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Lassonde School of Engineering (LE) – Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements

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The Credit System

The Lassonde School of 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 Lassonde School of Engineering. Students taking a normal full-time load of approximately 30-36 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 (refer to Reactivation in the Lassonde School of Engineering Advising, Enrolment, Registration, Graduation and Other Administrative Procedures section).

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 Lassonde School of 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 Lassonde School of Engineering enrols in and successfully completes two courses which are designated as exclusions of each other, credit is given for the second 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 Lassonde School of Engineering Programs of Study section, in the prerequisite requirements listed for courses in this publication or in the departmental supplementary calendars.

Non-Science Requirement

The non-science requirement provides a broad perspective on current scholarship and the diversity of human experience. These courses are also expected to enhance students' critical skills in reading, writing and thinking, and contribute to their preparation for post-university life.

BEng Requirement

Students in BEng programs must complete a minimum of 12 credits from two different areas of study, subject to the restrictions in the Notes 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.

Complementary Studies Requirements (General Education)

A total of 12 credits of complementary studies courses must be taken, as identified below.  At least 3 of the 12 credits must be taken in the humanities or social sciences, defined by the following areas:  Anthropology, Humanities, English, History, Linguistics and Languages, Philosophy, Social Science, Modes of Reasoning and Women’s Studies.  (Asterisked courses below are also considered to meet this requirement.)

Entrepreneurship

Plus: 3.00 credits in SOSC/HUMA

Environmental Studies

6.00 credits from the areas of:

  1. Environmental Management: Policy Resources and Conservation:
  2. Urban and Regional Environments
  3. Environmental Politics: Development, Globalization and Justice:
  4. Environment and Culture

Plus: 3.00 credits in SOSC/HUMA

Fine Arts

9.00 credits from:

Plus: 3.00 credits in SOSC/HUMA

Global Engineer

Languages (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish)

  • 12.0 credits in languages and culture courses with the same rubric, with a minimum of 6.0 credits of language skills and a minimum of 3.0 credits culture course (counts as HUMA)

French Studies

  • 12.0 credit certificate in French or French for Business, plus SOSC/HUMA. Note: these pure language courses do not count for social science or humanities under the CEAB regulations, so this option requires students to complete 15.0 credits instead of 12.0 credits.

General Studies

Students may choose 12.00 credits from all the courses listed in the other areas, subject to prerequisites, HUMA/SOSC requirements, and some other restrictions.

Specified other course, such as economics (e.g. AP/ECON 1000 3.00 & AP/ECON 1010 3.00) may also be taken.

Law

  • Up to 9.00 credits of Osgoode ‘Perspectives’ courses, such as LW/LAW 3040X 3.00 (Comparative Law: Privacy & Access to Information)

Plus: 3.00 credits in SOSC/HUMA

Public Policy

Choose one of three areas:

  1. The Canadian State and Public Administration:
  2. Public Law
  3. Science, Technology and Public Policy:

Plus: 3.00 credits in SOSC/HUMA

Science & Technology Studies

6.00 credits from:

Plus 6.0 credits from (counts as HUMA requirement):

Restrictions & Notes

  • The following course(s) contain a substantial overlap in content with engineering core material and hence may not be taken for degree credit by BEng degree candidates: AP/PHIL 2100 3.00 Introduction to Logic.
  • No more than 6.0 credits may be taken at the 1000-level.
  • Quantitative courses focusing on techniques of mathematics or statistics cannot count as general education courses.

Note: Many 3000-level course are eligible for complementary studies credit, but students must have the required prerequisites and be confident of their ability to handle course work in that subject area at the third-year level, i.e., at the same level as third-year majors in that subject area.

Consultations

Each of the areas of focus identified has been developed in partnership with the units offering the courses to ensure that:

  • Groups of courses form a coherent theme
  • Any prerequisites are satisfied
  • Engineering students are permitted to enrol in the courses
  • Engineering students can succeed academically

Requirements for BSc, Honours BSc, BSc, 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.

Non-science course areas

Subject to the restrictions listed below, courses in the following areas may be taken in the Faculties of Glendon or Liberal Arts and Professional Studies:

  • anthropology
  • classical studies*
  • economics
  • English
  • French studies*
  • geography**
  • history
  • humanities (courses not cross-listed with STS)
  • languages, literature and linguistics*
  • modes of reasoning
  • 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 this requirement:

The following courses offered by the School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design may be taken to satisfy this requirement:

Restrictions (for BEng, BSc, Honours BSc, iBSc Candidates)

  1. Courses which are cross-listed as SC courses or which are eligible for SC credit cannot count towards this requirement.
  2. Courses whose major focus is increased facility in the use of a language cannot count as towards this requirement. Such courses are offered in the departments marked with an * above.
  3. Quantitative courses focusing on techniques of mathematics or statistics cannot count towards this requirement. For example, this applies to some economics courses.
  4. **Geography courses cannot be used to satisfy the requirement 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 towards this requirement.

Notes:

  1. Courses taken in fulfilment of this requirement may not be taken on a pass/fail basis (refer to Pass/Fail Grading Option in the Lassonde School of Engineering Regulations Governing Examinations and Academic Standards section).
  2. Students may not take for credit any more than three humanities/social science foundations courses (27 credits).
  3. Non-science 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 via an approved academic petition to the Lassonde Academic Petitions and Appeals Committee on an individual basis, for a student to take a course outside the areas and/or Faculties listed above in fulfilment of the requirement  subject to the course fulfilling the Lassonde School of Engineering breadth and critical skills requirements, the student having the appropriate prerequisites and the course access specifications permitting enrolment.

General Regulations

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Programs

In order to graduate with a bachelor of arts:

a) 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.

b) 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 co-requisites not already completed successfully. See also prerequisites/co-requisites under Advising in the Lassonde School of Engineering Advising, Enrolment, Registration, Graduation and Other Administrative Procedures section.

BA Degree Options/Requirements Minimum Credit Requirements
Minimum Number of Major or Minor Credits
(including, where applicable, iBA options):
BA major 30 credits; including 12 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level.
Honours BA major 42 credits; including 12 credits at the 4000 level.
Specialized Honours BA major2 54 credits; including 12 credits at the 4000 level.
Honours Double Major Interdisciplinary BA 36 credits; including 6 credits at the 4000 level in each major.
Honours Major/Minor BA 42 credits, including 12 credits at the 4000 level in the major and 30 credits, normally including 6 credits at the 4000 level in the minor.
Upper Level Requirements:

90-credit BA

 18 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level including 12 credits in the major as above.
120-credit Specialized Honours BA and Honours BA degrees 36 credits at the 3000 or 4000-level including at least 18 credits at the 4000-level. This includes the 3000 and 4000 level credits in the major and minor listed above.
General Education Requirement 18 credits, including 6 credits from three of the following four areas: humanities, modes of reasoning, natural science, social science at the 1000 or 2000 level (1000 level for natural science).
Outside the Major Discipline Requirement(s) At least 18 credits outside the major3.
Not applicable to double major and major/minor programs.
Residency Requirement A minimum of 30 course credits and at least half (50 per-cent) of the course credits required in each undergraduate degree program major/minor must be taken at York University4.

c) Satisfy the Senate academic standards for bachelor programs - refer to Academic Standards for Bachelor and Honours Programs in the Lassonde School of Engineering Regulations Governing Examinations and Academic Standards section.

d) Satisfy the program of study requirements specified in the Lassonde School of Engineering Programs of Study section for the bachelor program declared.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree Programs

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

a) 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.

b) 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 co-requisites not already completed successfully. See also prerequisites/co-requisites under Advising in the Lassonde School of Engineering Advising, Enrolment, Registration, Graduation and Other Administrative Procedures section.

BSc Degree Options/Requirements Minimum Credit Requirements
Minimum Number of Major or Minor Credits
(including, where applicable, iBSc options):
BSc major 30 credits; including 12 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level.
Specialized Honours BSc major 54 credits; including 18 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level, with at least 12 credits at the 4000 level.
Honours BSc major 42 credits; including 18 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level, with at least 12 credits at the 4000 level.
Honours Double Major BSc 42 credits; including 18 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level, with at least 12 credits at the 4000 level.
Honours Major/Minor BSc 42 credits, including 12 credits at the 4000 level in the major and 30 credits, normally including 6 credits at the 4000 level, in the minor.
Upper Level Requirements:
90-credit BSc 18 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level including 12 credits in the major as above.
120-credit Specialized Honours BSc and Honours BSc degrees 36 credits at the 3000 or 4000-level including at least 12 credits at the 4000-level. This includes the 3000 and 4000 level credits in the major and minor listed above.
Laboratory Requirement 6 credits from courses with laboratories at the 1000-level in any of the following areas: biology, chemistry and physics (Biology, Chemistry and Physics programs require 6 additional credits outside the major).
General Education Requirement 27 credits in total as follows:
  • 12 credits in human enquiry outside of science disciplines;
  • 6 credits in math at the 1000 level (excluding remedial courses);
  • 3 credits in computer science at the 1000 level;
  • 6 credits from courses with laboratories at the 1000-level in any of the following areas: biology, chemistry and physics.
Science Requirement Outside the Major Program:
90-credit BSc

24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which 3 credits must be at the 2000 level or above, which may include:

science credits in the General Education requirements that are not in the major; and

science credits required by the major that are not in the major discipline.

120-credit Specialized Honours BSc and Honours BSc degrees

Not applicable to double major and major/minor programs

24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which 3 credits must be at the 2000 level or above, which may include:

science credits in the General Education requirements that are not in the major; and

science credits required by the major that are not in the major discipline.

Residency Requirement A minimum of 30 course credits and at least half (50 per-cent) of the course credits required in each undergraduate degree program major/minor must be taken at York University.

c) Satisfy the Senate academic standards for bachelor programs - refer to Academic Standards for Bachelor and Honours Programs in the Lassonde School of Engineering Regulations Governing Examinations and Academic Standards section.

d) Satisfy the program of study requirements specified in the Lassonde School of Engineering Programs of Study section for the bachelor program declared.