4.16. Bachelor of Science Degree
Program
(Four years - 120 credits)
The Bachelor of Science degree program provides students with a general science education. Given the ever-increasing importance of science and technology, this degree will prepare students to cope with the science-based world of today and the increasing technological demands of the future. It will also prepare students 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.
Students have 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.
Students are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in their
program. However, the Alberta Universities Writing
Competence Test may be used to indicate competence in English writing skills.
Degree Requirements
Total credits in the program |
120 |
Minimum Credits Required |
|
Senior (300 or 400) level
Science courses
In senior (300 or 400) level science courses (12 credits at 400
level)
Arts and/or Applied Studies courses
( no more than 9 credits from any one discipline)
Through Athabasca University
Prior
Learning Assessment and Recognition credits |
75
75
45
24
30
30
|
Maximum Credits Allowed |
|
In any one science discipline
At the preparatory (100) level |
45
6 |
Course Notes
The following courses can satisfy either the Social Science
area of study or the Science area of study requirements,
but not both. Students who wish to use these courses to
satisfy the Science area of study requirements, must call Admissions
and Evaluations Services and request the change.
ENVS 253 Global Environmental Change: The Scientific and Social Issues (3)
PSYC 289 Psychology as a Natural Science (3)
PSYC 355 Cognitive Psychology (3)
PSYC 387 Learning (3)
PSYC 402 Biological Psychology (3)
PSYC 404 Experimental Psychology (3) |
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.
- Six credits in mathematics from
MATH 215 Introduction to Statistics (3)
MATH 216 Computer-Oriented Approach to Statistics (3)
or
MATH 265 Introduction to Calculus
I or
MATH
270 Linear Algebra I (3)
- Any university-level computing (COMP)
science course (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 students must replace these three credits to satisfy
the credit requirement) if students have:
- passed the Alberta Universities Writing
Competence Test or
- obtained a grade of B- (70 percent) or better in an Athabasca University
English course above the preparatory (100) level, or
- received transfer credit for an English course in which a grade of
''B'' or better was achieved.
**These core Arts courses will fulfill part of the minimum credits required
in Arts and/or Administrative Studies.
Specific Regulations
The following supersedes some of the general policies governing academic
studies at Athabasca University:
- Students are required to maintain a C- (60 percent) average in courses
offered by the Centre for Science in order to continue as a student
in good standing within the Bachelor of Science program. The C- (60 percent)
average will be monitored when students have 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 who hold 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 who hold 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 (BScHS) is designed
for students interested in pursuing a concentration in health sciences,
research and development, biodiagnostics, to name several areas.
The BScHS 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 BScHS degree program.
Requirements within the 120 credits for the Bachelor of Science
as outlined under 4.16 - Degree Requirements
Core Course Requirements
Students BScHS 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 (in development) (3)
BIOL 206 Biological Laboratories (unavailable) (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 fulfill the 18 credits in
junior (200) level laboratory science as outlined in the core course
requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree program.
- Six credits in mathematics from
MATH 215 Introduction to Statistics
(3)
MATH 216 Computer-Oriented Approach to Statistics (3)
MATH 265 Introduction to Calculus
I or
MATH 270
Linear Algebra I (3)
- Any university-level computing (COMP)
science course (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 students must replace these three credits to satisfy
the credit requirement) if students have:
- passed the Alberta Universities Writing
Competence Test, or
- obtained a grade of B- (70 percent) or better in an Athabasca University
English course above the preparatory (100) level, or
- received transfer credit for an English course in which a grade of
"B" or better was achieved.
** These core Arts courses will fulfill 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 (Select 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)
CHEM 495 Chemistry Project (3)
CHEM 496 Chemistry Project (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)
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