Degree Requirements for students who entered the program in 2019/2020 or earlier
These are the degree requirements for students who entered the program prior to 2020/2021.
To receive a B.Sc. degree, a student must earn at least 120 baccalaureate program course credits subject to the following:
- at least 78 of the 120 credits must be science course credits;
- at least 18 of the 120 credits must be Arts course credits, including 6 credits of first-year English and at least 12 other credits in Arts courses that are recognized for credit toward the B.A. degree;
- at least 42 of the 120 credits must be upper-level courses (numbered 300 or higher), of which at least 36 credits must be in Science;
- at most, 12 of the 120 credits may be from courses that carry credit toward a baccalaureate degree in faculties other than Arts or Science (except those Science courses which are specifically exempted from credit toward the B.Sc. degree);
- at least 36 of the 120 credits must be Science credits from upper-level courses (numbered 300 or higher) and at least an additional 6 upper-level course credits which may be from Arts or Science; and
- at least 30 of the 42 upper-level credits must be completed at UBC.
A minimum graduating grade average (GGA) of 60% is required to be eligible for graduation with the B.Sc. degree.
Designation of Science Courses
Courses with the prefixes ASTR, BIOC, BIOL, CHEM, COSC, DATA, EESC, GISC, MATH, PHYS, and STAT are considered Science courses, unless otherwise noted in the course description. In addition, for students registered in the B.Sc. program in Economics or Psychology, courses taken to complete the requirements for the major are considered Science courses. Otherwise, courses in Economics (ECON) and Psychology (PSYO) count as Arts credit only. The following Geography courses are also designated as Science courses: GEOG 108, 109, 200, 205, 207, 213, 222, 271, 272, 301, 304, 307, 310, 314, 317, 341, 356, 367, 377, 380, 381, 413, 414, 416, 422, 436, 437 and 466. GEOG 491 and 498 may be taken as Science courses depending on the designated topic.
First and Second Years Credit Requirements
To complete years one and two of the B.Sc. program, a student must complete 60 credits in Arts or Science courses. These credits must be selected from the following:
English
Students must complete 6 credits of English selected from: ENGL 109, or two of ENGL 112, 113, 114, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, or 156. Students who have not earned the 6 credits of first-year English referred to above by the time they have completed 60 credits of coursework toward a B.Sc. degree will not be permitted to enrol in any courses other than first-year English until the English requirement is met.
Science
Students must complete 18 first-year Science credits, including:
- 6 credits of MATH 100, 101;
- 6 credits of either CHEM 121/123 or CHEM 111/113
- 3 credits of either PHYS 102, 121 or 122;
- 3 credits of either PHYS 111 or 112.
Students must also complete 18-24 second-year Science credits. These credits must be chosen to meet the specific Year Two course requirements of the chosen B.Sc. major. See the requirements of the relevant major program.
Electives in Arts or Science
Students must complete 12-24 credits of Arts or Science electives. See major degree details or General Science degree program requirements.
6 elective Science credits must be selected from the list below:
- ASTR 110, 120;
- ASTR 111, 121;
- BIOL 116, 125;
- COSC 111, 121;
- COSC 122, 123;
- EESC 111, 121;
- GEOG 108, 109.
Progression Requirements
| First Year | 0–23 credits |
| Second Year | 24–47 credits |
| Third Year | 48–77 credits |
| Fourth Year | 78 or more credits |
