Bachelor of Science, General

At a glance

Credential: degree
Credits: 120
Next start: monthly

Get a general education that allows you to choose from multiple areas of study and prepares you for the challenges science presents to the modern world with Athabasca University’s online Bachelor of Science program. Graduates of the program will have gained the technical, analytical, and critical thinking skills to be able to further their education or be an innovative member in the field.

32
Average age
91%
Employment rate
^$89k
Median income
93%
Student satisfaction

Source: 2024 AU institutional data and 2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS)

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About Bachelor of Science, General

Welcome to Athabasca University's online Bachelor of Science program—a dynamic and versatile degree designed for today's ever-changing scientific landscape! We've crafted this program to give you the well-rounded education you need, covering areas from biology and chemistry to environmental science and computing. Our unique approach lets you study at your own pace—finish in as little as 4 years, or take more time as you need—and even offers opportunities to transfer credits to pre-professional programs like pre-medicine.

Admission requirements

There are no formal admission requirements for this program. All you need is to be 16 or older. You can enrol anytime and start right away, regardless of your previous education.

Program details

Overview

Our Bachelor of Science degree offers you an opportunity to gain a diverse knowledge in multiple areas such as:

architecture
biology
chemistry
computing and information systems
environmental science
geosciences
health and nutrition
mathematics and statistics
physics and astronomy

Our core courses include studies in:

scientific reasoning
ethics, science, technology, and the environment

Like other Bachelor of Science programs, this program has some courses with lab components, but our labs are offered to promote flexibility for students. We have developed home lab kits for many of our science courses. In addition, some of our courses have virtual labs. A few labs do require on-site attendance, but we have made it as flexible as possible by condensing the lab and also allowing students to complete multiple labs in 1 trip.

Our senior students also have the opportunity to take on discipline-specific research project courses that can be completed in a lab or at a distance under the guidance of an advisor.

Why take the Bachelor of Science?

A Bachelor of Science will prepare you for the science-based world of today and the increasing technological demands of the future.

AU's Bachelor of Science program also allows you to complete courses that are transferable to pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, and pre-veterinary programs offered at other universities across Canada. Check with your desired school to be sure you're taking the right courses for transfer.

Routes and options

The Bachelor of Science is a 4-year online degree program. If you already have a science-related post-secondary diploma, or provincial designation as a technician or technologist, you can take the shorter post-diploma route. There are no set start dates - you can enrol at any time and register for courses right away.

Post diploma route

AU’s online undergraduate degree programs allow diploma graduates to upgrade their credentials without starting from scratch. We make it easy to convert your diploma to a degree through flexible, fully online pathways. Our diploma-to-degree programs are designed for students who have completed a recognized Canadian post-secondary diploma and want to seamlessly transition into a bachelor's degree. With generous credit transfer from diploma-to-degree, students can reduce their study time and complete their degree faster.

The post-diploma route is an option for students presenting a 2-or 3-year science or computing related diploma who wish to pursue a university degree to further their academic studies.

Please note: Athabasca University may grant transfer credit for individual computer science courses that were completed more than 5 years ago and/or science courses that are over 10 years old if proof of currency in the field of study is provided in the form of a current resumé and letter(s) of employment. Other evidence may be accepted if the letter and the resumé cannot be supplied.

Faculty of Science and Technology diploma to degree routes

General program and majors

The Bachelor of Science program can be completed as a general program or by choosing 1 of 3 majors:

For students in the Bachelor of Science program wishing to combine 2 majors, all requirements of both majors must be fulfilled. The choice of major may restrict course selection or require the completion of more than 120 credits.

Completion times

Finish this program in as little as 4 years of full-time study or work at your own pace and take as long as you need. There is no time limit for completion. The program may be completed faster if transfer credit is applied toward your degree.

How to apply

If you're applying for the post-diploma route and you are a member of a recognized technical society under Canadian Certified Technicians and Technologists (for example, ASET, OACETT, or ASTTBC), please include a copy of your current membership and certification.

Transfer and advanced credit

If you hold a 2 or 3-year science or computing related diploma from an accredited college you may receive a minimum block of 30 credits. Depending on the content of the diploma, up to a maximum of 60 credits may be transferred to the Bachelor of Science post-diploma program.

Students without a major or minor route may also receive a block of 30 plus individual transfer credit up to a maximum of 60 or a block of 60 credits.

Like many other Bachelor of Science programs, this program has some courses with lab components, but our labs are offered to promote flexibility for students. We have developed home lab kits for many of our science courses. In addition, some of our courses have virtual labs. A few labs do require on-site attendance, but we have made it as flexible as possible by condensing the lab and also allowing students to complete multiple labs in 1 trip.

Request and send your transcripts if you want us to consider your previous post-secondary education for transfer credit.

Learn more about MyCreds

Tuition and fees

Once you have paid the initial application fee, tuition is pay-as-you-go for each course registration. Course fees vary depending on your location and other factors.

Estimated program costs are available in the Calendar.

Financial aid and awards

We're dedicated to supporting your academic goals and committed to helping you overcome financial barriers by providing many funding and award options.

Explore financial aid and awards

0 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 0-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$657	$657	$609	$609
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
0 credit total	$906	$906	$844	$844

1 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 1-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$219	$219	$203	$203
Students' Union Fee ($4.50)	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50
1 credit total	$223.50	$223.50	$207.50	$207.50

3 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 3-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$657	$657	$609	$609
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($13.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50
3 credit total	$921.50	$921.50	$859.50	$859.50

4 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 4-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$876	$876	$812	$812
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($18) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$20	$20	$20	$20
4 credit total	$1,145	$1,145	$1,067	$1,067

6 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 6-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$1,314	$1,314	$1,218	$1,218
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee ( *exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($27) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$29	$29	$29	$29
6 credit total	$1,592	$1,592	$1,482	$1,482

9 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 9-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$1,971	$1,971	$1,827	$1,827
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($40.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50
9 credit total	$2,262.50	$2,262.50	$2,104.50	$2,104.50

0 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 0-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$657	$657	$609	$609
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Out of Province Fee	$187	$187	$187	$187
0 credit total	$1,093	$1,093	$1,031	$1,031

1 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 1-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$219	$219	$203	$203
Students' Union Fee ($4.50)	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50
1 credit total	$223.50	$223.50	$207.50	$207.50

3 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 3-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$657	$657	$609	$609
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($13.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50
Out of Province Fee	$187	$187	$187	$187
3 credit total	$1,108.50	$1,108.50	$1,046.50	$1,046.50

4 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 4-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$876	$876	$812	$812
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($18) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$20	$20	$20	$20
Out of Province Fee	$187	$187	$187	$187
4 credit total	$1,332	$1,332	$1,254	$1,254

6 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 6-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$1,314	$1,314	$1,218	$1,218
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($27) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$29	$29	$29	$29
Out of Province Fee	$187	$187	$187	$187
6 credit total	$1,779	$1,779	$1,669	$1,669

9 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 9-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$1,971	$1,971	$1,827	$1,827
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($40.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50
Out of Province Fee	$187	$187	$187	$187
9 credit total	$2,449.50	$2,449.50	$2,291.50	$2,291.50

0 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 0-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$657	$657	$609	$609
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee ( *exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Out of country fee	$784	$784	$784	$784
0 credit total	$1,690	$1,690	$1,628	$1,628

1 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 1-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$219	$219	$203	$203
Students' Union Fee ($4.50)	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50
Out of country fee	$261	$261	$261	$261
1 credit total	$484.50	$484.50	$468.50	$468.50

3 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 3-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$657	$657	$609	$609
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee ( *exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($13.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50
Out of country fee	$784	$784	$784	$784
3 credit total	$1,705.50	$1,705.50	$1,643.50	$1,643.50

4 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 4-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$876	$876	$812	$812
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee ( *exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($18) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$20	$20	$20	$20
Out of country fee	$784	$784	$784	$784
4 credit total	$1,929	$1,929	$1,851	$1,851

6 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 6-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$1,314	$1,314	$1,218	$1,218
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee ( *exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($27) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$29	$29	$29	$29
Out of country fee	$784	$784	$784	$784
6 credit total	$2,376	$2,376	$2,266	$2,266

9 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 9-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$1,971	$1,971	$1,827	$1,827
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$177	$177	$163	$163
Course Materials Fee ( *exceptions apply)	$72	$72	$72	$72
Students' Union ($40.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50
Out of country fee	$784	$784	$784	$784
9 credit total	$3,046.50	$3,046.50	$2,888.50	$2,888.50

Courses

Embark on an educational journey tailored to your interests with our Bachelor of Science program, offering a wide array of courses in disciplines like biology, chemistry, computing, and environmental science. Alongside mandatory core courses in statistics, calculus, and scientific reasoning, you'll have the freedom to dive deep into specialized areas, ensuring you graduate with a robust understanding of both foundational and advanced scientific concepts.

To complete the program you will need to fulfill all the general requirements of the Bachelor of Science, plus those specific to your major, minor or concentration.

Our program course plans can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program, and how to plan the order you'll take them in. If you're feeling stuck, our academic advisors can help.

Program requirements

Program course plan

Calculate course fees

Additional links

Requirements: post-diploma degree

Program plan: post-diploma degree

Courses to explore

Below are some of the courses that our students take in this program. Please consult an advisor to confirm any course planning, as some of these courses may not apply to you.

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Career options

Unlock a world of opportunities with Athabasca University's Bachelor of Science degree, equipping you with the technical and analytical skills that are highly sought after in various industries. Whether you're interested in healthcare, environmental conservation, tech innovation, or scientific research, this degree serves as a stepping stone to diverse career paths and further educational pursuits.

Some careers may include:

medical scientist
pharmaceutical researcher
data analyst
environmental scientist
geoscientist
health and nutrition consultant
statistician
physicist
systems analyst
research scientist
natural science manager
biotechnologist
technical writer
science teacher
quality control analyst

Resources and links

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