Northern Science (Biological Sciences)

Interested in the natural world?
Learn outdoors, in the lab, and in small classes about Northern natural phenomena.
Students bird watching in the snowy spring of Old Crow

Feed your curiosity

The Diploma of Biological Sciences offers a strong two-year foundation towards a degree in the Biological Sciences with a Northern-themed approach.

Program description

The School of Science offers university-transfer courses in mathematics and in the earth, life and physical sciences. Students can complete a one-year Certificate of Science, a two-year Diploma of Biological Sciences, a two-year Diploma and/or a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Northern Environmental and Conservation Sciences, or a two-year diploma in Earth Sciences.

The Diploma of Biological Sciences is designed for those who wish either to transfer to a Bachelor program in Biology at another institution or work at the technical level in biological sciences. Courses are designed for transfer to most Canadian Universities, but with many local, Indigenous, and Northern examples, and include introductory Biology, Chemistry, English, Math, and Physics, followed by second year Cell Biology, Genetics, Organic Chemistry, and options for Microbiology, Biochemistry, Botany, and Ecology and other electives. Students meet the Yukon First Nations Core Competency with one three-credit course 


 

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission students must satisfy the prerequisites for the following courses; Must satisfy English 12 and two of the following: Math 12 (Pre-Calculus 12 at 65%) or Chemistry 11 or Biology 11 or 12 or Physics 12

If a student is missing a prerequisite for a required course, they can be admitted into the program, but will have to complete the required prerequisite course once admitted.

A student may also have to upgrade skills to access some courses, for example, Chemistry 11 is required to take CHEM 110.

Graduation requirements

The Diploma of Biological Sciences is awarded for the completion of the equivalent of two years of full-time university-level study (60 credits) in the sciences.

To graduate, students must

  • pass all required courses and the equivalent of two years full-time university-level study (60 credits),
  • complete 50% of the course work at Yukon University
  • maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA upon graduation and
  • fulfil the Yukon First Nations core competency requirement
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.

The Northern Science diploma fulfills this  with one three credit course that meets the core competency requirements.  For details, visit Yukon First Nations Core Competency

Transferability

Science courses and programs are transferable to most universities and colleges in Canada and Alaska, either by program or on a course-by-course basis. Completion of this diploma will prepare students for a third-year level in a degree in biological sciences at many universities, although students should consult the university of interest to them for specific course requirements for their program of choice.

Career opportunities

The Diploma of Biological Sciences prepares students for studies towards a degree at another institution or for work at the technician level in the sciences, with a particular emphasis on the biological sciences.

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

Any undergraduate-level Yukon University course that is part of the British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer (BCCAT) system is eligible for dual credit. Many courses in the School of Science are suitable for high-school students to take as dual credit courses providing any prerequisites are met.

Students have often selected CPSC 128, BIOL 101 & lab, PHYS 101, MATH 100, CHEM 110 & lab, GEOG 101 & lab, and ENGL 100 for dual credit, but many other first-year courses and some second-year courses are options.

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

First year

Second year

Core
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
CHEM 210 - Organic Chemistry I Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
CHEM 210L - Organic Chemistry I - Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
Elective
Title Campus Scheduled
BCHM 200 - Introduction to Biochemistry Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
BCHM 200L - Introduction to Biochemistry - Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
BIOL 210 - Introduction to Northern Botany Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
BIOL 210L - Introduction to Northern Botany Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
BIOL 220 - Ecology Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
BIOL 220L - Ecology Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
BIOL 225 - Ornithology - Introduction to the Biology of Birds Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
BIOL 230 - Conservation Biology Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
BIOL 290 - Beringia: Its Pleistocene Environment and Paleoecology
CHEM 211 - Organic Chemistry II Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
CHEM 211L - Organic Chemistry II - Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
GEOG 250 - Introduction to Mapping and Geographical Information System (GIS) Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
GEOG 250L - Introduction to Mapping and Geographical Information System (GIS) Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
GEOG 290 - Climate Change and the Circumpolar World
NOST 201 - The Natural History of the North Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
NSCI 201 - Research Skills and Proposal Writing Online/Video
W
RRMT 223 - Wildlife Management Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
RRMT 223L - Wildlife Management Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
RRMT 235 - Forest Management Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
RRMT 235L - Forest Management Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
RRMT 236 - Land and Protected Area Management Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
RRMT 239 - Freshwater Ecosystems and Hydrology Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
RRMT 239L - Freshwater Ecosystems and Hydrology Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
SOIL 210 - Introduction to Soil Science and Resources Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
SOIL 210L - Introduction to Soil Science and Resources - Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F

Elective
Title Campus Scheduled
CPSC 128 - Object Oriented Programming I Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
CPSC 129 - Object-Oriented Programming II Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
PHYS 102 - Elementary Physics 2 Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
PHYS 102L - Elementary Physics II Lab Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W

Communications

First year

Core
Title Campus Scheduled
COMM 204 - Introduction to Scientific and Technical Communication Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
W
ENGL 101 - Introduction to the Study of Literature Online/Video, Whitehorse (Ayamdigut)
F
W

Yukon First Nations Core Competency