Science Companion

science mun.ca/science 2016-2017

WHAT ARE THE DEGREE OPTIONS? BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.Sc.): These degree programs generally take four years to complete. Students must choose a major and they may also choose a minor (see following pages for information on the available majors and minors). A wide variety of joint major and joint honours B.Sc. programs are available.

Major and honours students in the departments of biology, computer science, economics and psychology can opt to study in co-operative programs. The co-op programs provide opportunities to learn valuable practical skills while being employed in full-time paid work terms/internships in related fields.

HOW DO I BECOME A SCIENCE STUDENT? Students may apply for admission into the Faculty of Science directly from high school by indicating bachelor of science as their program choice on the university application. Entry into a specific major requires the completion of at least 10 courses at the university level and some majors are competitive for a limited number of placements. Direct entry into the faculty from high school is subject to the applicant meeting the general admission requirements for Memorial University.

SPECIAL SERVICES/PROGRAMS The Faculty of Science, in partnership with Career Development and Experiential Learning, employs a science career development co-ordinator. Science students can find help with career exploration, resume building, job searching, as well as finding available work and volunteer experience on campus.

ScienceM@tters is a national award-winning career mentoring program that allows science majors to discover how the skills and knowledge they obtain from their B.Sc. degree can be applied to career goals. Students are able to register for free weekly career development workshops within various science departments, as well as monthly luncheons where science alumni discuss their career path experiences with students. Additionally, there are networking events available for science students which allow them to practice marketing their transferable skills to employers.

For further information, please visit www.mun.ca/cdel/sciencematters.

• Forensic laboratory scientist • Biotechnologist • Fisheries officer • Medical doctor • Environmental assessor

• Geochemist • Auditor • Field scientist • Web specialist

FAST FACTS The Bonne Bay Marine Station, located near Gros Morne National Park on Newfoundland’s west coast, is a world-class facility offering a host of services to students, researchers, educators and the general public. Equipped with teaching and research laboratories, residence accommodations and much more, the station offers students a premiere learning environment for marine ecosystem research. The Department of Biology offers several field courses here each year as part of its undergraduate curriculum.

The Ocean Sciences Centre is a cold ocean research facility located about 10 minutes from the St. John’s Campus. It is an ideal location for shore-based studies of cold ocean processes including aquaculture, fisheries ecosystems and hydrocarbon pollution.

SCIENCE

A science degree prepares the student to think and adapt to new environments in a wide range of possible careers. Graduates from the Faculty of Science have gone on to pursue the following careers:

MAJORS BIOCHEMISTRY BIOCHEMISTRY

Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes associated with living organisms.

Biochemists use concepts of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, microbiology and genetics to unravel the complex puzzles of life.

NUTRITION

Nutrition is the science that studies the means by which we take in and utilize food. Nutritionists study the metabolism of foods: how foods are converted and used by the body.

BIOCHEMISTRY AT MEMORIAL Many of our undergraduates become involved in research through Memorial University Career Experience Program (MUCEP), Student Undergraduate Research Award (SURA) and other summer research programs. They do research in areas such as development (sea urchins and zebrafish), muscle biochemistry, lipid composition and molecular dynamics.

CONTACT Telephone: 709 864 8530 bcadvice@mun.ca www.mun.ca/biochem

BIOLOGY BIOLOGY, BIOLOGY (MARINE), BIOLOGY (ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION), BIOLOGY (CELL AND MOLECULAR)

Biology is the study of life and of living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution and distribution. Within the biology program a student can specialize in areas such as cellular, developmental and molecular biology and physiology, genetics and evolution, marine biology, and conservation and ecology.

BIOLOGY AT MEMORIAL We offer various field courses in biology at the Bonne Bay Marine Station, located near Gros Morne National Park, at Terra Nova National Park in eastern Newfoundland and at Memorial’s Harlow Campus in England. Our programs offer tremendous field and laboratory research opportunities for undergraduate students.

CONTACT Telephone: 709 864 7498 morrisk@mun.ca www.mun.ca/biology

CHEMISTRY

Chemistry is the science of the composition, structure, properties and reactions of matter, especially of atomic and molecular systems. The synthesis of new drugs, the production of novel materials and the monitoring and improvement of our environment all involve the science of chemistry.

COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY

Computational chemistry uses computers and software to model the behaviour and properties of chemical systems, from individual atoms to the large proteins found in living things. These models lead to the design of molecules for new drugs and materials in medicine, and new ways to store and transport energy and information.

CHEMISTRY AT MEMORIAL The Department of Chemistry has state-of-the-art spectroscopic and other analytical instrumentation as well as the high performance computer facilities of ACEnet. We also have extensive computing facilities for chemistry majors and honours students.

CONTACT Telephone: 709 864 8772 chemhead@mun.ca www.mun.ca/chem

COMPUTER SCIENCE COMPUTER SCIENCE, COMPUTER SCIENCE (SOFTWARE ENGINEERING)

Virtually every discipline — practical, theoretical or creative — is experiencing the influence of computers. The ever-increasing dependence on computer technology in our daily lives presents rich opportunities for those interested in the design of new applications and systems.

COMPUTER SCIENCE AT MEMORIAL We offer individual courses and full programs so any student can develop their computer skills and interest regardless of their career trajectory. Memorial’s Computer Industry Internship Option (CIIO) provides an opportunity for students to obtain rewarding placements in computer industries. The internship program gives students a paid placement so they can explore career options and develop workplace skills at the same time.

CONTACT Telephone: 709 864 8627 cs-compsci@mun.ca www.mun.ca/computerscience

SCIENCE

CHEMISTRY

EARTH SCIENCES

Earth sciences encompasses all scientific studies related to the structure and development of our planet, whether investigating the composition of rocks or soil on the earth’s surface, the movement of plates or the properties of material far beneath our feet. Although field work plays an important role in many studies, today’s geoscientist commonly uses ocean drilling vessels, satellite imagery, highprecision geochemical and geophysical instruments, and the latest in electronic and laser microscopes.

EARTH SCIENCES AT MEMORIAL Memorial University has one of the largest and most diverse earth sciences departments in Canada. Students can choose a comprehensive stream, or specialize in applied geophysics; environmental geoscience; petrology, tectonics and economic geology; or sedimentary basins.

Many companies visit us annually to hire our students both for summer work and permanent positions. A significant proportion of our students become professional geoscientists.

CONTACT Telephone: 709 864 4464 earthsci@mun.ca www.mun.ca/earthsciences

ECONOMICS

Economics is the branch of social science that deals with the analysis and management of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.

ECONOMICS AT MEMORIAL We offer applied economics courses in a wide variety of areas, including fishery, petroleum and mining, forestry, environmental, development, international, montary, public sector, welfare, labor and health economics. Students who study economics at Memorial can choose to complete their studies as part of a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree and may choose to complete the Economics Co-operative Education Option (ECEO).

CONTACT Telephone 709 864 8248 economics@mun.ca www.mun.ca/econ

GEOGRAPHY

Geography literally means description of the Earth — its physical and human components and how they vary spatially. Geography studies the interrelationships of climate, landforms, plants, animals and humans over the surface of the earth.

GEOGRAPHY AT MEMORIAL We offer a diploma in geographic information sciences that you can complete at the same time as your bachelor’s degree. In the DIP-GIS, you gain valuable hands-on experience in cartography, remote sensing and geographic information systems.

CONTACT Telephone: 709 864 7417 geog@mun.ca www.mun.ca/geog

APPLIED MATHEMATICS

Applied mathematics uses mathematics together with other fields such as physics, biology, chemistry or economics to make discoveries about the way the world works.

PURE MATHEMATICS

Pure mathematics involves the study of the core areas of mathematics such as abstract algebra, number theory, geometry, and real and complex analysis.

STATISTICS

Statistics is a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters.

MATH & STATS AT MEMORIAL We employ undergraduate students in the Math Help Centre and to mark course assignments. Some of our students qualify for summer research employment funded by the National Science and Engineering Research Council.

CONTACT Telephone: 709 864 8784 mathstat@mun.ca www.mun.ca/math

PHYSICS PHYSICS

Physics is the study of the interactions of energy and matter. These interactions govern the physical world and are important in fields as wide ranging as meteorology, geophysics, materials science and optics.

ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS

At Memorial, environmental physics means exploring the Earth’s environment through the understanding provided by physics. It draws upon the ideas and concepts from many different areas of physics including mechanics, electricity, magnetism, thermodynamics and atomic physics.

PHYSICS AT MEMORIAL Many of our undergraduates are actively involved in physics research programs.

This experience provides both summer employment and an excellent preparation for a career in industrial or university research. Memorial is the only Canadian university offering physics with an environmental focus.

CONTACT Telephone: 709 864 6111 rgoulding@mun.ca www.mun.ca/physics

SCIENCE

MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS

PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology is the study of behaviour and the mind. As a science, psychology employs careful investigation to understand behaviour, thinking and experience.

The profession of psychology applies this information to promote human welfare.

The combination of writing, research and statistical analysis acquired in an undergraduate psychology degree is a sound preparation for many careers.

BEHAVIOURAL NEUROSCIENCE

Behavioural neuroscience is the general study of the relations between the structure and activity of the brain and its function in generating integrated adaptive behavioural responses. Memorial’s neuroscience program has strong links to the Faculty of Medicine, located on the same campus in St. John’s.

PSYCHOLOGY AT MEMORIAL Our major programs in psychology provide students with a solid background in the science of psychology, and culminate with small classes offering direct, hands-on experience in conducting research in a wide variety of areas such as observation of sea bird behaviour, assessment of people’s attitudes, and experiments on memory and spatial learning.

CONTACT Telephone: 709 864 8496 psych@mun.ca www.mun.ca/psychology

MINORS In the Faculty of Science, a minor area of study is optional. You may choose a minor in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, economics, geography, mathematics and statistics, oceanography, physics, psychology, or sustainable aquaculture and fisheries ecology.

Other minors for the B.Sc. degree may be chosen from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences or Business Administration, or School of Music.

CONTACT

FACULTY OF SCIENCE MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND ST. JOHN’S, NL, CANADA Telephone: 709 864 8153 or 864 8154 Email: science@mun.ca | www.mun.ca/science

020-16001-2000

OFFICE OF STUDENT RECRUITMENT MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND ST. JOHN’S, NL, CANADA Telephone: 709 864 8896 | Toll Free: 866 354 8896 www.mun.ca/undergrad