First Year Course Fee
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Find inspiration in the wild and wonderful – immerse yourself in the study of life at all levels. Whether you are fascinated by cellular biology, microbiology or the interactions between organisms and their environments, VIU’s Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology program has something to offer you. Designed to be experiential, our biology degree programs invite you to study local and global biological phenomena while contributing to research that has meaningful, real-world applications.
Take advantage of our small class sizes and learn and discover alongside your professor in the classroom, the lab and the field. Many of our graduates have continued on to further research and graduate studies, while others have entered successful careers in medicine, health sciences, natural sciences, teaching, physiotherapy, conservation, marine biology, and more.
The Bachelor of Science, Major and Minor in Biology emphasize a “hands-on,” integrative approach to learning. Smaller class sizes allow one-on-one interaction, fostering development of the student-mentor relationship. Versatility is a key feature of the Biology program.
Whereas the Major has a traditional core program, which all students must take, students can also select courses to suit their interests. For example, strong faculty expertise in Organismal Biology, Ecology, Molecular/Cellular Biology and Microbiology/Virology enables students to emphasize one of these directions. Students can also select electives from other departments (e.g., Fisheries, Forestry, Geography, Anthropology) to satisfy their degree requirements. In the final year, students have the option, depending on availability, to complete a comprehensive undergraduate research project, under the supervision of a Biology faculty member.
The Major will be of interest to those looking towards teaching, graduate school, professional schools such as Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine and Law, or employment as scientists in the Biological and Environmental Sciences.
The Minor will be of particular interest to students proceeding towards a career in Primary and Secondary Education, with plans for teaching a science curriculum.
General admission requirements apply.
Year 1
Select one of the following pairs:
Year 2
Years 3 and 4
Students must complete at least one of the following specialization options:
Select nine credits chosen from:
Select nine credits chosen from:
Select nine credits chosen from: