Faculty
Department
Credits
60.00
Length of Program
Four semesters
Credential Type
Associate Degree
Associate of Science
Campus
Coquitlam
New Westminster
Learning Format
Full-time
Part-time
Offered
Fall
Summer
Winter
Overview
Not sure which field of science you want to study? Do you plan on pursuing a degree in science at a university? With the Associate of Science Degree, you'll complete two years of first- and second-year university-level courses, including courses in math, various sciences and electives. You can also choose to focus your education by selecting from science courses that share a similar specialty or theme, such as biology, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, or mathematics.
Specialize your Associate of Science degree
Do you have a specific area of science you’re leaning toward? We also offer specialty associate of science programs in:
What is an Associate of Science 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.
Program Requirements
Curriculum Framework
Graduation Requirements:
- Successful completion of 60 credits as listed below
- Require a minimum GPA of 2.00
(Specializations are available and will be noted on the transcript and will not be noted on the credential)
Course Requirements:
To complete an Associate of Science Degree, students must complete 60 credits of university transfer courses (approximately 20 courses).
The following are the general requirements for an Associate of Science Degree at any B.C. 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 B.C. research universities (SFU, UBC, UBC-O, UVic or UNBC) as English credit.
** Arts courses are available in the Faculty of Languages, 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, UBC-O, 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 an Academic Advisor.
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.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:
Cost
You can get an average cost for your program - tuition and student fees, books, uniforms, lab fees etc - on the Program Cost page.
Only programs approved for student loan funding are listed on the Program Cost page. For all other programs, refer to the Tuition Fee page.
Career Pathways
With further education, this credential is a first step towards a career in:
- Biological Tech
- Ecology
- Chemistry
- Lab/Research Analysis
- Biology
- Geology
- Meteorology
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.
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