Students of the Bachelor of Arts, Major and Minor in Biology working with a microscope
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Biology (BA)

  • Program Length 
    4 Years
  • Credential 
    Bachelor Degree
  • Options 
    Minor
  • Partially Available at 
    tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River)

The Biology (BA) Program

The Minor in Biology is designed for students who have an interest in life sciences, but have additional academic and career aspirations in areas other than biology. The program is ideal for students wishing to fulfill their B.A. requirements by completing two Minors. There are many career opportunities for individuals who apply familiarity in a field of Biology (e.g., Ecology or Environmental Science, Evolution, Microbiology, or Genetics) within disciplines of Social Sciences or Humanities. Other Minor programs for the B.A. degree that integrate well with particular fields of Biology include Anthropology, Geography, Psychology, Business, Creative Writing, History, and Liberal Studies. The program will also be of particular interest to students proceeding towards a career in Primary and Secondary Education, with plans for teaching a science curriculum.

Requirements for a Minor

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Years 1 and 2

Credits

Select one of the following:

  • Complete all of:
  • Complete all of:
    • BIOL 121A - (Introductory Zoology Theory)
    • BIOL 121L - (Introductory Zoology Laboratory)

4

Select one of the following:

  • Complete all of:
    • BIOL 123 - (Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology)
  • Complete all of:
    • BIOL 123A - (Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology Theory)
    • BIOL 123L - (Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory)

4

Select one of the following: 

  • Complete all of:
    • CHEM 140 - (Chemistry Fundamentals I)
  • Complete all of:

4

Select one of the following:

  • Complete one of:
    • CHEM 141* - (Chemistry Fundamentals II)
    • CHEM 142* - (Chemistry Fundamentals II)
  • Complete all of:
    • CHEM 141A* - (Chemistry Fundamentals II Theory) 
    • CHEM 142L - (Chemistry Fundamentals II Laboratory)
  • Complete all of:
    • CHEM 142A* - (Chemistry Fundamentals II Theory) 
    • CHEM 142L - (Chemistry Fundamentals II Laboratory)

4

Select one of:
MATH 203 - (Biometrics)
MATH 211 - (Fundamentals of Statistics I)
MATH 254 - (Statistics I)

3

BIOL 201 - (Principles of Biochemistry I)

3

Select two** courses from the following:
BIOL 200 - (Introduction to Cell Biology)
BIOL 202 - (Ecology)
BIOL 210 - (Microbiology I)
BIOL 212 - (Genetics)
BIOL 223 - (Botany)

6

CHEM 231 - (Organic Chemistry I)

3

* CHEM 142A/142 is for students who have taken Chemistry 12 and scored at least a C+. CHEM 141A/141 is for students who do not meet this Chemistry 12 requirement. Both courses share the same laboratory material, and final examination.
** Students should check upper-level course prerequisites to guide second year course choices.

Years 3 and 4

Credits

Minimum of eighteen credits of Biology courses numbered 300 or above.*
Up to nine credits among the following courses may be counted towards this requirement: FISH 322, FISH 324, FRST 328, FRST 351, FRST 352, GEOG 373, RMOT 306, RMOT 357, RMOT 400, and RMOT 401.

18

* Check individual course prerequisites.

Domestic Fees | International Fees

Domestic Fees

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees

When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.

When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.

Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.

Fees for One Year*

Amount

Tuition (30 credits x $166.40 per credit)

4,992.00

Student Activity fee (4% of tuition)

199.68

Student Services fee (30 credits x $7.35 per credit)

220.50

VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month)

220.80

Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year)

265.00

Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year

1,500.00

Total

7,397.98
Notes

The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.  

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.

International Fees

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees

When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.

When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.

Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.

Fees for One Year*

Amount

Tuition (2 semesters x $11996.55 per semester)

23,993.10

Ancillary Fee (2 semesters x $463.40 per semester)

926.80

VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month)

220.80

Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year)

265.00

Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year

1,500.00

Total

26,905.70
Notes

Tuition in the above table is based on $776.48 per credit, up to a maximum of $10,870.72 per semester for 15 credits; $776.48 per credit beyond 15 credits. Ancillary Fees in the above table are based on $33.10 per credit, up to a maximum of $463.40 per semester for 15 credits; $33.10 per credit beyond 15 credits.

The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.  

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.

Updated
Monday, April 3, 2023

Domestic (Canadian)

Program Start Date Accepting Applications Location
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 3, 2024
Application Fee
45.16
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Waitlist
No
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erin Johnson
Phone: 604.485.8033
Email: Erin.Johnson@viu.ca

Comments

Please consult Student Services/Advising at 604.485.2878 or email PR.StudentAffairs@viu.ca for more information on program or admission requirements.
Next Intake(s)

The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June. 

Application Fee
45.16
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erica Ellenchuk
Phone: 250.746.3512
Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca

Comments

Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca.
Next Intake(s)

The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June. 

Application Fee
45.16
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erica Ellenchuk
Phone: 250.746.3512
Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca

Comments

Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca.
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 2, 2025
Accepting International Applications
No
Application Fee
$45.16
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Waitlist
No
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erin Johnson
Phone: 604.485.8033
Email: Erin.Johnson@viu.ca

Comments

Please consult Student Services/Advising at 604.485.2878 or email PR.StudentAffairs@viu.ca for more information on program or admission requirements.

International

Program Start Date Accepting Applications
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 2, 2025
Next Intake(s)

The Bachelor of Arts program has one intake each Fall and one intake each Spring.

Accepting International Applications
Yes
Application Fee
$150.00
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Waitlist
No
Testing Required
No
International Admissions Officer Contact

Name: Elham Akhoundi
Email: Study@viu.ca

Comments

For prospective international applicants, please send your inquiries to WorldVIU@viu.ca.

Further information on this program can be found on the Department website.


Bernadette Alvarez

“It is truly inspiring to look back at how much I didn't know as a first-year, fresh out of high school. It is humbling, realizing that everything I've learned over the course of four years merely scratches the surface of what is out there in the world.”