Skip to main content
Future Students Alumni Library Athletics & Recreation
Students

First-Year Program Requirements: Faculty of Science (Milton)

Note: The following information represents requirements for the 2024/25 academic calendar year. The Course Registration Guide will be updated for the 2025/26 academic year mid-May.

The following information is part of Step 1: Program Requirements of the Course Registration Guide for first-year Faculty of Science students on the Milton campus. To view the remaining steps, consult the Course Registration Guide.

On this page: 

Course Load

To earn an Honours Degree, you will need to complete 20.0 credits:

  • 0.5 credit: Normally conducted over one term
  • 1.0 credit: Normally conducted over two terms

If you are studying part-time, you can take up to 1.5 credits per term. Full-time status is given to students who take 2.0 or 2.5 credits per term.

If you select 2.5 credits in the fall term and 2.5 credits in the winter term, you can complete an Honours Degree in four years.

The majority of Faculty of Science courses are 0.5 credit.

For all Faculty of Science single degree programs, you may elect to proceed on a reduced load (2.0 credits per term) or part-time load (less than 2.0 credits per term) and increase the number of terms of study to complete your full degree.

GPA-Based Progression

To progress from year one to year two in Computer Science and Psychology Honours programs, you require:

  • an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 (C-) and
  • a cumulative GPA of at least 5.0 (C) in the honours subject courses.

Refer to the program section of the academic calendar for details on the specific progression and graduation requirements for your program.

Calculus Preparation Evaluation (CPE)

To register in MA100, MA102, MA103, or SC101, you must first complete the mandatory online Calculus Preparation Evaluation (CPE) . Based on the results of the CPE, you may be required to complete MA102 before registering in MA103 or SC101 prior to registering in MA100.

Definitions

  • BA: Bachelor of Arts (honours)
  • BSc: Bachelor of Science (honours)
  • Combination-Only BA: A program that must be taken in combination with another BA program
  • An asterisk (*) denotes a course worth 1.0 credits

Program Requirements by Major


Computer Science (BSc)

Required First-Year Courses

  • CP104, CP164
  • MA103
  • MA123
  • 2.5 elective credits if MA102 is taken; 3.0 elective credits if only MA103 is required

Notes

Based on the results of the Calculus Preparation Evaluation, a student may be required to complete MA102 prior to completing MA103.

Electives must eventually include at least 1.0 credits from a discipline outside of the Faculty of Science (recommend these be taken in Year 1).

Computer Science (BA)

Required First-Year Courses

  • CP104, CP164
  • MA102 (or MA103)
  • MA123
  • 3.0 elective credits

Notes

MA102 is recommended. Based on the results of the Calculus Preparation Evaluation, a student may be required to complete MA102. If interested, MA103 could then be completed as an elective.

Electives must eventually include at least 2.0 credits from a discipline outside of the Faculty of Science (recommend that some be taken in Year 1). 

Computer Science (Combination BA)

Required First-Year Courses

  • CP104, CP164
  • MA102 (or MA103)
  • MA123
  • 3.0 elective credits

Notes

MA102 is recommended. Based on the results of the Calculus Preparation Evaluation, a student may be required to complete MA102. If interested, MA103 could then be completed as an elective.

Electives should include the required Year 1 courses for the other honours discipline.

Core Sciences - No Major Declared

Core Sciences is an admission pathway rather than a degree-granting program. Academic advising will help you prepare to transfer into a degree-granting program, that best suits your needs and goals, at the end of your first year of studies. This temporary designation does not have required courses. You will select one (or two) Faculty of Science (Milton) programs of interest, and take as many of the first year required courses of those programs as possible (e.g., Computer Science, Mathematics, Psychology) allowing you to easily transition into a major / program starting in year two. In addition to these courses, we recommend that you take electives from other disciplines based on your academic background and interests.

 Visit Core Sciences First-Year Course Registration for detailed information on course selection and registration.  

Psychology (BA)

Required First-Year Courses

  • PS101, PS102
  • UU150
  • 3.5 elective credits

Notes

Electives must eventually include at least 2.0 credits from a discipline outside of the Faculty of Science.

Psychology (Combination BA)

Required First-Year Courses

  • PS101, PS102
  • UU150
  • 3.5 elective credits

Notes

Electives must eventually include at least 1.5 credits from a discipline outside of the Faculty of Science. 

Electives should include the required Year 1 courses for the other honours discipline.

Next Step: Choose Your Electives

Now that you've determined your program requirements, it's time to move to Step 2: Choose Your Electives to plan and select your electives.