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Cellular and Physiological Sciences

The Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences offers opportunities for study leading to doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees. For information on advanced degrees, see graduate Cell and Developmental Biology. For further information on other courses within the Department, see the Faculty of Medicine.

There are two undergraduate specializations in Cellular, Anatomical and Physiological Sciences (CAPS): Major and Honours.

Admission to the Cellular, Anatomical and Physiological Sciences B.Sc. Specializations

Students may apply to enter either the Major or Honours specialization at the end of first year through the common application which is administered by the Office of the Dean of Science. If admitted for second year, students must follow the program of study and meet the academic standards below.

Admission into the Honours specialization requires a minimum academic average of 80% with a minimum of 70% in the communications courses. Students in the Honours Specialization must maintain an annual academic average of 80%. Those who do not meet the requirements to continue in the Honours specialization will be enrolled in the Major. 

CAPS Major students interested in transferring into the Honours specialization after year 2 may apply to the Department, if they have met the academic requirements. See here for details.

Non-CAPS students interested in transferring into the CAPS specializations after year 2 may apply to the Department. Acceptance is contingent on space availability. See here for details.

Permission of the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences is required to alter the progression throughout the specialization.

Students wishing to undertake directed studies at the undergraduate (CAPS 448) level must seek departmental approval prior to registration.

Cooperative Education Option

The Department offers a five-year Co-operative Education Option for undergraduate students in the Cellular, Anatomical and Physiological Sciences specialization. In addition to the traditional laboratory-based university instruction, the students will receive 12 or 16 months of work placement (i.e., three or four work terms) supervised by scientists in industrial, academic or governmental positions. Work placements typically start in May or September after the completion of third year and continue to the beginning of fourth year. Selection of students will be based on academic performance and general suitability to the work environment as determined by resume and interview. The total enrolment will be subject to the availability of appropriate work placements. The work placements are arranged by mutual agreement between students and employing organizations. Students in the Cooperative Education Option register in CAPS 398, 399, 498 and pay the Cooperative Education Option fee per course and Co-op Workshop fees. See Cooperative Education Fees.

Graduation in the Cooperative Education Option requires a student to complete CAPS 398, 399, and 498 in addition to the normal academic requirements. CAPS 499 is optional for students who wish to have four work placements.

Detailed information on the option can be obtained from the Cooperative Education Program.

Specializations

Major (3992): Cellular, Anatomical and Physiological Sciences (CAPS)

First Year 
Communications Requirement16
BIOL 11223
BIOL 12123
CHEM 1213 or 141 or 1114
CHEM 1234
MATH 10043
MATH 1013
PHYS 100-level beyond PHYS 10053
Total Credits29
Second Year 
BIOL 2003
BIOL 2343
BIOL 201 or BIOC 2023
BIOL 300 or STAT 2003
CAPS 2053
CAPS 2063
CHEM 223 and CHEM 235 (or CHEM 203)4
CHEM 20563
Electives7,86
Total Credits31
Third Year 
BIOC 3023
CAPS 3033
CAPS 3053
CAPS 3063
CAPS 3103
CAPS 3913
Electives7,812
Total Credits30
Fourth Year 
Three of the following: CAPS 420, 421, 422, 424, 426, 427, 431 or 4489
Electives7,821
Total Credits30
Credits for Degree120
1 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see the Communication Requirement. 
2 Students without one of B.C. High School Biology 11 or Biology 12 (or their equivalents) must take BIOL 111 before taking BIOL 112 or 121. Students without Chemistry 12 must take CHEM 100, CHEM 110 or CHEM 111 before taking BIOL 112. 
Students without B.C. High School Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM 100. 
Students may take MATH 120, 180 or 184 (4 credits) instead of MATH 100 (3) and reduce the number of required elective credits by 1 credit. Students may take MATH 110 (6) instead of MATH 100 and reduce the number of required elective credits by 3 credits. 
Students without B.C. High School Physics 12 (or its equivalent) must take PHYS 100 before any other PHYS courses. 
Students may take CHEM 211 (4) in lieu of CHEM 205 (3), and reduce the number of required elective credits by 1 credit. 
The schedule for electives is a suggestion. Students are free to take any number of electives, in any year, as long as the total number of electives required for the specialization is achieved. 
8Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s: 
a) Foundational Requirement
b) Laboratory Science Requirement
c) Science Breadth Requirement
d) Science and Arts Requirements
e) Upper-level Requirement
f) General Degree Requirements
 

Honours (3221): Cellular, Anatomical and Physiological Sciences (CAPS)

First Year 
Communication Requirement16
BIOL 1122, 12126
BIOL 180 (or 140)22
CHEM 1213 (or 111 or 141)4
CHEM 1234
MATH 100 or 102 or 10443
MATH 101 or 103 or 10553
PHYS 100-level66
Total Credits34
Second Year 
BIOL 200, 201 (or BIOC 202)6
BIOL 300 (or STAT 200)3
CHEM 2053
CHEM 2114
CHEM 2337, 2354
MICB 2023
Electives812
Total Credits35
Third Year 
BIOC 301, 3026
CAPS 3016
CAPS 3033
CAPS 3903
Electives815
Total Credits33
Fourth Year 
CAPS 4213
CAPS 422, 423, 424, 42612
CAPS 4319,103
CAPS 44996
Electives8,106
Total Credits30
Credits for Degree132
1 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see the Communication Requirement.
2 Students without one of Biology 11 or Biology 12 must take BIOL 111 before taking BIOL 112, 121 or 180. Students without Chemistry 12 must take CHEM 100 or CHEM 111 before taking BIOL 112.
3 Students who do not have B.C. High School Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM 100.
4 MATH 180 or 184 or 120 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 1 credit. MATH 110 may be substituted for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits.
5 MATH 121 may substitute for any of the specified integral calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 1 credit.
6 Students require 6 credits of 100-level physics beyond PHYS 100. Students lacking Physics 12 must take PHYS 100 before any other PHYS courses. Students with Physics 12 should complete their first year requirement with PHYS 108 or 118.
7 CHEM 203 is accepted as a substitute for CHEM 233. 
8 Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
Note that any extra elective credit taken in the first, second or third years can be applied to later elective credit requirements.
9 Students will normally be required to take CAPS 449 and one of CAPS 430 or CAPS 431 in the same Winter Session.
10 Students may take CAPS 430 (6) in lieu of CAPS 431 (3). Students taking CAPS 430 (6) are only required to take 3 credits of electives in 4th year. 

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