Training structure
Faculty of Science
Language(s) of instruction
French
Presentation
The APP-Bio course in the Life Sciences Bachelor's degree program is entirely problem-based and project-based from L1 to L3. It is an active, student-centered program that emphasizes both cross-disciplinary skills and specialized skills in biology. These skills will be developed through team activities and independent work. Using concrete cross-disciplinary case studies in each Biology course unit, students will be required to formulate hypotheses and verify them by seeking information from scientifically reliable sources. Over the course of the three years, students will gradually acquire the ability to independently sort through information sources.
Teaching is mainly in the form of tutorials and practical work, with scientific lectures or consolidation classes limited to three hours per week. Three times a week, the group is supervised by a tutor who reviews what has been learned and guides students in their learning. Assessments are aligned with learning outcomes. Numerous self-assessments will be available each week. The Biology teaching units are organized sequentially, incorporating elements from complementary disciplines (Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, English, etc.): You only have one Biology teaching unit at a time; once it is finished, you complete the assessments and move on to the next one. Each year, a professionalization or pre-professionalization course allows you to validate your progress in cross-disciplinary skills as well as the disciplinary knowledge acquired during the year. The program ends with a multidisciplinary team project in popular science and a two-month personal project or internship.
Objectives
Generalist and multidisciplinary training in the field of life sciences. This program provides students with an integrated view of biology and develops cross-disciplinary skills in collaborative work, problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and innovation (known as 21st-century skills). This program focuses on the environment, biodiversity, biomedical research, plant improvement and health, and understanding the fundamental mechanisms of life.
In L3, students can choose to specialize in Mechanisms of Life, Ecology-Environment, or pursue a specialization in Biology APP at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM, Canada).
Know-how and skills
- Subject-specific skills
- Apply fundamental concepts and technologies in molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, physiology, immunology, classification of living organisms, developmental biology, and evolution to address an issue in the field or analyze a research paper or presentation.
- Mobilize fundamental concepts of ecology and ecosystems to contextualize biological and physiological issues.
- Identify and independently carry out the various stages of an experimental process.
- Identify, select, and apply a combination of analytical tools (common techniques, instrumentation) suitable for characterizing organisms (from biomolecules to individuals in all their complexity) and their functioning at different levels of analysis (intracellular metabolism, biology and physiology of complex organisms, interactions between individuals and groups, interactions with the environment).
- Interpret experimental data to consider their modeling.
- Validate a model by comparing its predictions with experimental results and assess its validity limits.
- Identify sources of error to calculate the uncertainty of an experimental result.
- Manipulating fundamental mechanisms at the microscopic scale, modeling macroscopic phenomena, linking a macroscopic phenomenon to microscopic processes.
- Use data acquisition and analysis software with a critical eye.
- Mobilize concepts and tools from mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer science in the context of life science issues.
- Identify specific regulations and implement key preventive measures in the area of health and safety.
- Pre-professional skills
- Identify one's role and mission within an organization in order to adapt and take initiative.
- Identify the process of producing, disseminating, and promoting knowledge.
- Respect the principles of ethics, professional conduct, and environmental responsibility.
- Work both as part of a team and independently, taking responsibility for a project.
- Identify and locate professional fields potentially related to the skills acquired during the program.
- Characterize and promote your identity, skills, and career plans according to a given context.
- Take a step back from a situation, evaluate yourself, and question yourself in order to learn.
- Cross-functional and language skills
- Use standard digital tools and IT security rules to acquire, process, produce, and disseminate information, as well as to collaborate internally and externally.
- Identify and select various specialized resources to document a topic.
- Analyze and synthesize data for use.
- Develop critical thinking skills.
- Be able to use the different registers of written and spoken French with ease.
- Be able to use written and oral comprehension and expression with ease in at least one modern foreign language.
Program
L1 S1
EU Introduction to Experimental Sciences
EU General Chemistry in APP
EU General Physics in APP
EU Computational Mathematics in APP
EU From Molecule to Cell in APP
EU From Cell to Organism in APP
EU From Organism to Ecosystem in APP
EU Environmental Science in APP
EU English S1 in APP
L1 S2
EU Life Cycle in APP
EU Biochemistry in APP
EU Genetics and Molecular Biology in APP
EU Statistics in Biology in APP
EU Organic Chemistry in APP
EU Pre-professionalization in Biology (0.5 SPS)
EU English S2 in APP
General Chemistry in APP
2 creditsGeneral Physics in APP
2 creditsEnglish S1 in APP
1 creditCalculus in APP
4 creditsFrom organism to ecosystem in APP
3 creditsFrom Molecule to Cell in APP
6 creditsFrom the Cell to the Organism in APP
6 creditsIntroduction to Experimental Sciences
4 creditsEnvironmental Science in APP
2 credits
Genetics and Molecular Biology in APP
6 creditsOrganic Chemistry in APP
4 creditsPre-professional training in Biology (0.5 SPS)
2 creditsBiochemistry in APP
2 creditsEnglish S2 in APP
2 creditsAPP Life Cycle
8 creditsStatistics in Biology in APP
6 credits
Admission
Target audience
High school graduates who are curious and willing to experiment with new teaching methods for learning biological sciences, who enjoy working in groups and speaking in public, and who are capable of working independently and creatively to complete a large amount of personal work.
Mandatory prerequisites
Good ability to work independently and in a team
Bachelor's degree or equivalent in science with a major in biology
French level B2
Recommended prerequisites
French level C1,
Ability to speak in public
Experience in associations
And after
Continuing education
All Master's degrees requiring a foundation in Biology: Master's in Environmental Engineering, Master's in Environmental Management, Master's in Biological Sciences
Master's degree in BA, Master's degree in MEEF SVT, Master's degree in bi, multi- or transdisciplinary studies
Continuing studies abroad
It is possible to study abroad as part of the ERASMUS program and various other programs (e.g., ERASMUS-MUNDUS, BCI (Quebec), etc.).
Gateways and reorientation
Semester-long reorientation for even-numbered semesters is possible in all SV Bachelor's degree programs after consultation with the program or portal (L1) coordinators and approval by the APP-Bio program coordinator, following the procedure established by the Faculty of Sciences.
Transfer between SV Bachelor's degree programs is possible after consultation with the selection committees of the target program, following the application procedure of the Faculty of Sciences or any other institution offering a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences.
Professional integration
Technician or assistant engineer in experimentation, research, breeding, naturalist expertise, and/or analysis in the fields of biology (cytology, histology, botany, zoology, etc.), biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, ecology, health, and/or the environment.
ROME code H1210 Technical intervention in studies, research, and development
The cross-disciplinary skills acquired will enable potential professional integration into all service professions requiring a bachelor's degree, particularly those related to biology.