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- Section 31.003 Degree Requirements
Section 31.003 Degree Requirements
In accordance with the recommendations of the Council of Universities of Quebec, the credit base takes into account the total activity of the student. A student preparing for the BA, BEd, or BSc degree takes a minimum of 90 credits. Each credit represents, for the average student, a minimum of 45 hours spread across lectures, conferences, tutorials, laboratories, studio or practice periods, tests, examinations, and personal work.
Since the Cegep programs are designed to give all students the opportunity to explore different fields and thus acquire a broad general basis for further study, the undergraduate programs in the Faculty of Arts and Science require some degree of concentration in specific areas. Detailed statements about these programs are made under the appropriate disciplinary headings in the sections of the Calendar that follow this general account of degree requirements. They represent four main forms of concentration: the minor, the major, the specialization, and honours; and a fifth form, the certificate. The University’s formal definitions of these kinds of programs are set out in 16.2.4 Concentration Requirements under Section 16.2 Curriculum Regulations; for the convenience of students in Arts and Science, those definitions as they are construed in the Faculty are briefly repeated below.
The minor is a program consisting of a minimum of 24 specified credits either in a single discipline and professing to give a basic introduction to the methodology and key concepts of that discipline or on a theme spanning more than one discipline and providing a cross-disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspective. A minor cannot in and by itself provide the concentration required of a candidate for a degree and is therefore always taken in combination with another program. In addition to the interdisciplinary and disciplinary minors available in Arts and Science, students may register with approval for selected minors in other Faculties. Available Arts and Science interdisciplinary and disciplinary minors are indicated in the Calendar entry of each department or in Section 31.170 Interdisciplinary Studies.
The Faculty of Arts and Science and the John Molson School of Business:
With the approval of the John Molson School of Business, Arts and Science students may take a Minor in Business Studies (see Section 61.140 Program Options For Non-Business Students).
The Faculty of Arts and Science and the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science:
With the approval of the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Arts and Science students may take a Minor in Computer Science (see Section 71.70.5 Minor in Computer Science).
All minors in the Faculty of Fine Arts are open to suitably qualified students.
The major consists of a minimum of 36 specified credits taken in an approved sequence of courses. Normally within a major program not more than 36 credits are required from a single discipline or department. In certain programs, however, additional credits are required in cognate disciplines and departments. The major provides a solid grounding in the academic knowledge comprehended within the field of concentration. To enter and remain in it, a student normally does not have to meet a special performance requirement; see, however, Liberal Arts Section 31.520 Liberal Arts College. Students with appropriate admission requirements, normally after completion of 24 credits, may request permission to be admitted to a second program of concentration in the Faculty, normally a major. Exceptionally, students may complete a second major in the Faculty of Fine Arts with permission of both Faculties. Students may apply to add a major program normally offered as part of a BA degree to a BSc degree or BEd degree or vice-versa. Attainment of acceptable GPA and satisfactory academic standing are required. The Faculty of Arts and Science will consider favourably such requests subject to admission quotas and the student having the appropriate prerequisite and admission profile (see Section 31.002 Programs and Admission Requirements). The student record and official transcript indicate all programs of concentration. Specific courses can only be used to fulfill the requirements of one program.
Students completing the requirements of a BA, BEd, BSc, and/or BFA will elect one degree for graduation.
The specialization consists of a minimum of 60 specified credits, normally not more than 54 credits of which are mandated from a single discipline or department. A specialization provides a comprehensive education in the field of concentration, but to enter and remain in it, a student normally does not have to meet a special performance requirement unless otherwise indicated in the program. Students interested in subsequent “classification” by the Government of Quebec may be advised to follow a specialization or an honours program. Second programs of concentration (minor or major) may be combined with a specialization program according to regulations described above for those programs.
The honours program consists of a minimum of 60 specified credits taken in an approved sequence of courses. Normally within an honours program not more than 60 credits are mandated from a single discipline or department in the Arts and 72 credits in the Sciences. Additional credits may be required in cognate disciplines and departments. Superior academic performance is required for admission to and continuation in the honours program, the precise level of such performance being determined by Senate.
See 16.2.4 Concentration Requirements under Section 16.2 Curriculum Regulations and Faculty Honours Regulations set out below for matters governing honours programs at Concordia. An honours degree or equivalent, because it testifies to a student’s comprehensive education in a particular field, intellectual commitment to that field, and achievement of a high level of academic performance, has traditionally been required of entrants to postgraduate programs.
Graduation Requirements
- A candidate for graduation must have successfully completed a program of concentration in the form of an honours, specialization, or major program.
- A candidate for graduation must have successfully completed at least 24 credits outside the single discipline defined by the four‑letter course prefix from which the degree concentration has been chosen (for exceptions to the 24‑credit rule see section Section 31.001 Faculty of Arts and Science). Within every block of 30 credits taken towards the degree, a student will normally choose no more than 24 credits from any one discipline or department.
- A candidate for graduation must have successfully completed at least 18 credits from courses in Arts and Science in every block of 30 credits taken towards the degree.
- A candidate for the BA degree must have qualified for admission to, and successfully completed, a program leading to that degree. Specific admission requirements, expressed as Cegep pre‑Arts profiles, are given in Section 31.002 Programs and Admission Requirements. Students wishing to transfer out of one degree program into another must satisfy the admission requirements of the program they seek to enter.
- Program students in the Faculty of Arts and Science may take ESL courses for credit, up to a maximum of six credits.
- A candidate for the BSc degree must have qualified for admission to, and successfully completed, a program leading to that degree. Specific admission requirements, expressed as Cegep pre‑Science profiles, are given in Section 31.002 Programs and Admission Requirements. Students wishing to transfer out of one degree program into another must satisfy the admission requirements of the program they seek to enter.
- A candidate for the BEd degree must have qualified for admission to, and successfully completed, the program leading to that degree. The admission and degree requirements are set out in Section 31.090.1 Teaching English as a Second Language Programs and Courses.
- In general, the credits obtained for any course may not be used to satisfy the requirements of more than one program. Students first registered in certain certificate programs may however apply credits obtained towards the certificate to a degree program.
- Independent students will be permitted to apply no more than 30 credits obtained as an Independent student towards any Arts and Science Faculty degree program.
- Those students entering the Faculty of Arts and Science as degree students beginning in the academic year 2002-03 must fulfill the General Education requirement outlined in Section 31.004 General Education.
Supplemental Examinations (Arts and Science)
Supplemental examinations shall be offered only when, as a condition for passing the course, it is required that a student pass the final examination regardless of its weighting; or where the final examination contributes 50% or more of the final grade. A student failing a course which comprises entirely, or in part, a laboratory or similar practicum, may not be eligible to write a supplemental examination.
All courses which a student fails and for which there is no supplemental examination shall be graded “FNS” or “R.” A failed student (see Section 16.3.10 V Regulations for Failed Students and Student in Conditional Standing under Section 16.3 Evaluation, Administrative Notations, Examinations, and Performance Requirements) may not write supplemental examinations.
Honours Programs
The Faculty of Arts and Science has programs leading to an honours concentration in certain selected fields. To enter an honours program, students may apply either for direct entry on admission or, if already admitted to a program in the Faculty of Arts and Science, to the departmental honours advisor. The Department will notify the Office of the Registrar of the acceptance.
Honours Regulations (Faculty Regulations)
See also 16.2.4 Concentration Requirements under Section 16.2 Curriculum Regulations
In order to qualify for an honours program, a student must comply with the regulations set forth below.
- An honours student must meet the general program requirements, as well as the specific requirements for an honours program. A student must complete a minimum of 30 credits in the courses from the honours component of the program at this University to receive a degree with honours. In certain cases, these 30 credits may include some specific courses for which transfer credit may not be awarded.
- Students who through their past studies have demonstrated a high level of performance may apply for direct entry to an honours program on admission. Information specific to the academic unit may be found in the Undergraduate Application for Admission.
- Students already admitted to a program at Concordia University may apply for entry into an honours program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 (B+) and assessment GPA of 3.30 (B+). It is normally advisable that students have completed 30 Concordia credits in their program before applying for admission to the honours program. Averages are calculated on Concordia courses only and some departments may have a higher cumulative GPA and assessment GPA requirement.
- All students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 as well as a minimum assessment GPA of 3.30 within the honours program (some departments may have a higher cumulative GPA and assessment GPA requirement). The minimum acceptable grade in any course is normally “C.”
- Students who are withdrawn from the honours program may proceed in the corresponding specialization or major program. Reinstatement in the honours program is possible only by appeal to the Faculty Honours Committee.
- A student is allowed to qualify for only one honours degree in either a single or combined honours program. A student may qualify for a minor or major program in addition to an honours program. In general, the credits obtained for a particular course may be used to satisfy the requirements of only one program.
Students may appeal the determination of their status or interpretation of requirements in the honours program. Such appeals should be addressed to the Associate Dean, Student Academic Services. The Faculty of Arts and Science has an Honours Committee made up as follows: three faculty members; one undergraduate student member; one Student Academic Services counsellor (non‑voting); one representative of the Office of the Registrar (non‑voting); and the Associate Dean, Student Academic Services, who chairs the Honours Committee.
The Faculty Honours Committee considers applications from departmental honours advisors submitted on behalf of the students for exceptions to the honours regulations. It also adjudicates disputes between students and departments concerning honours programs. Since the Faculty Honours Committee cannot hear appeals contesting its own judgments, students and departments who wish to appeal a decision of the Faculty Honours Committee should address this appeal to the Dean of the Faculty.
Section 31.003.1 Academic Performance Regulations
Objectives
The objectives of these regulations are to ensure that the Faculty can certify that all of its graduates have achieved an acceptable level of scholarship.
Assessment Grade Point Average (AGPA) Requirements and Consequences
See Section 16.3.10 Academic Performance under Section 16.3 Evaluation, Administrative Notations, Examinations, and Performance Requirements for definition of AGPA.
Acceptable standing requires that a student obtain an AGPA of at least 2.00.
Note: Although a “C-” grade (1.70 grade points) is designated as satisfactory in Section 16.1.11 Grading System under Section 16.1 General Information , an AGPA of 2.00 is required for acceptable standing.
Students in acceptable standing may continue their programs of study, following the advice of their academic departments.
Conditional standing results when a student obtains an AGPA of less than 2.00, but at least 1.50. A student is not permitted to obtain two consecutive conditional standing assessments.
Students in conditional standing may not write supplemental examinations.
Students in conditional standing will not be permitted to register for further study until their program has been approved by the appropriate advisor in their department.
They must obtain acceptable standing at the time of their next assessment.
Failed standing results when a student obtains an AGPA of less than 1.50, or conditional standing in two consecutive periods of assessment.
Failed students may not write supplemental examinations.
Failed students are required to withdraw from their program. Students who are in failed standing for a second time will be dismissed from the University. In subsequent years, should they wish to return to University studies, they must contact the Office of the Registrar for information concerning conditions and procedures for seeking readmission. Decisions of the relevant authority in the Faculty to which application is made are final.
Failed students who are not dismissed may apply for readmission through the Dean’s Office of the Faculty to which they wish to be readmitted. If readmitted, they will be placed on academic probation. They must return to acceptable standing at the time of their next assessment. Other conditions will be determined at the time of readmission.
Graduation Requirements
Students must satisfy all course requirements, be in acceptable standing, and have a minimum final graduation GPA of 2.00.
The standings of potential graduates who have attempted fewer than 12 credits since their last assessment are determined on the basis that these credits constitute an extension of the last assessment period.
Potential graduates who fail to meet the requirements of acceptable standing, but meet the requirements of conditional standing, will have the following options:
a) register for an additional 12 credits and, at the next assessment, meet the requirements for acceptable standing;
or
b) register for fewer than 12 additional credits.
In this case, standing will be determined on the basis that these extra credits constitute an extension of the last assessment period.
For both option a) and option b), the additional courses taken must be approved by the appropriate member of the Dean’s Office, in consultation with the student’s department where necessary.
Dean’s Office
Dean’s Office is to be understood as being the appropriate member of the Dean’s Office, normally the Associate Dean, Student Academic Services, or delegate.
Section 31.003.2 Registration Regulations
Lapsed Program
Students enrolled in an honours, specialization, or major program in the Faculty of Arts and Science who have not registered for a course for nine consecutive terms or more will have a lapsed notation entered on their student record. Lapsed students must meet with the appropriate advisor in order to continue in their program and to be made aware of possible program modifications.
Section 31.003.3 In Progress \"IP\" Notations
IP Notations
Students should refer to Section 16.3.6 In Progress “IP” Notations — Procedures and Regulations — Faculty of Arts and Science under Section 16.3 Evaluation, Administrative Notations, Examinations, and Performance Requirements for Procedures and Regulations. The In Progress “IP” notation is reserved for the following courses offered by the Faculty of Arts and Science: |
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- Section 31 Faculty of Arts and Science
- Section 31.001 Faculty of Arts and Science
- Section 31.002 Programs and Admission Requirements
- Section 31.003 Degree Requirements
- Section 31.004 General Education
- Section 31.010 Department of Applied Human Sciences
- Department of Applied Human Sciences
- Certificate in Community Service
- Certificate in Family Life Education
- BA Specialization in Human Relations
- BA Major in Human Relations
- Minor in Human Relations
- BA Specialization in Recreation and Leisure Studies
- BA Major in Recreation and Leisure Studies
- BA Specialization in Therapeutic Recreation
- Applied Human Sciences Courses
- Section 31.030 Department of Biology
- Department of Biology
- Biology Program Notes
- BSc Honours in Biology
- BSc Specialization in Biology
- BSc Major in Biology
- Minor in Biology
- BSc Honours in Cell and Molecular Biology
- BSc Specialization in Cell and Molecular Biology
- BSc Honours in Ecology
- BSc Specialization in Ecology
- BSc Honours in Environmental and Sustainability Science
- BSc Specialization in Environmental and Sustainability Science
- Environmental and Sustainability Course Lists
- BSc Honours in Systems and Information Biology
- BSc Specialization in Systems and Information Biology
- Systems and Information Biology Program Modules and Course Lists
- Biology Course Groups
- Biology Co-operative Program
- Biology Courses
- Section 31.050 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Program Notes
- BSc Honours in Biochemistry
- BSc Specialization in Biochemistry
- BSc Major in Biochemistry
- Core Component for Biochemistry
- BSc Honours in Chemistry
- BSc Specialization in Chemistry
- BSc Major in Chemistry
- Minor in Chemistry
- Core Component for Chemistry
- BSc Honours in Environmental and Sustainability Science
- BSc Specialization in Environmental and Sustainability Science
- Environmental and Sustainability Course Lists
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Co-operative Program
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Courses
- Section 31.060 Department of Classics, Modern Languages and Linguistics
- Department of Classics, Modern Languages and Linguistics
- Overview of Classics, Modern Languages and Linguistics Programs
- BA Honours in Classics
- BA Major in Classics
- Minor in Classical Languages and Literature
- Minor in Classical Civilization
- Minor in Classical Archaeology
- Classics Course Lists
- Minor in Modern Arabic Language and Culture
- Certificate in Modern Arabic Language and Culture
- Minor in Modern Chinese Language and Culture
- Certificate in Modern Chinese Language and Culture
- BA Honours in German
- BA Major in German
- Minor in German Studies
- German Course Lists
- BA Honours in Italian
- BA Major in Italian
- Minor in Italian
- BA Honours in Spanish, Hispanic Cultures and Literatures
- BA Specialization in Spanish, Hispanic Cultures and Literatures
- BA Major in Spanish, Hispanic Cultures and Literatures
- Minor in Spanish, Hispanic Cultures and Literatures
- Minor in Spanish Translation
- Spanish Course Lists
- BA Honours in Linguistics
- BA Major in Linguistics
- Minor in Linguistics
- Linguistics Core Program
- Classics Courses
- Arabic (Modern Standard) Courses
- Chinese (Modern) Courses
- German Courses
- Italian Courses
- Spanish Courses
- Linguistics Courses
- Hebrew Courses
- Modern Languages Courses
- Section 31.070 Department of Communication Studies
- Section 31.080 Department of Economics
- Section 31.090 Department of Education
- Department of Education
- Education Program Notes
- BA Specialization in Early Childhood and Elementary Education
- BA Major in Child Studies
- Minor in Education
- Education Courses
- Information Studies Courses
- Library Studies Courses
- Teaching English as a Second Language Program Notes
- BEd Specialization in Teaching English as a Second Language
- Minor in Teaching English as a Second Language
- Certificate in the Teaching of English as a Second Language
- Teaching English as a Second Language Courses
- English as a Second Language Courses
- Minor in Adult Education
- Certificate in Adult Education
- Adult Education Courses
- Section 31.100 Department of English
- Department of English
- BA Major in Creative Writing
- Minor in Creative Writing
- BA Honours in English and Creative Writing
- BA Joint Specialization in English and History
- BA Honours in English Literature
- BA Specialization in English Literature
- BA Major in English Literature
- Minor in English Literature
- Minor in Professional Writing
- English Course Groups
- English C.Edge (Career Edge) Option
- English Courses
- Section 31.110 Département d'études françaises
- Département d'études françaises
- Notes
- BA Spécialisation en langue française
- BA Majeure en langue française
- BA Majeure en langue française (profil langue seconde/étrangère)
- Mineure en langue française
- Certificat en langue française
- Mineure en linguistique française
- BA Spécialisation en littératures de langue française
- BA Majeure en littératures de langue française
- BA Majeure en littératures de langue française (profil langue seconde/étrangère)
- Mineure en littératures de langue française
- Groupes de cours de langue et linguistique française
- BA Spécialisation en traduction
- BA Majeure en traduction
- Programme d’enseignement coopératif en traduction
- Cours d'études françaises
- Section 31.120 Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology
- Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology
- Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology Program Notes
- BSc Honours in Athletic Therapy
- Athletic Therapy (BScAT)
- BSc Honours in Exercise Science
- BSc Major in Exercise Science
- BSc Honours in Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology
- BSc Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology
- Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology Courses
- Section 31.130 Department of Geography, Planning and Environment
- Department of Geography, Planning and Environment
- Geography, Planning and Environment Program Notes
- BSc Major in Environmental Geography
- Minor in Environmental Geography
- BSc Honours in Environmental and Sustainability Science
- BSc Specialization in Environmental and Sustainability Science
- Environmental and Sustainability Course Lists
- Minor in Geospatial Technologies
- Certificate in Geospatial Technologies
- BA Honours in the Human Environment
- BA Specialization in the Human Environment
- BA Major in the Human Environment
- Minor in the Human Environment
- Human Environment Course Groups
- Geography/Geology Course List
- Geography, Planning and Environment Courses
- Urban Planning and Urban Studies Programs and Courses
- BA Honours in Urban Planning
- BA Specialization in Urban Planning
- BA Major in Urban Studies
- Minor in Urban Studies
- Urban Planning and Urban Studies Courses
- Urban Planning and Urban Studies Program Notes
- Section 31.160 Department of History
- Section 31.170 Interdisciplinary Studies
- Section 31.180 Department of Journalism
- Section 31.200 Department of Mathematics and Statistics
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics
- Mathematics and Statistics Program Notes
- BA/BSc Honours in Actuarial Mathematics
- BA/BSc Specialization in Actuarial Mathematics
- BA/BSc Specialization in Actuarial Mathematics/Finance
- BA/BSc Joint Major in Data Science
- BA/BSc Specialization in Mathematical and Computational Finance
- BA/BSc Major in Mathematics and Statistics
- Minor in Mathematics and Statistics
- BA/BSc Honours in Pure and Applied Mathematics
- BA/BSc Specialization in Pure and Applied Mathematics
- Minor in Quantitative Finance and Insurance
- BA/BSc Honours in Statistics
- BA/BSc Specialization in Statistics
- Mathematics and Statistics Co-operative Program
- Mathematics and Statistics Courses
- Section 31.220 Department of Philosophy
- Section 31.230 Department of Physics
- Section 31.240 Department of Political Science
- Department of Political Science
- Political Science Program Notes
- Minor in Human Rights Studies
- BA Honours in Political Science
- BA Honours (Thesis) in Political Science
- BA Major in Political Science
- Minor in Political Science
- Core Program: Political Science
- Political Science Course Groups
- Political Science Co‑operative Program
- Political Science Courses
- Section 31.250 Department of Psychology
- Department of Psychology
- Psychology Program Notes
- BA Honours in Psychology
- BSc Honours in Psychology
- BSc Honours in Psychology (Behavioural Neuroscience Option)
- Core: Honours in Psychology
- BA Specialization in Psychology
- BSc Specialization in Psychology
- BSc Specialization in Psychology (Behavioural Neuroscience Option)
- Core: Specialization in Psychology
- BA Major in Psychology
- BSc Major in Psychology
- Core: Major in Psychology
- Minor in Psychology
- Psychology Course Groups
- Psychology Courses
- Section 31.270 Department of Religions and Cultures
- Department of Religions and Cultures
- Minor in Iranian Studies
- Certificate in Iranian Studies
- BA Honours in Judaic Studies
- BA Major in Judaic Studies
- Minor in Judaic Studies
- BA Honours in Religions and Cultures
- BA Major in Religions and Cultures
- Minor in Religions and Cultures
- Religions and Cultures Course Groups
- BA Major in Southern Asia Studies
- Minor in Southern Asia Studies
- Religions and Cultures Courses
- Section 31.310 Department of Sociology and Anthropology
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology
- BA Honours in Sociology
- BA Specialization in Sociology
- BA Major in Sociology
- Minor in Sociology
- Sociology Courses
- BA Honours in Anthropology
- BA Specialization in Anthropology
- BA Major in Anthropology
- Minor in Anthropology
- Anthropology Courses
- Sociology and Anthropology Co-operative Programs
- BA Joint Specialization in Anthropology and Sociology
- Section 31.330 Department of Theological Studies
- Section 31.515 Co-operative Education in the Faculty of Arts and Science
- Section 31.520 Liberal Arts College
- Section 31.525 Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability
- Section 31.530 School of Irish Studies
- Section 31.540 School of Community and Public Affairs
- School of Community and Public Affairs
- School of Community and Public Affairs Program Notes
- BA Major in Community, Public Affairs and Policy Studies
- First Peoples Studies Program Overview
- BA Major in First Peoples Studies
- Minor in First Peoples Studies
- Minor in Immigration Studies
- Certificate in Immigration Studies
- FPST Courses
- SCPA Courses
- Section 31.550 Science College
- Section 31.560 Simone de Beauvoir Institute and Women’s Studies
- Simone de Beauvoir Institute and Women’s Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality Program Notes
- BA Major in Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality
- Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality
- Women’s Studies Program Notes
- BA Specialization in Women’s Studies
- BA Major in Women’s Studies
- Minor in Women’s Studies
- Certificate in Women’s Studies
- Optional Courses for Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality Courses
- Women’s Studies Courses