<Faculty of Environmental Studies

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).

BES Honours Degree

Qualifying for Honours: Students with no Previous Postsecondary Education

Students who enter the Faculty of Environmental Studies 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 University transcript.)

Continuing and Revisions to Progression Requirements: Honours Standing:

To continue in an Honours program, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 5.00 (C+). Students whose cumulative grade point averages fall below 5.00 (C+) during the course of their studies may proceed in an Honours Program, on academic warning, provided that they meet the year level progression requirements as set out below.

Students must successfully complete (pass) at least 120 credits, meet Faculty and program requirements, and achieve a CGPA of 5.0 for all courses taken to satisfy their program in order to graduate with an Honours degree. Students who are permitted to continue in an Honours program on warning will be required to attend an advising appointment with their adviser.

Ineligibility to Continue in Honours

Students who do not meet the conditions outlined above may continue their studies only in the BES 90 credit degree program.

Graduating in Honours

To graduate from an Honours program, students must successfully complete (pass) at least 120 credits which meet the Faculty of Environmental Studies' program requirements. The cumulative grade point average for all courses taken must be at least 5.0 (C+).

Courses taken Beyond the Normal Maximum

Students in an Honours BES 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 BES and their cumulative grade point average.

Opting to Graduate in the BES Program (90 credit)

Students registered in the 120-credit Honours program may opt to graduate with a 90-credit degree if they fulfill those program requirements. Students who wish to take advantage of this option should complete the relevant form at the Office of Student Academic Services, 137 Health, Nursing and Environmental Studies Building, by early December for graduation the following spring, or by mid-August for graduation the following fall (refer to the 90 credit program requirements).

Students registered in an Honours BES 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 90-credit BES degree if they fulfill the degree requirements, or may continue in the program until the requirements for the 90-credit degree 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 grade point average to re-enter the Honours program.

Re-entering Honours

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

BES Degree

Students must successfully complete (pass) courses for at least 90 credits which meet the bachelor of environmental studies program requirements. The cumulative grade point average for all courses taken must be at least 4.0 (C).

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

Students in the BES program who have passed 90 credits in accordance with the Faculty of Environmental Studies 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 a minimum of six credits must be taken in FES; regulations on equivalent and excluded courses apply.

Courses taken Beyond the Normal Maximum

Students in the BES 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 BES degree and their cumulative grade point average.

Transferring to Honours

Students in the BES program who become eligible for Honours will automatically be transferred to the Honours BES degree program. Students who have graduated from the Faculty of Environmental Studies with a BES degree and whose record makes them eligible for an Honours BES may apply to the Faculty to pursue the Honours degree.

Academic Standing Requirements for Visiting Students

Individuals who wish to enrol in undergraduate credit courses, but who do not intend to complete a degree or a certificate may be admitted to York as a Visiting Student (see the Admissions section of this calendar for more information). There are three categories of visiting students:

a) those who hold an undergraduate degree (three-year bachelor's degree minimum) from an accredited university/university-level institution;

b) those who do not hold an undergraduate degree but wish to enrol in York courses to fulfill the academic, upgrading or professional development requirements of a professional designation;

c) those who are currently attending another recognized university and wish to take York courses on a letter of permission issued by their home institution.

GPA Requirement

Students in categories a) and b) whose overall cumulative grade point average (OCGPA) falls below 4.00 on at least 24 credits attempted will not be allowed to enrol in any subsequent session as visiting students. Students who are not permitted to re-enrol must apply for re-admission through the Admissions Office.

Note: Repeated course legislation does not apply to visiting students but only to academic degrees and certificates. Therefore, all courses attempted or taken will count in the OCGPA.

Credit Limits

Students in category b) who have maintained an OCGPA of 4.0 or higher throughout their studies and who have completed 30 credits will not be allowed to enrol in subsequent sessions and must either reactivate to proceed as visiting students or may choose to apply for admission to a degree or certificate program. This pause allows students in category (b) an opportunity to reconsider options to apply to degree studies given the transfer credit implications.