Students in the Faculty of Science are required to make steady progress toward graduation. The total number of credits, the number of science credits, and the specifications of the student's specialization (in second year and after) are all considered in the decision to promote. The decision is based on courses completed to the end of Winter Session. Registration in a specialization in second year is not a guarantee of continuing status in that specialization; maintenance of a competitive academic record is required. A student with second- or third-year standing who does not satisfy the following promotion requirements may be denied promotion to the next year level in the specialization and be removed from the specialization and required to gain admission to another. A student removed from a specialization who does not gain admission to another may be required to withdraw from the Faculty. Students changing from one specialization to another will have their year standing reassessed.
Promotion to Second Year
Promotion to second year requires successful completion of a total of 24 or more credits, of which at least 15 must be science credits from first-year science courses (100 level). Students are reminded to consider the Lower-Level Requirements and the courses required for admission to their desired specialization (see www.science.ubc.ca/students/degree/apply/req) when selecting courses. Students must meet the minimum requirements for promotion to second year within a maximum of 48 credits of coursework attempted including advance and transfer credit by the end of the Winter Session of their third academic year since enrolling in the B.Sc. program. Those who do not will normally be required to withdraw from the Faculty.
Students admitted with advance or transfer credit that puts them at risk of exceeding this limit must consult an advisor in the Science Advising on admission to the Faculty of Science.
Students admitted to or newly promoted to second year must participate in the common specialization application process in May or June (see Second Year Application) to be assigned a specialization before they start to register for courses for the next Winter Session. All continuing students are urged to consult specialization websites for information well before the end of their first Winter Session and not to wait until the specialization application period in June.
Promotion to Third Year
Promotion to third year requires successful completion of 48 or more credits. Specializations may identify one or more second-year courses that must be passed for promotion to third year. See Specialization-Specific Courses Required for Promotion.
In these paragraphs, the term “second-year named credits” will be used to refer to the credits listed in the second year of a student’s declared specialization, not including electives or courses taken to satisfy the Communication Requirement.
Students will not be considered for promotion until they have completed 3/5ths of the second-year named credits.
Students in the Combined Major in Science specialization require at least 12 Science credits at the 200-level, which must include at least two areas of Science from their chosen CMS package (e.g. Life Science and Mathematics).
Students in the Integrated Sciences specialization require at least 12 Science credits at the 200-level or above; at least two areas of Science must be included in those 12 credits. Students must submit a Degree Proposal to their program office by the end of second year. For more details see Specialization Proposal Guidelines.
For students in General Science, to be considered for promotion 12 second-year science credits numbered 200 or above must prepare the student to take required upper-level courses in at least two general science subject areas.
The minimum academic achievement required for promotion is an average of at least 60% on 3/5ths of the second-year named credits. Honours specializations have higher expectations for academic achievement. Some specializations have limited enrolment and not all students who meet the minimum promotion requirements will be able to continue into third year Course and Specialization Approval). Students should develop alternative academic plans to ensure a smooth transition should a change of academic direction be required.
A student who has completed all of the second year named credits and has not obtained the minimum academic achievement required for promotion in that specialization on their best 3/5ths of those credits will be removed from that specialization and required to gain admission to another specialization before they can be considered for promotion.
A student who has completed at least 1/3 of the second-year named credits and has an average of less than 60% on those credits will be blocked from registration and will require the permission of the specialization advisor to continue in the specialization.
Students must meet the minimum requirements for promotion to third year in a B.Sc. specialization within a maximum of 78 credits of coursework attempted or be required to withdraw from the Faculty.
Promotion to Fourth Year
Promotion to fourth year requires successful completion of a total of 72 or more credits. Of these, 50 or more credits must be science credits, including:
- all of the Faculty of Science Lower-Level Requirements;
- at least all but one of the courses required to satisfy the Science Breadth Requirement;
- all required courses specified in the first and second years by the specialization (but not all general electives); and
- at least 40% of the credits specified in the upper years by the specialization.
In addition, the Communication Requirement must be complete.
Students who go on a Go Global exchange or who have completed at least one co-op work term will be promoted if they meet the other requirements and have gained at least one-third of the credits specified in the upper years.
Specializations may identify one or more upper-level courses that must be passed for promotion to fourth year. See Specialization-Specific Courses Required for Promotion to Year 3 or Year 4. In exceptional circumstances, a student who does not meet the promotion requirements may be removed from the specialization. A student must meet the minimum requirements for promotion to fourth year in a B.Sc. specialization within a maximum of 108 credits of coursework attempted. Registration controls will be imposed on students who approach that limit without having completed the Communication Requirement. Students who reach the credit limit without meeting the requirements will be required to withdraw from the Faculty.
Students must meet all the graduation requirements for the degree within a maximum of 180 credits of coursework attempted. Those who do not will be required to withdraw from the Faculty.
Promotion for Transfer Students
Students who transfer from another faculty at UBC or another post-secondary institution will be assigned a year-level determined by the general Promotion Requirements and will thereafter be subject to those requirements. After the first winter session, each student’s progress will be reviewed and appropriate credit restrictions or requirements for remedial work will be implemented if the Communication Requirement has not been met.