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Animal Biology

University of Guelph

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Checked 2026-11-05

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Deadlines

November 2026

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Next deadline

  • OUAC. Ontario high schools report midterm/final 4U/M grades

    2027 entry

    School deadline, not a student task. Universities receive these grades by November 26. Verbatim: "Deadline for the OUAC to receive all midterm or final grades available for 4U/M courses from Ontario high schools. Schools may report in-progress grades for full-year courses as soon as they are available." Universities receive these by the target date of November 26, 2026. This is a deadline on the high school, not on the student, but it governs which grades a university sees in the first round.

Other deadline details
No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by programOUAC Undergraduate application, applicants who are not Ontario high school students (Group B)2026 entry
  • No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by program
  • No single OUAC deadline
  • University, program, transcript, portfolio, interview, and audition dates still apply
Full source wording

Verbatim: "There is no specific Undergraduate application deadline if you are a Group B applicant. Deadlines vary at each university and sometimes depend on the program. Visit the university websites or contact the universities directly for their deadlines. If you are interested in a program but the deadline has passed, you may contact the university's admission office for help. Be aware of university-specific deadlines for submitting transcripts and portfolios, if required, and for arranging interviews and auditions. You must ensure the OUAC has enough time to process your choices before the universities' program deadlines." OUAC defines Group B as anyone who does not meet the Group A criteria, e.g. not currently taking an Ontario high school course, a Canadian outside Ontario, an international applicant, a postsecondary transfer student, or a mature applicant.

SourceChecked

Requirements

Admission requirements

High-school prerequisites
Application steps
  1. Step 1Check the admission requirements
  2. Step 2Apply through OUAC
    • Create your application and select this program.
    OUACOUAC
  3. Step 3Secondary records and all postsecondary transcripts
    • Provide the applicable school diploma or equivalent, secondary school marks and official records for all attempted postsecondary academic work. Official transcripts must come directly from the issuing institution. Any supplementary information requested for your application must also be submitted.
    Guelph undergraduate calendar: submission of documentsGuelph undergraduate calendar: submission of documents
  4. Step 4Apply through OUAC to the appropriate first-year entry programme or gateway; submit the required academic records.
Applicant pathways
Animal Biology (BSc): Prerequisites

Ontario high-school applicants entering Animal Biology (BSc) (GZA) in 2027/28. Applies only to the named entry route; later major declaration is separate.

  • ENG4U
  • MHF4U
  • 2 4U Science courses
  • 2 additional 4U/M courses
  • Acceptable 4U science courses include Biology (SBI4U), Chemistry (SCH4U) and Physics (SPH4U). Completion of all 3 is strongly recommended. Applicants lacking the third science course will be required to take a replacement course in semester one.
Guelph university-contributed OUInfo Animal Biology (BSc) admission requirements, 2027/28
Animal Biology (BSc): Basic Requirements for Admission

Ontario high-school applicants entering Animal Biology (BSc) (GZA) in 2027/28. Applies only to the named entry route; later major declaration is separate.

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
  • Six 4U/M courses including the required courses for your chosen degree.
  • ENG4U (required for all degree programs)
  • We use your top 6 completed 4U/M (or equivalent) courses, including required courses, to calculate your admission average. Where not available, we use a combination of the top 6 completed or in-progress 4U/M and completed 3U/M courses, including required subjects.
  • Visit our website to view admission requirements by program, including supplementary forms.
  • All offers are conditional upon completion of the OSSD, required courses for your program of interest, and a final admission average as outlined in your offer.
  • All admission conditions must be fulfilled by July 16, 2027 .
Guelph university-contributed OUInfo Animal Biology (BSc) admission requirements, 2027/28
Animal Biology (BSc): Timing and Process for Admission Decisions

Ontario high-school applicants entering Animal Biology (BSc) (GZA) in 2027/28. Applies only to the named entry route; later major declaration is separate.

  • If you are applying directly from high school, you will be considered for admission on an ongoing basis, beginning in November. Offers will be released on an ongoing basis from November to May.
  • Exceptions: Offers to the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program will be made in March and April.
Guelph university-contributed OUInfo Animal Biology (BSc) admission requirements, 2027/28
Optional admission context forms

Only applicants choosing contextual consideration; Only the exact degree/major entry route named in this programme’s admission evidence

  • The Student Profile Form is optional and strongly recommended; the April 1, 2027 deadline is separate from applying.
  • High-school applicants whose disability affected their grades may submit the optional SIF-D by April 1, 2027. Mature/transfer applicants should contact Admission Services about a support letter.
  • Complete an Education Declaration only if it appears in the WebAdvisor document checklist.
Guelph mandatory BLA BIF and optional supplementary forms, explicit 2027 deadlines
Ontario students taking IB

Ontario OSSD students taking IB; Guelph undergraduate degree entry

  • Ontario students in the IB Diploma program have IB courses translated into Ontario curriculum equivalents. Their high school converts IB results to percentages and submits them through OUAC.
  • Guelph determines admission and scholarships using those school-submitted conversions. Keep the Ontario prerequisites for your chosen degree and major.
Guelph current Ontario/IB assessment policy
Full IB Diploma credential route

Applicants presenting the full IB Diploma rather than an Ontario-converted IB record

  • Complete six unique subjects, three HL and three SL, including the degree/major prerequisites. Predicted grades may support conditional offers; the linked calendar separately states the required score and treatment of bonus points. This packet does not alter any score minimum.
  • The calendar waives English proficiency for a completed IB Diploma taught in English. Ontario students taking IB remain assessed on their school-submitted Ontario equivalents already held; these two credential routes are not merged.
guelph calendar admission · official applicant policy
Canadian credentials outside Ontario

Applicants educated in another Canadian province/territory or Québec CEGEP

  • The calendar lists Grade12 for Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon. Required senior-course counts vary by province; exact programme subjects still apply.
  • For Québec, present the secondary-school leaving certificate plus12 academic credits from an appropriate CEGEP programme. The university assesses preparation equivalent to Ontario and considers whether a named senior subject is available in the issuing jurisdiction. No unlisted equivalence is assumed.
guelph calendar admission · official applicant policy
United States secondary-school route

Applicants presenting a regionally accredited U.S. high-school record

  • Include the chosen degree/major prerequisites in senior-level study and provide the school profile with its grading scale. The source separately sets the native unweighted GPA threshold, which this packet does not change.
  • SAT/ACT results are optional and are considered when they benefit and strengthen the application. Diploma and offer conditions remain required; optional testing is not an admission guarantee.
guelph calendar admission · official applicant policy
Mature-student category

Applicants meeting the calendar’s mature definition before the starting Fall term

  • Normally have been out of secondary school for at least two years, have not attended another postsecondary institution, and hold a secondary diploma or equivalent. Mature admission is available in Fall only.
  • Meet the degree’s specific mature-applicant subject list or equivalents, and provide official records from every secondary/postsecondary institution by the document deadline. The mature subject lists differ by degree; the ordinary Ontario six-course package is not universally substituted for them.
  • The Academic Transition Programme is a separate preparatory option. Its calendar entry says admission was suspended for Fall2026; no reopening for2027 is inferred.
guelph calendar admission · official applicant policy

Degree requirements

Required courses and electives
  • 0.50 Liberal Education electives 0.50
  • 0.50 electives or restricted electives 0.50
  • 1.50 electives or restricted electives 1.50
  • 1.00 electives or restricted electives 1.00
  • 2.50 electives or restricted electives 2.50
  • 2.50 electives or restricted electives 2 2.50
  • Restricted electives (# 2 and # 3) 4.50
  • Approved Science Electives 1.00
  • Liberal Education Electives 1.50
  • Free Electives - any approved elective for B.Sc. students. 2.00
Credits and degree requirements
  • Select 0.50 credits from the following:
  • Select 0.50 credits from of the following:
  • Total Credits 20
  • The Animal Biology major requires 16.00 science credits. At least 2.00 must be at the 4000 level and another 4.00 at the 3000 or 4000 level.

Program facts

Courses

Named courses across the published program requirements, including alternatives and elective banks. This is not a timetable or a list every student takes.

First year: Semester 1 core4 listed

The published major schedule also includes 0.50 credits of Liberal Education electives.

  • BIOL*1050Biology of Plants & Animals in Managed Ecosystems0.5 credits

    Explore plant and animal biology, evolution and ecology in managed ecosystems.

  • CHEM*1040General Chemistry I0.5 credits

    Study bonding, reactions, stoichiometry, equilibria and introductory organic chemistry.

  • MATH*1080Elements of Calculus I0.5 credits

    Apply single-variable calculus and mathematical modelling to biological sciences.

  • PHYS*1080Physics for Life Sciences0.5 credits

    Apply mechanics, fluids, diffusion and heat concepts to life sciences.

Guelph 2026–27 animalbio first-year programme requirements
First year: Semester 2 core4 listed

The published major schedule also includes 0.50 credits of electives or restricted electives.

  • AGR*1350Animal Production Systems and Industry: Dairy, Poultry and Egg0.5 credits

    Explore Canadian dairy, poultry and egg production through laboratories and production-unit tours.

  • BIOL*1090Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology0.5 credits

    Study cells, genes, energy and regulation, connecting molecular biology with everyday problems.

  • CHEM*1050General Chemistry II0.5 credits

    Study chemical transformations through thermodynamics, kinetics and electrochemistry.

  • PHYS*1070Physics for Life Sciences II0.5 credits

    Explore waves, optics, electricity and radiation with life-science applications.

Guelph 2026–27 animalbio first-year programme requirements
Mapped terms

Only the first two published Animal Biology semesters. Later animal-science options and elective specializations remain separate. Choice slot coverage is partial.

Published first year
Semester 1

The published major schedule also includes 0.50 credits of Liberal Education electives. Unnamed elective and alternative slots remain partial; the named rows do not supply a complete choice denominator.

  • BIOL*1050Biology of Plants & Animals in Managed Ecosystems0.5 credits

    Explore plant and animal biology, evolution and ecology in managed ecosystems.

  • CHEM*1040General Chemistry I0.5 credits

    Study bonding, reactions, stoichiometry, equilibria and introductory organic chemistry.

  • MATH*1080Elements of Calculus I0.5 credits

    Apply single-variable calculus and mathematical modelling to biological sciences.

  • PHYS*1080Physics for Life Sciences0.5 credits

    Apply mechanics, fluids, diffusion and heat concepts to life sciences.

Semester 2

The published major schedule also includes 0.50 credits of electives or restricted electives. Unnamed elective and alternative slots remain partial; the named rows do not supply a complete choice denominator.

  • AGR*1350Animal Production Systems and Industry: Dairy, Poultry and Egg0.5 credits

    Explore Canadian dairy, poultry and egg production through laboratories and production-unit tours.

  • BIOL*1090Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology0.5 credits

    Study cells, genes, energy and regulation, connecting molecular biology with everyday problems.

  • CHEM*1050General Chemistry II0.5 credits

    Study chemical transformations through thermodynamics, kinetics and electrochemistry.

  • PHYS*1070Physics for Life Sciences II0.5 credits

    Explore waves, optics, electricity and radiation with life-science applications.

Guelph 2026–27 animalbio first-year programme requirementsPublished university program calendarGuelph BIOL*1050 published course description and creditsGuelph CHEM*1050 published course description and creditsGuelph MATH*1080 published course description and creditsGuelph PHYS*1070 published course description and creditsGuelph AGR*3200 exact published course description
Additional published courses
  • AGR*2350Animal Production Systems and Industry: Beef, Swine and Others0.5 credits

    Explore Canadian animal-production systems, management, health, nutrition, breeding and processing through labs and tours.

  • BIOC*2580Introduction to Biochemistry0.5 credits

    Study biological macromolecules, enzymes and metabolism, with laboratory investigation.

  • MBG*2040Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics0.5 credits

    Study inheritance, gene mapping, chromosome variation, DNA repair and gene expression.

  • MBG*2400Fundamentals of Plant and Animal Genetics0.5 credits

    Study plant and animal inheritance, selection, domestication, quantitative traits and molecular markers.

  • STAT*2040Statistics I 10.5 credits

    Analyze scientific data using probability, estimation, hypothesis tests, regression and statistical software.

  • ANSC*2210Principles of Animal Care and Welfare0.5 credits

    Examine animal ethics, quality of life, welfare assessment and cultural and regulatory approaches.

  • ANSC*2340Structure of Farm Animals0.5 credits

    Study farm-animal anatomy and carcass structure, composition and meat-quality factors.

  • MCB*2050Molecular Biology of the Cell0.5 credits

    Study cell structure and molecular mechanisms, including gene regulation, protein trafficking and disease.

  • NUTR*3210Fundamentals of Nutrition0.5 credits

    Study nutrient uptake and metabolic roles in growth, reproduction and longevity across species.

  • ANSC*3080Agricultural Animal Physiology0.5 credits

    Study domesticated-animal physiology and homeostatic control through integrated lectures and labs.

  • ANSC*3120Introduction to Animal Nutrition0.5 credits

    Apply nutrition principles to diets and feeding programmes for agricultural animals.

  • ANSC*3040Animal Reproduction0.5 credits

    Study reproductive anatomy, physiology and assisted technologies across agricultural, companion and wildlife species.

  • ANSC*3270Animal Disorders0.5 credits

    Examine animal disorders, welfare impacts, transmission and prevention through health and management strategies.

  • MBG*3060Quantitative Genetics0.5 credits

    Study inheritance of quantitative traits and predict population responses to natural and artificial selection.

  • ANSC*4050Biotechnology in Animal Science0.5 credits

    Study animal biotechnology, recombinant DNA, markers, stem cells and transgenic animals and current challenges.

  • MBG*4020Genetics of Companion Animals0.5 credits

    Design companion-animal breeding programmes using molecular genetics, breeding theory and statistical genomics.

  • MBG*4030Animal Breeding Methods and Applications0.5 credits

    Develop livestock and poultry breeding plans integrating genetics, statistics, economics and biotechnology.

  • ANSC*3170Nutrition of Fish and Crustacea0.5 credits

    Study fish and crustacean growth, digestion, nutrient needs and feeding, emphasizing aquaculture species.

  • ANSC*3180Wildlife Nutrition0.5 credits

    Study wildlife nutrition and its role in survival and population growth, emphasizing North American birds and mammals.

  • ANSC*4260Beef Cattle Nutrition0.5 credits

    Evaluate beef-cattle feeding, nutrient metabolism, current issues and nutritional deficiencies.

  • ANSC*4270Dairy Cattle Nutrition0.5 credits

    Study feed-to-milk nutrient conversion, farm feed management and computer-based dairy-ration formulation.

  • ANSC*4280Poultry Nutrition0.5 credits

    Evaluate poultry nutrient needs, feed ingredients and effects on health, production and the environment.

  • ANSC*4290Swine Nutrition0.5 credits

    Evaluate swine feed ingredients and diets and model nutrients used for growth and reproduction.

  • ANSC*4560Pet Nutrition0.5 credits

    Study nutrient needs and feed formulation for dogs, cats and exotic pets.

  • EQN*3020Equine Nutrition0.5 credits

    Evaluate horse feeding across performance, pregnancy, lactation and growth using practical cases.

  • ANSC*3090Principles of Animal Behaviour0.5 credits

    Study causes, development and functions of vertebrate behavior and apply them to feeding, sociality, reproduction and welfare.

  • ANSC*4090Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare0.5 credits

    Apply animal-behavior knowledge to breeding, housing and management that supports health and welfare.

  • ANSC*4100Applied Environmental Physiology and Animal Housing0.5 credits

    Apply environmental physiology, heat, light and air-quality principles to animal housing and health.

  • ANSC*4350Experiments in Animal Biology0.5 credits

    Complete directed hands-on projects involving live animals and laboratory techniques.

  • ANSC*4470Animal Metabolism0.5 credits

    Study whole-animal metabolism and techniques linking tissue and organ processes with metabolic control.

  • ANSC*4490Applied Endocrinology0.5 credits

    Apply endocrine knowledge to monitoring and improving livestock production, performance, behavior and health.

  • AGR*3200Computing for Bioscientists0.5 credits

    Prepare, program, visualize and model biological data using computational techniques.

  • ANSC*3050Aquaculture: Advanced Issues0.5 credits

    Examine advanced aquaculture issues spanning fish biology, technology, health, economics, law and management.

  • ANSC*4040Digital Technologies for Animal Production Systems0.5 credits

    Study digital animal-production methods, including feed formulation, animal models and machine learning.

  • ANSC*4060Gut Microbiome0.5 credits

    Study gut microbes, dietary effects, sampling, sequencing and bioinformatic and statistical analysis.

  • ANSC*4610Critical Analysis in Animal Science0.5 credits

    Independently research and critically review an emerging animal-bioscience topic with instructor guidance.

  • ANSC*4650Comparative Immunology0.5 credits

    Compare immune defenses in domestic species, including innate and acquired responses to pathogens.

  • ANSC*4700Research in Animal Biology I0.5 credits

    Develop an animal-biology research problem, literature review, experimental design and proposal with a faculty advisor.

  • ANSC*4710Research in Animal Biology II0.5 credits

    Extend animal-biology research with greater emphasis on data analysis or experimental design.

  • BIOC*3560Structure and Function in Biochemistry0.5 credits

    Examine molecular regulation of physiological processes, including enzymes, metabolism, membranes and signaling.

  • EQN*3250Equine Exercise Physiology0.5 credits

    Apply equine exercise physiology, metabolism, fatigue and thermoregulation to horse-training strategies.

  • MICR*3230Immunology0.5 credits

    Study vertebrate immune responses, lymphoid tissues, humoral and cellular immunity and current techniques.

  • PATH*3610Principles of Disease0.5 credits

    Study disease processes in cells, tissues and organs caused by physical, toxic and microbiological factors.

  • POPM*3240Epidemiology0.5 credits

    Design, analyze and interpret epidemiological studies of population health and disease.

  • POPM*4230Animal Health0.5 credits

    Integrate animal biology and production management to prevent important Canadian food-animal diseases.

Elective choices
  • 0.50 Liberal Education electives 0.50
  • 0.50 electives or restricted electives 0.50
  • 1.50 electives or restricted electives 1.50
  • 1.00 electives or restricted electives 1.00
  • 2.50 electives or restricted electives 2.50
  • 2.50 electives or restricted electives 2 2.50
  • Restricted electives (# 2 and # 3) 4.50
  • Approved Science Electives 1.00
  • Liberal Education Electives 1.50
  • Free Electives - any approved elective for B.Sc. students. 2.00
  • The 4.50 restricted credits include 0.50 each in animal breeding and genetics, animal nutrition, and animal physiology and behaviour. Select the remaining 3.00 credits from the approved menus. ANSC*2210 contributes 0.50 toward the 2.00 Liberal Education credits.
  • The Animal Biology schedule places STAT*2040 in either semester 3 or 4.
Study locations
Published academic-unit location
The Ontario Agricultural College lists its Dean’s Office in Johnston Hall, 50 Stone Road East, at the Guelph campus. This is the college contact office; Animal Biology course rooms and field sites are separate.Guelph: named animalbio academic-unit location

Careers

Career sectors

3
  • Agri-food
  • Animal biosciences research
  • Companion, laboratory and zoo animal management
Scope and qualifications

Department-wide fields across the three undergraduate Animal Biosciences programmes, not outcomes isolated to Animal Biology. Veterinary medicine requires further professional study.

Costs

Arts & Science Programs (any program not listed separately below)

Published cost estimate

2026–27 · One semester · 2.00+ credits · CAD

Ontario students example · Choose your category

Tuition$3,106.37
Books and supplies$1,400 est. (2025–26)
Residence
Not estimated
Meal plan
Not estimated
Estimated subtotalNot available

Published tuition · Other charges extra

Housing and meals are outside this estimate.

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