Science
Offered at Richmond and Surrey
Full- and Part-time
Start Date: September, January and May
Open Enrolment
Description
Kwantlen University College currently offers the first two years of
mathematics and science courses towards a Bachelor of Science
degree in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics. Students
wishing to complete their Bachelor of Science can readily transfer
to UBC, SFU, UVic, UNBC, or any other university college in
British Columbia that offers a Bachelor of Science. In this
arrangement, Kwantlen is regarded as the “sending institution” and
the post-secondary institution accepting the transfer is regarded as
the “receiving institution”. All of Kwantlen's mathematics and
science courses have been formally articulated for transfer credit on
a course-by-course basis with these institutions. Specific
information on how each course transfers can be obtained through
the Internet at
BCCAT (www.bccat.bc.ca).
Kwantlen students may apply for transfer to a university or
elsewhere at any stage in order to complete a Bachelor of Science,
but are encouraged by receiving institutions to complete the first
two years here.
Kwantlen offers an Associate of Science degree and a Diploma of
Science, both of which are described in further detail below.
Admission Requirements
The general Kwantlen admission requirements apply to all science
credentials offered. However, individual courses within the science
program have specific prerequisite requirements:
- Principles of Mathematics 12 is required to qualify for direct entry into first-year calculus (MATH 1120 or 1130).
- Principles of Physics 12 and Principles of Mathematics 12 are required for first-year physics (PHYS 1120 or 1101).
- Chemistry 12 is required to qualify for direct entry into first-year chemistry (CHEM 1110).
- There is no prerequisite for first-year biology (BIOL 1110), but possessing Biology 11 and/or 12 offers stronger preparation.
Specific grade requirements for these courses, and any other
governing conditions, are identified with each course description.
Courses and/or grades below the standards noted will necessitate
appropriate upgrading, which will ultimately extend the time
required to complete a Bachelor of Science degree. Students
currently attending secondary school are therefore strongly
encouraged to take Principles of Mathematics 12, and be aware of
the other Grade 12 science requirements, when selecting their
senior level courses in high school.
The pathway of “Applications of” high school courses, which are
generally classified under the heading of Applied Academics and
targeted for students not intending to pursue a Bachelor of Science,
are recognized, but at a standard below the pathway of “Principles
of” courses. Further detail on how Application courses are
accepted by Kwantlen and other post-secondary institutions can be
found from the Internet at www.bced.gov.bc.ca/careers/aa/
students/artic.htm
Kwantlen offers a variety of preparatory courses for students
missing prerequisites for one or more of the essential courses in the
Science program. Preparatory courses at the provincial grade 11
and 12 level are offered within the Science program as CHEM
1094; as MATH 1092, MATH 1093 and MATH 1112; and as
PHYS 1100. A wider range of courses at even lower preparatory
levels is offered under the ABE and PSP course coding.
Content
A traditional full course load would consist of five courses per
semester, but many students opt to take a reduced load with the
understanding that it will take longer to complete a Bachelors
degree.
Science programs typically have a core of common courses in the
first two years. However, to ensure that courses are taken in the
correct sequence, or to properly match the course profile required
for completion of a Bachelor of Science in the chosen
specialization, students are encouraged to consult the Calendar or
speak to admissions or advising personnel at the university or
university college where they plan to complete a degree, or to
contact an educational advisor or science instructor at Kwantlen.
Very helpful information on selecting courses for the Science
program can also be found at
Kwantlen's educational advisor web
page.
A typical first semester at a first-year level for full-time studies in
the Science program would be:
All of
Plus two courses chosen from:
Any other elective
Students lacking prerequisites for any of these courses would have
to modify their course package accordingly.
English and elective courses are standard components of any
Bachelor of Science degree. Students should be aware of the
English and elective requirements at the post-secondary institution
where they plan to complete their Bachelor of Science degree.
Prerequisites for English are listed under the English courses
section of Kwantlen's Calendar. Students who are not proficiently
fluent in English are strongly advised to register in the appropriate
level of English courses each semester, or until suitable fluency is
achieved.
Some mathematics and science courses have been organized into
two streams - life sciences and physical sciences.
- For mathematics, the calculus courses MATH 1120 and MATH 1220 are the traditional route for the physical sciences, but MATH 1130 and MATH 1230 are targeted for students wishing to pursue a life science option (particularly at SFU). MATH 2232 is a linear algebra course for science and engineering students, and MATH 2234 is an additional requirement for transfer to UBC engineering programs.
- For physics, the courses PHYS 1120 and PHYS 1220 are for physical science and engineering students, while PHYS 1101 and PHYS 1220 (or 1102) are suitable for life science students
First year science and mathematics courses:
Second year science and mathematics courses are:
* for Engineering students or Science students planning to transfer
to Engineering
Course Credit Assignments
Each post-secondary institution determines the method in which it
assigns credit value to its courses. For example, Kwantlen
University College assigns 5 credits for its PHYS 1120, while its
equivalent course at UBC, SFU, UNBC and UVic is granted 3, 4, 4
and 1.5 credits, respectively. What's important in transfer
recognition is what is learned, not what credit is assigned. When
UBC grants only 3 credits for our 5 credits in the above example,
UBC is merely converting our credit system to theirs. They do so to
convert all courses taken here into their graduation program. In
essence, the course is regarded as equal in content and learning
outcome to their equivalent course. The adjustment of credit value
is merely a numeric conversion to reflect this equivalence.
Science Credits for Non-Science Students
There are currently four courses available that satisfy science or lab-
science requirements for non-science degrees and for the
elementary education program at SFU and UBC. These four
courses, ASTR 1100, BIOL 1112, CHEM 1101 and ENVI 1112,
are also fascinating choices as electives for non-science students
wishing to gain a stronger understanding of the scientific principles
that impact our daily lives.
Credentials
The Faculty of Science offers two credentials in support of course
packages completed at Kwantlen, either before transferring to
complete a Bachelor of Science or as an exit level recognition.
Kwantlen does not currently offer a full four-year Bachelor of
Science degree, but has articulated pathways for completion of a
Bachelor of Science with the British Columbia universities and
university colleges who do offer one.
Associate of Science Degree
Start Date: September, January and May semester
Open Enrolment
Description
An Associate Degree is fundamentally recognition of halfway
completion of a Bachelor Degree. Holders of an Associate Degree
receive full transfer of all courses counting towards that degree,
even if the receiving institution may not have an articulation in
place with any specific course counted by the sending institution
towards an Associate Degree. While universities traditionally set
transfer standards based on GPA cutoffs, some receiving
institutions grant priority transfer status to holders of an Associate
Degree
The general requirements for the Associate of Science Degree are
specified by provincial legislation. To qualify for an Associate of
Science degree, students must complete roughly 20 courses at the
first and second year level. A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 is
required, with a passing grade in each course counting towards the
Associate of Science degree.
General information on the requirements for the Associate of
Science degree, and how they are received by the universities, can
be found on the BCCAT Web site.
Kwantlen currently offers several pathways for an Associate of
Science degree:
1. Associate of Science - Biology (subject to approval)
2. Associate of Science - Chemistry (subject to approval)
5. Associate of Science - Mathematics (subject to approval)
6. Associate of Science - Physics (subject to approval)
7. Associate of Science degree towards a Bachelor of Business
Administration in Entrepreneurial Leadership.
This is a unique pathway for students to gain a solid foundation in science while
pursuing a degree in Business at Kwantlen University College. A degree with
this focus can be useful in considering a business career that involves the
manufacture and sale of scientific product or industries (e.g., pharmaceutical
companies) involved heavily in scientific research. Kwantlen offers the Bachelor
of Business Administration degree linked with this Associate of Science degree.
8. Associate of Science - Royal Roads University (subject to approval)
This provides direct entry to third year of their environmental science and
management programs.
Further detail on course requirements for each of these options can
be found at Kwantlen's Science Program web site.
Note: Students planning to continue towards a Bachelor of Science
degree should verify the transfer status at each university when
organizing their course profile to ensure they meet entrance
requirements. Research has demonstrated that students transferring
with an Associate Degree perform better at the receiving institution
than students transferring at an earlier completion level, and at least
at par with those students who were solely resident at that degree
granting receiving institution.
For students electing to seek employment at the Associate of
Science level, rather than completing a Bachelor of Science, the
associate degree attests that they have received a strong science
education at the foundation level.
Required Core for an Associate of Science Degree
A. First Year
1. English Requirements
2. Mathematics Requirements
Any two university level mathematics courses, at least one of which
is Calculus. This may allow one of either
MATH 1112 or 1115.
Caution: Most degrees in science require both Calculus I and
Calculus II. This would include:
or
3. First year science. Any six science courses from among the
following:
Note: At least one must be a lab science
B. Second Year Science
Any six science courses from among the following:
Note: must be in a minimum of two subject areas
C. Four Additional Courses
1. Any two courses in Arts* other than English
2. Any other two university transferable courses
Total: 20 courses
* Note: Arts implies any subject area not noted in the science
categories above, and includes all geography courses not specified
in the science categories above, i.e.
GEOG 1101,
1140,
1150,
1160,
1211, and
1212.
Students lacking the appropriate prerequisites will likely require
more than two years to complete the Associate of Science degree.
Since the Associate of Science Degree represents completion of
one half a Bachelor of Science degree, as long as the right courses
are taken at Kwantlen, students should ideally be able to complete
their Bachelor of Science within two years at the receiving
University or University College.
Graduation
Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded
an Associate of Science Degree.
Diploma
Start Date: September, January and May semester
Open Enrolment
Description
This credential is awarded in recognition of a substantial course
profile in science taken at Kwantlen University College. There is no
recognition of a Diploma of Science with respect to transferring to
a receiving institution other than transfer credit on a course-by-
course basis.
Content
A. 60 credits (Kwantlen credits) in 1000 and 2000 level courses that
transfer to UBC or SFU or UVic, or UNBC including:
- 3 credits (1 course) in English at the 1100 level or higher;
- Any two of MATH 1112, 1115, 1120, 1130, 1220 or 1230, at least one of which must be a Calculus course
- 20 credits of level 1100 and 1200 courses drawn from at least two of the following disciplines: Biology, Chemistry Physics*; and
- 2 courses at level 2300 and 2400 in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics (excluding MATH 2341)*;
* Note: Students should be careful to choose their remaining credits
according to program requirements at the university, university/
college or institute of technology where they wish to complete their
Degree.
B. A minimum overall accumulated GPA of 2.00 in the courses that
count towards the Diploma;
Note: A maximum of 45 credits (none at the 2300 or 2400 level) can
be transferred into Kwantlen through a combination of courses
taken at another institution or granted through Prior Learning
Assessment.
Graduation
Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded
a Diploma in Science.