<Faculty of Arts

Academic Standing

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

Honours BA Degree

Qualifying for Honours

Students with no Previous Postsecondary Education

Students who enter the Faculty of Arts with no prior experience at a postsecondary educational institution (such as a university or college) are automatically enrolled in an Honours program.

Transfer Students

Students who enter with prior experience at a postsecondary educational institution are enrolled in an Honours program if their prior cumulative grade point average (including failed courses) is at least the equivalent of 5.0 (C+) on the York scale. (Note: Courses taken at other postsecondary institutions are not calculated as part of the student's grade point average at York, nor do they appear on the York transcript.)

Continuing in Honours

To continue in an Honours program, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 5.0 (C+).

Graduating in Honours

To graduate in an Honours program, students must successfully complete (pass) at least 120 credits which meet Faculty of Arts and program requirements. The cumulative grade point average must be at least 5.0 (C+).

Courses taken Beyond the Normal Maximum

Students in an Honours BA program who successfully complete more than 120 credits and whose cumulative grade point average is at least 5.0 (C+) will have all credits counted towards their Honours BA and their cumulative grade point average.

Opting to Graduate in a BA Program

Students who are eligible for Honours may opt to graduate in a BA program in the session in which they have completed their final course(s).

Ineligibility to Continue in Honours

Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 5.0 (C+) may continue their studies only in a BA degree program.

Re-entering Honours

Students who are ineligible to continue in Honours because their cumulative grade point average has fallen below 5.0 (C+) may re-enter Honours if they raise their cumulative grade point average to 5.0 (C+) or above by the time they have successfully completed their 90th credit.

Graduating with a BA Degree

Students registered in an Honours program whose cumulative grade point average after completion of 90 credits falls below 5.0 (C+), but remains 4.0 (C) or above, may request to graduate with a BA degree if they fulfill the BA degree requirements, or may continue in a BA program until those requirements are fulfilled. They may not continue in an Honours program and they may not take extra courses in a subsequent session in an effort to raise their cumulative average.

BA Degree

Graduating with a BA Degree

Students must successfully complete (pass) at least 90 credits which meet Faculty of Arts and program requirements. The cumulative grade point average must be at least 4.0 (C).

Courses taken Beyond the Normal Maximum--in Order to Raise Cumulative Grade Point Average

Students in a BA program who have passed 90 credits in accordance with Faculty and program requirements, but whose cumulative grade point average is below 4.0 (C) may attempt to raise their average to 4.0 (C) 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; regulations on equivalent and excluded courses apply.

Courses taken Beyond the Normal Maximum

Students in a BA program who successfully complete more than 90 credits and whose cumulative grade point average is at least 4.0 (C) and less than 5.0 (C+) will have all credits counted towards their BA and their cumulative grade point average.

Transferring to Honours

Students in a BA program who become eligible for Honours are transferred to an Honours program. Students who have graduated from the Faculty of Arts with a BA degree and whose record makes them eligible for Honours may pursue an Honours degree in the same subject.