BSc (Specialization in Science and Education)/BEd (Secondary) Combined Degrees Program [Science]

The Faculties of Science and Education offer a combined degrees program that is more highly structured than a BSc followed by a BEd After Degree (a six year route). It provides less flexibility in course choice and scheduling than taking the degrees sequentially because it is designed to meet the minimum requirements of both degrees in five years. In addition, it must meet teacher certification requirements within this time frame.

To accommodate the variety in subject studies needed in secondary school teaching, students in the BSc (Specialization in Science and Education)/BEd (Secondary) program will select both a major/minor from the following areas:

Biological Sciences: Biology, Botany, Entomology, Genetics, Immunology and Infection, Marine Science, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Paleontology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Zoology.
Physical Sciences: Astronomy, Chemistry, Mathematical Physics, Physics.
Mathematical Sciences: Computing Science, Mathematics, Statistics.

Admission

Students apply to the Faculty of Science for admission to the BSc (Specialization in Science and Education)/BEd (Secondary) program and normally spend the first two years of the five-year combined degrees program registered in the Faculty of Science. [See BSc/BEd—BSc (Specialization in Science and Education) and BEd (Secondary) Combined Degree )].

Selection of Courses

Note: For success in your chosen program, ensure you have satisfied the pre/corequisite requirements for all courses. Departments have the right to remove students from courses for failing to present a passing grade (or higher, where stipulated) in the prerequisite course(s) and/or for failing to be enrolled in the corequisite course(s). Please see www.uofa.ualberta.ca/science/programs/undergraduate/admission-to-science for more information.

The following regulations govern the BSc (Specialization in Science and Education)/BEd (Secondary) program:

A student’s program must be approved by an advisor in the appropriate Faculty prior to the start of each Fall/Winter.
Within the ★150 program, a student must complete a minimum of ★72 in Science (see details of courses ), ★48 in Education and ★18 in Arts.
In the major, at least ★12 must be in 300-level or higher courses taken while registered in the BSc (Specialization in Science and Education)/BEd (Secondary) program at the University of Alberta.
In the minor, at least ★6 must be in 300-level or higher courses taken while registered in the BSc (Specialization in Science and Education)/BEd (Secondary) program at the University of Alberta.
No more than ★42 at the 100-level are permitted in the BSc (Specialization in Science and Education)/BEd (Secondary) program.

Course Load Requirements

To complete the ★150 and graduate in five years, students must take a full course load of ★30 in each Fall/Winter of the program. The minimum load for students in the BSc (Specialization in Science and Education)/BEd (Secondary) program is at least ★24 in each Fall/Winter. A course load of less than ★24 requires annual approval by both the Dean of Education and the Dean of Science.

Academic Standing and Graduation

The following regulations govern the combined degrees program:

Continuation in the combined degrees program requires a GPA of at least 2.3 on ★24 in each Fall/Winter of the five-year program.
Graduation from the combined degrees program requires a minimum GPA of 2.3 in the declared major.
Students who fail to achieve a minimum GPA of 2.3 in their major at the end of Year 2 in the program will not be promoted to the Faculty of Education.
A student who fails to attain the standard necessary for continuation or graduation may appeal to be granted one further Fall/Winter to achieve the required standing and requires the written approval of the Dean of Science and the Dean of Education.
Students who cannot attain the standard necessary for continuation or graduation in the combined degrees program will be required to withdraw from the program. Such students may apply to transfer to a different BSc program in the Faculty of Science or the BEd program in the Faculty of Education.
Normally, a student transferring from the combined degrees program to a BEd program after Year 2 or 3 should be able to complete the degree in one or two years. However, transfer to a BSc program must be made after Year 2 at the latest to avoid loss of credit.
The BSc (Specialization in Science and Education) degree With Distinction is awarded when students achieve a GPA of at least 3.5 on the last ★60 if the student was enrolled in at least (★24) during each Fall/Winter of the last two years.

Residence Requirement

A student transferring into the combined degrees program with transfer credit normally will be required to complete at least ★90 (normally the last ★90) while registered in the combined degrees program.

Time Limits for Completion of Program

The combined degrees program is a five-year program. A student may complete the requirements of the combined degree over a period longer than five years or meet the requirements in a shorter time by attending Spring/Summer. An extension beyond six years is not normally permitted and requires the written approval of the Dean of Science and the Dean of Education.

Science Chart 1 BSc (Specialization in Science and Education)/BEd

Note: Year 1 and Year 2 are completed in the Faculty of Science. Years 3, 4 and 5 are completed in the Faculty of Education.