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Graduate Courses
All Graduate Students complete courses as part of their training. In addition to participation in our required Seminar Courses and Scientific Skills for Biochemists, students choose from a variety of elective courses, which are typically offered on a 3-4 year rotation. Please check course descriptions as some courses include specific instructions for requesting access to the course.
Course Registration is completed through ACORN unless otherwise indicated in the course description.
Non-Biochemistry Students may access courses online beginning in September and January for Fall and Winter modules respectively unless otherwise indicated in course description.
Biochemistry Students wishing to take elective courses offered in other departments may do so providing they have obtained approval of the Biochemistry Graduate Coordinator.
Coursework Requirements
Basic Coursework Requirements
Please note:
Additional coursework may be required as a condition of acceptance into specific programs
Courses are offered as 1.0, 0.5, or 0.25 full-course equivalents (FCEs)
Elective courses may be selected from other departments with permission of the Graduate Coordinator
MSc Students Students must successfully complete a total of 1.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
- BCH2020Y Seminar Course in Biochemistry Level 1 (1.0 FCE)
- BCH2101H Scientific Skills for Biochemists (0.25 FCE)
- at least 0.25 elective FCE.
PhD Students (Direct Entry or Transfer) Students must successfully complete a total of 3.5 FCEs as follows:
- BCH2020Y Seminar Course in Biochemistry Level 1 (1.0 FCE)
- BCH2022Y Seminar Course in Biochemistry Level 2 (1.0 FCE)
- BCH2101H Scientific Skills for Biochemists (0.25 FCE)
- 1.25 elective FCEs
Coursework is expected to be completed by end of fourth year - see Maintaining Good Standing for details
PhD Students (Entering with a prior MSc degree) Students must successfully complete a total of 2.0 FCEs as follows:
- BCH2022Y Seminar Course in Biochemistry Level 2 (1.0 FCE)
- BCH2101H Scientific Skills for Biochemists (0.25 FCE)
- 0.75 elective FCEs
Coursework is expected to be completed by end of third year - see Maintaining Good Standing for details
Courses Offered Fall 2025
Course Registration is completed through ACORN. Non-Biochemistry Students may access courses online beginning in September for Fall modules respectively.
For students that have one unpaired BCH2024 course, the 1/4 credit courses can be taken as a the second half of the BCH2024 course – Do not enrol through ACORN. You must contact Carrie Harber for details on how you can enrol for these courses in order to ensure your grades are properly recorded under BCH2024HY.
Enrollment in elective courses is generally between 5 and 20. If enrollment for a course is 5 or less, it is up to the discretion of the course coordinator as to whether the class will be held or cancelled.
Drop date: Students are not permitted to drop a 0.25 credit course if more than one class has been completed without approval of the course coordinator.
| Course Code and Course Title | Coordinator(s) Instructor(s) |
Dates and Times |
Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCH2101H - Scientific Skills for Biochemists | Nana Lee & Lea Harrington | September - November Wednesdays |
Required for incoming BCH Grad students | |
| BCH2102H Biomolecular Dynamics and Function | Lewis Kay | October 31- December 5 | ||
| BCH2103H Current Topics in Prion Biology | Joel Watts | October- December | ||
| BCH2104H The Biochemistry of Translational Medicine | Mathieu Lemaire & Aleixo Muise | October 14- November 25 | PGCRL Building, Room 8-9701 | |
| MMG 1326H Post-transcriptional Control of Gene Expression | Craig Smibert | October 27- December 8 | Crosslisted course with BCH | |
| BCH2135H Mitochondria and Metabolism in Human Health and Disease | Angus McQuibban | October 16- December 11 | MaRS West Tower, Room 1522 | |
| BCH2201H Professional Development | Nana Lee | Sept 17 - Nov 27 | MSB 5231 | Available to PhD students only |
Courses Offered Winter 2026
Course Registration is completed through ACORN. Non-Biochemistry Students may access courses online beginning in January for Winter modules.
For students that have one unpaired BCH2024 course, the 1/4 credit courses can be taken as a the second half of the BCH2024 course – Do not enrol through ACORN. You must contact Carrie Harber for details on how you can enrol for these courses in order to ensure your grades are properly recorded under BCH2024HY.
Enrollment in elective courses is generally between 5 and 20. If enrollment for a course is 5 or less, it is up to the discretion of the course coordinator as to whether the class will be held or cancelled.
Drop date: Students are not permitted to drop a 0.25 credit course if more than one class has been completed without approval of the course coordinator.
| Course Code and Title | Coordinator(s) Instructor(s) |
Dates and Times |
Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCH2109H Current Topics in Therapeutic Antibodies | Jean-Philippe Julien | March – April | ||
| BCH2110H Eukaryotic Signaling | Daniela Rotin & Frank Sicheri | March – April | MSB 5231 | |
| BCH2127H Advances in Optical Microscopy: From Single Molecules to Four-Dimensional Imaging | Spencer Freeman | January 8, 2026 – February 19, 2026 | PGCRL | |
| MMG 1327H Microbiomes in Health and Disease | John Parkinson | Dates TBC | Cross listed course with BCH | |
| BCH 2139H Islet Biology I: From Gene to Cell to Organ to Disease | Robert Screaton, Erin Mulvihill | January - March | Online Only | |
| BCH 2140H Islet Biology II: Beyond Glucose Control: Molecular Targets, Diagnostics and Cutting-Edge Technologies | Robert Screaton, Erin Mulvihill | March - April | Online Only | |
| BCH2202H Intro Programming in R | Trevor Moraes & | Feb 25, 2026 - April 1, 2026 | MaRS | Available to PhD students only |
| BCH2203H Introduction to Programming in Python | Trevor Moraes & | Jan 7, 2026 - Feb 11, 2026 | MaRS | Available to PhD students only |
| BCH2200H Design Thinking for Scientists | Nana Lee | Selected Thursdays between 12th March- 7th May 2026 10:00am- 12:00pm |
MSB 5231 | Available to PhD students only |
All Courses
Courses are typically offered on a 3-4 year rotation.
1.0 and 0.5 FCE Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Last Offered/ Anticipated Next Offer Date* |
Enrolment Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BCH2020Y* |
Required; |
||
|
BCH2022Y* |
Required; |
||
|
BCH2024H* |
See Note** |
||
|
JBB2025H |
Winter 2024 |
25 |
|
|
JBB2026H |
Fall 2024 |
30 |
|
|
JBL1507H |
|
||
|
JNP1017H+ |
Current Topics in Molecular and Biochemical Toxicology (0.5 FCE) |
|
|
|
JNP1018H+ |
|
* Course continues throughout program. Credit is given when the course is completed.
+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.
§ Arts and Science undergraduate course.
0.25 FCE Modular Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Last Offered / Anticipated Next Offer Date |
Enrolment Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BCH2101H |
Required for New Entrants; |
BCH only |
|
|
BCH2102H |
Winter 2024 |
10 |
|
|
BCH2103H |
Fall 2022 |
15 |
|
|
BCH2104H |
Fall 2022 |
10 |
|
|
BCH2105H |
Winter 2025 |
12 |
|
|
BCH2106H/ MMG1313H |
Membrane Proteomics in Biomedical Research (note: Students to register using Molecular Genetics Course Code and Name - MMG1313H) |
Fall 2024 |
|
|
BCH2107H |
Fall 2022 |
12 |
|
|
BCH2109H |
Winter 2023 |
18 |
|
|
BCH2110H |
Winter 2023 |
30 |
|
|
BCH2111H/ MMG1362H |
Post-transcriptional Control of Gene Expression (note: Students to register using Molecular Genetics Course Code and Name - MMG1362H) |
Fall 2021 |
18 |
|
BCH2112H |
From Chaperones to CRISPR-Cas: the Incredible Genius of Phages |
Winter 2025 |
20 |
|
BCH2113H |
|
|
|
|
BCH2114H |
Fall 2024 |
12 |
|
|
BCH2115H |
Applying Modern Evolutionary Thinking to Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology |
Winter 2025 |
|
|
BCH2116H |
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Modern Life Sciences |
|
|
|
BCH2119H |
Winter 2025 |
20 |
|
|
BCH2120H |
Winter 2025 |
10 |
|
|
BCH2121H |
|
|
|
|
BCH2122H |
Fall 2024 |
|
|
|
BCH2123H |
Fall 2024 |
12 |
|
|
BCH2124H |
Winter 2024 |
12 |
|
|
BCH2125H |
Structure and Dynamics of Biomacromolecules Using Solid State NMR Spectroscopy |
Winter 2025 |
10 |
|
BCH2126H |
Fall 2024 |
|
|
|
BCH2127H |
Advances in Optical Microscopy: From Single Molecules to Four-Dimensional Imaging |
Winter 2023 |
15 |
|
BCH2128H |
Winter 2024 |
12 |
|
|
BCH2129H |
|
|
|
|
BCH2130H |
Winter 2024 |
12 |
|
|
BCH2131H |
|
|
|
|
BCH2132H |
Winter 2024 |
8 |
|
|
BCH2133H |
|
|
|
|
BCH2134H / MMG1318H |
Cytoskeletal Dynamics |
Fall 2024 |
|
|
BCH2135H |
Winter 2025 |
12 |
|
|
BCH2136H |
Winter 2024 |
8 |
|
|
BCH2137H |
|
|
|
|
BCH2138H |
Fall 2022 |
12 |
|
|
BCH2139H |
Winter 2025 |
15 |
|
|
BCH2140H |
Winter 2025 |
15 |
|
|
BCH2141H |
|
|
|
|
BCH2200H |
Winter 2025 |
8 |
|
|
BCH2201H |
Generally Offered Annually, Fall 2024 |
20 |
|
|
BCH2202H |
Winter 2023 |
15 |
|
|
BCH2203H |
Winter 2023 |
20 |