Biology, Associate of Science Degree

From the molecular to the global

two women catching butterflies

Program at a glance

Credential

Associate Degree

Work experience

Co-op / internship

Study options

Full-time

Part-time

Open to International

Yes

Area of study

Natural Sciences

Length

2 years

Explore a wide variety of subjects

Hundreds of courses in over 40 different subjects let you tailor your degree based on your interests and educational goals.
Explore subjects

An interconnected web of life

Start in September, January or May!

Biology surrounds us, sustains us, is us. Biology is the study of life from the molecular to a global perspective. It is the science that studies living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution and distribution. As a graduate of the two-year Associate of Science Degree in Biology program, you'll have a well-rounded education and you'll be ready to meet new challenges in employment or further education.

Biology Lab

A well-rounded start in biology

Biology is the study of life from the molecular level to a global perspective. This is an exciting and dynamic area of study. Get grounded in the basics with 20 fully transferable courses that will help you meet your goals for further education or employment. This Associate Degree program is designed to meet the provincial Associate Degree requirements while providing an appealing package of courses with maximum transferability to BC universities.

Related link: 

School of Arts & Science

From microbiology to ecology

Camosun offers a full range of biology courses. You'll get one-on-one learning with our dedicated teaching faculty, as well as access to many teacher-taught seminars and labs.

As a biologist you'll have career opportunities in education, medicine and health, biotechnology, forestry, fisheries, and agriculture. This Associate Degree provides a solid academic foundation for further university studies, opening doors to employment in teaching, laboratory or field research, medicine and dentistry, and scientific writing in both the private and public sectors.

Science Help Centre - Opens September 20
Fisher 264

Improve your academic skills. From science basics to advanced topics, there's a Help Centre for you. Refresh your skills, work on your assignments with our support, or get tutoring on specific subjects.

What you'll learn

Current students wanting information about your program, go to student planning in myCamosun.

Biology teacher and student.

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.

Program outline

What to expect

Located at our Lansdowne campus, the Associate of Science Degree in Biology is a focused, two-year program. You'll get to know your instructors as your classes, labs and seminars are all faculty-taught. During your program, you can choose to take an optional internship or co-op work term.

This program contains a blend of Arts and Science courses to support the concept of a broad education. 

Year 1

In your first year, you will take courses in biology, chemistry, English, math and physics.

Year 2

In your second year, you will take courses in organic chemistry, biochemistry, ecology, cell biology and genetics, and electives.

Optional Co-op or Internship

After you have completed at least eight courses, you can choose to complement your associate degree with a work term.

Transfer your credits to university

After graduation, you can transfer your course credits to continue your educational journey at a university in British Columbia or beyond.

Camosun has an agreement with Royal Roads University that will allow you to transition smoothly and finish your degree. When you graduate with the appropriate prerequisite qualifications, you'll receive full block transfer into the third year of the BSc Environmental Sciences or BSc Environmental Management degree or any program within the School of Environnmental Sustainability.

Tuition and fees

Effective from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023

Estimated tuition

Tuition estimates are for the entire program

Biology, Associate of Science Degree

$8,940 (domestic)
$31,080 (international)

Biology, Associate of Science Degree, Internship designation 

$9,727 (domestic)
$32,680 (international)

Biology, Associate of Science Degree, Co-op designation

$10,392 (domestic)
$34,280 (international)

Domestic tuition fees vary depending on the individual course fees for the classes you select.

For International students visit: International Tuition & Fees.

Student fees

In addition to tuition estimates, student fees are calculated based on your enrolment. Refer to: Student Fees.

Financial assistance

You may need to find more than one source of funding to help pay for your education and living costs while attending college. Check out sources of money you don't need to pay back as well as those that need to be repaid.

Financial Aid & Awards 

Curriculum & courses

Admission requirements

Ready to get started? Get your application in for the September, January or May intake.

When you apply you will need to submit proof that you meet the following admission requirements.

Tip: Where a letter grade is specified, you must have proof of that grade or higher.

One of:

One of:

  • C+ in Pre-calculus 11
  • C+ in MATH 073 
  • C+ in MATH 077 
  • C+ in MATH 137

And one of:

  • C in Biology 12 
  • C in BIOL 090 
  • C in BIOL 103 
  • C in Chemistry 12
  • C in CHEM 090 
  • C in CHEM 110 
  • C in Physics 12
  • C in PHYS 104 

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.

Apply today

Missing admission requirements?

Take an assessment or upgrade with us.

Contact us

If you have admissions questions contact us today!

If you have questions about what you can expect to learn in your classes contact artsci@camosun.ca or the program chair. 

Faculty/staff profile

Portrait of Kate Pettem

Kate Pettem

Chair, Biology

I have a bachelor's in biochemistry, PhD in neuroscience, graduate certificate in teaching in higher education…and a passion for sharing science with ...

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Faculty/staff profile

Sue Askew

Sue Askew

Lab Technologist, Biology

Faculty/staff profile

Dominic Bergeron

Dominic Bergeron

Instructor, Biology

Faculty/staff profile

Laura Biggs

Laura Biggs

Instructor, Biology

I've been instructing at the post-secondary level since 2005, starting out as an undergraduate laboratory instructor. After completing my Bachelor of ...

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Faculty/staff profile

Brooke Cameron

Brooke Cameron

Instructor, Biology

I have been a science and biology educator since 2013 and strive for engagement, inquiry, and curiosity in my students. Prior to my time at Camosun, I ...

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Faculty/staff profile

Sarah Cockburn

Sarah Cockburn

Instructor, Biology

On Leave. I began teaching at Camosun College in 2013. Prior to that, I worked as a Senior Lab Instructor at the University of Victoria and as a ...

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Faculty/staff profile

Annette Dehalt

Annette Dehalt

Instructor, Biology

I am a marine zoologist with a background in whale and krill ecology. Integrated with earlier work in eco-tourism, environmental consulting and public ...

Read more

Faculty/staff profile

Jane Gair

Jane Gair

Instructor, Biology

My name is Jane Gair and I started teaching at Camosun College in January 2013. I have a BSc in Cell Biology and Genetics and a PhD in Medical Ge ...

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Faculty/staff profile

Jennifer Giuliani

Jennifer Giuliani

Instructor, Biology

Faculty/staff profile

Leslie Glover

Leslie Glover

Lab Technologist, Biology

Faculty/staff profile

Portrait of Peggy Hunter

Peggy Hunter

Instructor, Biology

Studied Biology at the University of Calgary where I pursued lab work and graduate studies in the field of lipid metabolism at the Heritage Medical re ...

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Faculty/staff profile

Portrait of Charles Molnar

Charles Molnar

Instructor, Biology

I have been fortunate to be at Camosun College for 25 years, which has allowed me to live in a beautiful place, grow in many ways and be nourished by ...

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Faculty/staff profile

Geoff Morris

Geoff Morris

Instructor, Biology

I have been a post-secondary educator since 2012 and started teaching at Camosun College in 2015. I have a BSc and MSc (Biology) from the University o ...

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Faculty/staff profile

Thuy Nevado

Thuy Nevado

Instructor, Biology

I have a BSc from UBC and an MSc and BEd from McGill. I've been teaching General Biology and Anatomy and Physiology at Camosun since 1999 and find tea ...

Read more

Faculty/staff profile

Doug Panton

Doug Panton

Instructor, Biology

Faculty/staff profile

Portrait of Scott Parks

Scott Parks

Instructor, Biology

Faculty/staff profile

David Raju

David Raju

Instructor, Biology

A main goal of a Raju biology course is to create a community of learners. Case studies, labs, story exchanges and other group activities are conducte ...

Read more

Faculty/staff profile

Dave Thomas

Dave Thomas

Lab Technologist, Biology

Biology teacher and student.

Learn more

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar. 

Contact information

School of Arts & Science

Campus location

Fisher 104

Location link

Lansdowne Campus

250-370-3298

artsci@camosun.ca

 

International students please contact Camosun International