Brief for the Appraisal of the Master of Science in Applied Bioscience Submitted to the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies May 13, 2005 VOLUME I: The Program University of Ontario Institute of Technology TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Content Page VOLUME I Table of Contents 2 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Brief Listing of Program 4 1.2 Background 4 1.2.1 Other Programs 4 1.2.2 Graduate Program Demand 5 1.3 Mission 6 1.4 Program Overview and Objectives 6 1.5 Method Used for Self-Study 10 1.6 Fields in the Program 10 1.7 Review of Concerns from Previous Appraisal 11 1.7 Special Matters and Innovative Features 11 2. THE FACULTY 2.1 Faculty by Field 14 2.2 External Operating Research Funding 18 2.3 Graduate Supervision 19 2.4 Current Teaching Assignments 20 2.5 Commitment of Faculty Members from other graduate 24 programs and/or other institutions 3. PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES 3.1 Library Resources 25 3.2 Laboratory Resources 25 3.3 Computer Facilities 27 3.4 Space 27 3.5 Financial Support of Graduate Students 28 3.5.1 Sources of Funding for Graduate Students 28 3.5.2 Financial Counselling 30 3.5.3 Annual Reporting 30 4. PROGRAM REGULATIONS AND COURSES 4.1 Intellectual Development and Educational Experience of the 31 Student 4.2 Program Regulations 33 4.2.1 Part-time Studies 33 4.2.2 Admission and Language Requirements 33 4.2.3 Degree Requirements 35 4.2.4 Program Map 35 4.2.5 Course Offerings and Frequency 35 4.2.6 Progress Reports 35 4.2.7 Thesis Evaluation Procedures 36 4.3 Total Graduate Courses Listed and Level 36 4.4 Graduate Course Descriptions and Outlines 37 5. OUTCOMES 5.1 Enrolment and Graduations 47 5.2 Employment 47 Master of Science - Applied Bioscience 2 University of Ontario Institute of Technology TABLE OF CONTENTS continued… Section Content Page 5.3 Publications 47 5.4 Projected Graduate Intake and Enrolments 47 Appendix A: Library Resources Appendix B: Additional Information 1 Degree Level Summary 56 2 Program Comparisons 60 3 Resource Renewal and Upgrading 70 4 Program Design and Credential Recognition 72 5 Applicant Acknowledgement and Agreement 73 VOLUME II Curricula Vitae – Faculty Members Barsby, T. Bonetta, D. Byrne, C. Forrester, S. Green-Johnson, J. Holdway, D. Jones-Taggart, H. Naumkin, F. Paal, K. Sanchez, O. VOLUME III Curricula Vitae – Prospective Assessors Atkinson, Jeffrey Burka, John F. Curry, R. Allen Dixon, D. George Metcalfe, Chris Mulligan, Lois Schraft, Heidi Van Der Kraak, Glen Master of Science - Applied Bioscience 3 University of Ontario Institute of Technology 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Brief listing of program The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) proposes to offer a graduate program leading to the degree of Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Applied Bioscience. Students will obtain their degree through successful completion of a thesis and specified course requirements. The expected length of time for degree completion is 24 months. The program is planned to be launched by the Faculty of Science in September, 2006, or as soon as practical after all necessary approvals are obtained. 1.2 Background The University of Ontario Institute of Technology is Ontario’s newest university. UOIT accepted its first undergraduate students in the fall of 2003. The Faculty of Science offered its first undergraduate programs in Physical Science (with specializations in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) and Biological Science (with specializations in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Environmental Toxicology) in the fall of 2003. Since then, UOIT has received Ministerial consent to offer honours baccalaureate science degrees in Physics, Chemistry, Energy and the Environment (with Chemistry and Physics streams), Biological Science - Life Sciences stream, Computing Science and Forensic Science. Proposals for a degree in Applied and Industrial Mathematics as well as a Medical Physics specialization in the BSc in Physics, and two new specializations (Biological Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry) in the BSc in Chemistry program are currently under review by PEQAB. In addition, the Faculty of Science offers service and elective courses to other faculties in the University. With the rapid growth and success of the undergraduate science programs at UOIT, the Faculty of Science is ready and able to expand into the graduate program area by offering MSc programs. The University's Faculty of Health Sciences has also contributed to the development of this proposal and will participate in its implementation. This Faculty currently offers an Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing and an Honours Bachelor of Health Science with both a complementary (general) model and a specialization in Medical Laboratory Science. 1.2.1 Other programs There are currently no other graduate level programs offered by the Faculty of Science. A Master of Information Technology Security (MITS), UOIT's first graduate degree, is scheduled to be offered by the Faculty of Business and Information Technology beginning in September 2005. The Faculty of Science is also preparing a proposal for a MSc in Modelling and Computational Science for submission in 2005 to the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies. Master of Science - Applied Bioscience 4 University of Ontario Institute of Technology 1.2.2 Graduate program demand Today, knowledge has become the critical basis of competitive advantage among many industries and world economies. Indeed, about a third of the growth rate in per capita income is attributable to technological innovation. The source of most technological advances is university research, which generates the knowledge that leads to eventual breakthroughs. In Canada, universities are responsible for 34% of the research and development activity in the country1. This figure is likely to increase as our knowledge based economy continues to grow. To maintain its competitiveness, Canada will need to build on its intellectual resources by increasing its efforts towards science education and training. Part of these efforts will be to create and expand graduate training in areas where there is strong industry demand. The current and future labour force in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries will require more individuals with interdisciplinary research skills. In light of this, the Applied Bioscience program at UOIT will provide unique interdisciplinary training in chemistry and biology, allowing students to develop a broad scientific perspective. At the same time, students will gain the depth of knowledge needed in their chosen areas of specialization. The ‘department-free’ environment at UOIT provides a unique opportunity for creating a program with this interdisciplinary scope. The program is expected not only to attract many students from outside the university, but also some of UOIT’s students that will be graduating in 2007. 1Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Main Science and Technology Indicators (MSTI): 2004/2 edition Master of Science - Applied Bioscience 5 University of Ontario Institute of Technology 1.3 University Vision, Mission and Values VISION The University of Ontario Institute of Technology is an innovative and market-oriented institution, pursuing inquiry, discovery and application through excellence in teaching and learning, value-added research and vibrant student life. MISSION • Provide career-oriented undergraduate and graduate university programs with a primary focus on those programs that are innovative and responsive to the needs of students and employers. • Advance the highest quality of research. • Advance the highest quality of learning, teaching, and professional practice in a technologically enabled environment. • Contribute to the advancement of Ontario and Canada in the global context with particular focus on Durham Region and Northumberland County • Foster a fulfilling student experience and a rewarding educational (work) environment. • Offer programs with a view to creating opportunities for college graduates to complete a university degree. VALUES Integrity and Respect We will treat each other with dignity, including those with challenges. Honesty and Accountability Our actions reflect our values, and we are accountable for both. Intellectual Rigour We strive for excellence and challenge convention. 1.4 Program Overview and Objectives Life science research today is increasingly interdisciplinary. This trend has been driven in part by a greater reliance on chemical techniques in biological research; indeed, techniques that were once strictly the domain of chemists are now also part of the repertoire of many biologists. Given the success and new research opportunities that this approach has demonstrated, the interdependence of chemistry and biology can only be expected to increase in the future. However, in contrast to this general trend, graduate science education in biology has lagged behind, and most other graduate programs fail to provide training to students in both biology and chemistry. The UOIT environment provides a unique opportunity to provide an integrated educational experience in both fields. The primary objective of the Applied Bioscience program is to train students to become high-quality researchers at the interface between chemistry and biology, with competence in both of these subjects and the ability to tackle interdisciplinary problems and to work independently and successfully within collaborative networks. The program will equip students with a wide array of both practical and Master of Science - Applied Bioscience 6 University of Ontario Institute