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Associate of Science Degree - Biology

Credential
Associate Degree

Duration
2 year(s)

Talk to a student recruitment advisor
Apply Now

Faculty
Arts & Sciences

School
School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Are you curious about the living world? If you want to understand how life works and open the door to diverse career opportunities in the life sciences, consider an Associate of Science Degree - Biology at CapU.

Biology is the science that explores and explains the life within and around us, investigating everything from how molecules move within cells to how ecosystems flourish in varied environments. 

This two-year associate's degree provides a firm foundation in the broad, exciting, and rapidly growing fields of life science.

Our multidisciplinary and lab-focused curriculum emphasizes both the academic and applied skill sets you need to pursue opportunities in a range of fields including health, biotechnology, and conservation and resource management.

After completing your associate's degree, you can ladder your credits into the four-year Bachelor of Science degree at CapU, which will take its first students in Fall 2022. 

Intakes

Spring 2023

Location
North Vancouver

Course load
Full-time or part-time

Important dates

Applications open

Feb 1, 2022 – Jan 3, 2023

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Nov 14, 2022

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Dec 19, 2022

Summer 2023

Location
North Vancouver

Course load
Full-time or part-time

Important dates

Applications open

Jun 7, 2022 – May 2, 2023

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Mar 6, 2023

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Apr 24, 2023

Fall 2023

Location
North Vancouver

Course load
Full-time or part-time

Important dates

Applications open

Oct 4, 2022 – Sep 5, 2023

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Jul 4, 2023

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Aug 21, 2023

NOTE: Important dates may change.

How to Apply

Are you applying as a domestic or as an international student?

Review this program's admission requirements

First-time applicants submit your application on EducationPlannerBC

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

  • When you submit your application, you will need to pay an application fee of $50, which gives you the opportunity to apply for 2 programs. 
  • You will need to upload a digital (PDF) copy of your transcripts and supporting documents at this time.
  • If you are currently in Grade 12, you must request that the Ministry of Education submit your transcript directly to Capilano University.
  • Documents must be in the original language of issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.
Apply on EPBC

Receive an acknowledgement email

After submitting your application on EducationPlannerBC you will receive an acknowledgement message from us to your personal email.

  • This email will include your Student ID number and your myCapU account and email address.
  • Instructions on how to track your application will also be included.
  • All future messages from us will be sent to your myCapU email.
  • If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.

Submit your official transcripts

For students who have previously attended post-secondary, even though you submitted a digital copy of your transcripts on EducationPlannerBC, you must submit official university or college transcripts for transfer credit.

Please send all official documents to:

Registrar's Office
Birch Building, Room BR230
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, BC
V7J 3H5

Official documents may include:

Official university or college transcripts

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and the signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing university or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Certified documents

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

Original academic documents

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Get ready for your first day

Once you've been accepted into a program, you'll need to start planning your courses.

  • You will be notified of your acceptance through your CapU email and your myCapU account.
  • View our page for admitted students to learn how to prepare for your first day.
  • If you wish to receive transfer credits, please submit official university/college/International Baccalaureate (IB)/Advanced Placements (AP) transcripts either electronically or by mail:

     

    Registrar's Office
    Birch Building, Room BR230
    2055 Purcell Way
    North Vancouver, BC
    V7J 3H5

Admitted Students

Review this program's admission requirements

Learn about CapU's admission requirements and submit your application

Most CapU programs need proof that you:

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

  • When you submit your application, you will need to pay a non-refundable application fee of C$135, which gives you the opportunity to apply for 2 programs.
  • You will need to upload a digital (PDF) copy of your transcripts and supporting documents at this time.
  • If your original transcripts and supporting documents are not written in English, please submit a translated copy.
Apply on EPBC

Receive an acknowledgement email

After submitting your application on EducationPlannerBC you will receive an acknowledgement message from us to your personal email.

  • This email will include your Student ID number and your myCapU account and email address.
  • Instructions on how to track your application will also be included.
  • All future messages from us will be sent to your myCapU email.
  • If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.
Funding for International Students

Submit your official transcripts

You've already sent digital copies of your transcripts to EducationPlannerBC as part of your CapU application, but we also need physical copies of your official high school, college or university transcripts.

If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.

Please send your official documents to:

Capilano University
Centre for International Experience, Room LB127
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, B.C.
V7J 3H5

Official documents may include:

Official high school, university, or college transcripts

Students must submit official high school and university or college transcripts for admission.

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing high school, university, or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Certified documents

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

Original academic documents

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Receive letter of offer

If you are accepted into a program, you will receive a letter of offer in your myCapU email inbox.

  • You will need to confirm your acceptance into the program by paying a tuition deposit outlined in your letter of offer.
  • This deposit will go towards your first-semester tuition once you are registered for courses at CapU.

Receive letter of acceptance and apply for a study permit

After paying your tuition deposit, you will receive a letter of acceptance in your myCapU inbox. This may be used to apply for, or renew, a study permit.

  • Depending on your citizenship, you may also need to apply for an entry visa.
Permits & Visas

Get ready for your first day

Once you've been accepted into a program and have applied for your study permit, you'll need to start planning your courses.

  • You will be notified of your acceptance through your CapU email and your myCapU account.
  • View our page for admitted international students to learn how to prepare for your first day.
Info for Admitted International Students

Apply Now

Are you ready to rise to the challenge?

Apply now to CapU

Transfer Students

Find out how you can transfer your credits from another post-secondary institution to CapU.

Applying as a Transfer Student

Returning Students

If you're returning to CapU to complete your program or to apply into a new program, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Contact Registrar's Office

Switching Programs

If you want to change your program of study, you need to submit a new application to CapU.

Re-apply to CapU

Tuition and Fees

Are you applying as a domestic or as an international student?

Tuition Fees Total
Year 1 $4,512 $1,691 $6,203
Year 2 $4,512 $1,691 $6,203
Total $9,024 $3,382 $12,406
Tuition Fees Total
Year 1 $20,204 $1,691 $21,895
Year 2 $20,204 $1,691 $21,895
Total $40,408 $3,382 $43,790

Tuition & Fees Estimator

Get a detailed breakdown of the tuition and fees for your program.

Calculate my fees

Entrance Awards

All new CapU students can fund their education with entrance awards.

See if I qualify

Term Awards

Continuing your studies at CapU? You may be eligible for awards, too.

Take me to the awards

On this page

Required Courses

English requirement

Total credits: 6.00

Required:
ENGLEnglish 100-Level6.00 credits

 

Mathematics requirements

Total credits: 6.00

Choose 3.00 credits from the following list:
MATH 108Calculus I for Business, Social Sciences and Life Sciences3.00 credits
MATH 116Calculus I for Physical Sciences and Engineering4.00 credits
Required:
MATHMathematics3.00 credits

 

Biology requirements

Total credits: 8.00

Choose 4.00 credits from the following list:
BIOL 109Introductory Biology5.50 credits
BIOL 110General Biology I4.00 credits
Required:
BIOL 111General Biology II4.00 credits

 

Chemistry requirements

Total credits: 8.00

Required:
CHEM 110Bonding and Structure4.00 credits
CHEM 111Chemical Dynamics and Energetics4.00 credits

 

Physics requirements

Total credits: 4.00

Choose 4.00 credits from the following list:
PHYS 112Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences I4.00 credits
PHYS 113Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences II4.00 credits
PHYS 114Fundamental Physics I4.00 credits

 

Biology electives

Total credits: 14.00

Required:

14.00 credits of Biology at the 200-level

BIOLBiology 200-Level14.00 credits

 

Science electives

Total credits: 6.00

Choose 6.00 credits from the following list:
Science at 200-Level3.00 credits
Science at 200-Level (other than Biology)3.00 credits

 

Electives

Total credits: 6.00

Choose 6.00 credits of electives:
University Transferable Electives6.00 credits

 

Arts Electives (excluding English and any courses that have transfer credit in both Arts & Science)

Total credits: 6.00

Choose 6.00 credits of electives:
University Transferable Arts Electives6.00 credits

Total program credits: 64.00

Additional information

Please see Classification of Subjects for Associate Degrees in the University Calendar for clarification of Arts, Humanities, Social Science and Science electives.

See Associate Degree Courses

Learning outcomes

  • Use the scientific method - generate hypotheses; predict outcomes; collect, analyze and interpret data; compile and interpret graphs and figures; draw sound conclusions; modify predictions and identify knowledge gaps.
  • Demonstrate proper laboratory techniques - conduct planned experiments, operate laboratory equipment, prepare dissections.
  • Communicate scientific information effectively - research and write annotated bibliographies, research and write essays and laboratory reports.
  • Explain and apply the core biological concepts of evolution, structure and function, information flow, the transformation of energy and matter, and systems functioning and interconnections.

For the official publication of programs, course descriptions and admission requirements please view the Capilano University Calendar (pdf).

Have a question?

Get in touch with us!

About this program

Biology
604 986 1911, ext. 4955
sciences@capilanou.ca

General inquiries

Student Information Services
Birch Building, room BR230

604-984-4900
604-984-1798 (fax)
registration@capilanou.ca

Related Programs

Bachelor of Science - General

Associate of Science Degree