Bachelor of Science General

Obtain a general education that allows you to focus on more than one area of study and prepares you for the challenges science presents to the modern world with Athabasca University’s online bachelor of science (BSc) program. Graduates of the BSc 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.

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

• architecture
• biology
• chemistry
• computing and information systems
• environmental science
• geo-sciences
• 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 BSc 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 one 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 BSc program also allows you to complete courses that are transferrable 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.

As a result of completing this program, students should be able to

• Apply knowledge and skills through critical thinking and logical reflection and interpretation of scientific data and literature;
• Demonstrate collaborative or independent work to analyse and organize scientific information;
• Report scientific knowledge and findings in written, visual and verbal forms and to communicate scientific arguments effectively;
• Demonstrate professionalism and appreciation of ethical practice in science in the real world.

In order to achieve these outcomes, students will

• draw accurate conclusions from engagement of scientific endeavor
• achieve accurate insights through scientific enquiry in a dependable and consistent manner
• produce good results from independent lab, field and practice situations related to the discipline
• demonstrate considerable adeptness in estimating and in the use of measurement and calculation to reach useful conclusions, project qualities of samples, specimens, environmental experiments and results accurately and in detail
• show advanced insight and clever selection of needed equipment
• accurately portray, explain and interpret data calculation and results of scientific processes related to the discipline
• consistently apply ideas and new insights to create new equipment, combine resources or find evidence supporting new conclusions
• provide needed resources, in useful and orderly way, for scientific processes related to the discipline
• create engaging, lively accounts of scientific processes and/or findings
• demonstrate skilled, adept presentation of scientific ideas and practices in writing
• use advanced, broad skills in oral presentation of scientific information and conclusions
• wield computer software and allied equipment and supplies in a skilled fashion
• take part in scientific endeavor through literature searches, conference attendance, or other intervention in the related discipline.

Possible career options

• Lab Technologist
• Computing Analyst
• Project Manager
• Technical Manager
• Research Assistant
• Environmental Analyst
• Scientific Writer
• Supervisor or Middle Manager

• Completion of high school in an English-speaking country.
• Completion of 15 university credits from a recognized English-speaking university, or 1 year at a non-university post-secondary institution with an overall average of 75% (GPA of 3.0).

English is the language of instruction and communication in SCIS graduate programs.

Proficiency in English is an essential requirement for admission to SCIS graduate programs. Although working and studying online requires a different level of English language skills than does the classroom situation, students must nevertheless be able to communicate effectively with faculty, administration, and with other students.

For more information on the English Language Prociency Requirements for Graduate Studies please refer to the AU graduate calendar.

• Minimum score of 6 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• Minimum score of 60% on the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL).
• Minimum score of 80 on the Michigan English Language Battery (MELAB) test.
• Minimum score of 59 on the Pearson Test of English (PTE).
• Minimum score of 213 on the computer- or paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT), with 4.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE).
• Minimum score of 80 with an essay score of 20 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT).
• Successful completion of AU’s English Language Proficiency Program with an overall average of 75% (GPA of 3.0).
• See the English Language Proficiency Requirements Policy for further details.

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.