Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo Campus

Canada,British Columbia

 0 Shortlist

48 Months

Duration

CAD 15,240/year

Tuition Fee

CAD 150

Application Fee

Apply Date

Canada, British Columbia

Type: University

Location Type: Urban

Founded: 1969

Total Students: 12,000 +

Int. Students: 1,400 +

Campus Detail

Main Campus Address

900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia, CA

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Program Overview

Chemistry is the science of all matter - an area of study that is vast, fascinating, and related to everything in our material world. Chemistry touches on every aspect of our lives, and is essential for meeting our world’s basic needs of food, health, energy, shelter, clothing, and clean air, water and soil.

The Chemistry Major in VIU’s Bachelor of Science (BSc) program focuses on experiential learning in small classes and labs. Chemistry students, studying in the Major or Minor, have the opportunity to pursue undergraduate research with instructors who care about their success. Chemistry students can expand their learning with VIU’s state of the art Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL), where they can work on collaborative research projects with private sector and community partnerships.

The Chemistry Major, Minor Program
B.Sc., Major in Chemistry: The goals of the program are to provide students the opportunity to pursue employment and post-graduate opportunities in Chemistry. The curriculum provides a molecular-level understanding of biological, chemical and physical processes and builds a strong appreciation for the underlying principles that govern structure reactivity, and bonding. The program builds foundational knowledge in the traditional sub-disciplines of chemistry, with a particular emphasis on the theory and practice of analytical and green chemistry. In the upper years, students can choose to specialize their Major in Chemistry by selecting electives in fields of Environmental Chemistry or Biological Chemistry. Students will gain an appreciation for the role of chemistry in many aspects of modern scientific enquiry, and all students will gain hands-on experience with modern chemical instrumentation and techniques.

The program has been designed to be at the forefront of teaching and learning in the chemical sciences by incorporating an emphasis on conceptual learning and the integration of inquiry-based learning experiences, computer assisted learning and undergraduate research opportunities. Chemistry is taught through a combination of lectures and laboratory exercises with close student - instructor interactions and mentorship being a hallmark of the program. Current issues such as the fate and distribution of chemical species in the environment and biological systems, bio-mimetics, environmental ecology, toxicology, molecular design and catalysis as well as development of modern instrumental methods are introduced. Critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills are emphasized throughout the program and refined in the integrated laboratory experience and independent student projects.

Students graduating from the program have gained highly transferable employment skills and will have a wide range of career opportunities in fields including secondary education, chemical forensics, chemical analysis, environmental monitoring, consulting, science communication, manufacturing, medical lab science, instrument development and sales, food science, material science, pharmaceuticals, quality control, remediation, food security, academic and government research, science policy and government regulation. The program provides a solid foundation for students who wish to further their studies in professional programs such as medical, dental, law, and pharmacy schools and graduate studies at the M.Sc. and Ph.D. level. Graduates with this degree will be qualified to apply for a 'Professional Chemistry' designation.

A Minor in Chemistry may also be obtained and used in combination with another science Minor for a general B.Sc. degree (double Minor) or to augment another science Major. The Minor in Chemistry will be of particular interest to students proceeding towards a career in Primary and Secondary Education, with plans for teaching a science curriculum. For additional information on the program, faculty, and undergraduate research, please visit the VIU Chemistry website.

Degree Planning
At the end of first year or after completing a minimum of 24 credits, students need to declare their educational goals in consultation with a B.Sc. Advisor. Declaration of educational goals will indicate the student's plan to satisfy the requirements for the degree, including the options (Majors/Minors) they intend to pursue. Educational goals can be adjusted later to reflect changed student intent or curriculum offerings.