Science

Get started with a one-year certificate in Science

Start your science career and education, or just learn more about the natural world, with this one-year certificate. 

Choose your subject area from the Environmental and Life Sciences, Engineering and Physical Sciences, or a general science certificate.

Program description

This flexible science certificate offers university-transfer options into engineering, mathematics, earth, life and physical sciences.

The Certificate of Science is a 10-course (30-credit) certificate for students that wish to continue on in their science education either at Yukon University or another institution. Upon completion of the certificate, students can transfer into the second year of a Bachelor of Science program at many Universities in Canada. Students can choose to specialize in Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Geology, Computer Sciences, Physics, and/or Math. Courses are designed for transfer to most Canadian Universities, but with many local, Indigenous, and Northern examples. Students meet the requirements for Yukon First Nation Core Competency with the Yukon First Nations 101 course or a three-credit course from the list below.

Students also have the opportunity to take second-year courses that are commonly required for continuing studies in biology and life science-related fields. These studies can allow students to specialize in

  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Cell biology and/or Genetics
  • Microbiology
  • Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Ecology

Duration

Students graduate from this certificate with 30 credits (10 academic courses) in University-Transfer Sciences. Students need to determine a study plan in consultation with program advisors and select courses according to their long-term goals for transfer into other programs.

Admission requirements

English 12 and at least two of the following: Math 12 (Pre-Calculus), Chemistry (11 or 12), Physics (11 or 12), or Biology (11 or 12).

Note that individual course have their own prerequisites that must be met in order to take those courses.

Selection of subject areas

Students may choose from several pathways depending on their educational goals:


The following examples illustrate some common pathways, although others are possible.

Life & Environmental sciences

  • MATH 100 & 101
  • BIOL 101 & 102
  • CHEM 110 & 111
  • ENGL 100, ENGL 101 or COMM 204
  • PHYS 101 or other elective and PHYS 102 or other elective.

Physical & Engineering sciences

  • MATH 100 & 101
  • CHEM 110 & 111
  • PHYS 101 & 102
  • ENGL 100 & ENGL 101 or COMM 204
  • Plus 3 more courses (9 credits) – at least 2 from School of Science, chosen from the list of 100 or 200-level science courses. CPSC 128 or 129 recommended.

Geography or Earth sciences

  • GEOG 101 & 102
  • CHEM 110 & 111
  • PHYS 101 & 102
  • MATH  100 & 101
  • CPSC 128 or elective
  • ENGL 100 & ENGL 101 or COMM 204
Graduation requirements

Students must successfully complete 30 credits (10 academic courses), with a minimum of 5 courses in science, 1 course in English, and 2 courses in Math, and in addition to passing all the required courses, students must:

  • complete 50% of the course work at Yukon University
  • maintain a 2.00 cumulative GPA (C average) across the required courses
  • meet the First Nations core competency
Yukon First Nations Core Competency

Yukon University recognizes that a greater understanding and awareness of Yukon First Nations history, culture and journey towards self-determination will help to build positive relationships among all Yukon citizens. As a result, you will be required to achieve core competency in knowledge of Yukon First Nations.

For details, visit Yukon First Nations Core Competency

Transferability

The Certificate of Science is designed for students who wish to transfer credits into a science-related program at a Canadian university. Students can either complete the Certificate of Science, or match their course selections to meet the requirements of the program of their choice.

Many of the courses in the Science program are listed in the BCCAT Transfer Guide.

Career opportunities

This certificate will allow students to pursue further education or a career in fields such as the following:

  • Agricultural sciences
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Botany, medical and traditional uses of plants
  • Climate change sciences
  • Climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Computer Sciences
  • Ecology
  • Engineering
  • Environmental sciences
  • Environmental and Animal Ethics
  • Genetics and Evolution
  • Interpretation of Natural History
  • Kinesiology
  • Nutrition
  • Molecular Biology, Cell Biology
  • Medicine or health research
  • Taxonomy, curation, Natural History
  • Toxicology
  • Teaching, Educational Research
  • Traditional Knowledge systems and braiding with Scientific Knowledge systems
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Wildlife Biology
Money matters

Fees

Tuition for credit programs is calculated per course credit. See money matters for more information.

Some programs and courses have additional fees -  see Ancillary Fees.


Student financial awards

Education is an investment in your future, your family and your community. Yukon University is pleased to support that investment by offering some of the most competitive tuition rates in the country, as well as several student financial awards to help offset your educational and living costs.


Financial assistance

There are government programs, scholarships, bursaries, awards and First Nation funding available to financially support you throughout your academic career.

See money matters for more information, or talk to our financial advising staff in the Student Services Centre. Email or call 867 456 8574 to make an appointment.

Dual credit

Students currently enrolled in a Yukon High School can take an undergraduate-level Yukon University course that is part of the British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer (BCCAT) system if they meet the prerequisites. Many courses in the School of Science are suitable, such as CPSC 128, BIOL 101 & lab, BIOL 102 & lab, PHYS 101&Lab, MATH 100, CHEM 110 & lab, GEOG 101 & lab, and ENGL 100 or ENGL 101. There are other options (even a second-year course can be taken, if prerequisites are met)! 

For more information about dual credit for Yukon high-school students, see the Dual Credit program page.

Program Guides

A program planning guide lays out the courses and requirements needed to graduate from a particular program. It guides you through course selection options for each term, provides a sample program pathway and acts as a tool to track your progress.

Courses

Core
Title Campus Scheduled
ENGL 100 - Academic Writing and Critical Thinking Online/Video, Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
W
ENGL 101 - Introduction to the Study of Literature Online/Video, Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
W
MATH 100 - Single Variable Calculus 1 Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
MATH 101 - Single Variable Calculus 2 Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W

Biology

First year

Core
Title Campus Scheduled
BIOL 101 - Ecology, Evolution and Diversity Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
BIOL 101L - Ecology, Evolution and Diversity - Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
BIOL 102 - Cellular Biology and Physiology Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
BIOL 102L - Cellular Biology and Physiology - Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W

Second year

Elective
Title Campus Scheduled
BIOL 201 - Cell Biology
BIOL 201L - Cell Biology - Lab
BIOL 202 - Genetics Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
BIOL 202L - Genetics - Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
BIOL 203 - Microbiology Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
BIOL 203L - Microbiology - Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
BIOL 220 - Ecology Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
BIOL 220L - Ecology Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
BIOL 230 - Conservation Biology Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W

Chemistry

First year

Core
Title Campus Scheduled
CHEM 110 - The Structure of Matter Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
CHEM 110L - The Structure of Matter Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
CHEM 111 - Chemical Energetics and Dynamics Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
CHEM 111L - Chemical Energetics and Dynamics Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W

Elective
Title Campus Scheduled
CHEM 210 - Organic Chemistry I Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
CHEM 210L - Organic Chemistry I - Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
CHEM 211 - Organic Chemistry II Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
CHEM 211L - Organic Chemistry II - Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W

Computer Science

First year

Core
Title Campus Scheduled
CPSC 128 - Object Oriented Programming I Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
CPSC 129 - Object-Oriented Programming II Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F

Geography

First year

Core
Title Campus Scheduled
GEOG 101 - Earth Systems: Atmosphere and Climate Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
GEOG 101L - Introduction to Physical Geography I Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
GEOG 102 - Earth Systems: Landscapes and Natural Hazards Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
GEOG 102L - Physical Geography II Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W

Geology

First year

Core
Title Campus Scheduled
GEOL 105 - Physical Geology Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
GEOL 106 - Historical Geology Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
GEOL 106L - Historical Geology Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
GEOL 108 - Earth Through Time Online/Video
W

Kinesiology

First year

Core
Title Campus Scheduled
KINE 100 - Introduction to Human Physiology Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W

Physics

First year

Core
Title Campus Scheduled
PHYS 101 - Elementary Physics 1 Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
PHYS 101L - Elementary Physics I Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
PHYS 102 - Elementary Physics 2 Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
PHYS 102L - Elementary Physics II Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
Elective
Title Campus Scheduled
PHYS 100 - Introductory Physics

Elective
Title Campus Scheduled
ASTR 100 - Introduction to Astronomy Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W

Independent Studies