Gain a comprehensive interdisciplinary knowledge of Biology and Pharmacology along with real-world experience through three paid work placements in the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-op (BioPharm) program. Using the problem-based learning approach, BioPharm students are active learners in their education, taking a self-directed approach to research and learning the many aspects of pharmacology and human physiology. The program is designed to challenge all students to reach their academic potential and explore budding career opportunities. Come be part of one of McMaster’s best kept secrets – make money while learning, build lifelong relationships with classmates and professors and explore the world of drug design, development, and the future of pharmacology.
With entry after 60 credits (two full years of undergraduate in a related field), students enter the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Coop Program (BioPharm), featuring 3 coop terms, courses utilizing the problem-based learning approach and hands on, low student to instructor ratio in the lab. Students are challenged to think beyond the textbook in supportive, group-based work and rewarded with careers in the private sector (pharma companies), medical school, school of pharmacy or continuing to graduate studies.
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Co-op has been a vital component of the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Program since the program’s inception over 30 years ago. We believe co-op gives program students an advantage over regular McMaster graduates by providing them with valuable and relevant experience highly regarded by future employers and professional schools. All program graduates will complete 3 four-month paid co-op terms, providing firsthand experience in industry, government or academia. There is some flexibility in the program scheduling, if desirable both for the employer and student. In the BioPharm program, the co-op terms are mandatory. Co-op gives you the confidence in your choice of future career path and skills to be successful. Quite a few students find employment with the supervisor of a coop placement.
“Co-Op opportunity is what makes this program unique compared to other programs as we get the opportunity for training in the pharmaceutical industry.” Level 4 BioPharm student, 2023.
The Biology and Pharmacology program prides itself on the small-group, problem-based learning model to engage students as active learners in their education. This approach is a foundation of the Faculty of Health Sciences, where students identify issues and then seek, synthesize, and integrate information during discussions with their peers. WHAT you learn is as important as HOW you learn it.
Tutorial groups of up to ten students to one faculty member is most common. The faculty members facilitate the discussions – they do not give lectures. The triad of problem-based learning consists of the problem, the students, and their tutors. Flexibility, resilience, and a critical outlook on information are encouraged in this program. In this way, the educational experience serves to enhance the students’ professional and personal aspirations.
Program students often develop a close relationship with other group members and faculty, making this one of the greatest assets of the program. The sense of community extends beyond the classroom, to academic clubs such as the BioPharm Society, who run social events and provide academic support as needed.
“PBL format helped me retain info much more effectively than lectures. Casual atmosphere, [I] truly felt like [I was] discussing concepts with coworkers, learned a lot without too much stress or anxiety” Level 3 BioPharm student, 2023.
“Small class size with problem–based learning approach: creates a positive learning environment.” Level 4 BioPharm student, 2023.
Learn pharmacology by doing – this two-term course is designed to hone lab bench skills and create a tight knit, collaborative research team of 3-5 individuals. Each team works through hands-on lab exercises designed to explore relevant pharmacological concepts. Following this, teams are sent into the real world, to test their skills and gain experience in research lab environments. Students are challenged on how they think, preform, and write like a scientist in a lab-bench setting, both as an individual and part of an interactive research team.
“The lab courses and hands on experience gained are so valuable. There is no other program that gains the skills we have at such an early stage in our education.” Level 3 BioPharm student, 2023.
- This is an upper-level (year) co-op program, three terms of which must be spent in work related to biology or pharmacology placements under the auspices of the Science Career & Cooperative Education office in the Faculty of Science.
- A senior thesis, PHARMAC 4T15, will be completed in the Summer or Fall term of Level V. Work terms must be completed in the Spring/Summer term of Level III, Fall term of Level IV and Spring/Summer term of Level V. See Co-op program chart below.
- PHARMAC 3A06 A/B, 3B06 A/B, 4A03, 4AA3, 4C03, 4D03 and 4E03 will use a self-directed problem-based learning approach.
- Students must be registered full-time and take a full academic workload as prescribed by Level and Term.
- Students are required to complete SCIENCE 2C00 and SCIENCE 3C00 before the ?rst work placement and are strongly recommended to complete SCIENCE 2C00 in Level II.
- Students should seek academic advising for this program from the Director of the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-op Program.
- If BIOCHEM 2B03 and 2BB3 have not been completed at the time of admission, BIOCHEM 3G03 must be completed in Level III. Students with credit in BIOCHEM 2B03 and 2BB3 are not required to complete further Biochemistry courses.
- For BHSc students who are interested in taking 4th or 5th year BIOPHARM course for which BIOPHARM 3A06 is a requirement, an alternative to BIOPHARM 3A06 is BIOLOGY 3AA3.