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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.

  • 31

    Average age

  • 93%

    Employment rate

  • $75k

    Median income

  • 94%

    Student satisfaction

Source: 2023 AU institutional data and 2022 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

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.

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.

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.

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

Resources and links

Additional information that you need to know about AU and this program.


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