Associate of Science Degree

This is a two-year, undergraduate program. Graduates receive an Associate of Science degree (ASc).

Learning options

Full-time or part-time study

On-campus
The full degree is offered on the main campus of TRU in Kamloops; a selection of 1st and 2nd year courses are offered at the Williams Lake campus.

Program start dates
Students may enter the program in Fall, Winter or Summer semester.

Distance education
Many courses are available by distance education. For greater flexibility, TRU also offers the Associate of Science - Open Learning degree.

Program overview

The associate degree is designed to provide an educational experience that lays a solid foundation for further study. Students are required to complete a broad range of course offerings balanced with in-depth study in science. 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.

Admission requirements

Students entering the Associate of Science program are required to complete English 1100, along with specific science courses, which vary depending on the students’ intended major (see below for details).

Prerequisites for English 1100 are English Studies 12/English First Peoples 12 with a minimum of 73% (or equivalent).

In general, the minimum prerequisite requirements for courses in the first-year courses in the ASc programs are as follows:

These are the minimum requirements. Students wishing to ladder into a major program should note that several major programs recommend courses with more stringent prerequisite requirements. Prospective students should become familiar with the course requirements for their intended major and consult the individual course descriptions for specific prerequisite requirements.

Students may upgrade their prerequisites while enrolled in the Associate of Science program.

Online timetabling and registration workshops are available. Applicants can also take advantage of the Step One and Group Advising sessions offered throughout the school year to help make the process of applying and determining program requirements easier to understand. Please contact Academic Advising at 250-828-5075 for more information.

Program costs

Tuition: estimated at $3,500 for two full-time semesters of study

Student fees: estimated at $1,000 for two full-time semesters of study. Students must also purchase required text books and materials. Lab fees may apply to courses with a lab component.

Program requirements

• Sixty credits of first and second year B.C. University transfer courses
  (1000 and 2000 level), including:
  • Six credits in first-year Mathematics (at least 3 credits must be calculus).
  • Thirty-six credits in Science, including at least 3 credits in a laboratory science and at least 18 credits in second-year Science in two or more subject areas (disciplines).
    Note: Computing Science courses are not classed as laboratory science courses.
  • Six credits in first-year English.
  • Six credits in Arts other than English (excluding Math and any courses containing a laboratory component).
  • Six credits of first- or second-year courses, in Arts, Sciences or other areas.
• A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all courses counting towards the credential.
• At least 30 of the 60 credits of course work must be completed at TRU.
  Note: No course may be used to meet more than one of the specific requirements.

Suggested areas of study

Students may choose to concentrate their studies in one area of the sciences. Suggested areas of study include biology, chemistry, physics, geology, mathematics, and computing science. Students who are interested in laddering credits from an Associate of Science degree into a Bachelor of Science degree should consult an Academic Advisor: advising@tru.ca.

Students interested in applying to science-based professional schools such as Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry and Veterinary Medicine should be aware that completion of an ASc degree does not qualify a student for entry to those programs. Students are generally required to have completed a minimum of three years of undergraduate studies in order to meet entry requirements. Students are encouraged to consult the calendars of the professional schools in which they are interested. Further information can be found under the Bachelor of Science degree program.

Contact:

advising@tru.ca