3.4 Faculty of Science - Program Requirements

The following general requirements apply to all programs administered by the Faculty of Science. In addition, there are the course requirements for the individual programs. These are listed in Program Details.

Table I

The following courses may form part of a student's degree program in Science, but may not be used to satisfy the requirement of 18 units from outside the Faculty.

Major Degree Programs

The following requirements and regulations apply to all degrees in the Faculty of Science:

Program Requirements:

1. The program must contain at least 120 units, with at least 48 units in a Science field. The field chosen for a program will be referred to as the "major field."

2. The program must include certain specified courses as listed in Program Details.

3. A minimum GPA of 2.00 over all courses in the major field and over all courses in the program.

4. Breadth Requirement: The program must contain at least 54 units from outside the major field, of which at least 18 units must be courses selected from Faculties other than the Faculty of Science. Of these 18 units, students must take at least 6 units from the Faculty of Arts.

1. The 18 units from other faculties may not be chosen from among the courses listed in Table I. The requirement to include 18 units in other areas is intended to broaden the student's perspective beyond ones offered by the Faculty of Science.

2. Science 311 and Environmental Science 503 may be counted among the 18 units from other faculties.

Program Maximums:

1. Junior Courses: No more than 48 units at the 200 level

2. "D" Grades: The program may not contain more than 18 units with a grade of "D" or "D+" including no more than 6 units with a grade of "D" or "D+" in the major field.

3. Transfer Credit: At least 60 units must be completed through the University of Calgary. No more than 60 units of transfer credit may be counted toward the degree, including no more than 24 units in the major field

Notes:

• A student's program is subject to the course requirements which are in the Calendar current at the time of entry into the program, and a student is allowed five years counted from the time of entry into the program to graduate under these requirements. Students in Co-operative Education or Internship programs normally have six years counted from the time of entry into the program to graduate under these requirements.

• Students who exceed this five-year limit must consult with the Head of the Department (or designate) or Program Director (or designate) concerned who will decide on an acceptable set of course requirements for the proposed date of graduation. The Head (or designate) or Program Director (or designate) will communicate the decision to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate), or designate, in writing.

• Course work that forms part of the requirements from a student's major field as listed in Program Details and which is more than six years old at the time of graduation may be included in the program only with written permission of the Head (or designate) of the Department or Program Director (or designate) concerned.

• Courses taken in the University of Calgary Cummings School of Medicine or Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (and, at the discretion of the Associate Dean, courses taken as part of a degree in Dentistry or Optometry or Medicine or Veterinary Medicine outside of Calgary) may be counted towards a BSc degree in the Faculty of Science if at least 90 units have been taken in a Science program, and if the Science course requirements for a Science Major are met by those 90 or more units. Honours degrees and degrees with distinction will not be granted in this manner. Not all Major programs can be completed in this way in three years.

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Graduation With Distinction

"With Distinction" will be noted on the permanent record and graduation parchment of students completing a Major or Double Major Degree with a GPA of at least 3.60 over the last 90 graded units. The GPA is calculated to two decimal places only and is not rounded up. Courses from other institutions as well as the University of Calgary will be used in this calculation. In cases in which the last 90 units include some but not all courses taken concurrently, the selection will be made to the advantage of the student.

Honours Degree Programs

Degrees with Honours are awarded in two classes: Honours and First Class Honours.

The requirements are the same as for the Major Programs, except for the following additions or changes.

Honours Requirements

• A minimum GPA of 3.30 over the last 90 graded units.

• Completion of Honours requirements as outlined in Program Details.

• The program must contain at least 54 units and no more than 78 units in the major field.

Note: A student who fails to achieve the Honour Requirements at the time of graduation, but meets the BSc Major Requirements, will automatically be awarded the BSc Major instead.

First Class Honours Requirements

In addition to the Honours requirements, successful completion of a department-approved program equivalent to 120 units, with a GPA of at least 3.60 over the last 90 units. The GPA is calculated to two decimal places only and is not rounded up. Courses from other institutions as well as the University of Calgary will be used in this calculation. In cases in which the last 90 units include some but not all courses taken concurrently, the selection will be made to the advantage of the student.

Internship Degree Programs

Internship programs are a minimum five-year degree programs which include 8 to 16 months of supervised work experience. Internship programs provide students with the opportunity to experience the links between academic knowledge and employment opportunities. Students who complete the requirements of the Internship program will graduate with "Internship" designated on their transcripts and degree parchments. For more information, see Internship Degree Programs found under the Degree Options section in Program Details.

Double Major and Double Honours Degree Programs

These are single degree programs. A student in a Major program whose program also meets the requirements for a second Major in a different field, in either the Faculty of Science or another faculty, may apply for a second Major in this field. The same is true for Honours programs. It is not possible for one of the two programs to be an Honours program and for the other one to be a Major program.

Application for a second Major or Honours must be made prior to any application for graduation. For more information including deadline dates, refer to: D. Change of Faculty or Program. Special restrictions apply to certain double Major or Honours combinations. All double Major or Honours combinations must be able to be accommodated under the same rubric (either BSc or BA).

Combined Degree Programs Within the Faculty of Science

Students may pursue a combined program of at least 150 units that leads to two degrees from the Faculty of Science. The two degrees will be awarded simultaneously.

Interested students should consult with program advisors in the Undergraduate Science Centre.

Second Degree Programs

The graduation requirements for a second degree are the same as those for a degree with a Major field except for the following:

Major Degree Requirements

(a) Up to 60 units counted towards any previous degrees may be counted towards requirements in the second degree. These may not include more than half the minimum number required in the new Major field.

(b) Courses not used toward previous degrees (as determined by the institution awarding those degrees) may be used to reduce the number required in the second degree where applicable.

(c) Students normally will not be admitted to a second degree program in any field in which they already possess a degree. Students with a degree in the Natural Sciences should consult the Undergraduate Science Centre to find out whether they would be permitted to enrol in a program that covers the same subject matter as their Concentration One.

Upon admission to the program, students are advised to contact the Undergraduate Science Centre to discuss their academic plans and obtain general advice regarding the requirements of the second degree. The Undergraduate Science Centre will then prepare a detailed formal assessment outlining the remaining requirements in each individual case.

The second degree will be awarded "With Distinction" if a GPA of at least 3.60 is achieved over the courses completed in the second degree program, excluding those used in point (a).

Note: Departments are under no obligation to compress their course offerings in such a way as to minimize the time spent on a second degree.

Honours Degree Requirements

The graduation requirements for a second degree in Honours is the same as a degree with Honours, with the following modifications:

(a) Admissibility will be based on the overall grade point average obtained in the first degree, and grade point averages required for graduation will be calculated using courses completed in the second degree program.

(b) The student must obtain approval of the Department or Program concerned.

(c) The permissible duration of the second degree program will be determined by the Associate Dean (Undergraduate), or designate, at the start of the program in conformity with the spirit that governs the duration of a first degree honours program, taking into account what courses remain to be taken in the second degree program.

(d) The degree will be awarded as First Class Honours if a GPA of at least 3.60 is obtained over the courses completed in the second Honours degree program.

Combined and Concurrent Degree Programs with Other Faculties

Students may pursue a combined program of at least 150 units that leads to two degrees, one from the Faculty of Science and one from another faculty. The two degrees will be awarded simultaneously.

Students must meet the admission and graduation requirements of both Faculties involved, as described in the Faculties' sections of this Calendar.

These programs require careful selection of courses to complete the requirements of both faculties. Interested students are urged to contact the Advising Offices of both faculties for advice in choosing their courses, beginning in first year, and should see the Associate or Assistant Deans of the two Faculties involved.

With the Faculty of Arts
BSc or BA (Science) and BSc or BA (Arts) Program

Students intending to pursue a combined degree program may either be admitted to both degree programs at the time of admission to the University of Calgary, or may seek admission to one or both degree programs in a subsequent year the the Change of Program process.

Degree Requirements for the BSc or BA (Science) and BSc or BA (Arts) Program

Students need to complete 150 units, including all Major Field and Breadth Requirements pertaining to each degree, and must follow the Faculty regulations relevant to each program.

The requirements are the same as for the Major Programs, except for the following additions or changes:

(i) Courses taken to satisfy the major field requirements for one of the two degrees may be counted towards the Breadth Requirement for the other degree.

(ii) The number of junior courses taken must not exceed 54 units in total.

(iii) A maximum of 60 units taken at other institutions and acceptable for transfer credit may be included in the combined programs. A maximum of 24 units taken at other institutions and acceptable for transfer credit may be included in the major field of each program.

With the Haskayne School of Business BComm and BSc (Actuarial Science or Mathematics) Program

Students need to complete 150 units, including all Major Field and Breadth Requirements pertaining to each degree, and must follow the Faculty regulations relevant to each program.

The requirements are the same as for the Major Programs, except for the following additions or changes:

(i) In these combined degrees, Statistics 321 and 323 replace Statistics 213 and 217, respectively, which are required in the Bachelor of Commerce program.

(ii) Normally, courses taken to satisfy the Bachelor of Science (Actuarial Science) or Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) programs in the combined degree may be used, respective of level, to satisfy some or all of the non-commerce breadth requirements in the Bachelor of Commerce program. Details are available from advisors in Haskayne Undergraduate Student Services and the Undergraduate Science Centre.

For program details, see Degree Options: Combined BComm/BSc (Actuarial Science or Mathematics) in the Program Details tab.

BComm and BSc (Computer Science) Program

Students need to complete 150 units, including all Major Field and Breadth Requirements pertaining to each degree, and must follow the Faculty regulations relevant to each program.

The requirements are the same as for the Major Programs.

Normally, courses taken to satisfy the Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) programs in the combined degree may be used, respective of level, to satisfy some or all of the non-commerce breadth requirements in the Bachelor of Commerce program. Details are available from advisors in Haskayne Undergraduate Student Services and the Undergraduate Science Centre.

Concurrent Degrees with the Werklund School of Education
BSc (General Mathematics in Education) and BEd

For program details, see Program Details.

BSc (Natural Sciences) and BEd

For program details, see Program Details for General Mathematics and Five-Year BEd (Concurrent) Program.

With the Schulich School of Engineering

BSc (Engineering) and BSc (Science) Program

Students intending to pursue this program may enter either the Faculty of Science or the Schulich School of Engineering. Students may either be admitted to both degree programs when they first apply to the University or may seek admission to a second degree program after being admitted. Students must satisfy the requirements for admission to both Faculties and Programs. (See the A. Undergraduate Admissions section of this Calendar.)

This combined program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Schulich School of Engineering and a Bachelor of Science from the Faculty of Science. The Schulich School of Engineering provides complementary information on Combined Programs in their section of this Calendar.

Note: Because engineering degrees are highly structured, more than 150 units are typically required. Further, students who opt out of this Combined Degree program, particularly if they do so after first year, often require more than four years to complete a single degree.

Minor Programs

The course requirements for the Minor Programs are listed in Program Details under the appropriate Department. Students are cautioned to check the Calendar descriptions of the courses required for the Minor and to include the necessary prerequisites for these courses in their programs.

For a Minor, passing grades must be obtained in at least 30 units in the minor field of which at least 18 units must be numbered 300 or above. For certain major/minor combinations there will be considerable overlap between fields. The degree of permissible overlap must be discussed with the Associate Dean (Undergraduate), or designate, before proceeding. The GPA over all courses counting towards the Minor must be at least 2.00 and only 3 units with a "D" or "D+" grade will be allowed.

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