Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) seeks to understand the origins, diversity, and distribution of organisms. All life evolves. All life sciences, along with evidence-based stewardship of life on planet Earth, depend on understanding the factors that influence the origin and maintenance of biological diversity from genomes to ecosystems. Understanding EEB helps society to make informed decisions about sustainable development, global climate change, invasive species, harvested natural resources, preservation of biodiversity, genetic diversity and ecosystem integrity, control of herbicide and pesticide resistance, antibiotic and drug resistance, and emerging infectious diseases.

Students exposed to these subjects come to realize that the ecological and evolutionary underpinnings of life pose a constellation of engaging scientific problems that are both intellectually challenging and critical to humanity's future. EEB graduates go on to successful careers in data science, research, medicine and healthcare, government ministries like MNR and DFO, environmental and conservation NGO's and consulting firms, and many other industries. As members of one of the highest ranked EEB departments in the world and the largest EEB department in Canada, EEB students are uniquely positioned to enhance their scientific literacy as the future decision-makers and knowledge-creators in society.

The EEB Department offers a diverse collection of over 50 courses that explore biological diversity, conservation biology, molecular evolution, population and quantitative genetics, computational and statistical data analysis, genomics, animal behaviour, the ecology of populations, communities, and ecosystems, mathematical theory in biology, environmental biology, and systematics. EEB faculty include Curators from the Royal Ontario Museum. Students participate in diverse learning environments within EEB courses: hands-on bench and computer lab practicals, field trips, off-campus field courses in Ontario and internationally, small-class discussion seminars, and independent research projects with world-leading faculty researchers. Students enrolled in EEB courses and programs become part of a welcoming and supportive community of scholars.

The EEB Department offers six core programs of study: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (Specialist and Major), Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (Major), Environmental Biology (Major and Minor) and Quantitative Biology (Major). Students enrolled in EEB programs are invited to participate in the Arts & Science's Second-Year Learning Communities, or SLCs, that bring together a small group of second-year students who have a similar academic focus and belong to the same department, and to attend the EEB Info Session Series for advising about career options, applying for scholarships and grad school, and seeking out research opportunities.

Students with questions and advising needs about EEB-sponsored programs are encouraged to visit the departmental website https://eeb.utoronto.ca/education/undergraduate/ or to contact the EEB Undergraduate Office, Earth Sciences Centre (25 Willcocks St.), Room 3055B, undergrad.eeb@utoronto.ca, 416-978-2084.

The EEB Department also jointly offers multi-department programs: Specialist, Major, and Minor programs in general Biology (with Cell & Systems Biology), a Major program in Genome Biology (with Cell & Systems Biology and Molecular Genetics & Microbiology), and a Specialist program in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology (with Cell & Systems Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, and Computer Science). Students requiring more information about these programs and their course requirements should consult the Biology Calendar page.

Use the University of Toronto International Application if you:

• currently reside outside of Canada, AND 
• are not currently studying, and have not previously studied in Canada, AND
• are not applying to any other Ontario university

Prospective international applicants who wish to apply to other Ontario universities in addition to the University of Toronto should use the OUAC 105 Application (see below).

If you have already applied with the OUAC 105 Application, you do not need to apply to the University of Toronto with the International Application. (If you submit both applications, your second application will be cancelled with no possibility of a refund.)

Note that you will need to pay a non-refundable fee of $180.

University of Toronto has contracted with the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) to provide application processing services. When you begin the application process, you will be transferred to the OUAC website where you will complete and submit your application. You will be required to create an OUAC Account (if you do not already have one). You may have only one OUAC Account. Direct any application process questions to the OUAC.