Bachelor of Science (Post Diploma)
(4 years—120 credits)

Regulations effective September 1, 2015.

The Bachelor of Science (Post Diploma) is offered by Athabasca University’s Centre for Science. Students must have successfully completed an approved science-related technician or technology diploma from a college or institution of technology, or have provincial designation as a technician or technologist, before they enrol in the BSc(PD). The BSc(PD) is designed to allow students to continue studies towards a science degree from either the technician or technologist level.

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 Plans

Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.

Counselling Services offers an assessment website, "Mapping Your Future: Your Career and Athabasca University." Athabasca University has also developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.

 

Program Structure
General Degree Requirements at the Technician Level
Total credits in the program	120
College diploma or technician designation receives	30
Minimum Credits Required Beyond the College Diploma (90 credits)
Science credits (9 of these are described below in Core Course Requirements, 1, 2, and SCIE 326, and indicated by **)	69
Options (in any discipline)	12
Senior (300 or 400) level courses	66
In senior (300 or 400) level science courses (12 credits at 400 level)	51
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 any one science discipline	30
In any junior (200) level courses (Maximum of three credits at the preparatory (100) level)	24
Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits	15
General Degree Requirements at the Technologist Level
Total credits in the program	120
College diploma or technologist designation receives	60
Minimum Credits Required Beyond the College Diploma (60 credits)
Science credits (9 of these are described below in Core Course Requirements, 1, 2, and SCIE 326, and indicated by **)	45
Options (in any discipline)	6
Senior (300 or 400) level	48
In senior (300 or 400) level science courses (12 credits at 400 level)	39
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 any one Science discipline	30
In any junior (200) level courses	12
Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits	15

 

Core Course Requirements

1. 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	(3)
   MATH 265	Introduction to Calculus I or	(3)
   MATH 270	Linear Algebra I	(3)

2. Any university-level computer science (COMP)** course
3. All of the following:

   ENGL 255	Introductory Composition (*see note 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)

** Science courses

*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 Athabasca University English course above the preparatory (100) level;
  
  or
• receive credit for an English course in which a grade of B- or better was achieved.

Specific Regulations

Some of the general policies governing academic studies at Athabasca University are superseded by the following:

1. In order to graduate, students must have a GPA of at least 1.7 (60 per cent) across all courses taken at Athabasca University towards a Bachelor of Science degree.
2. Athabasca University 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) should include official transcripts from the institute granting the science-related technician or technology diploma, and where applicable, a copy of a current membership and certification from a recognized technical society under Canadian Certified Technicians and Technologists (CCTT), for example, ASET, OACETT, or ASTTBC.