Choosing Your Courses in First Year Science

This guide is designed to help you choose your first year courses at UBC Science through 5 main steps:

1. Determine Your Areas of Interest
2. Decide How Many Credits to Take
3. Select Courses that Meet Requirements
4. Design Your Timetable
5. Consider Any Advance or Transfer Credits

At the bottom of this guide, you'll also find more tips and course registration resources. 

Step 1: Determine Your Areas of Interest

What is a specialization?

A major is one type of specialization. At the end of your first year of studies, every UBC Science undergraduate student must choose a specific area of study (or studies, if your specialization is a combined major) which becomes your specialization. Throughout the rest of your time at UBC, you’ll complete courses with a focus in that area of study.

Specializations are good to review when you're thinking about courses to register for your first year. You'll want to consider areas of interest (potential specializations) and select courses based on the admission requirements for your intended specializations.

Tip: Keep your options open when choosing courses. Many specializations include the same—or almost the same—first year courses. You can be strategic with your course selection to keep your options open for the specialization application. In the future, you might decide the specialization you’ve been admitted to is no longer a good fit. In that case, you can research the departmental website for the different specialization you’re interested in to learn about your options.

What specializations are there?

UBC Science offers numerous areas of specializations for students. Visit the UBC Academic Calendar to check out the details of individual specializations. Each specialization page will show you an overview of the degree, including the courses you are required to take to graduate. The courses are displayed in a four year sample schedule; however, you do not need to take all of the courses in the specific year indicated. Pay attention to the information about admission specialization requirements below to differentiate which you must take in your first year.

Step 2: Decide How Many Credits to Take

One Winter Session includes two terms. Term 1 is from September to December. Term 2 is from January to April. Across both terms of Winter Session, a full course load is 30 credits. That's about five courses per term, or 15 credits per term as one class is typically three to four credits. The course schedule in Workday will show you a course's credit amount.

While many Science students do take 30 credits in their first year, taking at least 24 credits, including 15 credits in 100-level Science courses, is required to move to second year class standing. In addition, you’ll want to take courses that may be required for you to be eligible for any potential specializations of interest. Check out the requirements section below.

If you work or volunteer more than five hours a week, commute, or have family responsibilities, you will want to adjust your course load so you have time for these commitments. Allow time for fun, like sport, recreation, and social time for much-needed balance. Many students choose to take fewer courses in Term 1, such as four, then add another course in Term 2 once they get familiar with the workload and academic expectations.

Tip: Unless your course syllabus indicates otherwise, for every three credit course, allow an average of five to eight hours per week to do the required readings, group study, assignments, and exam prep. A four credit course will require more time. Overall, be sure to consider how much time you’ll need to put into the course outside of class.

You may also need to consider credit load requirements for...

Step 3: Select Courses that Meet Requirements

Specialization Admission Requirements

Each specialization has admission requirements that you must have completed in order to apply for that specialization. Make sure you are clear on what you need to complete in first year to be eligible to apply for the specializations you’re interested in. Review the specialization admission requirements. You can also use the interactive Specialization Scenario Builder designed to help first year Science students identify the courses you need to be eligible to apply for specializations of interest.

First Year Required Courses

Not to be confused with specialization admission requirements, you’ll need to complete the First Year Required Courses for the specializations you’re most interested in. These do not all need to be completed in your first year.

Promotion to Second Year Class Standing

To be promoted to second year class standing, you must complete 24 credits total, including 15 credits in 100-level Science courses. It is best to include a mix of Science subjects in your first year and to keep in mind pre-requisites or co-requisites for courses you may want to take beyond first year.

Pre-Requisites and Co-Requisites

A pre-requisite is a course that must be completed prior to taking the selected course. A co-requisite is a course that must be completed in advance OR during the same term as the selected course. You may want to plan ahead for courses you anticipate taking in second year to ensure you include any pre-requisite courses in your first year schedule.

Communication Requirement

All UBC Science students need coursework focusing on communication skills. In first year, you must take SCIE 113, the First Year Seminar in Science. While it is not mandatory to take the rest of your communication credits in first year, you are encouraged to complete your Communication Requirement early in your degree so that you can apply the skills in your other courses. Check out the Academic Calendar to find a list of approved courses that count towards the requirement.

Lower-Level Requirements

All UBC Science students must fulfill the Lower-Level Requirements, consisting of both the Laboratory Science Requirement and the Foundational Requirement.

Laboratory Science Requirement

All Science students must take at least one lab course to fulfill the Laboratory Science Requirement. It can be a stand-alone lab or a lecture with a lab component.

Foundational Requirement

All Science students must take foundational courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics to fulfill the Foundational Requirement. To determine your progress toward this requirement, first view your high school courses in Workday under the "Academics" tab. You can refer to this tutorial for navigating Workday. Review the information in the Academic Calendar to determine if your high school courses have fulfilled this requirement. If not, it is a good idea to register for the remaining course(s) in first year.

If you did not attend high school in BC, by mid-June you will see the BC-equivalent (e.g. Biology 11 or 12) of your courses in Workday which can help you determine if you have met the Lower-Level Requirements.

Electives

Electives are courses that allow you to explore other subjects outside of your primary focus (e.g., major). During your degree, you must complete at least 12 Arts credits (in addition to any English courses used to fulfill the Communication Requirement). Science students may take courses offered in any Faculty or School. A maximum of 24 credits outside of Science and Arts may be taken throughout your whole degree.

When should I take my electives?

Ultimately, the decision is up to you. You might balance your required courses with one or two electives per term, or stay focused on your specialization and then take electives together. Browse the Course Schedule to find available courses that might be of interest. Popular electives include earth and ocean sciences, economics, psychology, philosophy, music, and anthropology. You should also consider courses that will fulfill the Science Breadth Requirement.

Step 4: Design Your Timetable

These options do not apply to students enrolled in Science One.

Tip: Course registration takes place on Workday. For your first time navigating Workday, you can refer to tutorials that will help you get familiar.

Option 1. Self-Register for Courses

You design a course plan that aligns with degree requirements and your specialization interests. Then, you select the specific sections of courses that work for you. You may consider the location of one class to coordinate getting to the next in time.

Tip: Feel free to refer to the UBC Course Scheduler, an online tool created by UBC students to help you easily visualize a potential course schedule.

Option 2. Course Bundle Early Registration

After you accept your offer to UBC Science, you can request to be registered in a bundle of first year courses before the registration period opens. With Course Bundle Early Registration, you will be registered to take a number of first year Science courses together with the same group of other Science students so you can find friends and form a learning community. Note that there are additional courses you will need to add to your course schedule. You will be responsible for self-registering in Workday for those additional courses once your registration appointment opens.

Step 5: Consider Any Advance or Transfer Credits

If you took British-Patterned Education, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, you may be offered advance credit that counts towards your BSc degree. If you are transferring from another post-secondary institution, UBC may grant you transfer credits for specific courses. If applicable to you, learn more here about how to check these credits, guidance for if you should use your advance credit or take the equivalent UBC course, and what to do if you haven't yet been notified of any advance or transfer credit.

More Tips and Resources

• A saved schedule is a way to draft your course schedule before registration. We suggest creating multiple saved schedules so that you are prepared to switch to plan B should spots be full for an important course.
• Read about how to find the course schedule in Workday and some key terms that will help you navigate registration.
• Allow for travel time when planning back-to-back classes, especially if they're in different buildings. Use UBC Wayfinding to determine the distance you’ll need to travel between buildings.
• Some first year Science courses require you to also register for a laboratory/tutorial section. Make sure you register for those in addition to the main lecture. Learn more about required combinations of sections.
• If you're curious about specific Science courses, read through the departmental website to check if there is any additional information.
• Keep in mind that some courses are only offered in one term per academic session.
• Courses may have reserved seats for some or all of the available spots. If you have issues with reserved seats, learn more in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
• There are additional course registration resources for Science students that will be useful throughout your degree.

Need More Support?

Remember, it's normal to feel anxious about course registration. Check out wellbeing resources curated for UBC Science students to help you feel grounded.

If you encounter any technical issues in Workday, contact your Enrolment Services Advisor. You can connect with Science Advising during virtual drop-in hours if you have further questions about course planning.