Faculty of Arts & Science
2016-2017 Calendar

Guide to Program & Course Descriptions


Guide to Programs and Courses

Definition of “Course” in this Calendar

In the Calendar, the word “course” is used in two senses:

  1. In reference to a single course (such as “standing in a course” etc.) “course” refers equally to a full course or a half course.
  2. In reference to a given number of courses (such as the requirement of obtaining standing in at least 20 courses for an HBA or HBSc) “courses” refer to FULL courses OR the equivalent number in FULL AND HALF courses combined. To “pass a course” or “obtain standing in a course” normally means to obtain a mark of 50 or more in that course.

Codes used in the Program of Study Listings

Choosing Courses

NOTE: While Departmental counsellors and College Registrars are always available to give advice, THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH THE STUDENT for completeness and correctness of course selection, for compliance with exclusions, prerequisite and co-requisite requirements, for completion of Program details, for proper completion of the Distribution Requirement, and for observance of regulations, deadlines, etc. Students are responsible for seeking guidance from a responsible officer if they are in any doubt; misunderstanding, misapprehension or advice received from another student will not be accepted as cause for dispensation from any regulation, deadline, Program or Degree requirement.

Please Note:

  1. The Faculty of Arts & Science Council reserves the right to change the content of, or to withdraw, any course. In such cases every effort is made to provide equivalent alternative instruction, but this cannot be guaranteed.
  2. The Faculty reserves the right to limit the number of students in any course or any section of a course if the number wishing to take the course should exceed the resources available. Notwithstanding this, every effort is made to accommodate students in 100-series courses according to admission category.

Key to Course Descriptions

Course descriptions, in alphabetical order by Department/College, are listed in the Programs and Courses section. For an explanation of terms and abbreviations used in these descriptions, including prerequisites, co-requisites, exclusions, etc., see below. Students may choose from among these courses, subject to the following rules:

  1. Students must satisfy the degree and program requirements and other regulations set out in the Calendar and its supplements.
  2. Students must meet all prerequisite, co-requisite and exclusion requirements.
  3. Students may take no more than six 100-series courses for degree credit.

Number of Courses Taken (“Course Load”)

Students may proceed towards the degree at a rate of their own choosing, except as provided below:

  1. The recommended course load for full-time students in each of the Fall and Winter terms is no more than five courses. The maximum course load in the Fall/Winter Session is six courses (full-course equivalents).
  2. The maximum course load during the Summer Session is two courses.
  3. Students in the Faculty of Arts & Science are limited to a term load of six courses in each of the Fall and Winter terms. College Registrars may approve an exception to this limit where circumstances warrant. Students who exceed the term load limit will be removed from excess courses.
  4. Students “On Academic Probation” may take no more than five courses in each of the Fall and Winter terms and no more than two courses in each of the Summer terms, except as provided under “students restricted to a reduced course load” (see 5. below).
  5. Students restricted to a reduced course load on admission may take no more than 2.5 courses over the Fall/Winter Sessions. They may take no more than 3 course activities in a Fall or Winter term unless approved by their College Registrar. They may take a maximum of 1.0 course in the Summer Session. Students restricted to part-time studies who wish to transfer to full-time studies should consult with their College Registrar.
  6. Students should attempt to balance their course load between the Fall and Winter Sessions.
  7. To calculate course loads, students should consult this Calendar together with the Registration Instructions & Timetable. The code “Y1” or “H1” in a course code in the Calendar indicate the credit value:
    Y1 = a full course, for which one credit is given, e.g., ANT 100Y1
    H1 = a half-course, for which one-half credit is given, e.g., HIS 332H1
  8. In the Timetable a section code is associated with a course code to indicate when the course is offered:

    F = first half of the Fall-Winter Sessions (Sept-Dec), or first half of the Summer Session (May-June), e.g., HIS322H1 F

    S = second half of the Fall-Winter Sessions (Jan-Apr), or second half of the Summer Session (July-Aug), e.g., HIS322H1 S

    Y = Fall and Winter terms, or First and Second terms of the Summer Session, e.g., ANT100Y1 Y
  9. Students should note that courses designated as “...Y1F” or “...Y1S” in the Timetable are particularly demanding.
  10. In the Fall/Winter session, full-time students (except those in 4. and 13.) may select a sixth course after the priority period ends during the course enrolment cycle (see the Registration Instructions and Timetable for details).
  11. Students are advised to use discretion if exceeding the recommended maximum of five courses in the Fall/Winter session. Students will not receive special consideration of any kind on account of enroling in more than the recommended maximum. Examination schedules may be affected by this course load.
  12. In each of the Fall and Winter Sessions, students who are in good standing may request to add additional courses, beyond six, through their College Registrar. In the Summer Session, students may request to add additional courses, beyond two, through their College Registrar. The College Registrar, following Faculty guidelines, has the discretion to approve or deny such requests. Students will not receive special consideration of any kind on account of a course overload. Examination schedules may be affected by a course overload. Note: students enrolled in Commerce programs cannot add additional courses beyond six in the Fall/Winter Sessions without approval from the Rotman Commerce Program Office.
  13. Students are not allowed a course overload in any session until they have completed four full courses in the Faculty. This applies to first year students and transfer students from other institutions.

Year of Study

The University of Toronto uses the following to define the year equivalency and therefore the academic status of a student:

    4th year St. George degree student: has completed 14.0 full course equivalents or more;

    3rd year St. George degree student: has completed 9.0 to 13.5 full course equivalents;

    2nd year St. George degree student: has completed 4 to 8.5 full course equivalents;

    1st year St. George degree student: has completed less than 4 full course equivalents.

Full/Part-Time Status

Part-time status

Full-time status

Cancelling Courses, Repeating Courses, Courses Outside the Faculty and University

For further information on these matters see the Rules and Regulations section.

Codes Used in the Course Descriptions

Course Designators

Course designators are the three-letter codes which appear at the beginning of each course code (e.g., CHM is the designator for chemistry courses; PHL for philosophy courses).

All courses are listed in the sponsoring department's section in the Calendar. See the home page (under Programs & Courses) for sponsoring departments.

Course Number

The course number generally indicates the level of difficulty, e.g., a 100-series course normally indicates an introductory course, a 400-series course is an intensive course at the senior level. In some departments several courses may have the same general title; in these cases, the numbers are listed together, separated by “/” which means “OR”; for instance, “ECO 350Y1/351H1/352H1” = ECO 350Y1 OR ECO 351H1 OR ECO 352H1, each one being a seminar on a selected subject.

“Y1” and “H1” Course Suffixes

The codes “Y1” or “H1” in a course code in the Calendar indicate the credit value:

Types and Duration of Instruction

In the Fall-Winter Sessions the normal period of instruction is 24 weeks; the Fall Session lasts 12 weeks, and the Winter Session lasts 12 weeks. The number preceding the instruction codes opposite the course number and title indicates the total number of hours of instruction given in the course. The number of hours listed is approximate only; the actual contact hours of a course, or of different sections of a course, may vary from the number indicated in the Calendar, due to the size of the class or section, and the use being made of the tutorial or practical components of the class. This variation is at the discretion of the “course sponsor” (the college or department sponsoring the course); any questions concerning the allotment of hours in a course should be addressed to the course sponsor.

Prerequisites, Co-requisites, etc.

Students are responsible for fulfilling prerequisites and co-requisites; students enroled in courses for which they do not have the published prerequisites may have their registration in those courses cancelled at any time without warning. Students must also observe exclusions. Failure to meet these requirements may result in academic difficulties. If students withdraw from a course they must also withdraw from any course for which it is a co-requisite unless the Department giving the latter course agrees to waive the co-requisite.

Explanation of Symbols

The comma (,) the semi-colon(;) the ampersand (&) and the plus sign (+) all mean “AND”. The slash (/) means “OR”.

Exclusions

Students may not enrol in a course if that course lists as an exclusion a course they are currently taking or a course they have already passed. If allowed by special permission to enrol in an excluded course, the second course taken will be listed as an “Extra” course. Students will be required to withdraw from the course if discovered during the session of enrolment and will be refused degree credit in the excluded course if discovered at any time in a subsequent session.

Prerequisite

A course (or other qualification) required as preparation for entry to another course. If students consider that they have equivalent preparation, they may ask the Department concerned to waive the stated prerequisite.

Co-requisite

A requirement to be undertaken concurrently with another course. The co-requisite will be waived if a student has previously obtained standing in it, or if the Department consents.

Recommended Preparation

Background material or courses that may enhance a student’s understanding of a course.

This image shows a course description in diagram form, with explanations of all the various symbols.

Section Code

Section codes do not appear in the Calendar. In the Registration Instructions & Timetable, however, a section code is listed with a course code to indicate when the course is offered: