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Office of the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies

McMaster Academic Planner (MAP) - Faculty of Science

Life Sciences Gateway

Overview

The Life Sciences Gateway program at McMaster prepares students for a variety of careers in science and elsewhere by giving them a firm foundation in traditional scientific disciplines while exposing them to multidisciplinary approaches to solving pressing problems.

An understanding of the tapestry of life comes not from a single discipline but is woven from all of the Life Sciences: biochemistry, cell biology, genomics, developmental biology, neurobiology, psychology, ecology, and earth sciences. The avalanche of information available from these fields allows scientists to look at biological systems in unprecedented detail. The key is to integrate knowledge across disciplines in order to understand organisms and their place in the ecosystem.

Graduates who begin their studies in the Life Sciences Gateway have pursued careers in the following areas:

  • Medicine
  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Biostatistics
  • Neuroscience & Behaviour Therapy
  • Microbiology
  • Horticulture
  • Food Technology
  • Policy Analysis
  • Epidemiology
  • Clinical & Experimental Psychology
  • Forensics
  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology

Admission Requirements (Ontario)


Completion of the High School Diploma plus 6 Grade 12 U/M requirements, including:

  • English
  • Biology
  • Advanced Functions or Calculus & Vectors
  • One of: Advanced Functions, Calculus & Vectors, Chemistry, Physics

Anticipated Admission Average: Low 90’s

Target Enrollment: 1000

OAUC Application Code: MLS

Level 2 Programs

The structure of our Level 1 Life Sciences Gateway will provide you with a range of Level 2 program options. Courses taken in Level 1 serves as admission requirements to prepare students for their Level 2 programs of interest. There are 36 Level 2 programs to choose from, but the following may be of interest to you. Please also explore all of the Level 2 program options available.

Typical First-Year Courses

BIOLOGY 1A03

Cellular and Molecular Biology 

BIOLOGY 1M03

Biodiversity, Evolution and Humanity

MATH 1LS3

Calculus for the Life Sciences 1

PHYSICS 1A03

Introductory Physics

CHEM 1A03

Introductory Chemistry 1

CHEM 1AA3

Introductory Chemistry 2

PSYCH 1X03

Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour

ENVIRSC 1C03

Climate, Water And Environment

+6 Units of Electives

Student Testimonials

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