4.9. Bachelor of Science degree program
(four years - 120 credits)
The Bachelor of Science degree program will provide the student with a general science education. Given the ever-increasing importance of science and technology, this degree will prepare the student to cope with the science-based world of today and the increasing technological demands of the future. It will also prepare the student for the challenges science presents to the modern world by including courses in scientific reasoning; the history of science; and ethics, science, technology, and the environment.
The degree also offers you the opportunity to complete courses that are transferable to pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, and pre-veterinary programs offered at other universities in Alberta and across Canada. Students should consult with the program advisors at the professional schools to ensure they are undertaking appropriate course patterns.
Recognition for previous undergraduate degrees
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program who have a previous undergraduate degree from a recognized institution, may have their program reduced by up to 60 credits. This reduction is based on whether the work completed in the previous undergraduate degree is applicable to the science program.
Preparatory (100 level) credits cannot be used to fulfil the requirements of a second Bachelor of Science degree program.
Degree requirements
| Total credits in the program |
120 |
Minimum credits required
- Senior (300 or 400) level
- Science courses
- Senior (300 or 400) level credit in science courses
- 400 level in science courses
- Arts and/or Applied Studies courses
(no more than 9 credits from any one discipline)
- Through Athabasca University
|
75
75
45
12
24
30 |
Maximum credits allowed
- In any one science discipline
- At the preparatory (100) level
|
45
6 |
Core course requirements
- A total of 18 credits in junior (200 level) laboratory science courses to be selected from at least three of the following areas: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biology, Chemistry, Geography (which are in a science area of study), Geology, or Physics.
- 6 credits in mathematics from
MATH 215 Introduction to Statistics (3)
MATH 265 Introduction to Calculus I or
MATH 270 Linear Algebra I (3)
- 3 credits in computer science from
COMP 200 Introduction to Computing and Information Systems or
COMP 268 Introduction to Computer Programming (Java) (3)
- SCIE 326 Scientific Reasoning (3)
(may be used to satisfy the minimum senior-level science credit requirements)
- **PHIL 333 Professional Ethics or
PHIL 371 Ethics: Science, Technology, and the Environment (3)
- **HIST 404 Historical Foundations of Modern Science (3)
- *ENGL 255 Introductory Composition (3)
*ENGL 255 Introductory Composition will be waived (but you must replace these 3 credits to satisfy the credit requirement) if you have:
passed the Alberta Universities Writing Competence Test or obtained a grade of 70% or better in an English course, or received transfer credit for an English course in which a grade of ''B'' or better was achieved.
**These core Arts courses will fulfil part of the minimum credits required in Arts and/or Administrative Studies.
Policies specific to the program
Some of the general policies governing academic studies at Athabasca University are superseded by the following:
- To continue as a student in good standing within the Bachelor of Science program, the student is required to maintain a 60% average in courses offered by the Centre for Science. The 60% average will be monitored when the student has completed 15, 45, and 75 science credits.
- Athabasca University will not grant transfer credit for science courses that were completed more than 10 years ago (including computer science courses).
- Students holding an approved college or technical institute science-oriented diploma that is more than five years old, but who can supply evidence of employment indicating they are current in their discipline area, will gain admission to this degree program.
- Students holding an approved college or technical institute science-oriented diploma that is less than five years old will be eligible for transfer credit towards this degree program.
(four years — 120 credits)
The Bachelor of Science (Human Science) degree program is designed for students interested in pursuing a concentration in Human Science. This program is particularly suited for individuals who wish to continue professional careers in health sciences, research and development, biodiagnostics, to name several areas.
The Bachelor of Science (Human Science) degree major will enable students to customize their area of interest by taking courses from electives in human science and other disciplines. Students who come with a diploma in a health-oriented field may be given up to 60 credits towards the Bachelor of Science (Human Science) degree program.
Requirements within the 120 credits for the Bachelor of Science as outlined under 4.9 - Degree Requirements
Core course requirements
Students in the Bachelor of Science (Human Science) degree major must complete the core course requirements as they are specific to this major.
- A total of 21 credits of laboratory science, selected from:
BIOL 204 Principles of Biology I (3)
BIOL 205 Principles of Biology II (3)
BIOL 206 Biological Laboratories (3)
BIOL 325 Introductory Microbiology (3)
BIOL 345 Introductory Ecology (3)
CHEM 217 Chemical Principles I (3)
CHEM 218 Chemical Principles II (3)
The 21 credits of laboratory science fulfils the 18 credits in junior (200) level laboratory science as outlined in the core course requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree program.
- 6 credits in mathematics from
MATH 215 Introduction to Statistics (3)
MATH 265 Introduction to Calculus I or
MATH 270 Linear Algebra I (3)
- COMP 200 Introduction to Computing and Information Systems (3)
- SCIE 326 Scientific Reasoning (3)
(may be used to satisfy the minimum senior-level science credit requirements).
- **PHIL 333 Professional Ethics or
PHIL 371 Ethics: Science, Technology, and the Environment (3)
- HIST 404 Historical Foundations of Modern Science (3)
- *ENGL 255 Introductory Composition 3
*ENGL 255 Introductory Composition will be waived (but you must replace these 3
credits to satisfy the credit requirement) if you have: passed the Alberta
Universities Writing Competence Test, or obtained a grade of 70% or better in an
English course, or received transfer credit for an English course in which a
grade of "B" or better was achieved.
** These core Arts courses will fulfil part of the minimum credits required in Arts and/or Administrative Studies.
Human Science major (15 credits)
BIOL 230 Human Physiology or
BIOL 235 Human Anatomy and Physiology (6)
BIOL 341 Human Genetics (3)
HLST 200 Introduction to Human Health (3)
NUTR 330 Introductory Nutrition or
NUTR 331 Nutrition for Health (3)
Human Science major electives (33 credits from the following)
BIOL 401 Cell Biology (3)
BIOL 495 Biology Projects I (3)
BIOL 496 Biology Projects II (3)
CHEM 301 Introduction to Biochemistry (3)
CHEM 330 Environmental Chemistry (3)
CHEM 350 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 360 Organic Chemistry II (3)
HADM 379 Introduction to Epidemiology (3)
HLST 320 Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals (3)
NURS 328 Understanding Research (3)
NUTR 405 Nutrition in Health and Disease (3)
PSYC 355 Cognitive Psychology (3)
PSYC 387 Learning (3)
PSYC 402 Biological Psychology (3)
PSYC 404 Experimental Psychology (3)
** This page is an official publication of Athabasca University **
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