Faculty of Science
III. Faculty Regulations
Students in the Faculty of Science are governed by the regulations in this section of the Calendar as well as by the general University regulations in the section titled Academic Regulations. For the precise interpretation of any statement or regulation, students should feel free to contact the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising) of Science in the Undergraduate Programs Office, Room 209 of the Social Sciences Building; Telephone 220-6769. The Dean has delegated responsibility for undergraduate student affairs in the Faculty to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising) and the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Policy). |
1. Terminology
Please refer to the glossary at the back of this Calendar. |
2. Admission
Admission to the Faculty involves at the same time admission to one of its Major or Honours programs. All programs offered by the Faculty of Science have a fixed number of places for students. For any given program, whenever demand exceeds capacity enrollment will be limited and students will be admitted on the basis of descending ranked academic performance until that capacity is met. Specified selection criteria are described in Section V (Program Details) under the appropriate Department. Direct entry is possible to most Science Major programs. Entry to a Science Honours program is possible only after successful completion of at least five full-course equivalents. Repeated courses may only be counted once but are used in the calculation of the admission grade point average. For additional admission requirements, refer to the departmental sections. Students may transfer from one program to any other for which they are eligible. Continuing University of Calgary students may request a change of program using the Infonet. Changes in program include transfer to a program in the Faculty of Science, either from another faculty or from within the Faculty of Science, including transfer from a Major to an Honours program, and designation of a Minor. If an application is unsuccessful, a new application must be submitted in the following year. To be eligible for admission, a student must meet the following requirements. | |
Major Programs | High school matriculation or equivalent. All applicants must have English 30, Pure Mathematics 30 and three additional 30-level subjects. Incoming students should complete the appropriate high school 30/31 courses that support their expected first-year course registrations and that are listed in the Admission Requirements in the Academic Regulations section at the front of this Calendar. Students who have completed some university-level course work should consult Admission Requirements in the Academic Regulations section at the front of this Calendar for details. |
Honours Programs | Admission to an Honours Program requires successful completion of at least five FCE. At the time of admission, students must present (i) a GPA of at least 3.30 calculated over the most recent course work to a maximum of 10 FCE, and (ii) a GPA of at least 3.30 calculated for all science courses included in (i) above (University of Calgary courses and/or transferable courses taken at other institutions). Note: For continuation in an Honours program, students are subject to an annual review. Students may apply for Honours after the first, second or third year of their program, but need to plan their program at an early stage in order to be able to meet all Honours Program Requirements. See Subsection 4 (Program Requirements) below. Note: Students who wish to change from a Major to an Honours program, must meet the deadline for submission of their application. |
3. Enrollment Limitations
Enrollment limitations may be in effect for some courses in the Faculty of Science. Any of the junior (200-level) courses offered by the Faculty of Science may be so limited. Students should consult the current Master Timetable for information about registration priorities in such courses. At the senior level (courses numbered 300 or above), many courses in several departments may have limited enrollment, with selection based on academic merit when demand exceeds available space. Selection criteria are described in Section V (Program Details) under the appropriate Department. |
4. Program Requirements
The following general requirements apply to all programs in the Faculty of Science. In addition, there are the course requirements for the individual programs. These are listed in Section V (Program Details). | ||
A. Major Degree Programs | A student must present an approved list of courses completed with passing grades. This list will be referred to as the program. The program must satisfy the following conditions. (a) The program must contain at least 20 FCE with at least 11 FCE numbered 300 or above. (b) The program must contain at least seven FCE in a Science field. The field chosen for a program will be referred to as the "major field." The Science fields are listed in Section V (Program Details). Only one FCE in the major field may be a "D" or "D+." (c) The GPA calculated over the program must be at least 2.00, and the GPA for courses in the major field must also be at least 2.00. The program may not contain more than three FCE with "D" or "D+" grades. (d) The program must contain at least 10 FCE from outside the major field, of which at least four must be non-science courses from other faculties including at least one from each of the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences. The four FCE from other faculties may not be chosen from among the courses listed in Table I. Table I lists science-content courses from other Faculties. The requirement to include four FCE in non-science areas is intended to extend the student's perspective beyond science. Science 311 may be counted among the four FCE from other faculties. (e) The program must include certain specified courses. The specified courses required for individual programs are listed in Section V (Program Details). (f) No more than 10 FCE taken at other institutions and acceptable for transfer credit may be included in the program. At least four FCE in the major field must be taken at the University of Calgary. (g) Credit will not be granted toward Science degrees for Physical Activity courses (i.e., Dance Education Activity/Theory, Outdoor Pursuits Activity/Theory, and Physical Education Activity/Theory). Note: These requirements may change with every Calendar issue. A given Calendar issue applies to the academic year beginning on July 1 and ending on the following June 30. The time of entry into a program in the Faculty of Science is defined as the first session after admission to the program during which a student successfully completes any courses applicable to the program. 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 who exceed this five-year limit must consult with the Head of the Department concerned who will decide on an acceptable set of course requirements for the proposed date of graduation. The Head of the Department will communicate the decision to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising) in writing. Note: Course work that either forms part of the requirements from a student's major field as listed in Section V (Program Details) or is in the student's major field 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 concerned. Note. Courses taken in the Faculty of Medicine may be counted towards a BSc degree in the Faculty of Science if at least 15 FCE have been taken in a Science program, and if the Science course requirements for a Science Major are met by those 15 or more FCE. 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. | |
B. Degrees with Distinction | The notation "With Distinction" will be entered in the permanent record and on the graduation parchment of a student successfully completing a Major program with a grade point average of at least 3.60 over the last 15 FCE taken for the degree. In cases in which the "last 15" must include some but not all of a group of courses taken concurrently, the selection will be made in the manner most advantageous to the student. A student who has taken part of his/her course work at another university or who has transferred into the Faculty at a relatively late stage may be granted a degree "With Distinction" at the discretion of the Faculty. | |
C. 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 15 FCE. • At the time of each annual review conducted after admission to an Honours program, a GPA of 3.30 or better over • all Science courses taken since the previous review, • all courses taken since the previous review. • The program must contain at least eight FCE in the major field. • The program must contain at least eight FCE outside the major field. • Candidates for Honours have five years in which they are registered in courses to complete the required program. • Candidates for Honours Co-operative Education or Internship programs have six years in which they are registered in courses to complete the required program. Note: A student who fails to maintain the necessary performance standards or who decides not to continue in an Honours program may transfer to a Major program. | |
First Class Honours Requirements | In addition to the Honours requirements, successful completion of a Department-approved program equivalent to 20 FCE with a GPA of at least 3.60 over the last 15 FCE. A student who has taken part of his/her course work at another university may be granted a degree with First Class Honours at the discretion of the Faculty. | |
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 four FCE from outside the Faculty. | ||
· Anthropology 307, 351, 353, 435, 451, 457 · Chemical Engineering 427, 501, 535, 537, 541 · Civil Engineering 461 · Electrical Engineering 327, 353, 463, 465, 475, 563, 565, 575, 579 (if both 463 and 465 are taken, one may be counted as from outside Science) · Engineering 201, 205, 233, 311, 317, 319, 325, 349, 407 · Environmental Design 659 · Environmental Science 401, 501, 502, 504, 505 · Geography 211, 305, 307, 313, 415, 417, 511 · Kinesiology 261, 263, 363, 463 · Management Information Systems 321, 331 · Mechanical Engineering 479, 485, 587 · Medical Science (all courses in this category) · Political Science 399 | ||
D. Co-operative Education/Internship Degree Programs | The Faculty of Science has three Co-operative Education programs and one Internship program. All are offered as Major and Honours programs. For general information on Co-operative Education and Internship programs refer to the Co-operative Education/Internship section of this Calendar. For specific program details, see Section V (Program Details) in the Faculty of Science section of the Calendar. Cooperative Education and Internship programs in the Faculty of Science are five years in length and include four or five four-month terms of supervised work experience in various industrial and government establishments. Apart from this work experience, the degree requirements are the same as for the regular Major and Honours programs. Students who wish to enter a Co-operative Education or Internship program are urged to discuss their pre-admission course selection with the Undergraduate Officer of the Department offering the program as early as possible. The general deadline for admission to a Co-operative Education or Internship program in the Faculty of Science is December 1. However, for some Co-operative Education programs, as for Internship programs, additional admission deadlines may be available. If so, these are listed in the Calendar section of the Department offering the program. Applications for admission to a Co-operative Education or an Internship program must be submitted to the Career Services Office on forms available from that Office. For continuation in Co-operative Education/Internship programs, students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.30 (Major) or 3.30 (Honours). Note: Department requirements that exceed the Faculty minimum supersede these Faculty standards. Furthermore, students who receive a grade of "F" in a Co-operative Education/Internship course will be withdrawn from the Co-operative Education/Internship program and will not receive Co-operative Education/Internship designation. |
E. 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 declare 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. Declaration of the second Major or Honours may be made no later than at the time of the last registration. Special restrictions apply to certain double Major or Honours combinations. Consult the relevant Department in Section V (Programs Details). All such double Major or Honours combinations must be able to be accommodated under the same rubric (either BSc or BA). |
F. Combined Degree Programs Within the Faculty of Science | Students may pursue a combined program of at least 25 FCE that leads to two degrees from the Faculty of Science. The two degrees will be awarded simultaneously. Interested students should consult the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising). The two programs may not be from the same Department, except for combinations of Geophysics with one of Geology, Applied and Environmental Geology, or Environmental Science. |
G. Second Degree Programs | |
Major Degree Requirements | Students who have obtained an approved degree (BSc, BEd, etc.) may enroll in a "second" bachelor's degree program. The degree requirements for a second degree are the same as those for a first degree except for the following: (a) Up to 12 FCE counted towards any previous degrees may be counted towards the second degree, if approved by the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising). (b) Courses extra to the first degree(s) completed before enrolling in the second degree program may be counted towards the second degree with the permission of the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising). (c) Of all courses additional to those approved under (a), at least five FCE must be University of Calgary courses including four numbered 300 or higher in the Faculty of Science and including at least half of those required in the major field. (d) The second bachelor's degree may not be in the same field as the first degree(s). Students with a degree in the Natural Sciences should consult the Undergraduate Programs Office to find out whether they would be permitted to enroll in a program that covers the same subject matter as their Concentration One. Formal application for admission to a second degree program should be made to the Admissions Office. Upon receipt of application, the Faculty will provide a detailed assessment listing previous courses which can be applied to the degree and establishing the remaining requirements in each individual case. The second degree may be awarded "With Distinction" at the discretion of the Faculty if a GPA of at least 3.60 in all the additional courses required is combined with an appropriately high performance standard in the first degree program. 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 | Students who have obtained an approved degree may proceed to a second bachelor's Honours degree, subject to the requirements for Honours degrees specified above, with the following modifications: (a) The student must obtain approval of the Department concerned. (b) The GPA over all previous courses applied to the second degree must be at least 3.30. A maximum of 10 FCE from the first degree may be allowed for credit toward the second Bachelor's degree. (c) The permissible duration of the second degree program will be determined by the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising) 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. (d) The degree may be awarded as First Class Honours at the discretion of the Faculty if a GPA of at least 3.60 in all the additional courses is combined with an appropriately high performance standard in the first degree program. |
H. Collaborative Degree Programs | The two collaborative programs available, in Earth Science and in Environmental Science, are single BSc degree programs administered jointly by the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Social Sciences. These multi-disciplinary programs with restricted entry require careful course selection to satisfy the requirements of both Faculties. Students considering one of these programs should contact the appropriate Program Director, as early as possible for advice regarding their program. Program details are listed in the Collaborative Programs section of this Calendar. |
I. Combined Degree Programs with Other Faculties | Students may pursue a combined program of at least 25 FCE 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 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 Student Affairs 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. |
BComm and BSc (Actuarial Science) Program | For program details, please see the Haskayne School of Business section of this Calendar. |
BComm and BSc (Computer Science) Program | For program details, please see the Haskayne School of Business section of this Calendar. |
BSc (Science) and BA (Humanities) Program | For program details, please see the Faculty of Humanities section of this Calendar. |
BA or BSc (General Mathematics in Education) and BEd (Master of Teaching Program) | For program details, please see the Department of Mathematics and Statistics section in Section V (Program Details). |
BSc (Natural Sciences) and BEd (Master of Teaching Program) | For program details, please see the Natural Sciences section in Section V (Program Details). |
BSc or BA (Science) and BSc or BA (Social Sciences) Program | Students intending to pursue this program may enter either the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Social Sciences. At the time of admission to either Faculty, students must apply for the combined degree program and declare two major fields as described in each Faculty's section of this Calendar. |
Degree Requirements for the BSc or BA (Science) and BSc or BA (Social Sciences) Program | (i) The Faculty of Social Sciences requires the successful completion of at least seven and not more than ten FCE in the Major Field. Faculty and Departmental requirements for graduation in a program with a Major Field must be met. (ii) The Faculty of Science requires successful completion of all courses required for graduation in a program with a Major Field as listed in this Calendar. (iii) Courses taken to satisfy the major field requirements for one of the two degrees may be counted towards the four FCE from another faculty required for the other degree. (iv) The number of junior courses taken must not exceed ten FCE in total. Of these, not more than eight may be included in the Social Sciences degree program and not more than nine in the Science degree program. (v) At least half of the 25 FCE must be taken at the University of Calgary. Of these a maximum of ten full-course equivalents may be transferred to any one of the Faculties. Note that half the courses counting towards the Social Sciences Major and at least four FCE in the Major Field in Science must be taken at the University of Calgary. |
J. Minor Programs | The course requirements for the Minor Programs are listed in Section V (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 five FCE in the minor field of which at least three FCE 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 Advising) before proceeding. The GPA over all courses counting towards the Minor must be at least 2.00 and only one FCE "D" grade will be allowed. |
5. Course Selection and Registration
A. Accuracy of Registration | Students are responsible for ensuring that their annual course selections are in accord with all Calendar requirements, including the completion of prerequisite courses with a satisfactory grade and registration in corequisite courses as appropriate. If registration in any course(s) is contrary to regulations, the Faculty may cancel such registration anytime after the beginning of the session. Registration at all times must be appropriate to the degree program being followed. Students with wholly inappropriate course selections in their registration may have their registration cancelled by the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising). Students should seek advice from that Associate Dean, or the staff of the Undergraduate Programs Office, or from the Department concerned. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet degree and program requirements. While the Undergraduate Programs Office endeavours to assist all students as they proceed in the various programs, a final and thorough check is not done until application for graduation. Any departure from standard requirements must receive prior authorization in writing from the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising). It is strongly recommended that students consult with that Associate Dean before submitting their final registration. First-year students in the Faculty of Science who wish to register in senior courses should be aware that in addition to stated prerequisites, senior courses offered by other faculties often require completion of three full courses at the junior level. Students must be admitted to a program before they will be allowed to register in more than six FCE from the Department offering that program or in any group of courses required for that program. First-year students should obtain a copy of the Course Registration and Planning Guide from the Office of the Registrar. |
B. Introductory Courses for Science Degree Programs | All programs have introductory course requirements. Since these courses are often the prerequisites for more advanced courses, students are advised to take the introductory courses in the manner depicted in Section V. Program Details "Suggested Program Sequences." By so doing, students make it possible to complete their programs in a timely fashion. |
C. Prerequisites | A student may not register in a course unless a grade of at least "C-" has been obtained in each prerequisite course, except with a letter of permission from the Head of Department (or designate). It is the responsibility of students to ensure that they meet all prerequisite requirements. Students who do not meet the exact prerequisites/corequisites and do not have Departmental permission to waive those requirements will have their registrations cancelled automatically by the Faculty after the deadline for student change of registration. A student who has received credit for a course without having the normal prerequisite course(s) may not subsequently register in the prerequisite course(s) for program credit. Taking or repeating a course that is prerequisite for a higher level course after having completed the higher level course with a grade of "C-" or better will only be allowed with the permission of both the faculty in which the student is registered and the department offering the course. |
D. Withdrawal from Courses | Students will not be permitted to withdraw more than once from a particular course. Students will be required to withdraw from the Faculty of Science if they have accumulated a total of more than five full-course equivalent withdrawals while in attendance at the University of Calgary. Since students could jeopardize their programs by withdrawing from courses, they should be aware of all potentially adverse consequences of such actions. If after having sought out and weighed all the information, a student still decides to proceed, withdrawal from a course must be done before the deadline specified in the Academic Schedule. |
E. Repetition of Courses | A student will be permitted to repeat a particular course only once. This regulation applies not only to individual courses, but also to sets of courses where it is stated that credit for more than one of the sets is not allowed. For example, a student may not take Mathematics 353 twice and then attempt Mathematics 331. A withdrawal counts as an attempt. Repetition of courses is limited to those courses that have not already been used to satisfy the prerequisite requirements for another course (see " Prerequisites" above). |
F. Course Load | Five courses taken concurrently represent a full load. Students who have completed a full load through the previous Fall and Winter Sessions with a GPA of at least 3.20 may be permitted to register in six courses concurrently at the risk of damage to overall performance. Undergraduates may register in 600-level courses only with the permission of the Department offering the course. |
G. Opportunities to Take Courses at Another Institution for Transfer of Credit | Students may be authorized to take some program course work at another university if registration as a visiting student is acceptable to that university. Students with poor academic performance will not be allowed such privileges. Applications for such authorization must be made as early as possible in writing to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising) and must be accompanied by full details of the proposed courses and the total hours of instruction (machine copies of actual calendar descriptions are preferred). The student will be advised officially by letter of the acceptability of the proposed courses for transfer credit in the program and an appropriate letter will be sent to the Registrar of the other university. It will be the responsibility of the student to ensure that an official transcript of grades is forwarded directly to the Registrar of this University in order that appropriate credit may be officially recorded. |
H. Credit in Courses by "Special Assessment" | Students who feel that they know the material covered in a course without having received formal University credit for that course may apply for "special assessment" in such a course. Students should obtain the form headed "Permission to Take Courses by Special Assessment" from the Office of the Registrar and submit their application to the Department offering the course. A course in which the student was previously registered may not be taken subsequently by special assessment, nor may any course be attempted more than once in this way. The Faculty will not allow more than five full-course equivalents completed by special assessment to count towards a degree. See also the general University regulations concerning special assessment. |
6. Assessment
A. Missed Components of Term Work | Any student who is absent from a test or fails to complete a laboratory assignment or similar work for legitimate reasons must discuss an alternative course of action with the instructor. The regulations covering such circumstances are outlined in the sections titled "Attendance" and "Deferral of Term Work" in the Academic Regulations section of this Calendar. Notification of such eventualities must be given to the instructor within 48 hours. |
B. Deferral of Final Examinations | See the general University regulations governing the deferral of final examinations. In order to apply for a deferral of a final examination in a course taught by the Faculty of Science, students must pick up an application form in the Office of the Registrar or download it from the Registrar's Website at http://www.ucalgary.ca/registrar/students/exam_info.html and submit the completed form to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising) in the Undergraduate Programs Office. Students seeking a deferment of a final examination for medical reasons must submit a completed Physician/Counsellor Statement form, which they can obtain from the Office of the Registrar or download from the Registrar's Website. A medical certificate stating only that a student was seen by a physician is insufficient. Students are warned that trivial medical excuses are also insufficient and that their record of applications for previous medical deferrals will be checked when deferred privileges are applied for. Late medical documentation or medical documentation that does not coincide precisely with the examination(s) missed will not be accepted. Misreading the examination timetable is not a valid reason for requesting a deferred final examination. In the event of foreseeable absence from a final examination, an application for a deferral must be made prior to the examination. In the event of an unforeseen need to be absent from such an examination, the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising) should be notified as soon as possible and application made within 48 hours of the examination. Applications made after the deadlines printed in the Calendar will not be considered. |
7. Student Standing
A. Performance Review, Probationary Status and Dismissal | The academic standing of each student registered in the Faculty will be reviewed annually following the Winter Session. Students who have taken three or more FCE since approval of satisfactory standing at the previous review and have achieved a GPA of at least 2.00 on those courses will retain their satisfactory standing. If this GPA is less than 2.00 but not less than 1.70, the student will be placed on probationary status or may be required to withdraw if his/her overall record is considered unsatisfactory (e.g., if there is a history of marginal performance evidenced by earlier probationary status). If this GPA is less than 1.70, the student will be required to withdraw from the Faculty. Students who were on probation in the period before the review and have taken three or more full-course equivalents since being placed on probation will have their probation cleared if their GPA over these courses is at least 2.00. Students will be required to withdraw from the Faculty if this GPA is less than 2.00. Students who have not completed three FCE since the previous review will retain their existing status until the next subsequent review. Students placed on probation or required to withdraw will be so advised in writing. Students will be permitted a maximum of one probationary period while registered as undergraduate students at the University of Calgary. Students will be required to withdraw rather than be placed on probation for a second time. Students placed on probation as a criterion of admission will not have this period counted in the total permitted. Probationary periods that have occurred in excess of five years previous will not be counted. Notwithstanding the specific regulations above, students' academic standing may be reviewed at any time and those with generally poor academic records may be placed or continued on academic probation or required to withdraw at the discretion of the Dean or her/his delegate (normally the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Advising)). |
B. Readmission | • Students who have been required to withdraw for unsatisfactory academic performance may be considered for readmission after 12 or more months have elapsed since the date of dismissal. • Applicants must apply by the deadlines stated in the current Calendar and meet the current admission requirements of the program to which they are seeking admission. • Applicants must attach a letter to their application which (a) offers an explanation for their previously poor record, (b) outlines their academic plans and (c) explains why they are now likely to be successful. • Readmission is not guaranteed. Students so readmitted must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.00 on all courses taken after readmission. Failure to do so will result in permanent dismissal from the Faculty of Science. Students who have twice been required to withdraw from one or more Faculties at this or any other institution will not normally be considered for admission at any time. |
C. Dean's List | The Dean's List recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of students in the Faculty of Science. To be included, a student must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.60 over all courses taken in the preceding Fall and Winter Sessions, with a minimum of four and one-half FCE to be counted. A statement of inclusion on the Dean's List will be recorded on the student's transcript. Students completing a required Co-operative Education Work Term in either a Fall or Winter Session will be eligible for inclusion on the Dean's List provided they have completed two and one-half FCE with a GPA of at least 3.60 over all courses in the complementary Fall or Winter Session, and have passed the Work Term. |