Complete two years of undergraduate science at VCC, earning a solid foundation for upper-level university programs or a standalone credential.
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
The expected length of the program is two years. There is also the option of part-time studies, which would result in a longer time frame for completion of the credential. The maximum allowable time for students to complete the program is four years.
The courses are presented using a variety of instructional strategies, resources and activities including lectures, laboratories, online and blending learning, field trips, demonstrations, guest speakers, case studies, and applied practical experiences.
Notes:
Notes:
Missing prerequisites? Learn more about VCC's tuition-free academic upgrading or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, or discover which university transfer options are right for you.
Students may request formal recognition of prior learning attained through informal education, work, or other life experience, including Indigenous ways of knowing. Credits may be granted to students who are able to sufficiently demonstrate the learning outcomes of specific courses.
Consult the course outlines for the availability of PLAR. Examples of courses that accept PLAR include the following:
Students may complete up to nine program credits through PLAR. Tuition and fees may still apply to PLAR candidates.
Methods of PLAR vary by course, and may include exams, portfolios, interviews, and other evaluations. To request PLAR, contact the appropriate department directly.
See Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition policy for more information.
Students do not have to declare their intention of completing the Associate of Science credential before beginning to take courses. Courses are open to any student who meets the general and specific requirements for the course.
However, students will need to meet the admission requirements to the program before courses can be used to complete the Associate of Science degree.
No course can be used to meet more than one of the specific requirements (for example, MATH 1120 as both a Math requirement and a First Year Science requirement).
The Associate of Science degree requires the successful completion of a minimum 60 credits that have assigned or unassigned credit at Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria, or the University of Northern British Columbia.
Students are required to complete a minimum of 60 university-transferable credits at the 1st and 2nd-year level. These must include a minimum of 18 credits in Science at the second-year level taken in two or more subject areas (See Specific Requirements C2).
Students can accumulate credits at more than one institution and have them count as transfer credits towards the Associate of Science degree at VCC as long as they meet the general and specific requirements of the credential. Students will be required to complete at least 50% of their course work from VCC.
For further details about how a course is defined (e.g. arts/science/other, first-year/second-year, lab science/non-lab science etc.) please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca/learn-more-about/associate-degrees/
Students must complete:
A. 6 credits in first-year English
B. 6 credits in Mathematics which shall include at least 3 credits in Calculus (6 credits in Calculus is recommended)
C. 36 credits in Science which shall include:
C1. A minimum of 3 credits in a laboratory Science
C2. A minimum of 18 credits in second-year Science taken in at least two different subject areas (including additional Mathematics credits)
D. 6 credits in Arts other than English (excluding Mathematics and Laboratory-based Science courses)
E. 6 credits of first or second-year transferable courses in Arts, Science or other areas.
Total Program Credits: 60.0 credits (minimum)
In order to be eligible for transfer into third year computer science at UBC, SFU, and other institutions, it is recommended that students complete the following courses as part of their Associate of Science degree.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English (6 credits) | 6 | |
ENGL 1100 | English 1 | |
or ENGL 1101 English and ENGL 1001 Integrated Language Support 1 | ||
ENGL 1200 | English 2 | |
or ENGL 1102 English and ENGL 1002 Integrated Language Support 2 | ||
| Calculus (6 credits) | 6 | |
MATH 1100 | Calculus 1 | |
MATH 1200 | Calculus 2 | |
| Lab science (3 credits) | 3 | |
PHYS 1100 | Physics 1 | |
or PHYS 1110 Introduction to Astronomy | ||
or CHEM 1121 Chemistry 1 | ||
or BIOL 1100 Biology 1 | ||
or BIOL 1120 Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 | ||
| First-year science (12 credits) | 12 | |
CMPT 1010 | Introduction to Computer Programming 1 | |
CMPT 1020 | Introduction to Computer Programming 2 | |
MATH 1120 | Discrete Mathematics 1 | |
MATH 1221 | Applied Linear Algebra | |
| Second-year science (minimum 18 credits from at least 2 subject areas) | 18 | |
CMPT 2225 | Data Structures and Programming | |
CMPT 2276 | Introduction to Software Engineering | |
CMPT 2295 | Introduction to Computer Architecture | |
MATH 2700 | Probability and Statistics for Science and Engineering | |
MATH 2251 | Calculus 3 | |
MATH 2120 | Discrete Mathematics 2 | |
MATH 2310 | Ordinary Differential Equations | |
| Electives (15 credits) | 15 | |
Arts other than English (6 credits) | ||
Science (3 credits) | ||
Arts or science (6 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 60 | |
* This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.
Are you interested in this program?
Applications are open! Don't forget to:
Note:
Read the Associate of Science Course Selection Guide to find out more.
