STRUCTURE OF THE MAJOR
Class of 2022 to 2024
The Life Sciences major requires students to complete 54 Modular Credits (MC) including a capstone project that is worth 10 MC
Gateway Modules
Select three modules from: YSC2216 Evolutionary Biology, YSC2233 Genetics, YSC3241 Computational and Systems Biology, YSC3233 Molecular & Cellular Biology
Methods Module
Students need to complete YSC2202 Biology Laboratory
Elective Modules
Students select any four modules from the list of life sciences modules, with at least one module at the 4000 level: YSC2247 Ecology & Ecosystems, YSC2235 Field Research, YSC2231 Foundations of Neuroscience, YSC2234 Human Biology, YSC2236 Microbiomes, YSC2241 Plant Biology, YSC3235 Animal Behaviour, YSC3214 Biochemistry, YSC3251 Conservation Biology, YSC3253 Coral Reefs and Environmental Change, YSC3238 Developmental Biology, YSC4211A Advanced Topics: Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology: Heredity and Epigenetics, YSC4211B Advanced Topics: Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology: Stem Cells
Advanced and Capstone Modules
Students need to complete YSC3215 Research Seminar and YSC 4102 Life Sciences Capstone Project. The capstone project will typically be a guided, independent project in laboratory or field research. During the first semester of the Capstone, there will be a seminar component. Students will begin preparing for the project no later than the third year with the Life Sciences Research Seminar, culminating in a proposal for their fourth year project. Students are encouraged to engage in research earlier in their college years, but the capstone project is required as an intensive research experience that will typically involve the development of hypotheses, design of experiments, collection and interpretation of data, and oral and written presentations of research findings. Proposals for alternative types of capstone projects that do not involve original research, such as policy papers, or the production of educational videos, will be considered with the approval of the Head of Studies.
STRUCTURE OF THE MINOR
Class of 2020 to 2024
Students must complete 5 Life Sciences modules. There are no other requirements.
STRUCTURE OF THE MAJOR
Class of 2025 onwards
The Life Sciences major requires students to complete 54 Modular Credits (MC) including a capstone project that is worth 10 MC
Introductory Module (5MC)
YSC 2256 Science of Life; Introduction to Biology
This is compulsory. However, students who have scored sufficiently high grades in A-level, IB HIgher, or Advanced Placement Biology courses (e.g, a 5 on the AP exam) may, with the approval of the Head of Studies, place out of the Introductory Module. These students must read at least one course (5 MC) from each of the three Gateway sets.
Gateway Modules (Foundation Modules) (10/15 MC)
Students who take YSC 2256 Science of Life need to take two out of three Breadth requirements (total 10 MC). Students who placed out of YSC2256 need to take at least one module from each of the three Breadth groups (total 15MC).
Breadth 1: Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology
YSC 2233 Genetics
YSC3233 Cell Biology
YSC 3214 Biochemistry
YSC 3257 Molecular Biology
Breadth 2: Ecology and Evolution
YSC 2247 Ecology and Ecosystems
YSC2216 Evolutionary Biology
YSC3251 Conservation Ecology
Breadth 3: Quantitative Biology
YSC2255 Statistics for Life Sciences
YSC3241 Introduction to Systems and Computational Biology
Methods Module (5MC)
Students need to choose one of the following:
YSC2202 Biology Laboratory
YSC2235 Field Research
Elective Modules (20MC)
Students select any four modules from the list of life sciences modules, with at least one module at the 4000 level: YSC2231 Foundations of Neuroscience, YSC2234 Human Biology, YSC2236 Microbiomes, YSC2241 Plant Biology, YSC2250 Urban Wildlife Studies, YSC3214 Biochemistry, YSC3234 Principles of Biophysics, YSC3235 Animal Behaviour, YSC3238 Developmental Biology, YSC3250 Immunology, YSC3253 Coral Reefs and Environmental Change, YSC3255 Biology of Ageing, YSC4200 Special Project in Science (Independent Study), YSC4211 Adv Topics Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, YSC4211A Adv Topics Molecular, Cell Bio: Heredity & Epigenetics, YSC4211B Adv Topics Molecular, Cell & Developmental Bio: Stem Cells, YSC4211C Adv Topics Computational Biology, YSC4226 Advanced Methods in Cell Biology, YSC4229 Molecular Neuroscience – Genes, Brains, and Behaviour, YID3221 Wildlife Forensics and the Shark Fin Trade, YSS3249 Human Neuroscience, YSC3253 Coral Reef Ecology and Environmental Change, YSC2236 Microbiomes
All modules under Methods and Breadth 1, 2 and 3 that have not been taken to satisfy the Gateway requirement can also be taken as electives.
Under Gateway and Electives, at least two modules must be at 3000 level or higher.
Advanced and Capstone Modules (15MC)
Students need to complete YSC3215 Research Seminar and YSC 4102 Life Sciences Capstone Project. The capstone project will typically be a guided, independent project in laboratory or field research. During the first semester of the Capstone, there will be a seminar component. Students will begin preparing for the project no later than the third year with the Life Sciences Research Seminar, culminating in a proposal for their fourth year project. Students are encouraged to engage in research earlier in their college years, but the capstone project is required as an intensive research experience that will typically involve the development of hypotheses, design of experiments, collection and interpretation of data, and oral and written presentations of research findings. Proposals for alternative types of capstone projects that do not involve original research, such as policy papers, or the production of educational videos, will be considered with the approval of the Head of Studies.
Total MC’s = 55 (a student may complete a min of 54 MC if they have been approved to substitute modules read from NUS or from credit transfer)
STRUCTURE OF THE MINOR
Class of 2025 onwards
Students must complete any 5 modules that are listed under Life Science as the primary major, that is, NOT cross-listed modules that are from another major. There are no other requirements.