Program Length
- 4 Years
Credential
- Bachelor Degree
Location Offered
- Nanaimo
A science program with more opportunity
Are you curious about the world? Is innovation your superpower? A VIU Bachelor of Science (BSc) helps you transform your curiosity into a rewarding career.
At VIU, your professors are leaders in their fields. And they are passionate teachers who care about your success. They get to know you and can connect you to the kind of opportunities offered only to graduate students at other schools.
With a VIU BSc, you can graduate with a resumé that includes funded research, fieldwork experience and paid research positions. This hands-on experience improves your career prospects and looks great on graduate school applications.
Sign up to learn more
Hands-on research
Research opportunities help you develop the analytical skills top employers look for. At VIU you get lots of experience with research in the classroom and labs. And you have many ways to level-up your research skills outside the classroom.
Research jobs
Take a work-op position with a research focus.
Funded research
Apply for funded research as early as second year.
CREATE
Gain experience presenting your research at this annual student event.
Deep Bay Marine Field Station
Biology classes visit this dedicated marine research facility.
Research to reach your goals
VIU Geoscience undergrad Brayden Klassen is one example of how research at VIU can help you reach your goals. In fourth year he researched and analyzed the shoreline of Glacial Lake Missoula. Brayden's research helped shed light on how massive flood events shaped today's landscapes. And it has helped him move closer to a career in geoscience.
"I'm going to go into surficial geology as a career after this, so I knew if I was going to do a research project, I would want to base it around surficial geology in general. This research has brought together everything I've learned so far. It gives us a chance to learn more about the Earth's past."
What can you do with a Bachelor of Science degree?
Whether you want to start your career after earning your degree or you plan to go to graduate school, a VIU BSc is a great starting point. If you're interested in pre-med, pre-dentistry or pre-veterinary options, we can set you up with the prerequisites. If you dream of becoming a marine biologist, a BSc is your first step.
Each major in the BSc has dozens of career possibilities. A BSc sets you up for rewarding jobs in high-demand sectors including:
- technology and data analysis
- healthcare
- environment and sustainability
- education
About the program
As a VIU BSc student you get a balance of classroom learning, lab time and field work. You can choose from a range of majors and minors, and you can pursue an honours degree as well.
In your classes and labs you build a solid foundation in the sciences with a focus on:
- creative problem-solving
- mathematics and scientific awareness
- lab techniques and safety
- data collection and analysis
In your course and lab work you'll also develop skills that employers look for like:
- leadership
- communication
- teamwork
This combination of skills will prepare you to enter directly into a rewarding career and to thrive in graduate school.
Admission Information
To be granted a VIU BSc degree, students must meet the following requirements.
Total Credit Requirement
Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits chosen from courses numbered 100-499. In addition,
- each required 4- or 5-credit first year course taken will increase the total requirement by 1 or 2 additional credits, respectively; and,
- co-requisite laboratory course credits will be added to the total requirement.
Note 1: Courses consisting primarily of field work, co-op placement, or preceptorship/internship are not normally eligible for selection within this category.
Note 2: Students who have completed courses with a “T” after the course number (i.e. 100T) should consult with their Degree Advisor regarding the applicability of these courses.
Requirement for Honours, Majors and Minors
There are many options available within the Bachelor of Science Program. Students must complete all requirements for either an Honours, Major, or Double Minor degree option, each of which have unique requirements.
Advisors are available to help students explore and consider their options. Students should consult with one of the BSc Degree Advisors to discuss their plan to satisfy the degree requirements.
Degree English Requirements
All students in undergraduate degree programs at VIU are required to complete 6 credits of first–year English composition and literature courses.
Lower-Level Mathematics Requirement
Students completing a BSc must complete either MATH 121/122, or 100/101.
Note: Students may not apply credit for MATH 151 or MATH 152 towards the BSc degree.
Lower-Level Sciences Requirement
Students completing a BSc must complete a minimum of 6 credits from each of three science disciplines. Students should consult the BSc Degree Advisor to confirm how to meet this requirement for their chosen degree.
- None of MATH 100, 101, 121, or MATH 122 may be used to meet this requirement.
- Only one of the following introductory statistics courses may be taken for credit towards the BSc degree: MATH 181, MATH 211, MATH 254, PSYC 300A, HSD 425.
- Computer Science Honours, Majors or Minors students may take 6 credits of Business in lieu of six credits from one science discipline.
- Students completing a BSc Minor in Psychology or Geography shall be deemed to have met the requirement of taking six credits from one science discipline.
Non-Science Elective Requirement
In addition to fulfillment of the Degree English Requirement, students completing a BSc must complete a minimum of 6 credits from non-science courses within their total credit requirement. The following courses may not be counted to meet this requirement, although they may be counted as general electives:
- Any course beginning with the following discipline identifiers: AQUA, ASTR, BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, ENGC, ENGE, ENGM, ENGR, FISH, FRST, GEOL, MATH, PHYS, RMOT, QUME and SCIE.
- Anthropology: ANTH 111, 213, 214, 341B, 342, 343, 344, 350, 351, 352, 353 361, 401, 430, 449, 460.
- Geography: GEOG 211, 212, 221, 226, 228, 326, 328, 372, 373, 374, 376, 426, 428.
- Psychology: PSYC 204, 205, 300A, 300B, 301, 302, 305, 315, 316, 318, 319, 323, 324, 345, 365, 400, 415, 419, 445, 490, 491, 498A.
- Kinesiology: KIN 201, 220, 301, 302, 400, 401.
Upper-Level Requirement
A minimum of 42 VIU credits in courses numbered 300-499, with a minimum 2.0 ("C") grade point average calculated on all upper-level courses attempted or completed. If such a course has been repeated, the highest grade obtained will be included in the calculation.
Residency Requirement
A minimum of 60 credits must be taken at VIU to meet the residency requirement.
Honours Programs
Honours programs have all the requirements for a Major, plus an additional 12 specified credits (minimum) in the discipline which are normally taken in lieu of electives. These additional credits often include a graduating essay or major project (where such courses and projects are not already required for the Major).
Senior Project
A senior project is required for certain Majors and all Honours; students are strongly encouraged to plan their senior project during third year and to schedule its completion prior to the end of their fourth year. Each senior project will have a designated project supervisor, who will assist the student to identify the resources required to complete the project successfully.
- Aquaculture (BSc) Minor
- Biology (BSc) Honours, Major, Minor
- Chemistry (BSc) Major, Minor
- Computer Science (BSc) Co-op, Honours, Major, Minor
- Earth Science (BSc) Minor
- Geography (BSc) Minor
- Geoscience (BSc) Major
- Mathematics (BSc) Major, Minor
- Physics (BSc) Transfer Program
- Psychology (BSc) Honours, Major, Minor
- see general admission requirements for academic programs.
- A minimum "B" grade in either Pre-calculus 12 or Principles of Mathematics 12.
Notes on Admission
- Students who do not meet the mathematics requirement should consult Advising on how to upgrade while working towards the BSc.
- Other high school science courses are often required to meet individual course prerequisites.
Domestic Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees for One Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (30 credits x $169.73 per credit) | 5,091.90 |
| Student Activity fee (8 months x $20.37 per month) | 162.96 |
| Student Services fee (8 months x $22.49 per month) | 179.92 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $28.87 per month) | 230.96 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year (Note: Books and supply costs vary depending on course load and course type.) | 1,500.00 |
| Total | 7,450.74 |
* The above table is based on ten 3-credit courses taken over two semesters. For programs that require 4-credit courses, students should adjust the fee totals accordingly.
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
Science and Technology courses with a compulsory lab have a lab fee of $24.38 per course.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
International Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees for One Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (30 credits x $815.77 per credit) | 24,473.10 |
| Student Activity fee (8 months x $20.37 per month) | 162.96 |
| Student Services fee (8 months x $22.49 per month) | 179.92 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $28.87 per month) | 230.96 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year (Note: Books and supply costs vary depending on course load and course type.) | 1,500.00 |
| Total | 26,831.94 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
Science and Technology courses with a compulsory lab have a lab fee of $24.38 per course.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
Domestic (Canadian)
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Science Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
45.16
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Science Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Science Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Science Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
International
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today:
Application Fee:
$153.00
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
International Admissions Officer Contact:
Name: Jamie Mollins Email: Study@viu.ca
Comments:
For prospective international applicants, please send your inquires to WorldVIU@viu.ca. |
|||
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today:
Application Fee:
$153.00
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
International Admissions Officer Contact:
Name: Jamie Mollins Email: Study@viu.ca
Comments:
For prospective international applicants, please send your inquires to WorldVIU@viu.ca. |
|||
Choose from six majors
Geoscience
Study the Earth's processes to understand and address environmental challenges.
Mathematics
Master mathematical theories, techniques and problem-solving approaches.
Study with a community
For your first year of studies, you can join the BSc Learning community. The learning community is a block of all first-year courses you take together with the same students. This makes it easier for you to meet people and form study groups.