Science link with York University opens new doors

It's an all-too-familiar situation: high school students who are having trouble keeping up with their workload choose to drop a credit and, more often than not, it's a science course.

It's an easy decision to make in Grade 10, but it can come back to haunt students who later want to pursue a science-related program in college or university. Without a good grounding in biology, chemistry and math, students are shut out of appealing career paths in nursing or university science studies, for example.

Now comes word of a new general arts and science (GAS) option at Centennial College that allows students with little or no prior education in the sciences to get a foundation and pursue science studies at the college or university level. It's the first program of its kind in Ontario.

The General Arts and Science - Science Option gives students four semesters of study in English, math and various science courses, enough to qualify for entry into a Bachelor of Science (BSc) program at York University.

"It's a great new way to provide access and opportunities to students who might have otherwise been discouraged from pursuing science at university," says Rodney Webb, associate vice-president academic, York University.

Students who successfully complete four semesters of the Science Option at Centennial with the required academic standing will qualify for a GAS Science Diploma and will be eligible to apply for entry into a Bachelor of Science program at York University, earning up to 18 transfer credits to be counted towards further science studies at York.

To build an appropriate bridge to York, Centennial developed new physics, chemistry and biology courses following extensive consultation with faculty, students, the university, the program advisory committee, the government and other college programs.

In addition to high school graduates who don't have their science credits, the GAS program is tailored to mature students who want to return to college to pursue a career requiring a science background.

Students can now enter and exit the GAS program at a number of points, depending on their academic goals and prior educational experience. It functions as a ramp up to other college or university programs for people who might feel under-prepared.

"Students often sense they don't have the right skills to start university after only four years of high school," says John Artibello, who teaches in Centennial's GAS program. "For some, it's too much of a leap from Grade 12 to university. That's why GAS was created."

The GAS - Science Option Diploma program is the latest addition to Centennial's family of GAS programs designed to help students prepare for further studies in college or university.

The program offers practical courses to improve essay writing and math skills, as well as knowledge of biology and chemistry. In addition, various electives in philosophy and sociology, for example, provide students with a well-rounded education that may open their eyes to new disciplines and career paths.

"GAS allows students to upgrade and strengthen their academic profile without the pressure they may have felt in high school," Artibello says. Other benefits of GAS include small class sizes, a mix of theoretical learning with hands-on training, and a great group of dedicated professors.

Fifteen Centennial students are already enrolled in the two-year Science Option, tailored for entry into York's science-oriented degree programs.

For more details about Centennial's GAS programs, visit www.centennialcollege. ca/gas or call 416-289-5000, ext. 7504.

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