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Science – Undergraduate Degree and Certificate Programs

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Students may choose to major in a specific subject when they enter the University or they may wait until they have completed up to 24 credits. At this point, students must choose a major, but subsequent changes are possible. In selecting courses, students who are undecided should try to take introductory courses in a number of potential major subjects. This will allow them to proceed in their subject of choice without the possibility of a delay. Some departments will not permit undecided majors to enrol in their courses.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Programs

Honours Bachelor of arts (Honours BA) programs require at least four years of full-time study and at least 120 credits. Honours programs may be: Specialised Honours; Honours Major, which may be combined with a second Honours Major or with an Honours Minor; and Honours Minor, which must be combined with an Honours Major. 

Bachelor of arts (BA) programs are usually completed in three years of full-time study, require at least 90 credits and usually involve limited concentration in only one declared subject area.

Programs offered are:

• Specialized Honours with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, or statistics.
• Honours Major with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for commerce, mathematics for education, or statistics.
• Honours Double Major (intra-Faculty) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education and statistics and a second major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics.
• Honours Double Major (Science/Environmental Studies inter-Faculty) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, or statistics and a second major in environmental studies.
• Honours Double Major (Science/Fine Arts inter-Faculty) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, or statistics and a second major in one of dance, film, music, theatre, or visual arts.
• Honours Double Major (Science/Health inter-Faculty) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, or statistics and a second major in one of health studies, kinesiology and health science, or psychology.
• Honours Double Major (Science/Lassonde School of Engineering inter-Faculty) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, or statistics and a second major in one of computer science or earth and atmospheric science.
• Honours Double Major (Science/Liberal Arts and Professional Studies inter-Faculty) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, or statistics and a second major in one of African studies (mathematics or statistics only), anthropology, Canadian studies, children’s studies, classical studies, classics, cognitive science, communication studies, creative writing, criminology, culture and expression, disaster and emergency management, East Asian studies, economics, English, European studies (mathematics or statistics only), French studies, geography, German studies, health and society, Hellenic studies, history, humanities, human rights and equity studies, information technology, international development studies, Italian studies, Jewish studies, labour studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies (mathematics or statistics only), law and society, linguistics, philosophy, political science, professional writing, race, ethnicity and indigeneity, religious studies, science and technology studies, sexuality studies, social and political thought (mathematics and statistics only), social science, sociology, South Asian studies (mathematics and statistics only), Spanish, urban studies, or women’s studies.
• Honours Major/Minor (intra-Faculty) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, or statistics and a minor in one of applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, mathematics for commerce, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics.
• Honours Major/Minor (Science/Environmental Studies inter-Faculty) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, or statistics and a minor in environmental studies.
• Honours Major/Minor (Science/Fine Arts inter-Faculty) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, or statistics and a minor in one of dance, film, music, theatre, or visual arts.
• Honours Major/Minor (Science/Health inter-Faculty) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, or statistics and a minor in one of health informatics, health management, health policy, kinesiology and health science, or psychology.
• Honours Major/Minor (Science/Lassonde School of Engineering) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, or statistics and a minor in one of computer science or earth and atmospheric science.
• Honours Major/Minor (Science/Liberal Arts and Professional Studies inter-Faculty) with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, or statistics and a minor in one of African studies, anthropology, business, Canadian studies, children’s studies, classical studies, classics, creative writing, culture and expression, disaster and emergency management, East Asian studies, economics, English, European studies, French studies, geography, German studies, health and society, Hellenic studies, history, humanities, human rights and equity studies, information technology, international development studies, Italian culture, Italian studies, Jewish studies, labour studies, Latin American and Caribbean studies, linguistics, philosophy, political science, Portuguese studies, public administration, race, ethnicity and indigeneity, religious studies, science and technology studies, sexuality studies, social and political thought, sociology, South Asian studies, Spanish, urban studies, or women’s studies.
• Bachelor with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for commerce, or statistics.

Bachelor of Science Degree Programs

Honours Bachelor of science (Honours BSc) programs are usually completed in four years of full-time study, require at least 120 credits and may involve varying degrees of concentration in one or two declared subject areas. Honours programs may be: Specialised Honours; Honours Major, which may be combined with a second Honours Major or with an Honours Minor; and Honours Minor, which must be combined with an Honours Major.

Note: that some combinations of Double Major or Major/Minor programs may require more than 120 credits. Honours programs may also include a stream which further specialises the program of study within the declared subject.

Bachelor of science (BSc) programs are usually completed in three years of full-time study, require at least 90 credits and usually involve limited concentration in only one declared subject area.

Programs offered are:

• Specialized Honours with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, biochemistry, biology, biophysics, chemistry, computational mathematics, environmental science, geography, international dual degree - mathematics and statistics, mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics.
• Honours Major with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, environmental biology, mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, or statistics.
• Honours Double Major (intra-Faculty) with declared science majors in two of applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, environmental biology (may not be combined with biology), mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, and statistics.
• Honours Double Major (Science/Health inter-Faculty) with a declared science major in one of applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, environmental biology (with kinesiology and health science or psychology only), mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics and a declared health major in one of health studies, kinesiology and health science, or psychology.
• Honours Double Major (Science/Lassonde inter-Faculty) with a declared science major in applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, environmental biology, geography (in combination with earth and atmospheric science only), mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics and a declared Lassonde major in computer science or earth and atmospheric science.
• Honours Double Major (Science/Liberal Arts and Professional Studies inter-Faculty) with a declared science major in applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies or statistics and a declared liberal arts and professional studies major in one of anthropology, Canadian studies, children’s studies, classical studies, classics, communication studies, cognitive science, creative writing, criminology, culture and expression, disaster and emergency management, East Asian studies, economics, English, French studies, German studies, health and society, Hellenic studies, history, humanities, human rights and equity studies, international development studies, Italian studies, Jewish studies, labour studies, law and society, linguistics, philosophy, political science, professional writing, race, ethnicity, and indigeneity, religious studies, sexuality studies, social science, sociology, Spanish, urban studies, or women's studies. In addition, students in applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education or statistics may combine their major with a second major in information technology.
• In addition, students in applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education or statistics may combine their major with a second major in information technology.
• Honours Major/Minor (intra-Faculty) with a declared science major in one of applied mathematics, biology (including the biomedical science stream), chemistry, environmental biology (may not be combined with biology), geography, mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics and a declared science minor in one of applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, geography, mathematics, mathematics for commerce, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics.

Note: major/minor combinations with the major and minor in the same subject area are not permitted.

• Honours Major/Minor (Science/Environmental Studies inter-Faculty) with a declared science major in one of applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, environmental biology, mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics and a declared minor in environmental studies.
• Honours Major/Minor (Science/Fine Arts inter-Faculty) with a declared science major in one of applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, environmental biology, mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics and a declared fine arts minor in one of dance, film, music, theatre, or visual arts.

Note: choice of major and minor is subject to timetabling constraints.

• Honours Major/Minor (Science/Health inter-Faculty) with a declared science major in one of applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, environmental biology, geography, mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics and a declared health minor in one of health informatics, health management, health policy, kinesiology and health science, or psychology.
• Honours Major/Minor (Science/Lassonde inter-Faculty) with a declared science major in one of applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, environmental biology, geography, mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics and a declared Lassonde minor in computer science or earth and atmospheric science.
• Honours Major/Minor (Science/Liberal Arts and Professional Studies inter-Faculty) with a declared science major in one of applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, environmental biology, mathematics, mathematics for education, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics and a declared liberal arts and professional studies minor in one of African studies, anthropology, business, Canadian studies, children’s studies, classical studies, classics, creative writing, culture and expression, disaster and emergency management, East Asian studies, economics, English, European studies, French studies, German studies, health and society, Hellenic studies, history, humanities, human rights and equity studies, international development studies, Italian culture, Italian studies, Jewish studies, labour studies, Latin American and Caribbean studies, linguistics, philosophy, political science, Portuguese studies, public administration, race, ethnicity, and indigeneity, religious studies, sexuality studies, social and political thought, sociology, South Asian studies, Spanish, urban studies, or women's studies.

Note: in addition, students in applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education or statistics may combine their major with a minor in information technology.

• Honours Science with no declared major, for the student who wishes to enrol in a broader range of courses at the 3000 and 4000 levels than can normally be undertaken in other BSc programs.
• Bachelor with a declared major in one of applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, environmental biology, geography, international dual degree - mathematics and statistics, mathematics, physics and astronomy, science and technology studies, or statistics.
• Bachelor with no declared major for the student who wishes to enrol in a broader range of courses at the 3000 and 4000 levels than can normally be undertaken in BSc programs.

International Bachelor of Science Degree Programs

International Bachelor of science (iBSc) programs, which require at least four years of full-time study, at least 120 credits, and one or two exchange terms abroad as a full-time student at an institution with which York has a formal exchange agreement:

• Specialized Honours, with one declared major in biology; Honours Major with one declared major in biology (can include the biomedical stream); Honours Major/Minor with biology as the major (can include the biomedical stream).

Bachelor of Science in Technology Degree Programs

• Bachelor of science in technology (BSc (Tech)). Bachelor in applied biotechnology, offered jointly with Seneca College.

Joint Study Programs

Intra-Faculty Double Major and Major/Minor Programs

Most subject areas within the Faculty of Science offer Honours Double Major and Honours Major Minor programs jointly with another subject area in the Faculty, allowing students to concentrate on two fields of interest. Such programs are open to students who have completed 24 credits in an Honours program and who satisfy the Faculty of Science academic standards to proceed in Honours. All Honours programs require a minimum of 120 credits which can normally be completed in four years of full-time study. For a list of possible subject combinations, refer to the sections above. Some combinations may require more than 120 credits.

Inter-Faculty Honours Double Major and Major/Minor Programs

The Faculty of Science jointly offers Honours Double Major programs and Honours Major Minor programs with other Faculties at the University, allowing students to combine diverse areas of interest. Such programs are open to students who have completed 24 credits in an Honours program and who satisfy the Faculty of Science academic standards to proceed in Honours. All Honours programs require a minimum of 120 credits which can normally be completed in four years of full-time study. Combined program require careful planning and may take longer than four years, and/or move than 120 credits to complete.

A program involving a first major in the other Faculty and a major or minor in the Faculty of Science lead to an Honours BA, BES, BFA or BSc degree in the other Faculty.

For a list of possible subject combinations, refer to the sections above. For details of the major or minor requirements for each program in the Faculty of Science, refer to the Faculty of Science Programs of Study section. For details of the major or minor requirements in the other Faculty, refer to the Programs of Study section of the appropriate Faculty.

Science and Education

A student wishing to obtain the professional certification required to teach in Ontario schools may take both teacher training and an undergraduate academic program concurrently. This does not shorten the time required to gain the qualification but provides a better chance for the student to relate theory and practice and to have more opportunity to gain practical experience than is possible in a one-year program.

A student in the Faculty of Science who is presently enrolled in first year (at least 24 credits) or has a minimum of 36 credits remaining in the BSc, Honours BSc, BA or Honours BA with an overall standing of at least 5.00 (C+) may apply to coregister in the Faculty of Education. A coregistered student normally takes one and a half or two full courses in the Faculty of Education in an academic year concurrent with courses for the BSc, Honours BSc, BA or Honours BA. The specific study program of each student is subject to the approval of both Faculties.

Upon successful completion of the course requirements for the degree in the Faculty of Science, and of the required education courses, a coregistered student is awarded a BSc, Honours BSc, BA or Honours BA and a BEd.

Certificate Programs

There are numerous certificate programs offered by other Faculties in various subject areas, allowing recognition of a specialised area of study. Certificate programs are open to all undergraduate students, subject to student eligibility and course availability. The following certificates, offered by departments in other Faculties, may be of interest to students taking programs in the Faculty of Science.

Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing

This certificate is offered jointly by the Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering of the Lassonde School of Engineering, the Department of Geography of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies and the Faculty of Environmental Studies.

The certificate program includes three streams, one offered through each of the three units above. Honours BSc or BSc candidates majoring in environmental science or geography may be particularly interested in this certificate.

For additional information, consult the three units mentioned above.

Certificate in Meteorology

This certificate is offered by the Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering. The program is open to any student who satisfies the program admission requirements. Entrance to the program requires the candidate to have successfully completed at least 54 approved credits (nine approved full courses) in the areas of physical science and mathematics.

For additional information, consult the Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering.