COURSE CURRICULUM

The Biology graduate course offerings at Lakehead University provide students with a diverse and research-focused foundation in biological sciences. Core to the program is Biology 5010, Graduate Seminar, a required first-year course that emphasizes scientific writing, research appraisal, and seminar presentation skills. Biology 5013, Cold Blood in a Hot World, explores the physiological and ecological responses of ectothermic animals to climate variability, addressing modern environmental challenges. For students with specific research interests, Biology 5111 and Biology 5131, Special Topics I and II, offer customizable readings and seminars tailored to their specialization. Biology 5151, Advances in Contemporary Ecology, covers key macroecological theories and data analysis related to species distribution and abundance across scales and latitudes. Biology 5171, Biostatistics, provides critical training in experimental design and both univariate and multivariate statistical analysis using R, essential for interpreting complex biological data. Biology 5770, Advanced Food Microbiology, addresses microbial interactions in food systems, focusing on food safety, infection prevention, and microbial ecology. The capstone of the program is the Master’s Thesis, Biology 5901 (9901), a comprehensive research project weighted at 3.5 credits, allowing students to contribute original findings to their field of study. Together, these courses ensure a robust academic and practical grounding in contemporary biology, preparing graduates for careers in research, environmental management, academia, and applied biological sciences.