Bachelor of Science (Post Diploma)
Human Science Major (4 years—120 credits)
Regulations amended, effective December 15, 2010.
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.
| 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 | |
|
42 | |
| Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University. | 30 | |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 | |
| Maximum Credits Allowed | ||
| In junior (200) level courses (maximum of 3 at the preparatory (100) level ) | 30 | |
| Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits | 15 | |
| 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 | |
|
30 | |
| Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University. | 30 | |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 | |
| Maximum Credits Allowed | ||
| In junior (200) level courses | 18 | |
| Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits | 15 | |
Course Notes The following courses can satisfy the requirements in either the Social Science area of study or the Science area of study, not both. Students wanting to use these courses to satisfy the Science area of study requirements must contact Transfer Credit Services and request the change upon completion of the course. |
||
| 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 obtained credit for PSYC 404 may not take PSYC 304. |
(3) |
| PSYC 402 | Biological Psychology | (3) |
BSc(PD)-HS Core Course Requirements (18 credits)
3 MATH credits selected from one of the following courses:
| MATH 215 | Introduction
to Statistics or |
(3) |
| MATH 216 | Computer-oriented
Approach to Statistics or |
|
| MATH 265 | Introduction
to Calculus I or |
|
| MATH 270 | Linear Algebra I |
| Any university-level computer science (COMP) course | (3) |
All of the following courses:
| ENGL 255 | Introductory Composition (see English Writing Skills Requirement below) | (3) |
| HIST 404 | Historical Foundations of Modern Science | (3) |
| PHIL 333 | Professional
Ethics or |
(3) |
| PHIL 371 | Ethics, Science, Technology, and the Environment | |
| SCIE 326 | Scientific Reasoning | (3) |
English Writing Skills Requirement
If you satisfy one of the following, you are not required to take ENGL 255. However, you must replace the three credits in order to satisfy the program’s credit requirement.
- have a grade of B- (70 per cent) 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.
Specific Regulations
- In order to graduate, students must have a weighted average of at least 1.7 GPA (60 per cent) across all courses taken at Athabasca Univerity towards a Bachelor of Science degree.
- AU will not grant 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 gain admission to this degree program.
- 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.
Information effective Dec. 15, 2010 to Feb. 1, 2011.
Updated December 09, 2011
