Associate of Science - Biology

The Associate of Science - Biology is the life-sciences concentration of CapU’s two-year associate degree, designed for students heading toward biology, health sciences or professional programs that require a heavy first-two-years laboratory record.

The biology sequence runs cell biology, genetics, introductory ecology and evolution, plant and animal biology, and microbiology, supported by general and organic chemistry, physics, calculus and statistics. Laboratory work — microscopy, dissection, culture technique, field sampling in the North Shore forest and intertidal zones — is a continuous graded component rather than an occasional add-on.

Students aiming at competitive downstream programs should note what actually matters at transfer: the grades in first and second-year chemistry and biology. CapU’s small labs and direct faculty contact are the reason many students post a stronger GPA here than they would in an equivalent large-university cohort, and that GPA is the currency at the transfer point.

CapU is a fully public teaching university on Vancouver’s North Shore — a Designated Learning Institution (DLI O19280078102) with university status since 2008. Classes are small, faculty teach rather than delegate to assistants, and tuition sits well below the big Vancouver research universities while the credential carries the same public-institution standing.

Its field maps to CIP 26.0101 (Biology/biological sciences, general). Important: this is a non-degree credential, so unlike CapU’s bachelor’s programs it is not exempt from the November 2024 PGWP field-of-study restriction — eligibility depends on this CIP field appearing on IRCC’s current eligible list at the time you apply. Confirm the live list with an Apply Study Visa counsellor before committing. Final decisions rest with IRCC.