Choosing Your Courses in First Year Science

Having trouble deciding what courses to take in first year? This guide is here to help by covering 5 main steps:  

1. Determine Your Areas of Interest
2. Consider Timetable Options
3. Course Planning Considerations
4. Decide Your Course Load
5. Advance or Transfer Credit

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 important to review before second year. 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.   

It’s okay to change your specialization later on

Many specializations include the same—or almost the same—first year courses. Knowing what you want to study in second year will help you choose your courses in first year, but don’t worry if you haven’t narrowed your choice down quite yet. You can be strategic in your course selection to keep your options open for the specialization application. If you want to switch to a different specialization in the future, you can research the departmental website for the new specialization to learn more about what options you have.

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 shown 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: Consider Your Timetable Options

Design Your Own Timetable

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 be keen to try to ensure you don’t have early morning classes, or you may try to coordinate based on the location of one class to the next. Most of your lectures will be in large rooms, with labs and tutorials in smaller groups.   

Science One: Immersive. Interdisciplinary.

Immerse yourself in Science One, an innovative course for 75 students in which eight professors teach the traditional disciplines of biology, chemistry, math and physics in a unified, integrated format. This interdisciplinary, 28-credit program has a dedicated study space, and incorporates lectures, tutorials and labs. Enhance your scientific skillset with workshops, guest lecturers, extra instruction in science literacy and programming, mentored research projects, student conferences, and field trips. Separate application required.

Step 3: Considerations for Building Your Course Plan

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 for the specializations you’re interested in. Review the specialization admission requirements.

First Year Required Courses

Not to be confused with specialization admission requirements, you’ll want to be mindful of the First Year Required Courses for the specializations you’re most interested in. These don’t all need to be completed in your first year.

Promotion To Second Year Class Standing

To be promoted to second year class standing, students 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-Requisite & 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 look ahead at courses you anticipate taking in second year to ensure you plan to include any pre-requisite courses in your first year schedule. 

Communications 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. Some 100-level courses in English (ENGL) and Writing Research and Discourse Studies (WRDS) can also count towards the Communication Requirement.

• When should I take my communications courses?
  You must take SCIE 113 in first year. While it is not mandatory to take all of your communications 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.

Lower-Level Requirements

All UBC Science students must fulfill the Lower-Level Requirements, consisting of (a) the Laboratory Science Requirement and (b) the Foundational Requirement:  

• (a) All Science students must take at least one lab course to fulfil the Laboratory Science Requirement. It can be a stand-alone lab or a lecture with a lab component.
• (b) All Science students must also take foundational courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics to fulfill the Foundational Requirement. The Calendar stipulates which high school courses might meet the Foundational Requirement.

Your high school courses are recorded in Workday under your Profile > Academics > External Records. For students who 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 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. Balance your required courses with one or two electives per term or stay focused on your specialization and then take electives together.
• What electives should I take?
  Browse the Course Schedule to find what courses are available and 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: Decide On Your Optimum Course Load

How many courses should I take each term?

A full course load is 30 credits over the two terms of winter session (September to April); that's about five courses per term. If you work or volunteer more than five hours a week, commute, or have family responsibilities, we do not recommend attempting a full course load. Allow time for fun - sports, recreation and social time give you much needed balance. Many students choose to take fewer courses in first term (e.g., three to four) and add another course in second term once they become accustomed to 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.

You may need to consider credit load requirements for:

Housing

To live in student housing, you need at least 9 credits per term, which means 18 credits per winter session. Please consult with UBC Student Housing about the specifics of your contract.

Student Loans and Scholarships

To be eligible for student loans, you need at least 9 credits per term, which means 18 credits per winter session. To hold a UBC award, you need at least 24 credits in the winter session.

International Students

International students are considered by UBC to be full time for immigration purposes based on definitions outlined in the International Student Guide. Please consult with UBC International Student Advising about the specifics of your immigration documents.

Honours Program

To qualify for an honours option, you must complete 27 credits in the winter session of your first year, with no failed courses.  Advance and transfer credit do not count towards the 27 credits.

Step 5: 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. You can learn more about which courses are eligible for first year credit at UBC.

Advance credit (from AP, IB, or British-Patterned Education courses) does not count toward your winter session course load because you earned it before starting studies at UBC. It does count for promotion and towards the total credits required to earn a BSc degree.

If you are transferring from another post-secondary institution, UBC may grant you transfer credits for specific courses.   

• How do I check my advance or transfer credits?
  Log into Workday, click on your Profile, then "Academics", and check under "Transfer Credit."  While this tab is called Transfer Credit, it includes both advance and transfer credits. 
   
• Should I use the advance credit or take the equivalent UBC course?
  If the course is core to your area of study, it may be worthwhile to also take the course at UBC. You are likely to do well, but it also ensures you learn the material as it is taught at UBC. If the course is an elective, then you may want to use the advance credit and give yourself more flexibility in planning your first year. However, if you take the course at UBC you have refused your advance credit and if you don’t pass, you will need to retake the course at UBC. 
  
  If you're coming from high school and have received a large amount of advance credit, consider taking more electives when planning your first year courses. Or take a second year course in the same subject as your advance credit - but don’t overestimate your readiness for second year courses; they are taught with the assumption that you have a year of university-level studies, skills, and experience already.
   
• I haven't been notified of the advance or transfer credit yet. What should I do
  Unless it’s an elective, we recommend you register for the course on your registration day. This ensures you have the course if you don’t get the advance or transfer credit. If you receive the advance credit and decide to keep it, you can drop the UBC course later and find an elective. To find out what credit you may be receiving, see which British-patterned Education, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate courses are eligible for first year credit at UBC.  

Prep for Registration

• Create multiple saved schedules. Spots fill up quickly and you may have to quickly switch to a plan B if an important course is full.
• Allow for time when planning back-to-back classes, especially if they're in different buildings. Use UBC Wayfinding to see the distance you’ll need to travel between buildings.
• Laboratory/Tutorials: 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.
• Keep in mind 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).

Need More Support?

• Navigating Workday to find courses
• Learn more through the First Year Course Registration webinars in June
• Find more course registration resources for Science students