<Joseph E. Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies

Academic Standing: Entry, Maintenance and Graduation

Academic standing depends on several factors including the number of credits a student has passed, the grade point average achieved during a particular session (sessional grade point average), the overall grade point average (cumulative grade point average), and the overall major grade point average (major grade point average).

Change of Major. Students may request to change their major provided they meet the minimum academic standards required for the program requested. A Change of Major form must be completed and submitted to the appropriate school/department.

Change of Degree. Students may request to change their degree after completion of their first academic session in the Faculty, provided they meet the minimum academic standards required for the program requested. A Change of Degree form must be completed and submitted to the Office of Student and Academic Services, 123 Atkinson Building.

*Note: There are additional entry requirements for the BSW and BScN programs.

Change of Major/Degree forms are available from Student Client Services.

Bachelor Degree (90 Credits)

(a) Entry. Students admitted to Atkinson are enrolled in the bachelor program requested.

(b) Faculty Transfers. Students may transfer to an Atkinson bachelor degree program provided they meet the minimum academic requirements for the program requested.

(c) Continuing in a Bachelor Program:

BA and BSc - Students who maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 4.0 may proceed in good standing in the bachelor degree.

BAS and BHRM - Students who have completed less than 90 credits and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 5.0 may proceed in good standing. Students who have completed 90 credits or greater with a cumulative and major average of 5.0 may proceed in good standing and have the option to proceed in honours.

(d) Failure to maintain academic standing:

BA and BSc - Students who fail to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average of 4.0 will incur academic penalties. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

BAS and BHRM - Students who have completed less than 90 credits, whose cumulative grade point average is below 5.0, will be placed on program warning and may continue in the 90 credit bachelor degree only. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

Students who have completed at least 24 York credits with a cumulative grade point average below 2.5 will be required to withdraw for one year. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

Students in the bachelor BAS or BHRM who have completed 90 credits or greater with a cumulative grade point average below 5.0 and/or a major grade point average below 5.0 will be ineligible to proceed or graduate. Students may petition to be allowed additional credits to a maximum of 102 credits to graduate with a bachelor degree. These courses must be above the 1000 level and must be taken at York University.

(e) Entry or re-entry into the program:

Students may enter or re-enter the program once they have attained the required grades for the program but not after they have completed 90 credits. Students may complete a Change of Major or Change of Degree request form available from Student Client Services. Please refer to Change of Major or Change of Degree above.

(f) Graduation:

Graduating with a BA or BSc degree. Students must pass at least 90 credits that meet the Faculty's degree and program requirements with a cumulative grade point average of at least 4.0.

Graduating with a BAS or BHRM degree. Students must pass at least 90 credits that meet Faculty's degree and program requirements, with a cumulative and major grade point average of at least 5.0.

Failure to meet academic standing upon completion of 90 credits:

Students in the bachelor BAS or BHRM who have completed 90 credits or greater with a cumulative grade point average and/or major grade point average below 5.0 will be ineligible to proceed or graduate. Students may petition to be allowed additional credits to a maximum of 102 credits to graduate with the bachelor degree. These courses must be above the 1000 level and must be taken at York University.

BA and BSc students who upon completion of at least 90 credits but less than 102 credits who have not met the academic standing required for their degree program will be allowed additional credits to raise their cumulative grade point average.

Additional credits to raise grade point average for graduation:

Students in a BA or BSc degree program who have passed 90 credits in accordance with the Faculty's degree and program requirements, and whose cumulative grade point average is below the requirement for graduation may attempt to raise their average by taking up to 12 additional credits, to a maximum of 102 credits. These courses must be above the 1000 level and must be taken at York University.

Honours Degree (120 Credits)

(a) Entry/qualifying for Honours:

Students admitted to the Faculty with no previous postsecondary education will automatically be admitted to an Honours program.

Students admitted to the Faculty with previous postsecondary education are automatically admitted to an Honours degree if they have met the admission criteria for the program.

Note: Courses taken at other post-secondary institutions are not calculated as part of the student's grade point average at York, nor do they appear on the York transcript.

Students who have graduated from the Faculty with a bachelor degree and whose standing makes them eligible for Honours may pursue an Honours degree in the same major but must submit a request for reclassification of their degree in writing to the Registrar's Office.

Continuing students are automatically considered to have Honours standing provided they achieve the minimum cumulative grade point average of 5.0 and have not exceeded 90 credits.

Note: There are additional entry requirements for the BAS, BHRM, BScN and BSW programs.

(b) Faculty Transfers:

Students qualify for transfer to an Atkinson Honours program provided they have met the criteria specified by the program.

*Note: There are additional entry requirements for the BSW and BScN programs. Some programs may have limited entry.

(c) Continuing in Honours:

Students may continue in an Honours program providing they maintain the minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 5.0 with the exception of the following programs:

BAS and BHRM - Students who have completed 90 credits or greater who have a cumulative and major grade point average of at least 5.0 may proceed in honours.

BSW - Students may continue in an Honours BSW program providing they achieve the minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 5.0 and the major grade point average of at least 6.0 or no grade less than a C+ in courses used in the major.

(d) Failure to maintain academic standing for Honours:

BA and BSc - Students who have completed less than 120 credits who fail to maintain the Honours cumulative grade point average of 5.0 will automatically be placed in the bachelor degree, if applicable.

Students whose grade point average is below 4.0 will incur academic penalties. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

Students who have completed at least 24 York credits with a cumulative grade point average below 2.5 will be required to withdraw for one year.

Students who have completed 120 credits or greater with a cumulative grade point average of less than 5.0 will be ineligible to proceed or graduate.

BAS and BHRM - Students who have completed less than 90 credits, whose cumulative grade point average is below 5.0, will be placed on program warning and may continue in the 90 credit bachelor degree only. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

Students who have completed at least 24 York credits with a cumulative grade point average below 2.5 will be required to withdraw for one year. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

Students who have completed at least 90 credits or greater with a cumulative or major grade point average below 5.0 will be ineligible to proceed in the program. Students may petition to be allowed additional credits to raise the grade point average for graduation in the bachelor program or petition for an honours waiver. Please refer to the section on Petitions and Appeals.

Students who have completed 120 credits or greater with a cumulative grade point average below 5.0 or a major grade point average below 5.5 will be ineligible to proceed or graduate.

Students who have completed 120 credits or greater with a cumulative grade point average of at least 5.0 and a major grade point average of at least 5.0 but below 5.5 may apply to graduate with the bachelor degree.

BHS - Students who have completed less than 90 credits whose cumulative grade point average is at least 4.0 but below 5.0 will be placed on program warning and may continue in the program. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

Students who have completed less than 90 credits with a cumulative grade point average of less than 4.0 will be ineligible to proceed in the BHS program. Students who wish to continue in their studies must change their degree program and will proceed in the new program on academic warning.

Students who have completed at least 24 York credits with a cumulative grade point average below 2.5 will be required to withdraw for one year. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

Students who have completed at least 90 credits or greater with a cumulative grade point average below 5.0 will be ineligible to proceed in the program. Students may petition for an honours waiver. Please refer to the section on Petitions and Appeals.

BScN - Students who have completed less than 120 credits will be placed on program warning if the cumulative grade point average is at least 4.0 but below 5.0.

Students may continue in the BScN program providing they meet program warning conditions. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

Students who have completed at least 24 York credits with a cumulative grade point average below 2.5 will be required to withdraw for one year. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

Students who have completed 120 credits or greater who do not have the required cumulative grade point average of at least 5.0 or a minimum grade of C (4.0) in all courses used in the major will be ineligible to proceed or graduate. Students who have completed less than 120 credits, but greater than 90 credits with a cumulative grade point average below 4.0 will be ineligible to continue in the program. Students who have completed less than 90 credits with a cumulative grade point average below 4.0 may change their program of study and will proceed on academic warning in the new program. Please refer to section on Academic Penalties.

BSW - Students who have completed less than 120 credits will be placed on program warning if:

(i) the cumulative grade point average is at least 4.5 but is below 5.0, or

(ii) the major grade point average is at least 5.5 but is below 6.0.

Students may continue in the BSW program providing they meet program warning conditions. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

Students who have completed at least 24 York credits with a cumulative grade point average below 2.5 will be required to withdraw for one year. Please refer to the section on Academic Penalties.

Students who have completed 120 credits or greater who do not have the required cumulative grade point average of at least 5.0 or an overall major average of at least 6.0 or a minimum grade of C+ in courses used in the major will be ineligible to proceed or graduate. Students who have completed less than 120 credits, but greater than 90 credits whose cumulative grade point average falls below the 4.5 or major grade point average falls below 5.5 or have a grade below C+ for courses used in the major will be ineligible to continue in the program. Students with a cumulative grade point average below 4.0 will proceed on academic warning in the new program. Please refer to section on Academic Penalties.

(e) Re-entry to an Honours program:

BA and BSc. Students who attain the 5.0 cumulative grade point average prior to completion of 90 credits will automatically be placed in the honours program in the same major, where applicable. Students who have not attained the 5.0 cumulative grade point average at the point of completing 90 credits, will be ineligible for honours. No extra courses may be taken in a subsequent session in an effort to raise the grade point average. Students who have completed at least 90 credits but less than 120 credits, who do not have the grade point average for Honours, may petition for an honours waiver.

BAS, BHRM. Students who attain the 5.0 cumulative grade point average prior to completion of 90 credits may submit a change of degree request to the Office of Student and Academic Services. Students who have not attained the cumulative and major grade point average of 5.0 at the point of completing 90 credits, will be ineligible for the program. No extra courses may be taken in a subsequent session in an effort to raise the grade point average.

BHS and BScN. Students who attain the 5.0 cumulative grade point average prior to completion of 90 credits may submit a change of degree request to the Office of Student and Academic Services. Students who have not attained the 5.0 cumulative grade point average at the point of completing 90 credits, will be ineligible for the program. No extra courses may be taken in a subsequent session in an effort to raise the grade point average. All requests for re-entry to the BScN are subject to School of Nursing approval.

BSW. Students who attain the cumulative and major grade point average and have no grade less than C+ in a course used in the major prior to completion of 90 credits, may submit a change of degree request to the Office of Student and Academic Services. All requests are subject to School of Social Work approval. No extra courses may be taken in a subsequent session in an effort to raise the grade point average.

(f) Graduation:

Graduating Honours BA, BHS or BSc. Students must pass at least 120 credits which meet the Faculty's degree and program requirements with a cumulative grade point average of at least 5.0.

Graduating Honours BAS or BHRM. Students must pass at least 120 credits which meet the Faculty's degree and program requirements with a cumulative grade point average of at least 5.0 and a major grade point average of at least 5.5.

Graduating Honours BScN. Students must pass at least 120 credits which meet the Faculty's degree and program requirements with a cumulative grade point average of at least 5.0 including a minimum grade of C (4.0) in all courses used in the major. Second entry students, refer to program requirements.

Graduating Honours BSW. Students must pass at least 120 credits which meet the Faculty's degree and program requirements with a cumulative grade point average of at least 5.0 and a major grade point average of at least 6.0 including a minimum grade of C+ in all courses used in the major.

Failure to meet academic standing upon completion of 120 credits.

Students who upon completion of 120 credits have not met the academic standing required for the degree program will be ineligible to proceed or graduate.

BA and BSc students who have a cumulative average of at least 4.0 may apply to graduate with a bachelor degree (90 credit) where applicable.

BAS and BHRM students who have completed 120 credits or greater with a cumulative grade point average of at least 5.0 and a major grade point average of at least 5.0 but is below 5.5 may apply to graduate with the bachelor degree (90 credit).

Option to graduate with a bachelor degree (BA, BSc, BAS and BHRM):

Students registered in an Honours degree may opt to graduate with a bachelor degree (if applicable) if they fulfill degree and program requirements. Students who wish to take advantage of this option should complete an application to graduate available from Student Client Services.