Natural Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Introduction
Congratulations on being accepted into the Bachelor of Science degree program.
The Bachelor of Science degree is offered as either a B.Sc., or B.Sc. (Honours). They both require the completion of 120 units (equivalent to 40 courses) and normally four years of full-time study (10 courses per year).
To understand course sequencing in future years you can use the Faculty of Science program guides.
Courses required in your first year
Concentrations
- Fall semester
- Science 205
- Biology 211
- Field of Concentration Two* Requirement:
(C2: CHEM): Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: CPSC): Philosophy 279
(C2: GEOS): Earth 210 or Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: MATH): Any 200-level MATH
(C2: PHYS): Physics 211 or 2211
- Either fall or winter semester
- Mathematics 249 or 265
- Mathematics 211 or 267
- Computer Science 2174
- Non-Science Option (Breadth Requirement)3
- Non-Science Option (Breadth Requirement)3
- Winter semester
- Biology 213
- Field of Concentration Two* Requirement:
(C2: CHEM): Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: CPSC): Computer Science 219
(C2: GEOS): Earth 210 or Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: PHYS): Physics 223
(C2: MATH): Any 200-level MATH
1. Philosophy 279 is recommended for Computer Science Concentration Two but not required.
2. Physics 221 requires PHYS 30 & MATH 31. Students who do not meet these prerequisites may take Physics 211.
3. A non-science option is any course from faculties other than the Faculty of Science, excluding courses in Table 1.
4. Students must take Computer Science 217 in the fall semester if they are planning on taking Computer Science 219.
*(C2) CONCENTRATION TWO
Field of Concentration Two* includes all courses in the field(s) related to your concentration. See below:
- Chemistry
Field of Chemistry - Computer Science
Field of Computer Science - Geoscience
Field of Geology and/or Geophysics - Physics
Field of Physics and/or Astrophysics - Mathematics
Field of General Mathematics
- Fall semester
- Science 205
- Chemistry 201 or 203
- Mathematics 249 or 265
- Field of Concentration Two* Requirement:
(C2: BISI): Biology 211
(C2: CPSC): Philosophy 279
(C2: GEOS): Earth 210 or Option not in the Field of Chemistry
(C2: MATH): Any 200-level MATH
(C2: PHYS): Physics 211 or 221 or 227
- Either fall or winter semester
- Computer Science 2173
- Non-Science Option (Breadth Requirement)2
- Non-Science Option (Breadth Requirement)2
- Winter semester
- Chemistry 201 or 203
- Mathematics 267
- Field of Concentration Two* Requirement:
(C2: BISI): Biology 213
(C2: CPSC): Computer Science 219
(C2: GEOS): Earth 210 or Option not in the Field of Geophysics
(C2: MATH): Any 200-level MATH
(C2: PHYS): Physics 229
1. Physics 221 requires PHYS 30 & MATH 31. Students who do not meet these prerequisites may take Physics 211.
2. A non-science option is any course from faculties other than the Faculty of Science.
3. Students must take Computer Science 217 in the fall semester if they are planning on taking Computer Science 219.
*(C2) CONCENTRATION TWO
Field of Concentration Two* includes all courses in the field(s) related to your concentration. See below:
- Biology
Field of Biological Sciences - Computer Science
Field of Computer Science - Geoscience
Field of Geology and/or Geophysics - Physics
Field of Physics and/or Astrophysics - Mathematics
Field of General Mathematics
- Fall semester
- Science 205
- Computer Science 231 or 217
- Field of Concentration Two* Requirement:
(C2: BISI): Biology 211
(C2: CHEM): Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: GEOS): Earth 210 or Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: MATH): Any 200-level MATH
(C2: PHYS): Physics 211 or 221 or 2271
- Either fall or winter semester
- Mathematics 249 or 265
- Mathematics 211
- Option not in the Field of Computer Science or Field of Concentration Two*
- Non-Science Option (Breadth Requirement)2
- Non-Science Option (Breadth Requirement)3
- Winter semester
- Computer Science 233 or 219
- Field of Concentration Two* Requirement:
(C2: BISI): Biology 213
(C2: CHEM): Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: GEOS): Earth 210 or Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: MATH): Any 200-level MATH
(C2: PHYS): Physics 223
1. Physics 221 requires PHYS 30 & MATH 31. Students who do not meet these prerequisites may take Physics 211.
2. A non-science option is any course from faculties other than the Faculty of Science.
3. Philosophy 279 acts as a pre-requisite for some upper year CPSC courses. Students can choose to take this course as a Non-Science Option in the first year.
*(C2) CONCENTRATION TWO
Field of Concentration Two* includes all courses in the field(s) related to your concentration. See below:
- Biology
Field of Biological Sciences - Computer Science
Field of Computer Science - Geoscience
Field of Geology and/or Geophysics - Physics
Field of Physics and/or Astrophysics - Mathematics
Field of General Mathematics
- Fall semester
- Science 205
- Physics 211 or 2211,2
- Either fall or winter semester
- Chemistry 2011
- Chemistry 2031
- Earth 2101
- Computer Science 217
- Mathematics 249 or 2651
- Mathematics 211
- Non-Science Option (Breadth Requirement)2,3
- Non-Major Field Option (Breadth Requirement)4
- Winter semester
1. These courses are the main pre-requisites for upper year ERTH courses.
2. Physics 221 requires PHYS 30 & MATH 31. Students who do not meet these prerequisites may take Physics 211.
3. A non-science option is any course from faculties other than the Faculty of Science.
4. A Non-Major Field Option is any option NOT in the field of your two concentrations and SCIE 205, 301, 403, 501 and 502 .
*NOTE: Most Field of Concentration Two* courses will be fulfilled by program requirements. Speak with a Faculty of Science Advisor for further questions or degree planning for future years.
(C2) CONCENTRATION TWO*
Field of Concentration Two* includes all courses in the field(s) related to your concentration. See below:
- Biology
Field of Biological Sciences - Chemistry
Field of Chemistry - Computer Science
Field of Computer Science - Geoscience
Field of Geology and/or Geophysics - Physics
Field of Physics and/or Astrophysics - Mathematics
Field of General Mathematics
- Fall semester
- Science 205
- Mathematics 249 or 265
- Mathematics 211
- Field of Concentration Two* Requirement:
(C2: BISI): Biology 211
(C2: CHEM): Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: CPSC): Philosophy 279
(C2: GEOS): Earth 210 or Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: PHYS): Physics 211 or 221 or 227
- Either semester
- Computer Science 2174
- Non-Science Option (Breadth Requirement)2
- Non-Science Option (Breadth Requirement)2
- Winter semester
- Mathematics 267
- Mathematics 271 or Open Option3
- Field of Concentration Two* Requirement:
(C2: BISI): Biology 213
(C2: CHEM): Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: CPSC): Computer Science 219
(C2: GEOS): Earth 210 or Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: PHYS): Physics 229
1. Physics 221 requires PHYS 30 & MATH 31. Students who do not meet these prerequisites may take Physics 211.
2. A non-science option is any course from faculties other than the Faculty of Science.
3. Mathematics 271 is required for certain senior level courses in the Field of Mathematics.
4. Students must take Computer Science 217 in the fall semester if they are planning on taking Computer Science 219.
*(C2) CONCENTRATION TWO
Field of Concentration Two* includes all courses in the field(s) related to your concentration. See below:
- Biology
Field of Biological Sciences - Chemistry
Field of Chemistry - Computer Science
Field of Computer Science - Geoscience
Field of Geology and/or Geophysics - Physic
Field of Physics and/or Astrophysics
- Fall semester
- Science 205
- Physics 2271
- Mathematics 249 or 265
- Concentration Two Requirement:
(C2: BISI): Biology 211
(C2: CHEM): Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: CPSC): Philosophy 279
(C2: GEOS): Earth 210 or Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: MATH): Any 200-level MATH
- Either semester
- Computer Science 2172
- Non-Science Option (Breadth Requirement)3
- Non-Science Option (Breadth Requirement)3
- Winter semester
- Physics 229
- Mathematic 267
- Concentration Two Requirement:
(C2: BISI): Biology 213
(C2: CHEM): Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: CPSC): Computer Science 219 or 233
(C2: GEOS): Earth 210 or Chemistry 201 or 203
(C2: MATH): Any 200-level MATH
1. Students who do not meet the prerequisites for Physics 227 may take Physics 211 or 221.
2. Students must take Computer Science 217 in the fall semester if they are planning on taking Computer Science 219.
3. A non-science option is any course from faculties other than the Faculty of Science.
*(C2) CONCENTRATION TWO
Field of Concentration Two* includes all courses in the field(s) related to your concentration. See below:
- Biology
Field of Biological Sciences - Chemistry
Field of Chemistry - Computer Science
Field of Computer Science - Geoscience
Field of Geology and/or Geophysics - Mathematics
Field of General Mathematics
Your Faculty and Major
Degree programs and courses are each housed in a specific Faculty. You have chosen a degree program in the Faculty of Science.
Your Major refers to the subject area you would like your Bachelor of Science degree to focus on (i.e. the subject area you want to take the most courses in).
Haven’t decided on a major?
If you are one of many students who haven’t quite decided on their degree of choice, visit an Exploratory Advisor in the Chancellor Cuthbertson Student Success Centre or sign up for a workshop.
First Year Tip
Take courses from a number of different areas in your first year. Please note that, initially, registration in some courses is only available to students admitted to the programs the courses are required for. Other courses are reserved entirely to students in specific degree programs. Make sure to register early for courses in your degree program and review the pre-requisites and reservation dates when choosing options.
Did you receive credit (e.g. IB or AP) upon admission?
You may be eligible to use your International Baccalaureate credit or Advanced Placement credit in your degree program depending on the program you have entered and whether or not the courses are applicable.
You may view your IB or AP transfer credit by logging in to your online Student Centre (my.ucalgary.ca).
Once you know the transfer credit you have received, you may contact the academic advisor in your Faculty to get advice on how the credit applies to your degree. Once you choose your classes you will follow the same registration process as any first time university student.
First Year Tip
If you received IB or AP credit for a 200-level course, you may take the 300-level course that has your 200-level course listed as a prerequisite. For example, if you received IB credit for CHEM 203, you can take CHEM 351, as CHEM 203 is a prerequisite for CHEM 351.
Enhance your Bachelor of Science Program
Science Co-op Program: Get a head start on your career through our co-op opportunities. You will gain valuable work experience in your industry – all before you graduate.
International Study Opportunities: Experience different cultures, gain a better understanding of world issues, and travel around the globe, all while earning credit towards your degree. UCalgary offers exchanges and study abroad programs in 61 different countries.
Community Service-Learning: Combine your classroom learning with volunteer work that achieves community goals, and see first-hand how your academic learning relates to social issues.
Arts and Science Honours Academy: Be part of a unique program that combines collaborative study, global opportunities and academic challenge. The ASHA program brings together 25 like-minded high achieving students to learn and study in six distinct scholars courses. As an Arts and Science Honours Academy student, you will be one of a class of the best and brightest at UCalgary.