York University | 2008-2009 Undergraduate Calendar

IV. Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements

The Credit System

The Faculty of Science and Engineering operates under a credit system in which a prescribed number of credits, intended to reflect total workload, is associated with each course offered by the University. One lecture hour per week per term is defined as one academic credit as is one laboratory session per week per term. For York University courses (excepting some courses offered by the Faculty of Education), the number of credits in each course is indicated by the number which follows the four-digit course number.

Year of Study Equivalents

When it is necessary to equate credits earned with year level, the following guidelines are used:

fewer than 24 credits earned - study level one;
more than or equal to 24 and fewer than 54 credits earned - study level two;
more than or equal to 54 and fewer than 84 credits earned - study level three;
more than or equal to 84 credits earned - study level four (with the exception that bachelor programs never go beyond study level three, regardless of the number of credits earned).

Residence Requirement

In order to qualify for a York University degree in any bachelor or Honours program, a student must have successfully completed a minimum of 30 credits at York University and at least half (50 per cent) of the requirements in each major/minor.

Time Limit

There is no time limit for completion of degree requirements in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Students taking a normal full-time load of approximately 30 credits per fall/winter session can expect to complete a bachelor degree in three fall/winter sessions or an Honours degree in four fall/winter sessions. A limited number of courses are also available during the summer session; a maximum of 15 credits can be taken in that session.

Although there is no minimum number of credits in which a student must enrol in any session, students who do not enrol in any courses in a fall/winter session must formally apply to have their files reactivated before resuming their studies in a subsequent session (see Reactivation in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Advising, Enrolment, Registration, Graduation and Other Administrative Procedures section of this calendar).

Since the curriculum is constantly evolving through the introduction of new course requirements and/or prerequisites, students are strongly advised to complete their degree requirements in a reasonable time period.

Course Credit Exclusions

The University offers some courses in which at least part of the content is similar to that presented in other courses. To ensure that credit is not granted more than once for similar content, the Faculty of Science and Engineering designates such courses as course credit exclusions. The exclusion(s) for a particular course are listed in the course description.

If a student in the Faculty of Science and Engineering enrols in and successfully completes two courses which are designated as exclusions of each other, credit is given for only one. Both courses appear on the student's official York University transcript.

A course (or combination of courses) designated as an exclusion for another course may be substituted for the latter (for the purposes of satisfying prerequisite and/or degree requirements) only with Faculty/department/division/program approval. Information regarding approved substitute courses may be found in the program of study requirements in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar, in the prerequisite requirements listed for courses in this calendar, or in the departmental supplementary calendars.

College Courses

Regulations governing college courses vary from Faculty to Faculty. The following regulations apply to the Faculty of Science and Engineering degree candidates:

college courses not cross-listed with humanities or social science cannot fulfill general education requirements;
a maximum of six credits from 1000-level college courses may be counted towards a degree in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

General Education Requirements

General education courses are required within all degree programs in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. These courses provide a broad perspective on current scholarship and the diversity of human experience. The courses are also expected to enhance students' critical skills in reading, writing and thinking, and contribute to their preparation for post-university life.

BA and BA Honours Requirements

Students in the BA and BA Honours programs must take a total of 24 credits from the following areas: one 1000-level nine-credit foundations course, in either the Division of Humanities or the Division of Social Science; one 1000-level six credit course in the Division of Natural Science; one 2000-level nine-credit foundations course, in either the Division of Humanities or Social Science. If the 1000-level nine-credit foundations course is taken in the Division of Humanities, then the 2000-level nine-credit foundations course must be taken in the Division of Social Science and vice versa.

Note: Students may complete a maximum of three nine-credit foundations courses for degree credit. Students who need to complete more than three foundations courses in order to fulfill program (major or minor) course requirements may do so with permission of the relevant program coordinator or undergraduate director.

BASc Requirements

Students in BASc programs must complete a minimum of 12 credits from two different areas of study, subject to the restrictions noted below. At least three credits must be taken in humanities and social sciences, as defined by the following areas: anthropology, humanities, English, history, linguistics and languages, modes of reasoning, philosophy, social science and women's studies. The remaining general education credits may be taken from the list included in the following set of requirements.

Note 1: The following course contains a substantial overlap in content with engineering core material and hence may not be taken for degree credit by BASc degree candidates: AS/PHIL 2100 3.00 Introduction to Logic.

Note 2: ES/ENVS 2150 3.00 is a core requirement for students in the BASc program and therefore, cannot be used to fulfill the general education requirement.

Requirements for BSc, BSc Honours, BSc (Tech), iBSc Candidates

All degree candidates in the above programs must complete a minimum of 12 credits from two different areas of study, including at least three credits from each area, subject to the restrictions noted below.

For the purposes of this regulation "different area" means offered by different academic units such as divisions, departments or Faculties and excluding courses offered by similar departments in different Faculties (such as English in the Faculty of Arts and the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies). Subject to the restrictions listed below, courses in the following areas may be taken in the Faculty of Arts, the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies or Glendon.

anthropology
classical studies*
economics
English
French studies*
geography**
history
humanities (courses not cross-listed with STS)
languages, literature and linguistics*
philosophy
political science
social science (courses not cross-listed with STS)
sociology
women's studies***

The following courses offered by the Faculty of Environmental Studies may be taken to satisfy Faculty of Science and Engineering general education requirements: ES/ENVS 1000 6.00, ES/ENVS 2150 3.00.

The following courses offered by the Faculty of Fine Arts may be taken to satisfy Faculty of Science and Engineering general education requirements: FA/DANC 1340 3.00, FA/DANC 2340 3.00, FA/FACS 1900 6.00, FA/FILM 1401 6.00, FA/FILM 1410 6.00, FA/FILM 1701 3.00, FA/FILM 2401 6.00, FA/MUSI 1500 6.00, FA/MUSI 1510 6.00, FA/MUSI 1520 6.00, FA/MUSI 1530 6.00, FA/MUSI 1540 6.00, FA/MUSI 1550 6.00, FA/THEA 1500 6.00, FA/VISA 1110 6.00, FA/VISA 2110 6.00, FA/VISA 2540 6.00, FA/VISA 2550 6.00, FA/VISA 2620 6.00.

Restrictions (for BASc, BSc, BSc Honours, BSc Tech, IBSc candidates)

1. Courses which are cross-listed as SC courses or which are eligible for SC credit cannot count as general education courses.
2. Courses whose major focus is increased facility in the use of a language cannot count as general education courses. Such courses are offered in the departments marked with an * above.
3. Quantitative courses focusing on techniques of mathematics or statistics cannot count as general education courses. For example, this applies to some economics courses.
4. **Geography courses cannot be used to satisfy general education requirements for students majoring in geography.
5. ***excluding women's studies courses which are cross-listed with natural science courses.
6. Humanities and social science courses cross-listed with science and technology studies (STS) courses cannot count as general education courses.

Note: 1. General education courses may not be taken on a pass/fail basis (see Pass/Fail Grading Option in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Examinations and Academic Standards section of this calendar).

2. Students may not take for credit any more than three humanities/social science foundations courses (27 credits).

3. General education courses are normally taken at the 1000 or 2000 level, but higher-level courses are acceptable, subject only to prerequisites and course access specifications for enrolment.

4. Permission may be granted by the Office of Science Academic Services, on an individual basis, for a student to take a course outside the areas and Faculties listed above for general education credit, subject to the course fulfilling the Faculty of Science and Engineering breadth and critical skills requirements for general education courses, the student having the appropriate prerequisites and the course access specifications permitting enrolment. A student who is in doubt regarding whether or not any specific course will fulfill the Faculty of Science and Engineering general education requirements should consult the Office of Science Academic Services.

General Regulations

1. All students are required to observe the regulations of the University. Unless otherwise stated, any changes in regulations become effective as announced. This policy is not meant to disadvantage students as they proceed through their studies, including those who have completed a number of courses. It is intended to ensure that their preparation for courses is appropriate and current. Students should consult closely with departments and the Faculty through the advising process.

2. 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. See also prerequisites/corequisites under Advising in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Advising, Enrolment, Registration, Graduation and Other Administrative Procedures section of this calendar.

3. All degree candidates are required to indicate a choice of degree program (bachelor, Specialized Honours, Honours Major, Honours Double Major or Honours Major/Minor) upon successful completion of 24 credits. Check the minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average required for Honours programs (see Academic Standards for Bachelor and Honours Programs in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Examinations and Academic Standards 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. See the Faculty of Science and Engineering Advising, Enrolment, Registration, Graduation and Other Administrative Procedures section of this calendar for information about changing degree programs.

4. All degree candidates for the BSc, BSc Honours and IBSc programs must successfully complete the following minimum requirements, normally at the 1000 level:

at least 24 science credits, excluding SC/CHEM 1500 4.00, SC/MATH 1510 6.00, SC/MATH 1515 3.00, SC/MATH 1520 3.00, SC/PHYS 1510 4.00 and all natural science courses, and including at least two credits in introductory computer science, six credits in approved mathematics courses, and 12 credits in courses with laboratories;
12 general education credits (see General Education Requirements in this section of the calendar).

Note: Students in the joint Seneca/York Bachelor of Science in Technology (BSc (Tech) program in applied biotechnology are required to take at York University at least 24 science credits, excluding SC/CHEM 1500 4.00, SC/MATH 1510 6.00, SC/MATH 1515 3.00, SC/MATH 1520 3.00 and SC/PHYS 1510 4.00 and all natural science courses. These 24 credits include six credits in an approved mathematics course, three credits in an approved computer science course and 12 credits in courses with laboratories (SC/BIOL 2010 4.00, SC/BIOL 2030 4.00 and SC/BIOL 2040 4.00). Students in this program must also take two general education courses at Seneca College and six specific general education credits at York University, AS/ECON 1900 3.00 and AS/PHIL 2071 3.00.

5. Bachelor Programs

Bachelor of Arts:

In order to graduate with a bachelor of arts, a student must complete the following:

a) satisfy regulations 2 and 3 and the general education requirement (see General Education Requirements in this section of the Faculty of Science and Engineering calendar);

b) present a total of at least 90 passed credits of which:

a minimum of 30 must be earned in one major subject area;
a minimum of 12 credits in the major must be at the 3000 or higher level;
a minimum of 18 are elective credits;
a minimum of 18 credits overall must be at the 3000 or higher level;

c) satisfy the Senate academic standards for bachelor programs - see Academic Standards for Bachelor and Honours Programs in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Examinations and Academic Standards section of this calendar.

d) satisfy the program of study requirements specified in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of the calendar for the bachelor program declared.

Bachelor of Science:

In order to graduate with a bachelor of science, a student must complete the following:

a) satisfy regulations 2, 3 and 4;

b) present a total of at least 90 passed credits of which:

a minimum of 66 must be earned in science courses,
a minimum of 24 must be earned in one major science subject area,
a minimum of 18 must be earned in courses at the 3000 or higher level;

d) satisfy the program of study requirements specified in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar for the bachelor program declared.

6. Honours Programs

Bachelor of Arts Honours:

In order to graduate with the bachelor of arts Honours, a student must complete the following:

a) satisfy regulations 2, 3 and the general education requirement (see General Education requirements in this section of the Faculty of Science and Engineering calendar);

b) present a total of at least 120 passed credits of which:

a minimum of 54 credits must be earned in the major subject area (Specialized Honours programs); a minimum of 42 credits in (each of) the major subject area(s) (Honours Major, Honours Double Major and Honours Major/Minor programs), of which a minimum of 12 credits are the 4000 level; a minimum of 30 credits must be earned in a minor subject area, at least six credits of which must normally be at the 4000 level
a minimum of 36 credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level, at least 18 credits of which must be at the 4000 level;
students in the BA Specialized Honours or Honours must complete 18 elective credits.

c) satisfy the Faculty and Senate academic standards for Honours programs - see Academic Standards for Bachelor and Honours Programs in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Examinations and Academic Standards section of this calendar;

d) satisfy the program of study requirements specified in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar for the declared Honours program and major and minor subject area(s).

Bachelor of Science Honours:

In order to graduate with the bachelor of science Honours, a student must complete the following:

a) satisfy regulations 2, 3 and 4;

b) present a total of at least 120 passed credits of which:

a minimum of 90 must be earned in science courses (or a minimum of 66 for BSc Honours Double Major and Major/Minor programs where the second major or the minor is taken in a non-science subject area),
a minimum of 54 must be earned in the major science subject area (BSc Specialized Honours programs); a minimum of 36 in (each of) the major subject area(s) (BSc Honours Major, Honours Double Major and Honours Major/Minor programs); a minimum of 30 in the minor subject area (BSc Honours Major/Minor programs),
a minimum of 42 must be earned in courses at the 3000 or higher level.

7. International Bachelor of Science Honours Programs

In order to graduate with the international bachelor of science Honours, a student must complete the following:

a) satisfy regulations 2, 3 and 4;

b) present a total of at least 120 passed credits of which:

a minimum of 90 must be earned in science courses,
a minimum of 54 must be earned in the major science subject area (IBSc Specialized Honours program); a minimum of 36 in the major subject area (IBSc Honours Major program),
a minimum of 42 must be earned in courses at the 3000 or higher level,
30 required credits outside the science major, consisting of;
- 12 credits of language study in one of the languages offered at York University,
- 18 credits of non-science international content courses (see the program requirements in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar). These courses may be used toward the requirements of regulation 4, general education requirement.

d) satisfy the program of study requirements specified in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section of this calendar;

e) have one or two exchange terms abroad as a full-time student at an institution with which York has a formal exchange agreement.