1. Requirements for a General Degree

   To graduate from a general program a student must:

   1. pass 30 semester courses. These must include courses that fulfill the distribution requirements (see below). At least 8 semester courses must be at the 300 level or above. Not more than 12 semester courses at the introductory (100) level may be counted towards the 30 course requirement.

      Eighteen of the required 30 credits must be courses offered by the College of Arts, the College of Social Science, the Department of Computing and Information Science, or the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

   2. complete at least 60% of all course attempts with a grade of 60% or better.
   3. no more than 21 courses in any one subject or discipline, as indicated by the course prefix code, can be counted towards a general degree.

   While students are encouraged to complete the requirements of one or more areas of concentration, this is not a graduation requirement.

2. Requirements for an Honours Degree

   To graduate from an honours program a student must:

   1. pass 40 semester courses. These must include courses that fulfill the distribution requirements (see 3 below), and courses that fulfill the requirements of at least 1 major. At least 14 semester courses must be at the 300 level or above. Not more than 12 semester courses at the introductory (100) level may be counted towards the 40 course requirement.
   2. complete at least 60% of all course attempts with a grade of 60% or better.
   3. obtain a cumulative average of at least 70% for all course attempts at this University in at least 1 major.
   4. no more than 28 courses in any 1 subject or discipline, as indicated by the course prefix code, can be counted towards an honours degree.

   The requirements for a major are set out separately for each major.

   Students may take more than 1 major. They may also take one or more minors, but a minor is not required for graduation.

   University recognition that a student has graduated with a particular major or minor requires a cumulative average of 70% for all course attempts at this University in that major or minor.

   Students failing to meet the graduation requirements of the honours program may apply to graduate with a general degree if the requirements for the general degree are met.

3. Distribution Requirements

   The distribution requirements are designed to provide the student with exposure to and some understanding of a range of disciplines in the Arts, Social Sciences and Mathematical and Natural Sciences.

   The distribution requirement of 8 courses is as follows:

   1. 3 courses from at least 2 different departments in the College of Arts (Drama, English, Fine Art, French Studies, History, Languages and Literatures, Music, Philosophy);
   2. 3 courses from at least 2 different departments in the College of Social Science (Economics, Geography, Political Studies, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology);
   3. 2 courses in natural and/or mathematical sciences.

   In order to fulfill this requirement all students in semester 1 must take: 1 course from each of 2 different departments in the College of Arts, normally at the 100 level; 1 course from each of 2 different departments in the College of Social Science, normally at the 100 level.

   Students entering the B.A. program with advanced standing must complete the semester 1 requirement in their first semester in the program.

   Students should complete distribution requirements a) and b) by the end of semester 3. In the case of a transfer student, the distribution requirements a) and b) should be met as soon as possible after the transfer. Requirement c) need not be completed by the end of semester 3.

   Note 1: Courses taken to satisfy the distribution requirements may also be counted toward a specialization in the general or honours program.

   Note 2: Some departments such as Philosophy have specific requirements that may be used to fulfill these distribution requirements. See their schedule of studies below.

   Natural and Mathematical Science Courses Acceptable for B.A. Distribution Requirements.

   Students must take 2 natural and/or mathematical science courses to fulfill their B.A. science requirements. Students should choose their courses from the list below or any course for which those listed serve as prerequisites. Students are advised to fulfill this requirement before their final semester. Any problems related to this requirement should be discussed with the B.A. program counsellors.

   Courses recommended for students with limited preparation (e.g.. lacking OAC credit in a specific area):

   15-102 Introduction to Biology

   15-102 Introduction to Biology

   19-106 Introductory Chemistry

   19-110 Chemistry Today

   26-202 Information Management

   27-100 Introduction to Computer Applications

   34-221 Introductory Apiculture

   40-100 Concepts in Human Genetics

   45-130 Introduction to the Biophysical Environment

   46-100 Principles of Geology

   46-104 Study of the Earth

   46-110 Principles of Geology

   63-105 Introduction to Mathematical Modelling

   65-101 The Microbial World

   75-104 Biological Concepts in Human Health

   76-160 Contemporary Astronomy

   76-181 Physics of Music

   77-221 Concepts of Physiology

   87-201 Soil Science

   92-150 A Zoological Perspective

   Courses available for students with adequate preparation (e.g.. OAC credit in the discipline or its equivalent):

   17-115 Introduction to Plant Biology

   17-115 Introduction to Plant Biology

   19-104 General Chemistry I

   27-1xx Any 100 level Computing & Information Science course

   63-1xx Any 100 level Mathematics course

   64-203 Meteorology and Climatology

   65-100 General Microbiology

   67-109 Physics of Music

   75-2xx Any 200 level Human Kinetics course

   76-1xx Any 100 level Physics course

   89-2xx Any 200 level Statistics course

   92-102 The Animal Kingdom

4. Continuation of Study

   Students are advised to consult the regulations for continuation of study outlined in detail in Section VIII--Degree Regulations in this calendar.

5. Time Limitations

   Students, regardless of program, who do not register in their program of studies for 6 or more consecutive semesters are required to apply for readmission. Students who are studying on exchange programs, study abroad, or work-terms are considered to be registered at the University.

   Students requiring readmission must apply to the Admissions Section, office of the Registrar, University Centre, Level 3. Applications for readmission must be submitted by the deadline date established for each semester (refer to Section III--Schedule of Dates). An application fee is payable at the time the application is submitted (refer to Section VI--Schedule of Fees).

   Students who do not require readmission to their program register under the normal regulations as an in-course student.

6. Study at Other Universities

   Students contemplating study at another university for credit towards a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Guelph should refer to the general regulations governing Letters of Permission in Section VIII--Degree Regulations in this calendar.

   Students must obtain approval for the letter of permission prior to undertaking studies at another institution. Approval of the request depends on good standing in the program with a minimum average of 60%.

   The normal limit of courses taken on letter of permission is 5 (based on Guelph credits), of which not more than 4 can be summer session, inter session, extension or correspondence courses.

   Students with a specialization in languages who want to undertake a program of study in Quebec or abroad should consult the appropriate departmental advisor or the Chair of French Studies.

Honours B.A. students also have the option of doing an Individual Studies major. An Individual Studies major must include a minimum of 16 courses, and be approved by the end of semester 5 by a committee consisting of the deans of the Colleges of Arts and Social Science and two appropriate department chairs. A student wishing to follow the independent studies option must submit the proposed program of studies to the B.A. Counselling Office by the sixth week of classes for prescreening. Proposals must be submitted on a special form available in the B.A. Counselling Office. Proposals will not be considered unless they articulate a detailed rationale for a coherent program of study that is significantly different from any existing major. A senior level Directed Readings or Special Project course must be completed. When appropriate, the Committee will identify a faculty member as the supervisor for a student's course of study.

Academic Counselling

Students are urged to avail themselves throughout the semester of the counselling services listed below, for selecting courses and planning their future program. The following procedure is suggested:

1. Problem with a course - consult the instructor of that course.
2. Problem with a subject area - consult the departmental advisor for that department.
3. Problem with the overall program - consult the program counsellors for the B.A. program.

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1996-97 Undergraduate Calendar X--Degree Programs Bachelor of Arts--B.A. Program Information

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Last revised: August 28, 1996. Contact: ccrenna@registrar.uoguelph.ca.