Undergraduate studies

Biochemistry (BCH) is the chemistry of life. As such, it provides the foundation for understanding all biological processes and for understanding the molecular basis and treatment of human disease.

The biochemistry program, offered through the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, provides you with the training needed to play a leading role in the new and exciting areas of medical research. You will be exposed to cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art knowledge. The undergraduate biochemistry program prepares you for graduate studies and thus for a career in academia or in research in the medical sciences. What’s more, biochemistry provides an excellent foundation for further studies in medicine and other health specialties.

Learn how living organisms grow and develop and how we can use this knowledge to create manufacturing processes, chemical products or life-saving drugs. Did you know that cheese, yogurt and beer are all biotechnology products? So are insulin and the chickenpox vaccine, both of which have saved or improved the lives of millions.

The biotechnology program covers the areas of biology, chemistry, mathematics and more. Students in this program, offered through the Departments of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences and Chemical and Biological Engineering, obtain two degrees upon graduation, a BSc in biochemistry and a BASc in chemical engineering.

Biomedical Science is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the fundamentals of human structure and function, as well as those of other animals. The first two years provide a background in anatomy and psychology in addition to more in-depth knowledge in basic sciences like biology, biochemistry, chemistry and mathematics. After year two, you can choose to combine additional courses in biology and biochemistry with an array of optional courses and obtain a minor in one of many arts or social sciences programs, or you can choose an option in the life sciences, such as neuroscience, cellular and molecular medicine, bioanalytical science, biostatistics and medicinal chemistry.

In addition, the Research Focus is an immersive research experience offered from the third year for students who may be considering a career in research. Upon graduation, students are prepared for more advanced training in research or for admission into one of the professional programs in human health

This interdisciplinary program, offered through the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, combines basic studies from areas such as molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology and organic chemistry and adds new courses designed especially for biopharmaceutical science (BPS) students.

The goal is to prepare students who, with further specialization, will be ready to work in an interdisciplinary environment at the interfaces between biology, chemistry and health-related sciences.

Chemistry (CHM) is a modern, dynamic and diverse field that involves investigating the substances that makes up our physical world and how these substances change. Chemistry touches everything we come into contact with. As a result, it is a field with connections to almost all other areas of science and engineering. For example, chemists play a vital role in developing new drugs and materials for advanced electronic devices. Chemists are also important players in such diverse areas as genetic engineering, forensic science and the oil and gas industry. More recently, chemists have been at the forefront of the nanotechnology field and emerging green technologies, particularly in the development of sustainable energy sources.

The Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences offers modern programs that provide advanced training in the traditional areas of chemistry, such as organic, inorganic, physical, computational and analytical chemistry. The Department also has specialized options in Advanced Materials and in Ecochemistry, unique to uOttawa. In addition to incorporating classroom teaching, programs offer practical laboratory training, with a focus on individual instruction.

Investigate Earth as a professional environmental geoscientist to understand environmental interactions between geology, biology and hydrology.

The Environmental Geoscience program integrates the Environmental Science and Geology programs in one stream that balances biology and chemistry-oriented courses with solid Earth-based courses. Environmental geoscience requires multidisciplinary study — students acquires a wide range of expertise to understand the environmental interactions between solid Earth, the biosphere, the atmosphere and the oceans.

The combination of analytical courses and frequent field trips gives students hands-on exposure to all aspects of environmental geoscience. The final year involves an independent research project or equivalent units (credits) in advanced environmental geoscience courses in the specialization.

Students who follow the suggested course sequence can meet professional accreditation requirements of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and the Ordre des géologues du Québec.

Environmental science (EVS) is the interdisciplinary study of the environment, its functioning and its relationship to human activities. Society has a growing need for specialists able to recognize, understand, solve and prevent environmental problems.

Offered through the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, the program focuses on the integration of traditional science disciplines to study the natural environment and the impact of human activities. The program consists of a core of basic science courses complemented by courses in various disciplines that address the scientific and societal aspects of environmental problems.

The EVS program is accredited by ECO Canada, the national organization whose mission is to promote the competence and the excellence of academic programs, the environmental careers, and recognition of the professional expertise of environment workers.

Financial decisions rely mostly on quantitative models. Advanced knowledge of mathematics, economics and finance is required. The Honours in Financial Mathematics and Economics provides unique, well-balanced training from experts in three disciplines, in conjunction with the Department of Economics and the Telfer School of Management, while the Joint Honours in Mathematics and Economics focuses on the use of mathematics in economics. Both programs can lead to positions in financial institutions and governmental agencies.

Programs can be completed in either English or French, or a combination of both.

The Life Sciences programs give students who carefully choose their optional courses the prerequisites to apply to schools of medicine, dentistry or pharmacy. The minor meets the uOttawa medical school prerequisites. However, you should carefully check the admission requirements of the medical school you are considering.

This minor cannot be combined with other life sciences programs (Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Science) as they already cover the material of the minor and more fully prepare students thinking of entering life science-based professions.

Do you love music and science? Would you like to develop your musical abilities to their full potential while doing advanced studies in the sciences? Now you can do so, thanks to a bachelor’s program offered jointly by the University of Ottawa’s faculties of Arts, Science and Engineering. Acquire in-depth knowledge and pursue rigorous training in science and music, the first of its kind in Canada!

The Integrated Bachelor of Music and Science program was created for students who would like to be able to work in either field and are interested in developing their skills in both disciplines. This five-year integrated program leads to a degree in science (BSc) and in music (BMus) and opens the door to graduate studies. To be admitted to the program, students must meet the Bachelor of Science admission criteria and be accepted into the performance profile of the Bachelor of Music program, by successfully completing an instrument or voice audition demonstrating outstanding ability.

Admission to this program is through the Faculty of Arts.

The complexity of ophthalmic medicine has been growing steadily, and with it, the demand for well-trained allied health specialists in this critical area of eye care.

Students in the ophthalmic medical technology program work with the latest technologies and as part of the health care team at the University of Ottawa Eye Institute. This integrated education prepares graduates for a challenging and rewarding career as an ophthalmic medical technologist (OMT ). After successful completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the certification exams given by the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology. Graduates from the OMT program are sought after across the country and internationally.

Why is our world the way it is? How can we understand and explain what we observe around us, from the smallest sub-atomic particles to the largest galaxies? How can we apply this understanding to manipulate our world? Of course studying physics (PHY ) gives insight into the fundamental laws of nature.

But an education in physics gives so much more. The rigorous training our students receive in analyzing and understanding complex problems is of considerable value to many future career directions. While many of our graduates have found careers in universities and in the high-tech sector as research and development scientists, others have used their physics degrees as a springboard for careers in finance, administration, medicine, management and education. The range of career opportunities is perhaps wider than for any other scientifically trained group.

From original ground breaking discoveries, to the development of new and revolutionary technologies, to the decoding of the stock market, physicists have revolutionized the way we live our lives. Our professors and our graduates are an important part of this chain. Many of our professors have also been recognized as superb teachers and have been widely recognized as world-class researchers in their respective fields of expertise.

Discover the fundamental laws of nature, and then apply this knowledge in the design of breakthrough technologies that will transform our society. While physics probes big questions, from the origin of the universe to the workings of the quantum world, electrical engineering underlies the technologies that are ubiquitous in our modern world, from power generation to the computer chip.

By teaching you the foundations of how nature works, and then how to innovate with this knowledge, this integrated program will uniquely equip you to tackle societal and technological problems facing us and future generations. In five years you will earn two degrees, one in physics and one in electrical engineering, and will be truly challenged to defy the conventional.

Every field of research is feeling the impact of large volumes of data. Every business, government department and non-governmental organization is collecting data about its clients and products. To navigate the world of data, you need advanced statistical skills. Our Honours, Major and Minor in Statistics provide extensive training with many internship opportunities. Graduates find jobs in industry or government, in particular, with Statistics Canada. The program is accredited by the Statistical Society of Canada (SSC) and graduates can apply for A.Stat. designation. Programs can be completed in either English or French, or a combination of both.