Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Science (Post Diploma)
Human Science Major (4 years—120 credits)
     
Regulations effective September 1, 2005
   

The Bachelor of Science (Post Diploma) Human Science major is offered by Athabasca University's Centre for Science.Students must have successfully completed an approved science-related technician or technology diploma program in allied health (e.g., respiratory therapy, radiation therapy, medical laboratory technology, paramedic program) or nursing from an accredited college or institute of technology before enrolling in the BSc(PD)-HS.

The BSc(PD)-HS is designed to allow students to continue studies towards a science degree from either the technician or technologist level. Athabasca University has developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating. Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment.

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.

     
  Program Structure  
  General Degree Requirements at the
Technician Level
  Total credits in the program 120
     
  College diploma at the technician
  level receives 30
     
  Minimum Credits Required beyond the
College Diploma (90 credits)
  Core course requirements 18
  Science 66
  Human Science 24
  Options (minimum of 3 senior-level science credits) 18
  Senior (300 or 400) level 60
     • In senior (300 or 400) level science
      courses
42
  Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University. 30
  Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits 15
     
  Maximum Credits Allowed
  In junior (200) level courses (maximum of 3
at the preparatory (100) level )
30
     
  General Degree Requirements at the
Technologist Level
  Total credits in the program 120
  College diploma at the technologist
level receives
60
     
  Minimum Credits Required beyond the
College Diploma (60 credits)
  Core course requirements 18
  Science 36
  Human Science 24
  Options (minimum of 3 senior-level
science courses)
18
  Senior (300 or 400) level 42
     • In senior (300 or 400) level science
      courses
30
  Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University. 30
  Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits 15
     
  Maximum Credits Allowed
  In junior (200) level courses 18
     
     
  The following courses can satisfy either the Social Science area of study or the Science area of study requirements, but not both. Students wanting to use these courses to satisfy the Science area of study requirements must call Admissions and Evaluations Services and request the change upon completion of the course.
     
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 304 Research Methods in Psychology*
*Students who have taken PSYC 404 are not required to take 304.
(3)
PSYC 402 Biological Psychology (3)

 

   
     
  Major Core Course Requirements (18 credits)
     
 
3 MATH credits selected from one of the following courses:
     
MATH 216 Computer-Oriented Approach to Statistics
or
 
MATH 265 Introduction to Calculus I
or
 
MATH 270 Linear Algebra I (3)
     
Any university-level computer science (COMP) course (3)
     
 

All of the following courses:

 
ENGL 255 Introductory Composition (see note below) (3)
HIST 404 Historical Foundations of Modern Science (3)
PHIL 333 Professional Ethics
or
 
PHIL 371 Ethics, Science, Technology, and the Environment (3)
*SCIE 326 Scientific Reasoning (3)
     
     
 

English Writing Skills Requirement

The English writing skills requirement (ENGL 255) will be waived (students must replace the three credits to satisfy the credit requirement) if you satisfy one of the following:

• 

pass the Alberta Universities Writing Competence Test.

or

• 

have a grade of B- (70 percent) or better in an AU English course above the preparatory (100) level;

or

• 
receive transfer credit for an English course in which a grade of B- or better was achieved.
     
     
  Major Electives (24 credits from the following)
     
BIOL 325 Introductory Microbiology (3)
BIOL 341 Human Genetics
(3)
BIOL 401 Cell Biology (3)
BIOL 495 Biology Projects I (3)
BIOL 496 Biology Projects II (3)
CHEM 217 Chemical Principles I (3)
CHEM 218 Chemical Principles II (3)
CHEM 301 Introduction to Biochemistry (3)
CHEM 350 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 360 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 495 Chemistry Projects (3)
CHEM 496 Chemistry Projects (3)
HADM 379 Introduction to Epidemiology (3)
HLST 301 Alternative Therapies (3)
HLST 320 Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals (3)
NURS 328 Understanding Research (3)
NUTR 330 Introductory Nutrition (3)
NUTR 331 Nutrition for Health (3)
NUTR 405 Nutrition in Health and Disease (3)
NUTR 406 Modern Concepts in Nutrition (3)
PSYC 355 Cognitive Psychology (3)
PSYC 387 Learning (3)
PSYC 402 Biological Psychology (3)
PSYC 304 Research Methods in Psychology*
*Students who have taken PSCY 404 are not required to take 304.
(3)
     
     
  Specific Regulations

 
1. 
To continue as a student in good standing within this Bachelor of Science program, students are required to maintain a C- (60 percent) average in courses offered by the Centre for Science. The C- average will be monitored when students have completed 15, 45, and 75 science credits.

2. 
AU will not grant 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 gain admission to this degree program.

5. 
Applications to enter the BSc (PD) HS should include official transcripts from the institute granting the science-related technician or technology diploma, and if applicable, a copy of a current membership and certification from a recognized technological society such as Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists, Canadian Association of Medical Laboratory Technologists, Canadian Association of Respiratory Therapists etc.


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 • Information effective Sept. 1, 2005 to Aug. 31, 2006.
 • Links: Web Unit, Privacy & Conditions. © Athabasca University.
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