New science breadth requirements
For students starting a science degree program UBC in 2019 there will be new science breadth requirements for graduation. The Faculty of Science offers courses in seven broad categories1:
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Life Science
- Statistics
- Computer Science
- Earth & Planetary Science
All students in single-subject honours and majors programs will need at least three credits in 6 out of 7 of these categories to graduate. Those in combined programs (including Biophysics) will need at least three credits in 5 out of 7 of these categories to graduate.
As currently structured our core programs (minus electives) fulfil the following number of categories:
- Honours and Major Physics: 4 out of 6
- Honours Biophysics: 4 out of 5
- Major Astronomy: 4 out of 6
- Combined Honours Physics and Astronomy: 4 out of 5
- Combined Honours Physics and Computer Science: 5 out of 5
- Combined Major Physics and Computer Science: 4 out of 5
In addition, all our students are encouraged to take first-year computer science (CPSC103 or 110), in which case all the programs listed above will fulfil 5 categories.
1. The UBC calendar is the definitive source for courses that count toward the breadth requirement. As of August 2018, the following course lists were up to date:
- Mathematics: All MATH courses, except MATH 302 Chemistry: All CHEM courses, except CHEM 100, CHEM 300 Physics: All PHYS courses, except PHYS 100
- Life Science: All BIOL, BIOC, PSYC (courses numbered from 60 to 89 in the last two digits), and MICB courses, and GEOB 207, except BIOL 140, BIOL 300
- Statistics: BIOL 300, DSCI 100, MATH 302, all STAT
- Computer Science: All CPSC courses
- World Science: All ASTR, ATSC, ENVR, EOSC, GEOB courses except EOSC 111 and GEOB 207