Life Sciences 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.
Whether you know exactly what area of science you are interested in or are still undecided (or change your mind after you arrive!), the structure of our Level I Life Sciences Gateway program will provide you with a range of Level II program options.
While some students continue in a Level II program from the same area of study as their Level I program (for example, selecting Level II Honours Biology after completion of Life Sciences Gateway), others discover a new area of interest and change their original direction (for example, a Life Sciences Gateway student may choose to move into Honours Medical and Biological Physics or Honours Mathematics and Statistics). Regardless of your path, at the end of first year you will rank order and apply to up to four Level II programs.
Life Sciences Gateway students experience exciting and engaging lectures and hands-on lab experience in state-of-the-art facilities, interactive classroom lectures as well as dynamic and exciting online content.