Your academic goal refers to the Major / Minor options that you plan to complete. Declaring your academic goals with a Degree Advisor is an important step in your degree planning and progression. It helps to:
- Ensure that your student record accurately reflects your intended academic goal(s).
- Inform your Degree Advisor about your specific interests so you can receive advising information tailored to your academic objectives, including program grids for different degree options, and assistance using the VIU Goal Planning System (GPS).
- Gain access to reserved seats that have been set aside for students with specific academic goals in some courses.
- Keep you informed (via email) about information relevant to your specific declared goals.
- Inform instructors of the goals of students in their classes.
Available goals
Your BSc degree will include one or more of the available science Honours, Majors or Minors. You can complete a single Honours or Major, a Double-Minor, a Double-Major, a Major-Minor, or some more elaborate combination. NOTE: A Minor cannot be completed on its own.
A Non-Science Minor can also be added to a science Honours, Major, or a Double-Minor (Arts and Social Science Minors, Management Minors).
Examples of BSc degrees that VIU students have completed and their required courses are available in program grid format.
Declaring your goals
You are encouraged to declare your goals as early as possible once you know your intended degree plan. Goals can be declared or changed at any time, including before you start your degree or after you have started taking courses.
- Once you know the major/Minor you intend to complete, you can:
- Self-declare your goal in your VIU student record under under Academics / Choose Degree Program Options.
- Contact or meet with your BSc Degree Advisor. If you are unsure about which goal(s) might be best for you, your Degree Advisor can help guide you through the various available options.
- Your Degree Advisor will update your student record with your declared goals and set up the Goal Planning System (GPS) with your declared goals.
- Your Degree Advisor can help answer questions about course equivalencies, transfer credits, Letters of Permission, and much more.
- Your Degree Advisor will track waivers or exceptions that may be applicable to you in GPS and/or your student record.
- You can contact your Degree Advisor at any time to discuss your degree progression or if you have questions about degree requirements.
- Your academic goals can be modified at any time to reflect changes in student intent.