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The Arts and Science Honours Academy (ASHA) provides an enriched structure for the undergraduate experience in Arts and Science. It is a program for motivated students of demonstrated ability who aspire to a well-rounded education that combines the depth of an Honours degree or the equivalent with the breadth of dedicated interdisciplinary courses, a language requirement and an international experience.

Interim Program Director: M. Polito

Entrance to the Program is competitive. Criteria include high academic achievement (a minimum high school average of 85%) and evidence of community or academic involvement and leadership. Students must complete a separate online ASHA admission form, which will include a brief writing piece. Students may be interviewed (in person or by phone) as part of the application process. While admission is normally limited to incoming first year students, the participating Faculties may each nominate up to two students for consideration for admission after the first year.

1. Academic Achievement: Excellence in a degree program from the Faculty of Arts or the Faculty of Science demonstrated by either:

(a) Successful completion of a BA or BSc with Honours, or

(b) Completion with distinction of a BA or BSc with a Major Field and a significant independent research course.

2. Second Language: At least one full course equivalent in a (single) language other than English. The language requirement may be fulfilled during the international experience.

3. International Experience: While students are strongly encouraged to go abroad for a full academic year, they must participate in an approved study abroad or work abroad program of a duration of a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks. In exceptional cases, other arrangements may be considered. Students must submit a travel proposal appropriate for their program to the program director at the end of their second year.

4. Arts and Science Honours Academy Core Courses: 3.0 full-course equivalents taken through the ASHA program as follows:

(a) Arts and Science Honours Academy 220 Quests and Questions (full-course)

(b) Arts and Science Honours Academy 321 Problems in Representation (half-course)

(c) Arts and Science Honours Academy 421 Invention (half-course)

(d) Arts and Science Honours Academy 501 The Nature of Research (half-course)

(e) Arts and Science Honours Academy 503 Capstone Seminar (half-course)

Note: These courses may be used to satisfy the breadth requirements of courses outside the Home Faculty.

Continuation in the program

Year 2: In order to continue into Year Two in good standing, students must have completed Arts and Science Honours Academy 220 and must have completed at least 4 full-course equivalents with a minimum GPA of 3.30. Students whose GPA is between 2.70 and 3.30 will be placed on probation for one year. One period of probation will be permitted during the program. Probation will be cleared if the GPA at the next annual review is 3.30 or greater.

Year 3: In order to continue into Year Three in good standing, students must have completed at least 4 full-course equivalents in Year Two, including Arts and Science Honours Academy 321 and 421, must have maintained a GPA of at least 3.30 and normally must have secured admission into an Honours Program in one of the participating Faculties. Students continue work in their discipline either in Calgary or abroad. The international experience is normally completed between the end of the Winter Term of Year 2 and the beginning of the Fall Term in Year 4.

Year 4: Students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.30. Students complete the final two courses (Arts and Science Honours Academy 501 and 503) and continue in their Honours or Major Program. In order to accommodate all the requirements of the Program and the international experience, time to graduation may be extended as appropriate.