The University of Guelph offers general and honours programs leading to the B.A. degree. The General Program consists of a minimum of 15.00 credits requiring the equivalent of 6 semesters of successful full time study. The Honours Program consists of a minimum of 20.00 credits requiring the equivalent of 8 semesters of successful full time study. A student may register in Summer, Fall and Winter semesters. The normal course load is 2.50 credits per semester for a full time student on regular status. Students may register for 0.50 credit more at their own discretion. Part time study consists of 1.50 credits or fewer per semester.

Program Information

A student's selection of courses must follow the B.A. Program Regulations (including Distribution Requirements), a pattern of study for either the General or Honours degree (below), and the detailed schedule(s) of studies which follow for any special subject(s) studied.

Academic Counselling

Program Counselling

Students are urged to seek the assistance of the counsellors in the B.A. Counselling Office regarding their program and academic regulations, selecting courses, services and resources available on campus, and when they are experiencing difficulties that affect their academic progress.

Departmental Advising

Every academic department has advisors available to assist students in their course selection planning. Students should seek the advice of the faculty advisor when declaring a major, area of concentration, or minor, regarding course scheduling and completing the requirements for the specializations.

Students encountering difficulties within a course should first consult the instructor of the course. Co-operative education students in Economics and Psychology will also have a departmental Co-op Academic Advisor and Co-ordinator, and should consult Co-operative Education Services regarding scheduling work terms and the COOP*1000 Co-op Work Term I course.

Academic Residence Requirements

1. At least 5.00 of the credits required for graduation by the student's program must be taken at the University of Guelph.
2. At least 60% of the 3000 and 4000 level courses required for graduation must be taken at the University of Guelph.

University of Guelph courses include courses taken on exchange and on study abroad programs. Letter of Permission courses are not included.

Continuation of Study

Students are advised to consult the regulations for continuation of study within the program which are outlined in detail in Section VIII--Undergraduate Degree Regulations and Procedures of this calendar.

Conditions for Graduation

In addition to meeting the general and honours degree requirements listed below under Program Regulations, students will not normally be eligible to graduate while on probationary or required-to-withdraw status.

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

The B.A. Distribution Requirements (requirements 1, 2, and 3) need not be completed immediately but are a graduation requirement.

The distribution requirement of 8 courses (minimum 4.00 credits) is as follows:

1. A minimum of 1.50 credits over at least 2 different subject areas in the humanities:
   ARAB Arabic
   ARTH Art History
   CHIN Mandarin
   CLAS Classical Studies
   CTS Culture and Technology Studies
   ENGL English
   EURO European Studies
   FREN French Studies
   GERM German Studies
   GREK Greek
   HIST History
   HUMN Humanities
   ITAL Italian Studies
   LAT Latin
   LING Linguistics
   MUSC Music
   PHIL Philosophy
   PORT Portuguese
   SART Studio Art
   SPAN Spanish and Hispanic Studies
   THST Theatre Studies
   WMST Women’s Studies
2. A minimum of 1.50 credits over at least two of the following subject areas in the social sciences:
   ANTH Anthropology
   ECON Economics
   FARE Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics
   GEOG Geography
   IDEV International Development
   ISS Interdisciplinary Social Science
   JLS Justice and Legal Studies
   POLS Political Science
   PSYC Psychology
   SOAN Sociology and Anthropology
   SOC Sociology
   WMST Women’s Studies
3. 1.00 credits in natural and/or mathematical sciences from the list below.

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

Students must take 1.00 credits in natural and/or mathematical science courses to fulfill the 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 a B.A. Program Counsellor.

Courses recommended for students with limited preparation (e.g.. lacking 4U credit in a specific area):

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
AGR*2150	Plant Agriculture for International Development	0.50
BIOL*1020	Introduction to Biology	0.50
BIOL*1500	Humans in the Natural World	0.50
BIOM*2000	Concepts in Human Physiology	0.50
BOT*1200	Plants and Human Use	0.50
CHEM*1060	Introductory Chemistry	0.50
CIS*1000	Introduction to Computer Applications	0.50
ENVS*1060	Discovering Planet Earth	0.50
ENVS*2060	Soil Science	0.50
ENVS*2130	Eating Sustainably in Ontario	0.50
ENVS*2210	Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology	0.50
ENVS*2270	Impacts of Climate Change	0.50
FOOD*2010	Principles of Food Science	0.50
GEOG*1300	Introduction to the Biophysical Environment	0.50
GEOG*1350	Earth: Hazards and Global Change	0.50
HORT*1120	Grape and Wine Science	0.50
HORT*1130	Science of Gardening	0.50
MBG*1000	Genetics and Society	0.50
MUSC*1090	Physics of Music	0.50
NUTR*1010	Introduction to Nutrition	0.50
PHYS*1600	Contemporary Astronomy	0.50
PHYS*1810	Physics of Music	0.50

Other acceptable courses which require 4U or university preparation:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
BIOL*1XXX	Any BIOL course at the 1000 level	0.00
CHEM*1XXX	Any CHEM course at the 1000 level	0.00
CIS*1XXX	Any CIS course at the 1000 level	0.00
ENVS*2030	Meteorology and Climatology	0.50
ENVS*2250	Geology of Natural Disasters	0.50
MATH*1XXX	Any MATH course at the 1000 level	0.00
PHYS*1XXX	Any PHYS course at the 1000 level	0.00
STAT*2XXX	Any STAT course at the 2000 level	0.00

Double Counting of Courses

A maximum of 50 percent of the courses in a second specialization may be courses taken in fulfillment of the first specialization where required courses are the same. (Specializations can include majors, minors, areas of concentrations and certificates.)

General Program Degree Regulations and Requirements (BAG)

The General Degree Program provides the opportunity for a sound general education in the arts and social sciences, mathematics and sciences, while allowing for concentration of studies in one or more subjects.

To graduate from a general program a student must:

1. earn 15.00 credits. These must include courses that fulfill the distribution requirements (see B.A. Distribution Requirements). At least 4.00 credits must be at the 3000 level or above. Not more than 6.00 credits at the introductory (1000) level may be counted towards the 15.00 credits requirement.
2. 9.00 of the required 15.00 credits must be in courses offered by the College of Arts, the departments of Economics, Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology (in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences and the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics), School of Computer Science, or the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
3. no more than 11.00 credits in any one subject or discipline, as indicated by the course prefix code, can be counted towards a general degree.
4. a minimum cumulative average of 60% is required.

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

The requirements for each area of concentration are set out separately in the pages following the list of Honours and General Specializations Available in the B.A. Degree.

Honours Program Degree Regulations and Requirements (BAH)

The Honours Degree Program provides depth of study in one specialization, strengthening written and oral communication skills, research and analytical abilities, as well as ensuring a breadth of study in the arts, social sciences, mathematics and sciences.

To graduate from an honours program a student must:

1. earn 20.00 credits. These must include courses that fulfill the distribution requirements (see B.A. Distribution Requirements), and courses that fulfill the requirements of at least 1 major. At least 7.00 credits must be at the 3000 level or above. Not more than 6.00 credits from courses at the introductory (1000) level may be counted towards the 20.00 credits requirement.
2. Honours B.A. students must take a minimum of 12.00 credits in courses offered by the College of Arts or the departments of Economics, Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology (in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences and the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics), the School of Computer Science or the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
3. no more than 14.00 credits in any one subject or discipline, as indicated by the course prefix code, can be counted towards an Honours Degree.
4. fulfill the course and credit requirements of at least one major with a cumulative average of at least 70% in all course attempts at the University of Guelph in that major. Grades in all courses in the discipline area of the major are included in the cumulative average. Grades from those courses in other disciplines listed as options toward the major are also included in the average. (This condition does not apply to majors in the interdisciplinary programs of International Development and European Studies, where only courses in the core and chosen area of emphasis will be counted toward the specialization average.) Students may take more than one major. They may also take one or more minors. The 70% requirement applies to each major and minor.
5. a minimum cumulative average of 60% is required. 

The requirements for each major and minor are set out separately in the pages following the list of Honours and General Specializations Available in the B.A. Degree.

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. Students should note that a specialization is not required to graduate with a General Degree.

Semester One Requirements

It is recommended that students select 1000 level courses as follows:

• Required courses for a chosen or intended specialization (major, minor, area of concentration).
• Electives (this could include arts/humanities, social sciences, natural/mathematical sciences, or electives from another area).

For more information on course selection, students can access the New Student Registration Handbook at:https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/undergraduate/registrationhandbook/index/.

Special Study Options

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 & Procedures 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 credits taken on a Letter of Permission is 2.50 based on Guelph credits.

Students with a specialization in languages who want to undertake a program of study in Quebec or abroad should consult the appropriate faculty advisor or the Director of the School of Languages and Literatures.

Study Abroad

The University of Guelph offers many other Study Abroad and Exchange opportunities for students to enrich their learning experience. Bachelor of Arts students are encouraged to participate in any of the diverse options available. Courses taken while on exchange or study abroad can be used as electives or core requirements. For further information on the programs available, please refer to Section V - International Study. Students are advised to meet with a B.A. Program Counsellor to discuss the feasibility of participating in an exchange or study abroad program.

Honours and General Specializations Available in the B.A. Degree

General Program Areas of Concentration

• Anthropology
• English
• French Studies
• Geography
• History
• International Development
• Mathematics
• Music
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Spanish and Hispanic Studies
• Statistics
• Theatre Studies

The schedule of studies for each area of concentration is given under its subject heading.

Honours Program Majors

• Anthropology
• Art History
• Classical Studies
• Criminal Justice and Public Policy
• Culture and Technology Studies
• Economics¹
• English
• Environmental Governance
• European Studies
• Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics
• French Studies
• Geography
• History
• International Development
• Justice and Legal Studies
• Mathematical Economics¹
• Mathematical Science
• Music
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology¹
• Sociology
• Spanish and Hispanic Studies
• Studio Art
• Theatre Studies

¹

Subjects may be available as Co-operative Education programs. The schedule of studies for each major is given under its subject heading.

Honours Program Minors

• Anthropology
• Art History
• Arts, Culture and Heritage Management
• Black Canadian Studies
• Business
• Business Economics
• Classical Studies
• Computing and Information Science
• Creative Writing
• Criminal Justice and Public Policy
• Culture and Technology Studies
• Economics
• English
• European Culture and Civilization
• Family and Child Studies
• French Studies
• Geography
• German
• History
• International Development
• Italian
• Marketing
• Mathematics
• Media and Cinema Studies
• Museum Studies
• Music
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Studio Art
• Spanish and Hispanic Studies
• Theatre Studies

The schedule of studies for each minor is given under its subject heading.

B.A. Programs