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Combined Major in Science

The Combined Major in Science (CMS) is a structured curriculum that provides breadth by offering foundational packages in three discipline areas of science as well as an introduction in a fourth discipline. Lab and field experiences will promote experiential learning, providing students the opportunity to understand how research is done and application of the scientific method. A statistics requirement will give students an understanding of basic statistics and statistical modelling. A computing requirement will provide students with a basic ability in computation and data manipulation as well as develop problem-solving skills using computers. SCIE 300 (Communicating Science) will help students develop skills in critical evaluation and communication of scientific issues.

All degree requirements must be fulfilled in accordance with Faculty of Science requirements. Students may, with the approval of the Science Advising, undertake an optional minor program in Arts, Commerce, Kinesiology, or Land and Food Systems in conjunction with the Combined Major in Science. See Minor Options. Combined Major in Science students are not eligible to pursue other types of specializations.

Courses selected must be acceptable for major or honours programs in the specific areas of concentration packages. At most, a total of 6 credits of directed studies and 6 credits of student directed seminar courses (3 credits as a participant and 3 credits as a leader) may be counted toward a Combined Major in Science degree, but they may not be counted as part of a package or other CMS specialization requirements. More information is available at the Combined Major in Science Advising website.

Cooperative Education

This option integrates academic study and supervised work experience. Enrolment is limited. Second-year standing in the Combined Major in Science is prerequisite for admission. Detailed information is available from the Co-operative Education Program Office, Room 270, Chemistry/Physics Building, University of British Columbia, 6221 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC. Information is also available through the Co-op website.

Program

Combined Major (3096): Science

 

First Year1 Credits
MATH 100 (or 102, 104, 120, 180, 184)2 3
MATH 101 (or 103, 105, 121) 3
Prerequisites for CMS Packages2,3,4,5,6 10-18
Communication Requirement6 3
Arts Elective 3
Electives7 3-11
Total Credits 30
Second Year Credits
STAT 2008 3
Prerequisites for CMS Packages5,6 6-19
Arts Electives 6
Computing Requirement9 3
Electives7 5-18
Total Credits 30
Third and Fourth Years Credits
SCIE 3006 3
First CMS Package5 9
Second CMS Package5 9
Third CMS Package5 9
Two of: BIOL 342, EOSC 442, PHYS 309, CHEM 355 2-5
Electives7 25-28
Total 3rd/4th Year Credits 60
Credits for Degree 120
1 SCIE 001 fulfills first-year science prerequisites for most CMS packages except for the Mathematical Sciences packages. Some Mathematical Sciences packages require CPSC 110 (or CPSC 103 and CPSC 107) and CPSC 121 as additional requirements.
2 MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits. Taking any of MATH 120, MATH 121, MATH 180, or MATH 184 decreases the electives by 1 credit.
3 Students who do not have B.C. High School Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM 100.
4 Students take CHEM 111 if credit was not obtained for Chemistry 12 and 3 credits of 100-level PHYS (normally PHYS 100) if credit was not obtained for Physics 12.
5 CMS Packages are in five subject areas: Chemistry; Earth and Environmental Science; Life Science; Mathematical Sciences: Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics; and Physics & Astronomy. Students must complete courses in three of the five packages to fulfill specialization requirements (see below).
6 For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement. SCIE 300 must be taken in third year.  
7 Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
 
8 STAT 200 can be replaced with STAT 241 or STAT 251 or BIOL 300.
9 Computing Requirement (can be taken in third or fourth year by substituting electives in second year) - select one of the following courses: CPSC 100, CPSC 103, CPSC 110, CPSC 301, EOSC 211, MATH 210, PHYS 210.

CMS Packages

Chemistry CMS Package

Prerequisites: CHEM 121 (CHEM 120 and 115) or CHEM 111 (CHEM 110 and 115); CHEM 123 (CHEM 130 and 135); one of CHEM 233/235, CHEM 203 (CHEM 223 and 225); and one of CHEM 205, 208, 211 (CHEM 210 and 215), 213.

Package courses:
CHEM 341
6 credits of CHEM courses numbered 300 or higher (except: CHEM 300, CHEM 448)

Earth and Environmental Science CMS Package

Prerequisites: One of CHEM 121 (CHEM 120 and 115) or CHEM 111 (CHEM 110 and 115) or CHEM 141; one of PHYS 101, PHYS 106, PHYS 107, PHYS 117, PHYS 131; and one of (a) EOSC 110 and EOSC 111 or (b) EOSC 112 and EOSC 111 or (c) one of ATSC 201, BIOL 111, BIOL 112, BIOL 121, GEOS (or GEOB) 103 or GEOS (or GEOB) 200

Package courses:
EOSC 340
3 credits from EOSC 326, EOSC 355, EOSC 372
3 credits from Earth and Environmental Science courses: ATSC, ENVR, GEOS (or GEOB) (except for GEOS (or GEOB) 307, 407), EOSC (except for EOSC 310, 311, 314, 315, 470, 474, 475, 478)

Recommended courses: EOSC 325, 326, 330, 355, 372, 373 or GEOS (or GEOB) 300

Life Science CMS Package

Prerequisites: BIOL 112, BIOL 121, BIOL 140 or BIOL 180, BIOL 200, (BIOL 201 or BIOC 202 recommended); one of CHEM 121 (CHEM 120 and 115) or CHEM 111 (CHEM 110 and 115); CHEM 123 (CHEM 130 and 135). Additional specific prerequisites are needed for some choices of upper-level courses.

Package courses: 9 credits of Life Science courses numbered 300 or higher: BIOC, BIOL (except BIOL 300, BIOL 344, BIOL 345, BIOL 346, and BIOL 448), CAPS, GEOS (or GEOB) 307, 407, MRNE, MEDG, MICB, PCTH, PSYC 360-371, PSYC 460-472, and EOSC 470, 474, 475, 478

Mathematical Science CMS Package

Select one of the following seven options:

1. Computer Science Option

Students interested in the Computer Science Option must apply to gain entry and should consult the Director of the Combined Major in Science.

Prerequisites: CPSC 110 (or CPSC 103 and CPSC 107), 121, 210

Package Courses: CPSC 221; 6 credits chosen from 300 and 400 level CPSC courses

Recommended: CPSC 302, 303, 304, 312, 314, 320, 322, 340, 402, 406, 420, 421, 422, 430, 445
Students choosing this package may need additional upper-level science credits to meet the requirement for a minimum of 30 upper-level science credits.

2. Mathematics Option

Prerequisites: MATH 200, 221, (MATH 215 recommended)

Package Courses: 9 credits chosen from 300- and 400-level MATH

Highly Recommended: MATH 302, 307, 317, 340, 360

Recommended: MATH 303, 316, 345, 361, 441, 442, 445

3. Statistics Option

Prerequisites: One of MATH 152, MATH 221, MATH 223 and one of STAT 200, STAT 241, STAT 251, BIOL 300 and one of MATH 200, MATH 226

Package Courses: STAT 300; STAT 302 or MATH 302; 3 credits from STAT 306, 344

4. Interface A Option

Prerequisites: CPSC 110 (or CPSC 103 and CPSC 107), MATH 200, 221

Package Courses: 6 credits of: MATH/STAT 302, MATH 303, STAT 305; 3 credits of CPSC 302, CPSC 303

5. Interface B Option

Prerequisites: MATH 200, 221

Package Courses: MATH/STAT 302, MATH 303, STAT 305

6. Interface C Option

Prerequisites: CPSC 110 (or CPSC 103 and CPSC 107), 121, 210, 221, MATH 200, 221

Package Courses: CPSC 340, STAT 306, STAT 406

7. Interface D Option

Prerequisites: CPSC 110 (or CPSC 103 and CPSC 107), MATH 200, 221

Package Courses: CPSC 302, CPSC 402, MATH 307

Physics and Astronomy CMS Package

1. Physics Option

Prerequisites: MATH 200; PHYS 117 (or PHYS 101 or PHYS 106 or PHYS 107 or PHYS 131); PHYS 118 (or PHYS 108); PHYS 119; PHYS 200. PHYS 219, 229 and MATH 215 recommended

Package Courses: 3 credits of PHYS numbered 300 or higher (except: PHYS 348) and 6 credits PHYS or ASTR courses numbered 300 or higher (except: PHYS 348).

Recommended Courses: PHYS 301, 304, 305, 309, 312, 314, 315, 318, 319, 330, 333, 404, 405, 420

2. Astronomy Option

Prerequisites: (MATH 200, MATH 317) or MATH 217; MATH 215; PHYS 117 (or PHYS 101 or PHYS 106 or PHYS 107 or PHYS 131); PHYS 118 (or PHYS 108); PHYS 200; PHYS 203; PHYS 216. PHYS 210, ASTR 200, and ASTR 205 recommended

Package Courses: 6 credits from ASTR 300, 333, 403, 406, 407 and 3 credits of PHYS numbered 300 or higher

 


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