Situated on 745-hectares of lush greenery along the South Saskatchewan River, the University of Saskatchewan boasts strong post-secondary programs, ranging from its traditionally renowned Agricultural and Environmental Sciences program to its cutting-edge, integrated Health Science programs. It also is home to the Canadian Light Source, a research centre for Canada’s largest synchrotron (a type of cyclic particle accelerator). As one of the three major universities in Saskatchewan (U of Regina and SIAST are the other two), U of S offers courses for enrollment off-site through its eight affiliated regional colleges located around the province. Recently, Options’ consultant Edwin Liew toured the university’s campus facilities and buildings, which are conveniently connected by a tunnel system for ease of access year-round.
The distinguished façade of the Thorbergur Thorvaldson Building, home to the Chemistry and Computer Science departments, is the first sight to greet new students as they participate in their first-year orientation at “the Bowl,” a green space deemed as the heart of the campus. Inside the building, a 271-seat lecture hall with its traditional charm features a paper airplane-decorated dome ceiling, original seats and chalkboards that date back to the early 1900s. At first glance, the Peter MacKinnon Administration Building – established in 1907 – undoubtedly lives up to its distinction as a National Historical Site of Canada. As students navigate the academic faculties and departments, they are struck by the seamless architectural blend of modern and historic gothic facades, which are especially evident in the new Health Sciences Centre’s construction.
Two major programs were on the tour schedule, and the College of Agriculture and Bioresource was the first stop. The “Cow Walk” was one of the most unique ways to be acquainted with the dairy cattle from an overhead walkway at the Rayner Dairy Research and Teaching Facility. Visitors get a bird’s-eye view of the inside of the barn: the herd and their stalls, milking parlour and robots. The information galleries showcase SaskMilk and how their presentation of the facility introduces dairy feed for milk production. Displays for the public describe how Agricultural Biology, Crop Science, Food and Bioproduct Science, Soil Science, Horticultural Science and Agronomy are integrated in the field of Agricultural Science and help to fuel Agribusiness. U of S offers Bachelor of Science degrees in the two fields and in Animal Science and Renewal Resource Management. Graduates from these programs are touted to have great employment prospects with some entry-level career positions paying over $55,000 per year, plus company perks. Undergraduate admission to Agriculture and Bioresource is not highly competitive – students need a minimum 74% GPA, but competitiveness is expected to increase in the coming years.
A skeletal Tyrannosaurus Rex guarding the atrium of the Museum of Natural Sciences is the unmistakable landmark that leads you on the Potash Way Skywalk to the Agricultural Building. As one of the world’s largest phytotrons (an enclosed research greenhouse), the Agricultural Building allows scientists to conduct their plant-growth research in a controlled environment. In the Meat Processing Pilot Plant, visitors quickly will discover that students not only experiment on their research, they eat it too! In the “Sense Lab,” product experiments and taste-testing surveys are carried out to see what meat protein, i.e. pork, beef or chicken, combined with lentils yields the best hot dog for consumers. New product development projects also get students to research and introduce healthier food products, such as beef jerky that contains lower amounts of fat and sodium.
For our second campus site highlight, we crossed Campus Drive from the Arts and Law buildings and arrived at the new Health Science Centre, which houses the colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nutrition, and Nursing, including the Schools of Physical Therapy and Public Health. An ambitious and collaborative project, the facility aims to integrate these disciplines of health science through its Interprofessional Education (IPE) curriculum, which offers students and health practitioners structured opportunities to share their learning and problem solving activities to improve healthcare provision and training. The Clinical Learning Resource Centre (CLRC) allows students to practice on state-of-the-art simulation equipment, standardized automated patients with real-life health conditions and even volunteer actors who act as patients.
At the College of Medicine, entry to the Medicine program for out-of-province applicants requires a completion of four-year Bachelor degree and competitive minimum grade-point-average in the mid-80s. The MCAT is required, but the pre-requisites, including first year Physics, are only recommended. As the only medical school in the province, U of S needs to prioritize its service for the residents of Saskatchewan and therefore, only ten percent of the first-year seats are allotted for out of province applicants.
Even though it was not on our tour, we learned that the university’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), one of only 5 veterinary schools in Canada, draws global interest. Known for its top-notch clinical and diagnostic skills training, it is one of Canada’s top referral centres with advanced diagnostic and treatment options for animal healthcare, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and cobalt radiation. Since it is a non-direct entry program, university undergraduates interested in gaining admission to the WCVM are recommended to pursue pre-veterinary medicine studies in Animal Science, Agriculture and Bioresource, Applied Biology or general Biological Sciences. High school subjects required or recommended for completing pre-veterinary courses include Biology 12, Chemistry 12, Physics 12 (pre-requisite for first-year Physics 115.3) and Pre-calculus 12. The available number of seats is 78 and for the 2013-2014 cycle, 20 BC applicants (out of a total of 417) were successful in gaining admission. The grade-point percentages of those admitted ranged from 78% to 96%. For information on the admission process to the WCVM, please go to: www.usask.ca/wcvm/undergraduate_program/admissions_process.php
For Fall 2015 entry, competitive ranking-based admissions programs include Engineering (81%), Business (80-85%), Kinesiology (88%) and Education – Practical and Applied Arts (70%). The application deadline for these programs is February 15.
To find out more about U of Saskatchewan and its academic programs, please go to: www.usask.ca. For help exploring your program options at the U of S, or any other university or college in Canada, the US or the UK, please contact our office at (604) 922-8456 or e-mail info@options-wp.chhdev.com.
