Expand your perspective and learn about the world around you.
From astronomy and physics to math and chemistry, we’ve got you covered. We offer different general science courses each term, and in partnership with the Faculty of Science, we also offer two preparatory courses in the areas of chemistry and math.
Preparatory courses
The Introduction to Chemistry course is an online tutorial designed to prepare you for entry into a university-level introductory chemistry course. If you haven't taken Chemistry 12, you may be able to use this course to fulfill that prerequisite. This course is available every summer and fall.
Are you missing the academic requirements for first-year math courses? Are you worried your math skills are rusty? Maybe fractions, ratios, geometry, trigonometry, exponents, graphing functions and equations were never your favourite topics? No matter the reason, Mathematical Skills will help get you up to speed. This course is offered on campus every spring and fall.
General interest courses
Our general science and math courses are for anyone who wants to be informed on a wide array of topics, including:
- physics and astronomy
- biology and chemistry
- current research topics
- and more...
Our instructors are experts in their fields who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and expertise with the community. For information on submitting a course proposal, please contact the program area.
View our available courses below.
- An Introduction to Neuroscience
- Astronomy from Space
- Boosting or Maintaining Your Brain Power as You Get Older
- Botanical Art and Illustrations through the Ages
- Conversations about Climate Change: It's all Talk and All Action
- Demystifying Newton’s Laws of Motion
- Down the Rabbit Hole – Quantum Physics for Nonphysicists
- Ecosystems for the Future
- Fungi and Forest Ecology
- Fusion and Fission: A Nuclear Physics Crash Course
- Gardening for Climate Change
- Harvesting Mason Bees: Hands on Workshop
- Introduction to Biology and Natural History
- Introduction to Mycology
- Mathematical Skills
- Permaculture for Ornamental Gardeners
- The Metaphysics of Quantum Physics
- The Neuroscience of Aging
- The Neuroscience of Human Decision Making
- The Neuroscience of Human Learning
- The Neuroscience of Optimal Mental Health
- The Neuroscience of Sleep
- The Red Planet
- Winter Gardens: Designing for interest and beauty
Deans’ Lecture Series
Research is continually reshaping the way we live and think. Meet distinguished members of the faculties at the University of Victoria and learn about their research interests in these FREE online lectures.
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In Pursuit of Knowledge - Fall
This series of daytime lectures will acquaint you with UVic faculty and their many areas of interest. (Sessions staring in September)
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Peninsula Pursuits
Peninsula Pursuits courses generally take place at the Mary Winspear Centre and focus on the interests of the people who live and work in the community.
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Community Fishers Training
Community Fishers is an advanced solution using state‐of‐the‐art technology that provides a practical, user‐friendly tool for collecting data from mobile scientific instruments, which can then be managed and freely accessed via Ocean Networks Canada’s world‐leading oceanographic data management system, Oceans 2.0.
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Ocean Acoustic Monitoring
Ocean acoustic monitoring empowers community members to easily contribute high-quality, continuous data on noise levels to help better understand and inform policy on the changes that may be impacting the ocean environment over time.
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Juliana McCaig, an avid appreciator of fungi, shares her thoughts and experiences after completing the Introduction to Mycology course with Continuing Studies at UVic. This popular, self-paced community course is open to learners who want to dive deeper into the world of fungi. Here’s what Juliana had to say about her experience:
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There is no doubt that concepts of metaphysics and quantum mechanics are complex for the average person, but Goksenin brings these ideas back to earth. She strives to show that quantum physics is relevant to our everyday lives when correctly understood.
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Our relationship with nature is complex. We usually think in terms of taking from nature. It provides us with our needs and wants. But to be a part of nature we also need to give back. There needs to be reciprocity.
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More than half of all North American bird species are migrants, moving seasonally between their breeding and wintering grounds. In his final research project for the RNS program, Andrew Elves analyzed how artificial light in Beacon Hill Park exacerbates habitat fragmentation, interfering with the circadian rhythms of migratory birds.
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Restoration of Natural Systems Program alumni, Wendy Kotilla, founded the Youth and Ecological Restoration Program (YER) in 2004 based on her own experiences of being surrounded by the healing powers of nature.
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Bringing together ecological restoration and permaculture while also incorporating traditional ecological knowledge held by the Penelakut Tribe is the goal of Adam Huggins’ final project for his RNS Diploma.
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"If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered species: the child in nature." -Richard Louv, 2005
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