In this course students will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of biochemistry and will examine the structures and properties of bio-molecules using standard methods to quantify and identify them. Three major types of biomolecules: lipids, sugars, and proteins are specifically examined in this course. During lab sessions, students will build upon their biochemistry lab skills and generate lab records that meet professional and regulatory standards.
Careers in Canada's emerging biotechnology industry are varied. This course is designed to help students decide on a profession that aligns with their unique skills and abilities. Through industry-led discussions and experiential classroom activities, students will develop a comprehensive perspective on biotechnology, pharma, food and their main industry sectors. They will be provided with an insider's view on each sector of the biotechnology industry, which will help them carve out a career path that fits with their interests and strengths.
Whether students are interested in a career in Manufacturing, Quality Control or Quality Assurance, they will benefit from this exploratory course that examines the day-to-day duties, and personal and professional development of people employed in biotechnology.
This course focuses on the fundamental applied skills that are required for a career in a science laboratory. This includes using and ensuring that basic lab equipment, such as balances, pH meters, and microscopes are used correctly. Students will also be taught aseptic techniques and learn how to appropriately handle reagents and prepare solutions in a variety of science and technology-based workplaces. Following an introduction to potential workplace health and safety hazards, students will be taught how to contribute to the day-to-day maintenance and operation of a lab. In addition, they will practice generating lab records that comply with regulatory requirements.
This course introduces students to the instruments, tools, and equipment used in a production setting. Through classroom lecture and demonstrations, students will experiment with the instruments used in a laboratory. They will also be provided with opportunities to develop the experience needed to install, use, inspect, dismantle, and service analytical and manufacturing equipment.
In this course students will be taught the fundamental skills and concepts required to conduct measurements and calculations in a laboratory environment. Students will learn how to express measurements using the metric system, to convert between different metric units, and to calculate solution concentrations in units such as molarity and parts per million (ppm). They will also review some basic concepts of chemistry, such as the mole, and discuss various aspects of statistics as well as the use of linear regression as applied to calibration. This course will also introduce students to the study of light and electricity to help them effectively use laboratory instruments and equipment.
This course introduces students to several of the standard methods and instruments commonly used in chemical analysis, with a special focus on UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and ion-selective electrodes. The operating principles and physical components of these instruments will be discussed throughout this course and students will be taught how to prepare standards and calibrate these devices. The use of each instrument to perform quantitative and qualitative analyses will also be examined.
This course introduces students to the basics of organic chemistry. Fundamental concepts such as molecular structures and bonding and polarity will be reviewed. Students will also be introduced to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry's (IUPAC) nomenclature system, which is used to name organic molecules.
Throughout this course, students will be taught about the structures, syntheses, and reactions, of the major categories of organic compounds, including alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, as well as amines and aromatics. Various types of isomerism and isomer naming conventions, such as the cis/trans, E/Z and R/S systems, will be discussed in this course. They will also examine the structures and properties of common polymers and the intersection between organic chemistry and biochemistry by considering biological materials such as amino acids and sugars. In the laboratory, students will become proficient in performing basic operations such as recrystallization, distillation and synthesis.
In this course, students will perform quantitative and qualitative analyses using classic wet chemistry methods. They will learn how to accurately prepare samples and standards and use various reagents, glassware and apparatuses. Students will be introduced to standard identification tests for various chemical species and will be taught gravimetric and titrimetric techniques.
Through theory and practice, students will reinforce their understanding of basic chemistry concepts related to laboratory work, including: communicating concentration (such as molarity), stoichiometry and balanced reaction equations, naming chemical compounds, reaction equilibrium, and the fundamentals of acids and bases (pH, neutralization reactions, and strong/weak acids). They will also be taught how to apply these principles to perform the calculations necessary to derive results from test data.
Everyone communicates, but are they doing it well? Communicative competence takes practice and self-awareness. By developing their communication skills, the student will improve their interpersonal ability, intercultural competence, and digital fluency to prepare the student for success in the workplace. In Communication Strategies, the student will learn through discovery and project-based activities to practice approaching situations critically and collaboratively. The strategies the student will gain in this course will be useful throughout their program and in their chosen industry.
This course focuses on communication requirements in the Life Sciences sector and will help students build on the skills they practiced in Communication Strategies. In this sector-level course, students will collaborate with their peers to manage, analyze, and communicate technical and legal information to differing audiences in a variety of formats. This collaboration will involve practicing active listening and feedback/forward strategies within a Life Sciences context.
In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of microbiology. Through classroom discussions, demonstrations, and guided practice, they will develop the skills to required to perform various operations in a microbiology lab. Students will build the competence to accurately observe, cultivate, and identify selected bacteria and fungi and will learn how to apply different sterilization methods in a microbiology lab to maintain a safe and sanitary environment.
This course introduces students to the concepts of quality and the basics of compliance, providing them with the building blocks for eventual success in the workplace. Students will evaluate their expectations of product quality and learn about good data and records management, good manufacturing practices, standard operating procedures and food safety to develop experience with the regulations, guidelines, and industry standards used to ensure quality and compliance.