<Faculty of Science and Engineering

II. Advising, Enrolment, Registration, Graduation and Other Administrative Procedures

Student Responsibility

Every effort is made in the Faculty of Science and Engineering to ensure that each student receives academic advice and sufficient information to guide in course selection and program choice. Within this context, the student is solely responsible for the following:

• ensuring that the courses chosen in consultation with an adviser meet all program (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar) and degree (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section of this calendar) requirements for graduation;
• ensure the courses they choose meet prerequisites and are not exclusions or equivalents of other courses already taken;
• verifying the accuracy of registration records, including all course changes;
• fulfilling the requirements and being aware of academic progress in all registered courses;
• noting and abiding by the sessional deadline dates published on the Current Students Web page each year, especially course change deadline dates.

Advising

Before each academic session begins, every science student can meet with an adviser to discuss program and degree requirements. However, it is the responsibility of all students to familiarize themselves with both the requirements of their individual programs of study (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar) and the regulations governing their BSc, BSc (Tech), BSc Honours, BASc or iBSc degree requirements (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section of this calendar).

In preparation for enrolment, and at the advising appointment, the following should be considered:

Choice of subject area(s). Every student must choose one or two subject area(s) according to personal interests and career goals.

Choice of program. All students who have completed 24 or more credits must choose a program (Bachelor, Specialized Honours, Honours Double Major or Honours Major/Minor) in accordance with general regulation 3 in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section of this calendar. Minimum grade point average requirements for Honours programs are detailed under Academic Standards for BSc and BSc Honours Degree Programs in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Examinations and Academic Standards section of this calendar and in the program of study requirements in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar. See also Designation of Honours or Bachelor Program in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Examinations and Academic Standards section of this calendar.

Faculty of Science and Engineering degree requirements and regulations. Refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section of this calendar.

Course selection at the 1000 level. For first-year students, the 1000-level (entry-level) BSc and BSc Honours program is a multidisciplinary one. Students take introductory courses, consistent with their levels of background preparation, which are planned to prepare them well for more advanced study in the subject areas of their choice. Most introductory courses carry prerequisites, normally at the OAC or 12U level.

The course requirements at the 1000 level are governed by Faculty general regulation 4 (see the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section of this calendar) and are outlined in items i) and ii) under the program of study requirements for each subject area and applied science stream in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar. These Faculty regulations ensure that students' choices from the roster of introductory offerings provide an adequate and appropriate breadth in science, help students to develop basic computational, mathematical and laboratory skills, and also an appreciation of the humanities and social sciences.

Unless stated otherwise in the program of study requirements in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar, Honours Double Major candidates are expected to complete all 1000-level requirements for both majors, excepting course credit exclusions.

Unless stated otherwise in the program of study requirements in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar, the 1000-level science requirements for Honours Major/Minor programs are those of the major subject, plus or including any required 1000-level courses in the minor subject and any 1000-level courses which are required as prerequisites or corequisites for required courses in the minor, excepting course credit exclusions.

Since the normal yearly full-time credit load for BSc and BSc Honours candidates is 30 credits (somewhat higher for BASc Honours candidates), it will not be possible for the student to complete all the 1000-level requirements for any degree program in year one. Certain specific courses should be taken in year one as prerequisites for required 2000-level courses or as an introduction to the major or minor subject area. It is advisable to complete as many of the other required 1000-level science courses as possible in year one to avoid timetable conflicts in later years.

In some circumstances, equivalent courses approved in writing by the major program(s) may be substituted for the courses listed.

Course selection above the 1000 level. Complete details of the course requirements for all BSc and BSc Honours subject areas and programs are found in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar. Degree checklists for all BSc and BSc Honours programs/subject areas are available from the Office of Science Academic Services.

Prerequisites/corequisites. Most science courses have prerequisite and/or corequisite requirements. These may be specific courses (indicating specific required background knowledge) or they may be general prerequisites (indicating a required level of maturity in university studies in the subject area or overall).

As indicated in general regulation 2 in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section of this calendar, it is the student's responsibility to enrol in only those courses for which the student has successfully completed all designated prerequisites and to take concurrently all specified corequisites not already completed successfully. Students who lack the stated prerequisites but have reason to believe that they can succeed in a course must obtain written permission of the department concerned (consult the departmental undergraduate office regarding the procedure to be followed) before enrolling.

Course credit exclusions. Students should avoid enrolling in any two courses which are designated as course credit exclusions of one another, since credit will be given for only one. For more information regarding course credit exclusions, see Course Credit Exclusions in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section of this calendar.

Scheduling. All information regarding courses to be offered in each session, times, places etc. is found on the York University Current Students Web site (http://www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/cs.htm).

Enrolment

Students enrol in courses offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering through the Web enrolment system. Information on how to use the system is provided on the Current Students Web site (http://www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/cs.htm). Access to the system is granted to newly admitted students only after the advising document has been signed.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit towards a York University BSc, BSc (Tech), BSc Honours, BASc or iBSc may be granted for courses taken at other accredited postsecondary institutions prior to registration at York University.

Transfer credit assessments for the Faculty of Science and Engineering are specific to the program and subject area(s) in which the student plans to enrol at York University. If the student does not enrol in the program(s) and subject area(s) specified on the admission application or, subsequent to first registration, changes subject area(s) and/or program(s), the transfer credit must be reassessed.

Changes in Program/Subject Area(s)

Candidates may change their degree programs and/or subject area(s) from the time of their advising sessions in the spring until the tenth class day of the fall term, provided their standing, prescription of studies and timetable arrangements permit the proposed changes, and provided they are supported in writing by the academic advisers concerned. All program and subject area changes must be effected through the Registrar's Office by completion of the relevant form (available on the Current Students Web site at http://www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/cs.htm), signed by the new department(s). Transfer credit assessments must be reviewed after any change in program/subject area.

Course Changes

Course changes are permitted, but only for limited periods of time, and in accordance with the sessional dates in the enrolment guides. Written permission of the course instructor(s) may be required. Students should consult their advisers regarding the effect course changes may have on the fulfilment of program and degree requirements, but it is the responsibility of the student alone to recognize the consequences of course changes on academic progress. Students are responsible for verifying their enrolment during each academic session.

Courses Taken Outside the Faculty / Letters of Permission

A maximum of 12 credits in total may be taken during a summer session at York University and/or at another institution, a maximum of 33 credits during a fall/winter session towards a BSc, BSc Honours, BASc or iBSc.

Students should note that some departments have specific limits on the number of out-of-department or out-of-Faculty courses which may be taken for credit towards a BSc, BSc Honours, BASc or iBSc.

York University

The student is responsible for ensuring that courses taken in another Faculty at York University fulfill program and degree requirements, are eligible for BSc, BSc Honours, BASc or iBSc credit, and observe prerequisite, corequisite and course credit exclusion restrictions.

Other Institutions

A student wishing to take a course at an external accredited institution at any time for credit towards a York University BSc, BSc Honours, BASc or iBSc is required to obtain a letter of permission from York University prior to taking the course.

Request forms for letters of permission are available from Student Client Services or on the Current Students Web site at http://www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/cs.htm. The letter of permission request form, with course description(s), must be submitted to the appropriate departmental office to have the course(s) assessed for equivalents/exclusions. The completed form must then be returned to Student Client Services.

At the conclusion of the session for which a letter of permission was granted, the student must arrange for the host institution to submit either an official transcript for consideration for transfer credit, or official notice of withdrawal/non-enrolment to the Registrar's Office.

The student must obtain a grade of C or higher in the course for which a letter of permission has been granted in order to receive credit for the course in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Passed courses, as well as failed courses completed on letters of permission are included in the student's cumulative record, although grades from such courses are not listed on York University transcripts and are not included in the calculation of York grade point averages.

Should a student leave York University to pursue study at another postsecondary institution without a letter of permission, upon return to York, a new application to York is required and all previous transfer credit will be reassessed.

Reactivation

A student who has been absent from the University for one or more session(s) must apply to the Registrar's Office (form available on the Current Students Web site at http://www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/cs.htm) to be reactivated.

Note: This does not apply to students who have failed to gain standing or have been debarred from York University or to students who have taken postsecondary courses at another institution during their absence from York University; all such students must apply, through the Admissions Office, to be re-admitted to York University.

Graduation

Students should apply to graduate in the calendar year in which they expect to qualify for the degree, irrespective of whether or not they plan to attend the graduation ceremony. The application to graduate form can be found on the Current Students Web site at http://www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/cs.htm.

The deadline dates for spring and fall graduation ensure that all potential graduates' records are assessed with care. No late applications are accepted for any reason.

A student registered in a BSc Honours program may apply to graduate with a BSc degree, provided bachelor program requirements are met.

Degree Reclassification

A student who has completed a York University BSc degree (bachelor program) in the Faculty of Science and Engineering may continue, after graduation, in a Specialized Honours program in the same subject area or in an Honours Double Major or Honours Major/Minor program including the same subject area, provided the grade point average is that required for the Honours program.

A student who has completed a BSc Honours degree in an Honours Double Major or Honours Major/Minor program may apply for admission to a BSc Specialized Honours program in one of the (science) subject areas included in the Honours Double Major or Honours Major/Minor program. Applications for this reclassification are available from the Registrar's Office.

A student who wishes to pursue a second BSc or BSc 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 May 1.