Program Outline

 

STARTING IN FALL 2024 THERE WILL BE NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PHYSIOLOGY PROGRAM. NEW STUDENTS (i.e. those starting in Fall 2024 or later) CAN ACCESS THE PHYSL SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HONS AND MAJOR PROGRAM HERE

You can also view the common requirements for the new programs here.

STUDENTS WHO STARTED IN THE HONORS PHYSIOLOGY PROGRAM BEFORE THE FALL 2024 TERM SHOULD FOLLOW THE REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE AT THE TIME THEY STARTED THE PROGRAM. 

 

Physiology Undergraduate Program - Requirements, Course selection, and course approval

The Physiology programs are offered by the Department of Physiology in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry through the Faculty of Science.

The programs are designed to prepare students for advanced study leading to careers in academia, industrial research, or for entry into health-related professions. A choice of courses is available for students with interests in particular branches of the life sciences (e.g., cell and molecular biology, endocrinology, cardiovascular physiology, and neurobiology).

 1. How to Remain in Good Standing in the Hons PHYSL program:

In order to maintain good standing in the Physiology program, and ultimately graduate, you must maintain a minimum required GPA in the fall/winter terms each year you are in the program. While there are no course load minimums for our program, the majority of students in the program take *30 per fall/winter. Assuming you enter the program with no IB/AP credit, if you take *30 each fall/winter you can graduate in 4 years. If you take only *24 per year it will take you 5 years to meet the requirements for graduation. Note that you are allowed to take as many courses you like in the spring/summer terms.

  1. Obtaining Transfer Credit:

The Faculty of Science office in CCIS is responsible for granting credit for all transfer credits and all IB/AP credits, we cannot do that at the Departmental level.

  1. Academic Requirements Guide, Course Selection and Taking Courses "Out of Order”

You do not need to meet with the undergraduate coordinator to discuss course selection each year.

Note that SCI courses are any course offered through the Faculty of Science, ARTS courses are any course offered through the Faculty of Arts- note that some PSYCO courses are ARTS courses and some SCI. Outside options are any courses offered through Faculties other than SCI or ARTS (example- all ANAT, LABMP, MMI, and ONCOL courses are offered through Medicine and are outside options).

A list of required courses and options is listed on the PHYSL page in the University course calendar, found here.

You can also view the common requirements for all Hons and Major programs in Science here.

There is no standard order to take the courses- you just need to come up with a plan that will cover all prerequisites for future courses. As a rule of thumb- start with 100-level courses in year 1 and work your way up in future years- however it is not uncommon to take some 200-level courses in year 1.

Certain courses, such as the Indigenous course, jr ENGL/WRS, PHYS 124 are prerequisites for no other requirements and can be taken at any time. In order to have the prerequisites for year 2 in the PHYSL program we recommend the students take the following courses in Year 1.

BIOL107
CHEM101
CHEM102
MATH134
STAT151

 

Beyond this take the courses in an order that works for you, thinking ahead so that you are sure to cover all prerequisites.

 

Academic Requirements

The Academic Advisement Report is an online degree planning tool that allows you to track the progress of your degree so that you can plan ahead when building your future schedules. Reports are in 'real-time' so as you change your registration, you can also review the changes to your report. Click on the link above. There are video tutorial and information sheets detailing how to best stay on top of your progress in the program.

What-If Reports can be used by new students before they have official access to the Academic Requirements Report in BearTracks. What-If Reports generate a Requirements report that can be used as an online degree planning tool. The report will show you where your transfer credits fit within the Physiology degree, and what classes you will have remaining. 

Note: As a new PHYSL student, please use the What-If Report from the time of admission through your first Fall term in the PHYSL program. Starting your first Winter Term and onward, you may use the Academic Requirements Report instead.

Accessing the What-If Report

Login to BearTracks

Select Academic Records

Select What-if Report from the left navigation bar

  4. Registration for PHYSL courses as well as those inaccessible on Beartracks:

For all PHYSL courses and for many courses offered by other departments you need to register manually (as opposed to using Beartracks). To do this you need to contact the PHYSL main office (PhysiologyRegistrations@ualberta.ca) for PHYSL courses, or the office of the department offering the course for non-PHYSL courses.

  5. Common Course Requirements for BSc Major and Honors Degrees

The following courses are required as part of the Major/Honors degree programs (120 units total). Please click Here for more information.

  6. Arts & Science Courses/Psychology Courses 

The courses listed below are all of the Arts and Sciene Options that may be used towards a BSc in the Faculty of Science.  Please note, some courses have provisions or restrictions. Please click Here for more information.