Science Course List

This course will provide an overview of the eleven organ systems of the Human Body, with a particular focus on those systems integral to maintaining homeostasis. Selected topics in the course include the control and communication provided by the nervous and endocrine system, the vital functions of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the regulatory functions of the urinary system for fluid balance, the protective role of the immune system, and the role of the digestive system with a focus on the gut microbiome. Students will spend lab time exploring selected anatomy of these systems as well as performing physiological experiments designed to investigate homeostatic function. Case studies will be used to make connections between the response of the human body to changes in its environment, including climate change and response to antibiotics. While this course will provide a strong introduction to human anatomy and physiology for students interested in pursuing the health sciences in university, it will also provide a useful understanding of the basic principles of human physiology applicable to a personal understanding and appreciation of the complexities of human health.

This course will explore the relationship between humans and our natural environment from different angles. From an ecological perspective, the course will study various levels of biodiversity and include tangible actions to observe and protect different ecosystems.  The roles and responsibilities humans have in relation to the environment will be discussed through the lens of human ecology, integrating Indigenous and Western science perspectives along with an evaluation of the physiological impacts of immersing oneself in nature. Finally, analytical monitoring of human influence (negative and positive) on ecosystems will be performed, and technological approaches to mitigate and remediate these impacts will be covered.

This course explores modern, applied topics in biology, making links with other disciplines and technological advances. Topics include areas of human health, development and evolution. Laboratory experiments and activities, including case studies, will explore these principles in greater depth.

In General Chemistry 202-SN1 and Chemistry of Solutions 202-SN2, the student is introduced to a few basic elements of organic chemistry, such as drawing organic structures, hybridization, isomerism, and acid-base theory. This course will go much deeper into all these areas and will emphasize the three-key building blocks of organic chemistry: i) organic nomenclature; ii) the mechanism [curved-arrow-pushing] of many important reactions in organic chemistry; iii) stereochemistry, particularly as applied to the stereochemical consequences and restrictions of a series of addition, elimination, and substitution reactions.

The course focuses on the application of chemical principles and techniques used in criminal investigations. Students will learn the fundamentals of forensic chemistry as it applies to the identification, analysis, and interpretation of substances found at crime scenes, such as drugs, flame accelerants, explosives, toxins, blood and bodily fluids and trace evidence. Topics include chromatographic and spectrometric methods, chemical and forensic toxicology, drug chemistry, fingerprints, blood and blood spatter analysis, and environmental contaminants. Presented partly in the form of case studies, students will be exposed to the methods used in actual situations and test their ability to apply what they have learned.

The Chemistry of Food and Drink explores the fundamental chemistry behind the food and beverage items we consume daily.  Students will delve into the molecular structure and chemical processes that contribute to the taste, texture, preservation and composition of food and drink.  By examining ingredients, cooking techniques, fermentation, flavor chemistry and food production, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how chemistry influences what we eat and drink. Through practical examples, laboratory work, and real-world applications, this course will enhance students’ appreciation for the science that governs culinary practices and the production of various food and drink items.  The environmental impact of food production and food waste will also be explored.

This course examines the scientific principles behind the development, formulation, and functionality of beauty products, including perfumes and colognes, cosmetics, skincare, and hair care items. Students will explore the chemical makeup of commonly used ingredients, such as emulsifiers, surfactants, antioxidants, and preservatives, and their roles in creating effective and safe beauty products. Topics include the molecular interactions between ingredients, the science of skin and hair, formulation techniques, and the impact of product use on human health. The course will also focus on sustainability and ethical considerations within the beauty industry. Through lectures, laboratory experiments, and case studies, students will develop a deeper appreciation for how chemistry shapes the personal care products used in daily life.

This course explores selected current issues in environmental studies using the framework and methods of chemistry, and with reference to the chemical compounds and processes involved.  Tools or insights from physics, mathematics, biology, and earth sciences are also invoked as necessary.  You will assess the condition of natural or modified environments, and the effect of both naturally occurring substances and contaminants on environmental and biological systems.  You will evaluate solutions to some facets of the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) and the environmental impacts of choices which individuals, institutions or societies might make.

This course is about energy, the methods we use to extract and convert it, and the adverse environmental effects these practices have on our planet. The material wealth of modern western society, and of several prominent newly industrialized societies, is largely a result of our heavy use of fossil fuels since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. We will begin by studying how we find, process and distribute these limited fuels. The repercussions of our heavy dependence on fossil fuels will be studied through the environmental impact of pollutants in our air and water. We will analyze climate change and its consequences both on ecosystems and on human societies. The green economy will be examined through alternative energy sources. From wind farms to solar arrays, the benefits and limitations of proven and emerging technologies will be discussed and debated. *NOTE: this course is co-taught with the physics department.

Engineering Chemistry is a course designed to connect topics learned in chemistry with engineering applications in large-scale settings and in everyday life. The course will provide essential knowledge for students across various engineering disciplines and applied sciences.  The course consists of multiple modules, each of which contains theoretical concepts that are then extended to practical applications.  For example, one module will start with viscosity, a physical property that affects the flow of materials.  This will lead to dimensionless numbers and the flow of polymers in 3D printers and the flow of molten chocolate into molds.  Another module will include redox reactions and their role in electrochemistry, corrosion, and corrosion prevention in structures and equipment.  Colligative properties will lead to aerosols, the salting of roads in winter, distillation of jet fuel, concentration of alcoholic liqueurs and the production of ice cream.  Incorporated throughout the course will be universal engineering techniques such as dimensional analysis, assumptions, basis for calculation, system boundaries, empirical equations, scale up, standards, flow diagrams, and modelling.  Key trans-disciplinary concepts such as mass balances and fluid flow will also be introduced.  Historical chemical accidents will be incorporated into the lectures as cautionary examples.

In this course, students will learn to develop and program algorithms through a series of small to medium sized problems, including simple games and puzzles. Basic concepts in the fundamentals of computation, program design and use of collections (data structures) will be covered. Students will develop their skill at programming by using different approaches to algorithmic thinking as well as some techniques for comparing solutions. We will deal with different sources of error: programmer and user and will learn how to identify and resolve these issues.

This course will take a comprehensive look at our Solar System, how it formed and how the various planets and their moons, and other objects have evolved over more than 4-and-a-half billion years.  While geology is, traditionally and by definition, the scientific study of the Earth, science has now advanced such that we can study the materials and processes that make up the other planets in our Solar System.  Comparative planetary geology is an exciting field that presents a novel and exciting framework to teach basic concepts of geology and environmental change, topics that are directly linked to issues of sustainability and planetary stewardship here on Earth.

Earth Systems Science is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of planet Earth through examining the interactions between the major Earth systems: atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, & geosphere (including our place in the solar system, and human contribution). It is a relatively new and rapidly evolving field of science, which examines how the earth operates as a system of interconnected components. This approach forms the modern foundation for understanding environmental processes, including human impacts on global climate and environmental change. The objective of this course is to instill a firm understanding of what The Earth System is, and to introduce the student to the systems and cycles that directly influence our daily and future lives.

Geology is the scientific study of planet Earth, encompassing the physical and chemical processes that have shaped it over billions of years. This multidisciplinary field integrates principles from chemistry, physics, biology, geography, and mathematics to understand the planet’s functioning. Geologists examine contemporary Earth processes such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, erosion, plate tectonics, and climate change to gain insights into similar historical phenomena recorded in rocks. The course will cover both the interior and exterior of Earth, systematically exploring various rocks and minerals, the investigation of transformative changes imprinted into the geological record over eons, and the anticipation of future alterations in the Earth’s landscape. This comprehensive approach aims to provide a deep understanding of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of our planet.

Multivariate Calculus extends the basic concepts of Differential Calculus and Integral Calculus vector valued functions and to functions of several variables. Following a short introduction to vector geometry the course dives into vector functions, their derivatives and integrals. This course covers functions of several variables with emphasis on partial derivatives, directional derivatives and gradient vectors, vector fields and potential functions. The course progresses with line integrals, double integrals and change of variables in double integrals (mainly polar coordinates). Finally, the course covers Green’s theorem, the fundamental theorem of calculus for double integrals, concluding with applications of Green’s theorem to the curl and divergence of a vector field.

This science option course will provide an introduction to the fundamental concepts in university-level mathematics. The primary purpose is to learn how to think logically and mathematically and to understand the importance of the mathematical proof. To achieve this goal, this class will touch on basic logic and set theory, which are foundational to all areas of mathematics. Students will learn to work with logical statements, understand set operations, and use these tools to construct clear and rigorous proofs. The course will then also cover divisibility and congruence, which play a crucial role in number theory and algebra. Two of the following three key topics will also be covered, at the discretion of the teacher: basics of group theory, real analysis, and complex numbers. Where possible, this class will also examine the applications of these topics to other sciences.

The main types of objects dealt with in this course are mild generalizations of those of Linear Algebra 1: columns and matrices are generalized to (abstract) vectors and linear maps, calculations with which can be mostly reduced to calculations with columns and matrices using coordinates. Ideas introduced in Linear Algebra 1 are developed further and extended in this more general context, which is essential for many applications to physical sciences. The emphasis in this course will be on the proof of relevant theoretical results and on the practical applications of these results. The course has a strong interdisciplinary emphasis, the concepts and techniques introduced here find application to modelling populations, fitting models to experimental data, data compression techniques, and classical and quantum mechanics.

“Stochastic, or random, processes is the dynamic side of probability. The material appeals to those who like applications and to those who like theory. It is both excellent preparation for future study, as well as a terminal course, in the sense that we do not have to tell students to wait until the next class or the next year before seeing the good stuff. This is the good stuff! Stochastic processes, as a branch of probability, speaks in the language of rolling dice, flipping coins, and gambling games, but in the service of applications as varied as the spread of infectious diseases, the evolution of genetic sequences, models for climate change, and the growth of the World Wide Web.” (Robert P. Dobrow)

Physics for Engineers is a science option course, which introduces students to three areas of study that are of interest to aspiring engineers. The topics, chosen because they are often covered in the first year of an engineering course at university, may come from Electricity, Fluid Mechanics, Heat, Temperature & Thermodynamics and Mechanics. The Mechanics section topics include: statics and structures analysis with emphasis on practical engineering situations. In the Fluid Mechanics section, topics include: Archimedes’, Pascal’s and Bernoulli’s principles. Finally, one part of the course may deal with alternating current (AC) Circuits (with reactance and impedance, phasors, resonance and efficient power transmission) or Heat & Thermodynamics (with heat transfer in material, calorimetry, first and second law of thermodynamics). Laboratory work is designed to help the student to develop the skills required to carry out a project from the beginning to the end.

This course is about energy, the methods we use to extract and convert it, and the adverse environmental effects these practices have on our planet. The material wealth of modern western society, and of several prominent newly industrialized societies, is largely a result of our heavy use of fossil fuels since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. We will begin by studying how we find, process and distribute these limited fuels. The repercussions of our heavy dependence on fossil fuels will be studied through the environmental impact of pollutants in our air and water. We will analyze climate change and its consequences both on ecosystems and on human societies. The green economy will be examined through alternative energy sources. From wind farms to solar arrays, the benefits and limitations of proven and emerging technologies will be discussed and debated. *NOTE: this course is co-taught with the chemistry department.

This course introduces students to concepts from the fields of Astronomy and Astrophysics, combining elements of previous courses from multiple disciplines. A wide variety of concepts from Newtonian Mechanics, Wave Behaviour and Electromagnetism are applied to astronomical systems within our solar system and the cosmos at large. This course also bridges cultural and historical developments in our thinking about the cosmos, and provides a connection to current scientific research empowering students to contribute through citizen science projects.

Equivalent to Secondary V Chemistry, this course is intended for students who wish to pursue science or technology programs and have passed Secondary IV Environmental Option (558-404 or 558-402), or its equivalent (982-003-50), but lack Secondary V Chemistry. This course provides sufficient chemistry for entry into many technology programs (such as Dental Hygiene and Nursing) and subsequent Chemistry courses.

Prerequisites: SEE MATHEMATICS SEQUENCE CHART (Equivalent to TS4)
This course covers order of operations, fractions, exponents, radicals, arithmetic on polynomials, factoring, work with linear, exponential, quadratic and piecewise functions, solving of linear, quadratic and exponential equations, solving equations with one radical, solving systems of two linear equations, trigonometric relations in right triangles, and analytic geometry on lines.

Prerequisites: SEE MATHEMATICS SEQUENCE CHART (Equivalent to TS5)
In this course students learn algebra, radicals, polynomials, rational expressions, factoring, equations and inequalities, functions, graphs, composition of functions, inverses, polynomials, multiplication, long division, rational functions, parabolas, exponential and logarithmic functions, solving equations, trigonometry, angles, triangle trig, trig functions of any angle, identities, evaluating inverse trig functions and applications.

Equivalent to Secondary IV Environmental Option courses (558-404 or 558-402), this course is intended for students who wish to pursue science or technology programs, but lack the necessary Physical Science prerequisite. The course will provide sufficient chemistry, physics, and biology to prepare students for the Secondary V equivalents 202-001-50 and 203-001-50.

Prerequisite or Co-requisite: Sec. V Math Technical & Scientific Option OR Sec. V Science Option OR 201-015-50
Designed for students with no previous background in physics, this course is equivalent to Secondary V high school physics. It introduces kinematics (emphasizing graphing techniques), vector analysis, and Newton’s laws of motion.