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Bachelor of Science (Major and Honors)

General Information

The Bachelor of Science degree is designed to provide students with a diversified education and specialization in at least one subject area. Students in the Bachelor of Science degree must declare a Major subject area, and may declare a Minor subject area. Students in certain subject areas may declare a second Major subject area (from a list of eligible subject areas).

Alternatively, students may choose to complete a Bachelor of Science with Honors degree, which provides a challenging and rewarding learning experience within a subject area. It offers a greater depth of engagement, including a research or capstone experience, and demands a higher standard of performance. Students following this path must declare an Honors subject area. They may declare a Minor subject area; they may not declare a second Major or Honors subject area.

Admission

Regulations

Students must ensure they are familiar with and follow all University Regulations and Faculty of Science Regulations in addition to the program requirements outlined below.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Science (Major and Honors) degree requires the successful completion of 120 units including the following:

Common Course Requirements

  1. Communication/Writing Courses: Successful completion of a minimum of 6 units in English (ENGL) or Writing Studies (WRS).
     
  2. Indigenous Course: Successful completion of a minimum of 3 units in a course(s) that focuses on themes such as Indigenous knowledge, ways of knowing, history, culture, languages, and/or contemporary issues.

    See the Indigenous Course List for Bachelor of Science (Major and Honors)  for eligible courses. Courses taken to fulfill Major/ Minor/Honors requirements, the Communication/Writing requirement, the Breadth from Outside the Faculty of Science requirement, or the Breadth from Within the Faculty of Science requirement, may also be used to satisfy the Indigenous Course requirement.
     
  3. Breadth from Outside the Faculty of Science: Successful completion of a minimum of 6 units, with at least 3 units from two of the following categories:
  • Applied Sciences
  • Business
  • Humanities, Fine Arts, and Performing Arts
  • Social Sciences

See the Breadth from Outside the Faculty of Science Course Lists for Bachelor of Science (Major and Honors)  for eligible courses in each of the above categories. Courses taken to satisfy Major/Minor/Honors requirements may also be used to satisfy this breadth requirement.
 

  1. Breadth from Within the Faculty of Science: Successful completion of a minimum of 9 units, with at least 3 units from each of the following categories:
  • Basic Sciences (i.e., common high school course offerings)
  • Formal Sciences (i.e., primarily numerical in nature or based in logic)
  • Specialized Sciences (i.e., uncommon high school course offerings)

See the Breadth from Within the Faculty of Science Course Lists for Bachelor of Science (Major and Honors)  for eligible courses in each of the above categories. Courses taken to satisfy Major/Minor/Honors requirements may also be used to satisfy this breadth requirement.
 

  1. Lab/Field Experience: Successful completion of a minimum of 3 units in a Science course that includes substantial and meaningful lab or field experience, where students are required to engage in the analysis and interpretation of authentic data or observations that reflect the uncertain nature of science. See the Lab/Field Experience Course List for Bachelor of Science (Major and Honors)  for eligible courses. Courses taken to satisfy Major/Minor/Honors requirements, or the Breadth from Within the Faculty of Science requirement, may also be used to satisfy the Lab/Field Experience requirement.

Major/Minor/Honors Requirements

  1. Major/Minor/Honors: Students in the Bachelor of Science (Major) program must declare a Major subject area, and may declare a Minor (in a different subject area). Students in certain subject areas may declare a second Major (in a different subject area, from a list of eligible subject areas). Students in the Bachelor of Science with Honors program must declare an Honors subject area. They may declare a Minor (in a different subject area); they may not declare a second Major or Honors subject area. See the Subject Areas table below for a list of subject areas that may be declared, the available Major/Minor/Honors, the subject areas that are eligible for a Double Major, and exceptions to the Minor/Double Major combinations allowed. The requirements that must be completed for each Major/Minor/Honors can be found by selecting the respective subject area links in the table.

    Some courses in certain subject areas may have prerequisites not included in the Major/Minor/Honors requirements. Students must plan accordingly to ensure these prerequisites are successfully completed (and included in the 120 units toward the degree) prior to attempting the associated Major/Minor/Honors course requirements.

    Students completing a Major/Minor, Honors/Minor or Double Major combination must ensure they complete the requirements for both subject areas within 120 units, which may be difficult to do with certain combinations. Students are advised to consult with an Academic Advisor to ensure this requirement is met.

    Minors from outside of the Faculty of Science must include at least 24 units. Students are responsible for meeting both the Faculty of Science Minor requirements and any outside Faculty or department-specified course requirements.
     
  2. Double-counted Courses: Some courses may be listed in the requirements for more than one Major/Minor/Honors subject area.
    1. There is no limit on how many 100- and 200-level courses can be double-counted in a Major/Minor, Honors/Minor, or Double Major combination.
    2. For a Major/Minor or Honors/Minor combination, 300- and 400-level courses cannot be double-counted. Requirements at the 300- and 400-level must be satisfied separately; a 300- or 400-level course required by both subject areas may be credited toward only one subject area and must be substituted by an approved 300- or 400-level course for the other subject area. Students must consult an Academic Advisor for approved course substitutions.
    3. For a Double Major, up to 6 units in 300- and 400-level courses can be double-counted. Any 300- or 400-level courses required by both subject areas beyond this 6 unit limit may be credited toward only one subject area and must be substituted by an approved 300- or 400-level course for the other subject area. Students must consult an Academic Advisor for approved course substitutions.
       
  3. 300- and 400-level Courses in the Subject Area(s):
  • All 400-level courses required for a Major or Honors subject area must be taken at the University of Alberta, and at most 6 units at the 300- or 400-level from another institution can be credited towards a Major or Honors subject area.
  • A Minor subject area requires the successful completion of a minimum of 6 units at the 300- or 400-level taken at the University of Alberta.

Exceptions to this requirement for the purposes of Study Abroad  or equivalent must be approved by the Associate Dean, Undergraduate, or designate.

Science and Senior Level Course Requirements

  1. Science Courses: Successful completion of a minimum of 72 units in Science courses. Exceptions to this requirement are in place for students completing a Major or Honors in certain subject areas, as follows:
  • Honors in Planning: Successful completion of a minimum of 60 units in Science courses.
  • Major in Planning, Major or Honors in Mathematics and Economics, and Major in Mathematics and Finance: Successful completion of a minimum of 66 units in Science courses.
  1. Senior Courses: Successful completion of a minimum of 78 units at the 200-level or higher (and therefore, a maximum of 42 units at the 100-level is permitted for credit to the degree).
     
  2. 300- and 400-level Courses in the Degree:
  • The Bachelor of Science (Major) program requires the successful completion of a minimum of 36 units at the 300- or 400-level, including at least 24 units taken at the University of Alberta.
  • The Bachelor of Science with Honors program requires the successful completion of a minimum of 42 units at the 300- or 400-level, including at least 30 units taken at the University of Alberta.

Exceptions to this requirement for the purposes of Study Abroad  or equivalent must be approved by the Associate Dean, Undergraduate, or designate.

Residence Requirement

A student transferring to the Faculty of Science’s Bachelor of Science (Major and Honors) program with advanced standing must complete at least 60 units applicable to the program while registered at the University of Alberta. Normally, at least 30 of the last 60 units must be completed while registered in the Faculty of Science

Academic Standing and Graduation

  1. Continuation Requirements (also see Faculty of Science Regulations - Academic Standing ):
    1. Continuation in the Bachelor of Science program requires a GPA of at least 2.0 in the preceding Fall/Winter.
    2. Continuation in the Bachelor of Science with Honors program in all subject areas except Neuroscience requires a GPA of at least 3.0 in the preceding Fall/Winter.
    3. Continuation in the Bachelor of Science with Honors program in the Neuroscience subject area requires a GPA of at least 3.3 in the preceding Fall/Winter.
  2. Graduation Requirements (also see Faculty of Science Regulations - Graduation ):
    1. Students must meet the continuation requirements in their final Fall/Winter in order to graduate.
    2. The following requirements also must be met:
      1. For the Bachelor of Science degree:
        1. A minimum 2.0 GPA on the last 60 units of course weight in courses with letter grades credited to the degree.
        2. A minimum 2.3 Subject Area GPA. Students graduating with a Double Major must meet the minimum 2.3 Subject Area GPA for both Major subject areas.
      2. For the Bachelor of Science with Honors degree in any subject area except Neuroscience:
        1. A minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 units of course weight in courses with letter grades credited to the degree.
        2. A minimum 3.0 Subject Area GPA.
      3. For the Bachelor of Science with Honors degree in the Neuroscience subject area:
        1. A minimum 3.3 GPA on the last 60 units of course weight in courses with letter grades credited to the degree.
        2. A minimum 3.3 Subject Area GPA.

Note: If determination of the last 60 units of course weight in courses with letter grades requires consideration of one or more courses from a given term, then all work from that term is included in the calculation. Normally, only University of Alberta courses will be used in the calculation of the GPA for the last 60 units of course weight in courses with letter grades.

Changes to Program and/or Subject Area

Declaring/Changing a Major Subject Area

Students in the Bachelor of Science program whose Major subject area is Undeclared must declare their Major subject area (and second Major subject area, if applicable) prior to accumulating 60 units towards their program. Students may have their second Major subject area removed prior to graduation.

Changing a Major subject area is not normally permitted once 90 units have been accumulated towards the degree program.

Admission into certain Major subject areas is competitive and may require an application.

Changing an Honors Subject Area

Changing an Honors subject area is not normally permitted once 90 units have been accumulated towards the degree program.

Admission into certain Honors subject areas is competitive and may require an application.

Declaring/Changing a Minor Subject Area

Students choosing to complete a Minor must declare their Minor subject area prior to accumulating 75 units towards their program. Students may have their Minor subject area removed prior to graduation.

Changing a Minor subject area is not normally permitted once 90 units have been accumulated towards the degree program.

Admission to the Minor in Business requires completion of a minimum of 24 units and is competitive. For details, see Faculty of Science Admission Requirements .

Transferring between the Major and Honors Programs

Students wishing to transfer from the Bachelor of Science program to the Bachelor of Science with Honors program, or vice versa, must submit an application.

Subject Areas

Subject Areas Offered by the Faculty of Science

Subject Areas Offered by the Faculty of Science
Subject Area Available as Honors Available as Major Available as Minor Eligible for
Double Major		 Subject Area May Not Be Combined With
Applied Mathematics   Yes Yes No Yes Mathematics (Major or Minor)
Astrophysics   Yes Yes Yes Yes Geophysics (Minor), Physics (Honors, Major or Minor)
Biochemistry   Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A
Bioinformatics   No No Yes No N/A
Biological Sciences   Yes Yes Yes Yes EE&E Biology (Honors or Major), Integrative Physiology (Honors or Major), MC&D Biology (Honors or Major)
Cell Biology   Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A
Chemistry   Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A
Chemistry - Accredited Option   No Yes No Yes Chemistry (Minor)
Climate Dynamics   No No Yes No N/A
Computing Science   Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A
Computing Science - Artificial Intelligence Option   Yes Yes No No Computing Science (Minor)
Computing Science - Software Practice Option   Yes Yes No No Computing Science (Minor)
Earth Sciences   Yes Yes Yes Yes Environmental Earth Sciences (Honors or Major), Geology (Honors or Major)
Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (EE&E Biology)   Yes Yes No Yes Biological Sciences (Major or Minor), Integrative Physiology (Major), MC&D Biology (Major)
Environmental Earth Sciences   Yes Yes No No Earth Sciences (Minor)
Geology   Yes Yes No No Earth Sciences (Minor)
Geophysics   Yes Yes Yes No Astrophysics (Honors, Major or Minor), Physics (Honors, Major or Minor)
Immunology and Infection   Yes Yes No No Biological Sciences (Minor)
Integrative Physiology   Yes Yes No Yes Biological Sciences (Major or Minor), EE&E Biology (Major), MC&D Biology (Major)
Mathematical Physics   Yes Yes No No Astrophysics (Minor), Geophysics (Minor), Mathematics (Minor), Physics (Minor)
Mathematics   Yes Yes Yes Yes Applied Mathematics (Honors or Major)
Mathematics and Economics   Yes Yes No No Economics (Minor), Mathematics (Minor)
Mathematics and Finance   Yes Yes No No Business (Minor), Mathematics (Minor)
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MC&D Biology)   Yes Yes No Yes Biological Sciences (Major or Minor), EE&E Biology (Major), Integrative Physiology (Major)
Neuroscience   Yes Yes No No N/A
Paleontology   Yes Yes No No Biological Sciences (Minor), Earth Sciences (Minor)
Pharmacology   Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A
Physics   Yes Yes Yes Yes Astrophysics (Honors, Major or Minor), Geophysics (Honors, Major or Minor)
Physiology   Yes Yes No No N/A
Planning   Yes Yes No No Human Geography (Minor)
Psychology   Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A
Statistics   Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A

Effective September 2019, there will be no further admissions into the Bachelor of Science with Honors in Atmospheric Sciences. Students who entered this program prior to September 2019 must complete all program requirements by April 2026. Refer to the Calendar in effect at the time you were admitted or readmitted for the regulations governing the degree program requirements. The last Bachelor of Science with Honors in Atmospheric Sciences will be granted Spring Convocation 2026.

Subject Areas Available from other Faculties