Program

Earth & Environmental Sciences (Associate Degree)

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Earth & Environmental Sciences
Credits
60.00
Length of program
Two years
Credential type
Associate Degree

Overview

Explore how our planet formed and evolved over the past four and a half billion years with the Associate of Science in Earth and Environmental Sciences. You’ll learn how the various spheres of our planet interact, how life evolved over time and the modern threats to biodiversity. Specific topics of study may include plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, fossils and the ancient rock record, the science and environmental impacts of resource extraction, as well as global climate change over time. 

What is an Associate degree?

Associate degrees take two years to complete and concentrate on one area of study. If you plan your courses carefully with a university program in mind, you’ll be able to transfer all 60 credits to university. In most cases, an associate degree will allow you to enter the third year of a four-year bachelor's degree program. To ensure your courses transfer, see the BC Transfer Guide.  

Get paid, full-time work experience during your studies

Put your skills to work by joining the optional Co-operative Education Program, which alternates semesters of study with paid, full-time work in your field. You’ll earn money while gaining experience, building your resume and getting an employer reference, all before you graduate. To participate in Co-op you need to plan two semesters in advance, so we strongly recommend contacting the Co-op Office at the start of your program.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:

  • General College Admission Requirements

Cost

Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition & fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more. 

For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts. 

Program Requirements

Curriculum framework

Graduation Requirements:

  • Successful completion of 60 university transfer (UT) credits as listed below
  • A minimum program GPA of 2.0
  • All courses must be university transferable - a unversity transferable course is a course that transfers to one of the research universities - SFU, UBC (UBCV or UBCO), UNBC or UVIC in the BC Transfer Guide
  • 50% (30 credits) of all course work must be completed at Douglas College
  • Specializations will be noted on the transcript and will not be noted on the credential

Co-operative Education Option:

Students enrolled in this program may be eligible for a Co-operative Education designation. Co-operative Education involves alternating full-time academic and work terms. For information contact the Co-operative Education Office.

  • Successful completion of 9 additional credits through Cooperative Education I (COOP 1100).
  • Students completing the Cooperative Education option will graduate with 69 credits.
  • 50% (34.5 credits) of all courseworks must be completed at Douglas College.

Course Requirements:

To complete an Associate of Science Degree with a Specialization in Earth & Environmental Sciences, students must complete:

  • 18 or more credits (of the 60 credits required for their associate degree) in Earth & Environmental Sciences
  • nine of those 18 credits must be considered second-year courses. To qualify as a second-year course, a course must transfer to one of the research universities (SFU, UBC, UBCO, UVIC, or UNBC) at the second-year level.

The following are the general requirements for an Associate of Science Degree at any BC college:

  • 6 credits (2 courses) first-year English*
  • 6 credits (2 courses) Math, including 3 credits of Calculus
  • 18 credits (6 courses) first-year Science electives, including at least 3 credits in a laboratory science
  • 18 credits (6 courses) second-year Science electives in two or more subject areas
  • 6 credits (2 courses) Arts** electives (other than English)
  • 6 credits (2 courses) of other University Transfer electives

*English courses include courses in Communications, Creative Writing and Print Futures that transfer to one of the BC research universities (SFU, UBC, UBCO, UVic or UNBC) as English credit.

**Arts courses are available in the Faculty of Language, Literature, and Performing Arts, and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Courses in Economics and Mathematics also may be used as Arts electives toward an Associate of Science Degree. Please see the Associate of Science Course Classifications table below for further information.

Definitions:

A course is defined by the subject for which it is granted transfer credit at one of the research universities (SFU, UBC, UBCO, UNBC, or UVic).

  • An Arts course is defined as any course in a subject area for which there is a Baccalaureate of Arts Degree at one of the research universities.
  • A Science course is defined as any course in a subject area for which there is a Baccalaureate of Science Degree or Baccalaureate of Applied Science Degree at one of the research universities.
  • The requirements specified above are intended to provide breadth of exposure to a variety of disciplines in both Arts and Sciences. In some instances there may be some ambiguity as to whether a course is in the Humanities or Social Sciences and is an Arts course or a Science course. Most Physical Geography and Mathematics would be designated as Science courses.
  • A course in an "other" area is defined as any course in a subject area for which there is a Baccalaureate Degree other than in Arts, Science or Applied Science at one of the research universities.
  • A first-year course is defined as a course that has assigned or unassigned transfer credit at the 100-level at one of the research universities.
  • A second-year course is defined as a course that has assigned or unassigned transfer credit at the 200-level or higher level at one of the research universities.
  • A laboratory science course is one in which a substantial component of instruction involves the study of natural phenomena, either in the laboratory or in the field.

For detailed information you should meet with a Student Success Advisor.

 

 

Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Career Pathways

Career opportunities include:

  • Resource Management
  • Resource Sustainability
  • Geologist
  • Environmental Technician
  • Water Treatment Plant Operator
  • Watershed Stewardship
  • Research Assistant
  • Lab Technician