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

1. A candidate for graduation must have successfully completed a program of concentration in the form of an honours, specialization, or major program.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Program students in the Faculty of Arts and Science may take ESL courses for credit, up to a maximum of six credits.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.”
5. 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.
6. 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