<Faculty of Fine Arts

Academic Standing

Academic standing depends on several factors including the number of courses a student has completed, the overall grade point average, the sessional grade point average and the major grade point average.

Grade reports include notice of academic standing and eligibility to proceed in Honours or BA programs.

Note: Advancement into second-year and upper-year studio/performance course in some programs may be determined by the designated departmental committee.

Grade Point Average Calculations

There are three different grade point averages (GPAs) calculated for Faculty of Fine Arts students:

• Overall grade point average: Includes all courses (passed and failed) that the student has completed at York.
• Sessional grade point average: Includes all courses (passed and failed) that the student has completed in the current session at York.
• Major grade point average: Includes all courses (passed and failed) which count towards the major that the student has completed at York.

All courses taken at York, including failures, are included in grade point average calculations. Course completed outside York University are not included in grade point averages at York.

Honours BA, Honours BFA and Honours BDes

The following minimum grade point averages are required to continue and graduate with an Honours degree in the Faculty of Fine Arts:

• An overall grade point average of 5.0 (C+);
• major grade point average of 5.0 (C+);
• To graduate, students must also have successfully completed (passed) at least 120 credits which meet the Faculty of Fine Arts and program requirements.

Admission to an Honours BA, Honours BFA and Honours BDes

Students With No Previous Postsecondary Education: Students who enter the Faculty of Fine Arts with no prior experience at a postsecondary educational institution (such as university and college) are automatically admitted to an Honours program.

Transfer Students: Students who enter with prior experience at a postsecondary educational institution are admitted to an Honours program if their prior overall grade point average (including failed courses) is at least the equivalent of 5.0 (C+) on the York scale.

Transferring from an Honours BA, Honours BFA to a BA Program

Ineligibility to Continue in Honours: Students whose overall and/or major GPA falls below 5.0 (C+) may continue their studies only in a BA degree program. Honours BA students will automatically be placed in the BA program. Honours BFA students must fill out a change of degree form if they wish to continue their studies.

Re-entering Honours: Students who have been transferred to the BA program because of a GPA below 5.0 (C+) may re-enter Honours if they raise their overall and major grade point averages to 5.0 (C+) or above by the session in which they have successfully completed their 90th credit. Students who have not reached 5.0 (C+) in the session in which they successfully complete their 90th credit 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 overall and/or major averages. Students in this situation may petition for an honours waiver.

BA Degree

Graduating with a BA

The following minimum grade point averages are required to graduate with a BA in the Faculty of Fine Arts:

• An overall grade point average of 4.0 (C);
• A major grade point average of 4.0 (C);
• To graduate, students must also have successfully completed (passed) at least 90 credits which meet the Faculty of Fine Arts and program requirements.

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). This should be indicated on the application to graduate form.

Admission to a BA

Transfer Students: Students who enter with prior experience at a postsecondary educational institution are admitted to a BA program if their prior overall grade point average (including failed courses) is at least the equivalent of 4.0 (C) on the York scale.

Transferring/Re-applying to Honours

Continuing Students: Students in a BA program whose overall and major GPAs are at least 5.0 (C+) are automatically transferred to a BA Honours program. Students who wish to transfer from the Honours BA to the Honours BFA must apply on a change of degree form and fulfill any evaluation or audition requirements.

Graduating Students: Students who have completed a York University BA degree (90 credit program) in the Faculty of Fine Arts may continue, after graduation, in a BA Honours program in the same subject area or in a BA Honours Double Major or Honours Major/Minor program including the same subject area, provided the cumulative and major grade point average are those required for the Honours program. A student who wishes to pursue a BFA Honours in the same field of study, may continue in the second degree, subject to the approval of the Faculty of Fine Arts, by submitting a change of degree form to the Registrar's Office. Please note that students who are approved by the Faculty to proceed, would normally receive 90 credits towards the BFA Honours in the same subject area.

A student who wishes to pursue a second BFA Honours or BA Honours in a different field of study must apply to the Admissions Office for admission as a second degree candidate. The deadline to apply for fall admission is June 1.

Courses taken Beyond the Normal Maximum - in Order to Raise Cumulative and/or Major Grade Point Average

Students in a BA program who have passed 90 credits in accordance with Faculty and program requirements, but whose overall and/or major 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.

Dean's Honour Roll

The Dean's Honour Roll recognizes the academic achievements of the following:

• Students who have taken 12 to 17 credits in a given session who have achieved a sessional overall grade point average of 8.0 (A) or higher;
• Students who have taken 18 or more credits in a given session who have achieved a sessional overall grade point average of 7.5 or higher;
• Graduating students who have achieved a overall and major grade point averages of 7.0 (B+) or higher.

Graduation Honours

Students who graduate with cumulative grade point averages as specified below, both in their major discipline and overall, will have their degrees classified as follows:

Honours BA, Honours BFA and Honours BDes:

7.50 Cum laude

7.80 Magna cum laude

8.00 Summa cum laude

BA Degree:

7.00 Dean's Honour Roll

7.50 With merit

8.00 With distinction