Associate of Science Degree

The Associate of Science degree is a provincial credential offered by many institutions in the BC Transfer System. The associate degree provides an educational experience that prepares students for life as an educated person, and lays a solid foundation for further study.

The associate degree curriculum consists of two years of university-level study in a variety of academic areas. Students are required to complete a broad range of course offerings balanced with in-depth study in specific disciplines. Since many students will continue their studies, the requirements are sufficiently flexible to enable students to complete the required prerequisites for upper-level course work in their intended major. Students will be exposed to a program of study that seeks to develop:

• an interest in and curiosity about the world around them
• an understanding of the global context in which they live and work
• an appreciation of intellectual thought and human creativity
• an openness to a variety of viewpoints
• a capacity for and interest in self-directed life-long learning
• an acceptance of the social responsibilities that come with the benefits of advanced learning.

In addition, the program of study should develop and improve those skills essential for academic success at an advanced intellectual level. They include but are not limited to:

• advanced reading comprehension
• effective written and oral communications
• mathematical and scientific reasoning
• computer and technological literacy
• research and evaluative skills
• analysis, synthesis, and integration of knowledge
• critical thinking and problem solving
• application of theoretical understanding to practice
• working collaboratively.

Admission Requirements

B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent, or 19 years of age and out of secondary school for one year as of the first day of classes.

English Entrance Requirement:

English 12 with minimum 60% or alternatives.

Students who do not satisfy the English entrance requirement will be admissible to the first year of the Associate of Science program, subject to the following conditions:

1. Registration is restricted to courses for which the student satisfies the prerequisites. Registration in first-year English courses is, therefore, prohibited.
2. Students must successfully complete the English entrance requirement, as stated above, within their first year of studies.

Math Entrance Requirement:

A minimum of 50% in any of:

• Pre-calculus Grade 12
• Principles of Mathematics 12
• Adult Basic Education MATH 012

Or a minimum of 64% on the Calculus Readiness Test

Students who do not satisfy the Mathematics entrance requirement will be admissible to the first year of the Associate of Science program, subject to the following conditions:

• Registration is restricted to courses for which the student satisfies the prerequisites. Registration in CHEM 111, COSC 111, MATH 112, and PHYS 111 is therefore, prohibited.
• Students who do not satisfy the Mathematics entrance requirement are strongly advised to register in MATH 120 (Pre Calculus). Successful completion of this course will satisfy the Mathematics entrance requirement.
• Students must successfully complete the Mathematics entrance requirement, as stated above, in their first year of studies.

Secondary School Calculus: Students enrolling for the first time at Okanagan College who have completed or are registered in a secondary-school calculus course are eligible to write the UBC-SFU-UVic-UNBC Calculus Examination. Students who pass this examination with a grade of 50% or better will be given the option of receiving credit for MATH 112 with a grade equal to the grade obtained on the examination or taking MATH 112 for credit.

There is an $88 non-refundable fee for the Calculus Examination. It must be paid to the sponsoring institution. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the sponsoring institution regarding the dates and locations of the examination, since these will change depending on the sponsoring institution. It is also the responsibility of the student to obtain a letter from the sponsoring institution stating the grade achieved on the examination. This letter is the document that Okanagan College will use to administer the policy.

This policy applies to students who are enrolling at Okanagan College for the first time. A student who opts to take MATH 112 for credit cannot, at a later date, request that their grade on the Calculus Examination be used in place of the grade they received in MATH 112, even if the student withdraws.

Graduation Requirements

The Associate of Science Degree is granted upon completion of 60 credits of prescribed study (below). A student with an Associate of Science Degree if admitted to B.C. universities is guaranteed full transfer credit (60 credits) for the work done for their Associate Degree.

In two B.C. universities (SFU and UNBC), a student with an Associate of Science Degree will be offered priority admission to the Faculty of Science (subject to a minimum GPA determined by the university). Check the B.C. Council on Admissions and Transfers website for updated information on B.C. Associate degrees at http://www.bctransferguide.ca.

Courses used to complete the Okanagan College Associate of Science Degree must have transfer credit to at least one B.C. research university (Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Victoria).

No course may be used to meet more than one of the specific requirements.

The Associate of Science Degree is granted upon the successful completion of the following courses:

• Two of the following: ENGL 100, ENGL 150, ENGL 151, or ENGL 153.

• MATH 112 and at least one other three-credit course in Mathematics. MATH 120 (Pre-Calculus) can be used for the second mathematics course, however, the student should be aware that some institutions will not accept this course for credit toward a science degree.

• At least 12 credits (4 courses) from:

  • BIOL 111 and BIOL 121

  • CHEM 111 and CHEM 121 or CHEM 112 and CHEM 121

  • PHYS 111 and PHYS 121 or PHYS 112 and PHYS 122

• At least 24 other credits in Science, which shall include at least one course in a laboratory science and a minimum of six courses (18 credits) in Science at the second-year level taken in two or more subject areas.

• At least two three-credit courses in Arts other than English.

• At least two three-credit courses in Arts, Science or other areas.

A total of 60 credits (at least 20 courses) of first- and second-year courses with a minimum average of 60% calculated from all courses counting towards the Associate of Science degree.

Program Outline

Associate of Science Degree: Discipline Emphasis

Biology Emphasis

Chemistry Emphasis

Computer Science Emphasis

Mathematics and Statistics Emphasis