First Year: The BSc in Contemporary Science shares a point of entry with the BSc programs in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and its Applications, and Medical Physics through which all new students at Ryerson complete a common first year. In addition to BSc foundation courses, your first year studies will include an introduction to the use of computers as scientific tools, and an orientation course that will support you in making a successful transition to university and planning your steps to degree completion. All students in Science programs must enroll in SCI 180 in their first semester of studies.

Upper Years: You'll experience the interrelated nature of modern science firsthand through a multidisciplinary curriculum in which you focus on not one, but three areas of science beginning in your second year. Seven streams are offered, from which you can choose the three best suited to your interests and goals. Your choices include a minimum of one of Computational Sciences, Informatics, and Physics. Owing to the overlap in curriculum content and focus, students may not choose both Biology and Environmental Sciences Streams.

The program requires the student to take three lower level liberal studies courses and three upper level liberal studies courses prior to graduation. Of these liberal studies courses, one is to be selected from a thematic list of courses on history of science/impact of technology/philosophy.

Students can also select to participate in the Co-operative program or the 16-month industrial internship placement (IIP). All students enrolled in Contemporary Science have the option to enroll in the Management Science Specialization.

CO-OPERATIVE PROGRAM

An optional co-operative program is available which provides the graduating students with 20 months of work experience that enhances their organizational and technical abilities as well as their oral and written communication skills.

Although neither the Department nor the Office of Co-operative Education can guarantee a placement, they provide major assistance in locating suitable positions and counselling of students in their search for suitable jobs. This co-operative program enables students to earn competitive wages to offset the costs of a university education.

Students in the Contemporary Science program who have completed the first year and who wish to take the co-op program must apply through the First Year Common Science Office for admission to the co-operative program prior to the beginning of the second year. Enrollment in the co-op program is limited. Admission will be based on student's grade point average.

The sequencing of academic and work terms is shown below:

Students must successfully complete a minimum of four work terms in order to graduate from the co-op program.

The co-op program requires five years to complete the degree in Contemporary Science. The regular program can be completed in four years.

All co-op placements must be approved by the Office of Co-operative Education and the Dean's designate responsible for administrating science programs.

NOTE: Students enrolled in the co-op program may not enroll in the internship placement and students enrolled in the internship placement may not enroll in the co-op program.

Optional Specialization in Management Sciences (OSMS) 

Students who opt for this specialization will gain a solid foundation in management science courses, specifically tailored to better prepare them for a career in engineering or applied science management or for graduate studies in management related specializations (e.g. MBA). Students must complete all first year courses and obtain a CLEAR Standing to be eligible to enroll in this specialization.

Furthermore, in order to continue taking courses within the specialization, students must maintain their CLEAR Standing. Students' CGPAs will continue to be calculated based only on their required program courses and separate CGPAs will be computed for courses in the specialization. In order to have the additional specialization designation reflected on their degrees, students must successfully complete all six courses in the specialization and achieve a CGPA of 2.00 or more before graduation.

Courses within the optional specialization cover four major areas in management science: Strategic Engineering Management, Operations Management/Operations Research, Financial Sciences, and Organizational Sciences. Required courses include: Managerial Accounting, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management, Operations Management, and Organization Design & Dynamics. Elective courses span the following: Investment Analysis, Management Information Systems, Operations Research, and Project Management.

Required courses: EMS 201, EMS 202, EMS 204, EMS 303, ECN 801.

Elective courses (select one): EMS 203, EMS 301, EMS 302, EMS 304.

Students approved prior to Fall 2008 will follow the previous requirements.

Courses are offered in the Spring/Summer term. All required courses are prerequisite to the corresponding elective courses. For example, EMS 201 is a prerequisite to EMS 301. Additional prerequisites may be required. See the course description pages for details.

Career Opportunities

The Contemporary Science Degree provides students with a broader and more flexible path to science education. Knowledge of science is increasingly becoming an important attribute for successful careers in an increasingly technologically and innovation-driven world. New opportunities can be expected to emerge for 'big picture' thinkers and intellectual innovators as science continues to evolve as an instrument of human progress and environmental responsibility. Your Ryerson degree in Contemporary Science will be your passport to many career opportunities and further professional education in today's highly technology-oriented society. Here are just a few examples: 

• Government-Policy Development (consulting, government)
• Business Development, Management, Marketing and Sales (industry) 
• Teaching (primary, secondary education)
• Communications (media)
• Law
• Health

Liberal Studies

Students must take three lower level liberal studies courses and three upper level liberal studies courses to graduate.

Minors

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Ryerson (with exceptions), and are eligible for only one Minor. Please refer to the Minors Policy section of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and restrictions.

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Certificates

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible restrictions. Please refer to the Curriculum Advising website at www.ryerson.ca/curriculumadvising for complete details.