This Calendar is effective September 1, 2002 - August 31, 2003
Contents
Index & Search
Introduction
Courses
Programs
Admission
registration
Evaluation
Fees
Gradprograms
services
Conduct
Collaborations
Awards
Appendices

4.16. Bachelor of Science Degree Program

(Four years - 120 credits)


Introduction Requirements
Human Science Major Back to 4.0

Introduction

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.


Requirements

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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)
  3. Any university-level computing (COMP) science course   (3)
  4. SCIE 326 Scientific Reasoning   (3)
    (may be used to satisfy the minimum senior-level science credit requirements)
  5. **PHIL 333 Professional Ethics or
         PHIL 371 Ethics: Science, Technology, and the Environment   (3)
  6. **HIST 404 Historical Foundations of Modern Science   (3)
  7. *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:

  1. 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.
  2. Athabasca University will not grant transfer credit for science courses that were completed more than 10 years ago (including computer science courses).
  3. 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.
  4. 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.


4.16.1. B.Sc. Major in Human Science

(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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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)
  3. Any university-level computing (COMP) science course   (3)
  4. SCIE 326 Scientific Reasoning   (3)
    (may be used to satisfy the minimum senior-level science credit requirements).
  5. **PHIL 333 Professional Ethics or
         PHIL 371 Ethics: Science, Technology, and the Environment   (3)
  6. HIST 404 Historical Foundations of Modern Science   (3)
  7. *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)


** This page is an official publication of Athabasca University **

Public Affairs

AU Homepage