Faculty of Arts & Science
2016-2017 Calendar

Degree Requirements (H.B.A., H.B.Sc., BCom)

For the complete and detailed description of degree requirements, see below. This chart is intended as a quick reference to describe the minimum degree requirements.

Type of Degree Honours B.A./B.Sc. BCom
Number of Credits 20.0 20.0 (10.0 RSM/MGT courses, 10.0 other A&S courses [note: this is a program requirement])
Level of Credits
  • Maximum 6.0 100-level
  • At least 6.0 300/400-level
  • Maximum 6.0 100-level
  • At least 6.0 300/400-level, including at least 1.0 400-level
Program Requirements
  • 1 Specialist, or
  • 2 Majors*, or
  • 1 Major + 2 Minors*
* must consist of 12.0 different courses (FCEs)
  • Management, Finance & Economics, or Accounting Specialist
Cumulative Grade Point Average 1.85 1.85
Breadth Requirement (for students beginning degree studies in September 2010 or after) Must take at least 4.0 credits that have been designated as satisfying the Breadth Requirement. Must be either (a) at least 1.0 credit in each of 4 of the 5 categories below, or (b) at least 1.0 credit in each of any 3 of the 5 categories, and at least 0.5 credits in each of the other 2 categories.

1 Creative and Cultural Representations
2. Thought, Belief, and Behaviour
3. Society and Its Institutions
4. Living Things and Their Environment
5. The Physical and Mathematical Universes

Distribution Requirement (for students who began degree studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science prior to September 2010)

 Must take at least 1.0 credit from each of the following three areas:

  • Humanities
  • Social Sciences
  • Sciences

N.B. Some restrictions on the acceptability of science courses apply to B.Com students. Refer to the Rotman Commerce section of the Calendar for details.


Degree Requirements

In the requirements below the word “course” means one full course equivalent (FCE) — a “full course” or two “half-courses”; in the Programs and Courses section, “full courses” are listed as Y1 courses, and “half-courses” are listed as H1 courses.

The Faculty of Arts & Science offers the following degrees, all of which are Honours degrees:

The Faculty also offers:

Honours Bachelor of Arts/Honours Bachelor of Science

General Degree Requirements

Please note: in the requirements below the word “course” means one full-course equivalent (FCE).

To qualify for an Honours Bachelor of Arts (Hon.B.A.) or Honours Bachelor of Science (Hon. B.Sc.), you must:

    (a) Obtain standing (i.e., complete with a grade of 50% or more or CR) in at least 20 courses (FCEs) that meet the following criteria:

  1. No more than six courses (FCEs) may be 100-series.
  2. At least six courses (FCEs) must be 300+series courses (no more than one 300+series transfer credit may be counted towards these six, with the exception of transfer credits attained through a U of T exchange program).
  3. No more than fifteen courses (FCEs) may have the same three-letter designator (“AST”, “ENG”, etc.). Courses beyond this limit will not be included in the 20 courses required for the degree, but will be counted in all other respects.

    (b) Complete one of the following program requirements

  One specialist program (which includes at least one course (FCE) at the 400-level)
  or
  Two major programs, which must include at least 12 different courses (FCEs)
  or
  One major and two minor programs, which must include at least 12 different courses (FCEs)
  or
  Students registered in the Faculty before the 2000-2001 session may also complete three 
  minor programs, which must include 12 different courses (FCEs); this option is discontinued for students registering for the first time in 2000-2001 and thereafter.

        Note: whether you receive an Hon. B.A. or an Hon. B.Sc. depends on the program(s) you complete; see Program Requirements, below.

    (c) For students who began degree studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science in September 2010 or
         after: complete the new Breadth Requirement
         OR
         For students who began degree studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science prior to September 
         2010: complete the Distribution Requirement.

    (d) Obtain a Cumulative GPA of 1.85 or more by the time of graduation. Students who meet all the requirements for the Hon.B.A./Hon.B.Sc. except for the GPA requirement may elect to graduate with a B.A./B.Sc. degree provided they are In Good Standing (i.e., CGPA is 1.50 or more).

Discontinued Degrees and Upgrading

Effective for all students registered for the first time in a degree program in the Faculty of Arts & Science for the summer 2001 session and thereafter, the St. George Campus of the Faculty has discontinued the 15 course (three-year) B.A. and B.Sc. degrees. Students registered in a degree program in the Faculty before Summer 2001 may still choose a 15-course (three-year) degree; these students should consult their College Registrar’s Office.

Students with a B.A. or B.Sc. who return to upgrade that degree to an Hon. B.A. or Hon. B.Sc. must exchange the B.A. or B.Sc. for an Honours degree. A B.A. leads only to an Hon. B.A.; a B.A. CANNOT be upgraded to an Hon. B.Sc., and a B.Sc. CANNOT be upgraded to an Hon. B.A. Students who upgrade to an Honours degree are not eligible to attend the convocation ceremony for the upgrade.

Different degree regulations apply to students who first registered in the Faculty before Winter Session 1992; these students should consult their College Registrar.

Graduation

There are two graduation periods: June and November. Students must request graduation using the Student Web Service or in their College Registrar's Office as they are not automatically assessed for graduation. Graduation requests must be submitted by the deadline specified in the Sessional Dates section of the Calendar. Prospective graduands should check Degree Explorer (https://degreeexplorer.utoronto.ca) at the end of March (for June graduation)/late September (for November graduation) to see if their programs have been confirmed by the relevant department(s) or program office(s). They should also check Degree Explorer at the end of May/late October for confirmation of their eligibility for graduation by the Office of the Faculty Registrar.

For students graduating in June, only courses completed by the end of the preceding winter term (ending in April) will be assessed for graduation. For students graduating in November, only courses completed by the end of the preceding summer session (ending in August) will be assessed for graduation.

Prospective graduands should receive an email from the Office of Convocation providing details of the convocation ceremony in late March/mid-October. An email will be sent from the Office of the Faculty Registrar in late May/late October to students who have a request for graduation confirming their eligibility.

Recognition of Exceptional Academic Achievement: “High Distinction” and “Distinction”

Students who graduate with a Cumulative GPA* of 3.50 or above are described as graduates “With High Distinction”. This achievement is noted on the diploma and transcript.

Students who graduate with a Cumulative GPA* of 3.20 to 3.49 are described as graduates “With Distinction”. This achievement is noted on the diploma and transcript.

* Note: the Cumulative GPA must be based on at least 5.0 credits taken for Faculty of Arts & Science degree credit.

“Second Degree” Requirements

Students who have graduated with a degree from the Faculty of Arts & Science must petition through their college by June 30 to begin a second degree. Before applying, students are urged to determine whether a second degree is actually required for their purposes; for example, a “make-up” year as a non-degree student may satisfy admission requirements for graduate school. Students are governed by the rules of the Faculty in place at the time they commence their second degree. Students who already hold a degree from the Faculty of Arts & Science, the University of Toronto Scarborough or the University of Toronto Mississauga may complete a second degree only of an alternate type (i.e. if a student has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree then he/she may not complete a second Honours Bachelor of Arts degree). The Faculty normally exempts students from the first year of the degree requirements (five (5.0) transferred/retained credits: four 100-level and one 200-level), regardless of the number of previous degrees held. Second degree candidates may not repeat courses taken in a previous degree; they may, however, count such courses towards satisfying pre-requisite and program requirements, on approval of the department/programs office concerned. A new admission POSt and a new grade point average will commence with the second degree courses.

Program Requirements

Completion of a program of study is only one part of the general degree requirements. Variations made in program details for individual students do not in any way affect degree requirements.

Please note: in the requirements below the word “course” means one full-course equivalent (FCE).

Meaning of “Program”

Programs are groupings of courses in one or more disciplines; these groupings are listed with each college or department entry in the “Programs and Courses” section of this Calendar.

Levels of programs are:

PLEASE NOTE

Some courses included as program options may have prerequisites as requirements not listed in the program but which must be taken. Programs which list optional courses do not necessarily list their prerequisites. Students are responsible for fulfilling prerequisites; 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.

Program Requirements

  1. You must enrol in at least one and no more than three programs (of which only two can be majors or specialists), in the session in which you pass your fourth course (FCE). See the Arts & Science Program Enrolment web site for details. Students admitted with transfer credit for four courses (FCEs) or more must do this immediately upon admission.
  2. You must meet any enrolment requirements for a program as stated in the Calendar. If you do not meet these requirements, you may be removed from the programs.
  3. The programs(s) you complete determine whether you receive a science or an arts degree upon graduation. In the “Programs and Courses” section, each program indicates the type of degree to which it leads. For example, in the English section, the English Specialist listing is followed by “Arts program”; in the Mathematics section, the Math Major is followed by “Science program”, etc. A student completing one Specialist in an arts area would receive the Honours Bachelor of Arts; a student completing one Specialist in a science area would receive the Honours Bachelor of Science*. For program combinations that include more than one area (Arts and Science), the following applies:

*A student completing one Specialist in a science area and an additional Major in an arts area (or vice versa) have a choice of either the Honours Bachelor of Science or the Honours Bachelor of Arts.

Students enrolled in either two Majors or one Major + two Minors must ensure they have a minimum of 12.0 different courses (FCEs) between the programs. For example:

Note:
In biological and science programs there may be occasions when scientific observations are made by students on themselves or on fellow students. These include common diagnostic or immunization procedures. Unless a valid reason exists, students are expected to participate in such exercises. If any investigative work involving student participation does not form part of the program, participation is voluntary.

Self-Designed Programs

Students may design their own Programs, which must be substantially different from any Program in this Calendar. Such a Program, if formally adopted by the student’s College on the basis of its academic rigour and coherence, and if approved by the Committee on Academic Standards, will be accepted as fulfilling the degree requirement for certification in a Program (transcripts indicate only “Completed Self-designed Programs approved by ’X’ College”). Since the approval process is necessarily a long one, students following this alternative must discuss this process with their College Registrar immediately after completion of the fourth course in the Faculty.

The Breadth Requirement

Students beginning degree studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science in September 2010 or after are required to complete the following Breadth Requirement as part of their Degree Requirements. (The Distribution Requirement described following this section does not apply to such students.)

Courses in the Faculty of Arts and Science are classified into five Breadth categories by subject content. (Note that some courses are not designated and do not count toward this requirement.) The purpose of the Breadth Requirement is to ensure all students graduating with an Honours degree from the Faculty of Arts and Science have chosen courses across a broad range of subject areas in the Faculty as part of their undergraduate education.

  1. Creative and Cultural Representations
  2. Thought, Belief, and Behaviour
  3. Society and Its Institutions
  4. Living Things and Their Environment
  5. The Physical and Mathematical Universes

Students must take at least 4 full-course equivalents (FCEs) that have been designated as satisfying the Breadth Requirement. These 4 credits must be either (a) at least 1 FCE in each of any 4 of the 5 categories above, or (b) at least 1 FCE in each of any 3 of the 5 categories, and at least 0.5 FCE in each of the other 2 categories.

A course’s Breadth designation can be found following the course description in the Calendar for the year in which the course is taken. For example:

    ECO100Y1 Introduction to Economics [48L, 24T]
    An introduction to economic analysis and its applications: price determination; the role of
    competition; international trade and finance; the theory of production and employment; the role
    of money and the banking system; monetary and fiscal policy. NOTE graphical and quantitative
    analysis are used extensively.
    Exclusion: ECO105Y1
    Recommended prepararation: MCV4U (Calculus & Vectors) and MHF4U (Advanced Functions), or
    equivalent secondary school mathematics credits
    Distribution Requirement Status: Social Science
    Breadth Requirement: Society and its Institutions (3)

ECO100Y1 counts as one credit (1 FCE) in category 3 (Society and Its Institutions.)

    ENG215H1 The Canadian Short Story [36L]
    An introduction to the Canadian short story, this course emphasizes its rich variety of settings,
    subjects, and styles.
    Prerequisite: 1.0 ENG FCE or any 4.0 FCE
    Distribution Requirement Status: Humanities
    Breadth Requirement: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

ENG215H1 counts as one half credit (0.5 FCE) in Category 1 (Creative and Cultural Representations).

    ANT100Y1 Introduction to Anthropology [48L/12T]
    Society and culture from various anthropological perspectives: socio-cultural, biological,
    archaeological, and linguistic.
    Distribution Requirement Status: Social Science
    Breadth Requirement: Society and its Institutions (3) + Living Things and Their Environment (4)

ANT100Y1 counts as one half credit (0.5 FCE) in Category 3 (Society and its Institutions) and one half credit (0.5 FCE) in Category 4 (Living Things and Their Environment.)

Courses marked "BR=None" do not count toward any breadth category.

Courses count toward the Breadth Requirement as they have been classified in the Calendar of the year in which they were taken.

Students may count towards the Breadth Requirement any course which has a Breadth designation, and in which they have achieved standing, whether or not the course is used to satisfy a program requirement, and whether or not the course was taken as CR/NCR (a grade of CR must be achieved).

The Distribution Requirement

This Distribution Requirement applies only to students who began degree studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science prior to September 2010. (The Breadth Requirement described above does not apply to such students.)

On the St. George Campus Arts & Science courses fall into three areas:

To qualify for any degree you must complete at least one full course equivalent in each of these three areas, for a total of 3.0 full course equivalents.

Courses that you take as part of your Specialist, Major or Minor programs may also be used to count towards the Distribution Requirement.

A course’s Distribution Requirement designation can be found following the course description in the Calendar for the year in which the course is taken. For example:

     ANT100Y1 Introduction to Anthropology [48L/12T]
    Society and culture from various anthropological perspectives: socio-cultural, biological,
    archaeological, and linguistic.
    Distribution Requirement Status: Social Science
    Breadth Requirement: Society and its Institutions (3) + Living Things and Their Environment (4)

ANT100Y1 counts as one Social Science credit (1.0 FCE.)

    ENG215H1 The Canadian Short Story [36L]
    An introduction to the Canadian short story, this course emphasizes its rich variety of settings,
    subjects, and styles.
    Prerequisite: 1.0 ENG FCE or any 4.0 FCE
    Distribution Requirement Status: Humanities
    Breadth Requirement: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

ENG215H1 counts as one half Humanities credit (0.5 FCE.)

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Degree Requirements

(see also the complete Rotman Commerce degree, program and course listing)

This is a four-year Honours program.

To qualify for a Bachelor of Commerce degree, a student must:

    (a) Complete twenty full-course equivalents, including no more than six 100-series courses (FCEs);
    (b) Complete one of the Specialist programs – Accounting, Finance and Economics, or Management;
    (c) Complete the Arts & Science Breadth Requirement (see above)*;

    (d) Obtain standing (i.e., complete with a grade of 50% or more or CR) in at least six 300- or 400-series courses (FCEs), including at least one 400-series course (FCE). No more than one 300+ series transfer credit may be counted towards these six. (Students participating in an approved exchange program may count ALL 300+ transfer credits from the exchange towards the required six.)
    (e) Achieve a cumulative GPA of 1.85 or more by the time of graduation.

*Note: September 2016 and onward students will follow the Arts & Science Breadth Requirement and are no longer required to have 1.0 FCE from category 1 (BR1). There is no Breadth Requirement status for RSM100Y1/RSM100H1/MGT100H1, MGT201H1 and MAT133Y1. ECO220Y1 (and courses deemed equivalent) cannot be used to satisfy the Breadth Requirement.

For students who began degree studies prior to September 2010: complete the Distribution Requirement for BCom students (see below).

Graduation

There are two graduation periods: June and November. Students must request graduation using the Student Web Service or in their College Registrar's Office as they are not automatically assessed for graduation. Graduation requests must be submitted by the deadline specified in the Sessional Dates section of the Calendar. Prospective graduands should check Degree Explorer (https://degreeexplorer.utoronto.ca) at the end of March (for June graduation)/late September (for November graduation) to see if their programs have been confirmed by the relevant department(s) or program office(s). They should also check Degree Explorer at the end of May/late October for confirmation of their eligibility for graduation by the Office of the Faculty Registrar.

For students graduating in June, only courses completed by the end of the preceding winter term (ending in April) will be assessed for graduation.  For students graduating in November, only courses completed by the end of the preceding summer session (ending in August) will be assessed for graduation.

Prospective graduands should receive an email from the Office of Convocation providing details of the convocation ceremony in late March/mid-October. An email will be sent from the Office of the Faculty Registrar in late May/late October to students who have a request for graduation confirming their eligibility.

Recognition of Exceptional Academic Achievement: “High Distinction” and “Distinction”

Students who graduate with a Cumulative GPA* of 3.50 or above are described as graduates “With High Distinction”. This achievement is noted on the diploma and transcript.

Students who graduate with a Cumulative GPA* of 3.20 to 3.49 are described as graduates “With Distinction”. This achievement is noted on the diploma and transcript.

* Note: the Cumulative GPA must be based on at least 5.0 credits taken for Faculty of Arts & Science degree credit.

Faculty Distribution Requirement for BCom Students

Students who began degree studies PRIOR to September 2010 must complete the Faculty Distribution Requirement for BCom students.

As part of the degree requirements for the BCom, students must complete 1 full-course equivalent (FCE) in EACH OF the HUMANITIES, the SOCIAL SCIENCES and the SCIENCES AREAS as defined below:

1. one FCE must be from the Humanities.

2. one FCE must be from the Social Sciences (MGT/RSM courses may be used to meet this requirement with the exception of MGT120H1/MGT201H1, COM110H1, and RSM100Y1 which have NO Distribution Requirement status).

3. one FCE must be from the Sciences, with the following exceptions: ALL 100-series courses in CSC, MAT, STA; STA250H1, STA255H1, STA257H1, STA352Y1.

4. NOTE: transfer students from University of Toronto Mississauga or Scarborough must meet the St. George BCom Distribution Requirement.

CTEP: Concurrent Teacher Education Program

Admission to the Concurrent Teacher Education Program (CTEP) has been administratively suspended as of 1 April 2015 and is no longer admitting students. Students presently enrolled in either the Education and Society (CTEP) Minor (Victoria College) or the Christianity and Culture: Major program in Religious Education (St. Michael's College) will be able to complete their degrees according to requirements described in Calendar of the year when they first enrolled in CTEP. These students should refer to the relevant archived Calendar on the home page (calendar.artsci.utoronto.ca).


Faculty of Arts & Science Language Citation Program

The University of Toronto is an ideal place for students to pursue the advanced study of languages. Our students live in a country that promotes multiculturalism, and our university is located in one of the world’s most diverse cities. We offer significant language opportunities in both ancient and modern languages. We also offer a variety of international academic programs and the number of such programs will expand. As our students seek further international study, work opportunities, and post-graduate study, they may be assisted by a notation on their academic record of language proficiency.

The Language Citation in the Faculty of Arts & Science is official recognition on a student’s transcript that the student has progressed to an advanced level in the study of a language, and has been assessed as achieving "good" results in that study. In particular, to achieve the Language Citation, a student must complete two full courses or their equivalent beyond the first-year level of language instruction, and must achieve at least a B- in each of the courses beyond the introductory level. The two full-course equivalents may be language instruction or may be those taught in the language to be assessed.

The Language Citation will consist of a notation on the transcript that reads: “Completed Requirements of Language Citation in [name of language].” This will appear in the Arts & Science sessional segment of the student’s academic record on the transcript describing the courses and marks for the session in which the Citation is assessed as complete.

Note that Language Citation is not a program, and will not satisfy the degree requirement that specifies the minimum programs of study to qualify for the degree. The Citation may be of interest to those who are completing programs involving language study, but it may also be of interest to those whose program interests lie elsewhere, but wish to have achievement in a language noted on their academic record.

Students who have already graduated may be eligible if they return for further language study that contributes to the assessment of the Citation. The Citation will not be assessed for students who have completed their studies and have not re-enrolled.

To be assessed for the Language Citation, students should contact the department or program that will be assessing the language for the Citation. They should present a copy of their academic record, and indicate which courses they would like considered for the assessment. If students already have proficiency in a language and wish to move directly to courses beyond the introductory level, they should consult the relevant department about appropriate placement. Also, students wishing to include courses taken in the country where the language is spoken should consult the relevant department about appropriate study abroad options.

The Citation can be earned in any language, modern or ancient, which provides sufficient advanced training at the University of Toronto, provided the unit offering the instruction participates in the Citation. Courses taken at the University of Toronto Mississauga or University of Toronto Scarborough may also be eligible for assessment for Arts & Science students.

The list below identifies the departments which participate in the Lanaguage Citation program. For details, including the languages in which students may achieve a Citation, see the departmental entries in this Calendar.