series of modules will take students through the mechanisms of cellular polarity, neurotransmission, metabolic cell biology, pathogen invasion, and more. The emphasis is on the morphological aspects of the processes, and on the major techniques that led to discovery. | ||
| ANAT 458 | Membranes and Cellular Signaling. | 3 |
Membranes and Cellular Signaling. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An integrated treatment of the properties of biological membranes and of intracellular signaling, including the major role that membranes play in transducing and integrating cellular regulatory signals. Biological membrane organization and dynamics; membrane transport; membrane receptors and their associated effectors; mechanisms of regulation of cell growth, morphology, differentiation and death. | ||
| 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 404 | Biophysical Methods in Biochemistry. | 3 |
Biophysical Methods in Biochemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Applications and fundamental bases of important biophysical techniques used in modern biochemistry research laboratories to isolate, characterize and determine the structure and dynamics of proteins, nucleic acids, small molecules and complexes that underlie life and disease. | ||
| 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. | ||
| BIOC 458 | Membranes and Cellular Signaling. | 3 |
Membranes and Cellular Signaling. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An integrated treatment of the properties of biological membranes and of intracellular signaling, including the major role that membranes play in transducing and integrating cellular regulatory signals. Biological membrane organization and dynamics: membrane transport; membrane receptors and their associated effectors; mechanisms of regulation of cell growth, morphology, differentiation and death. | ||
| 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 309 | Mathematical Models in Biology. | 3 |
Mathematical Models in Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Application of finite difference and differential equations to problems in cell and developmental biology, ecology and physiology. Qualitative, quantitative and graphical techniques are used to analyze mathematical models and to compare theoretical predictions with experimental data. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| CHEM 203 | Survey of Physical Chemistry. | 3 |
Survey of Physical Chemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The fundamentals of thermodynamics and chemical kinetics with applications to biomolecular systems. Thermodynamic and kinetic control of biological processes. | ||
| CHEM 204 | Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 1. | 3 |
Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Similar to CHEM 223/CHEM 243. Emphasis on the use of biological examples to illustrate the principles of physical chemistry. The relevance of physical chemistry to biology is stressed. | ||
| CHEM 302 | Introductory Organic Chemistry 3. | 3 |
Introductory Organic Chemistry 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics covered may include the following: Aromatic compounds, heterocyclic chemistry, sulfur and phosphorus chemistry, organosulfur and organophosphorus compounds, and biomolecules such as lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, polypeptides, DNA and RNA. | ||
| COMP 204 | Computer Programming for Life Sciences. | 3 |
Computer Programming for Life Sciences. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Computer Science (Sci): Computer programming in a high level language: variables, expressions, types, functions, conditionals, loops, objects and classes. Introduction to algorithms, modular software design, libraries, file input/output, debugging. Emphasis on applications in the life sciences. | ||
| COMP 206 | Introduction to Software Systems. | 3 |
Introduction to Software Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Comprehensive overview of programming in C, use of system calls and libraries, debugging and testing of code; use of developmental tools like make, version control systems. | ||
| COMP 250 | Introduction to Computer Science. | 3 |
Introduction to Computer Science. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Mathematical tools (binary numbers, induction,recurrence relations, asymptotic complexity,establishing correctness of programs). Datastructures (arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists,trees, binary trees, binary search trees, heaps,hash tables). Recursive and non-recursivealgorithms (searching and sorting, tree andgraph traversal). Abstract data types. Objectoriented programming in Java (classes andobjects, interfaces, inheritance). Selected topics. | ||
| 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. | ||
| MIMM 387 | The Business of Science. | 3 |
The Business of Science. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The ability to select and manipulate genetic material has led to unprecedented interest in the industrial applications of procaryotic and eucaryotic cells. Beginning in the 1970s the introduction of and subsequent refinements to recombinant DNA technology and hybridoma technology transformed the horizons of the biopharmaceutical world. This course will highlight the important events that link basic research to clinical/commercial application of new drugs and chemicals. | ||
| MIMM 390 | SEA-PHAGES: Phage Discovery. | 3 |
SEA-PHAGES: Phage Discovery. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Microbiology and molecular biology content about bacteriophages, followed by hands-on experience through isolation and characterization of novel bacteriophages from soil samples using various microbiology and virology techniques. | ||
| MIMM 391 | SEA-PHAGES: Genome Annotation. | 3 |
SEA-PHAGES: Genome Annotation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to bioinformatics as a tool to further bacteriophage research by using computer programs and software to annotate genomes of bacteriophages. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| MIMM 509 | Inflammatory Processes. | 3 |
Inflammatory Processes. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course concentrates on the non-specific aspects of the immune response, an area which is not adequately covered by the other immunology courses presented at the university. Interactions between guest researchers (from McGill and other universities) and students will be furthered. | ||
| 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. | ||
| PHAR 300 | Drug Action. | 3 |
Drug Action. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Principles of pharmacology and toxicology. Frequently encountered drugs will be used as a focus to illustrate sites and mechanisms of action, distribution, metabolism, elimination and adverse side effects. | ||
| PHAR 301 | Drugs and Disease. | 3 |
Drugs and Disease. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course further explores the basic principles of pharmacology as illustrated by drugs used in the treatment of disease. Emphasis is placed on drugs used for diseases prevalent in North America. | ||
| 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 209 | Mammalian Physiology 1. | 3 |
Mammalian Physiology 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physiology of body fluids, blood, body defense mechanisms, muscle, peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous systems. | ||
| PHGY 210 | Mammalian Physiology 2. | 3 |
Mammalian Physiology 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physiology of cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and renal systems. | ||