UofC

The following are the different types of credentials offered at the University of Calgary.

The following principles govern the credential offered by the University of Calgary and clarifies the nomenclature used:

1. All University of Calgary credentials will follow the Post-Secondary Learning Act Programs of Study Regulations.
2. Any changes to existing credentials or proposals for new credential types must maintain or enhance the integrity and quality of University of Calgary credentials.
3. University of Calgary credentials should balance breadth and depth of study within, and across disciplines.
4. The nomenclature for University of Calgary credentials has to be clear to students, potential employers and other academic institutions.
5. The autonomy of the University of Calgary is determined in large part by the content, nature and quality of credentials that are granted. The notion of two or more institutions awarding a single credential to a student should only be considered if the standards of the University are not compromised.
6. Normally, the Master of Arts, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree titles will be reserved for research-based programs.
7. Credentials must align with the Provincial Credential Framework and the University of Calgary General Faculties Council (GFC) approved Credential Framework.

1. Bachelor’s degree: A minimum 120-unit credential that can be direct-entry or an upper year entry program. Bachelor degrees typically require a minimum of four years of study. Upper year entry programs may require fewer units, however, will include a minimum of number of pre-study units for admission consideration such that the total units completed is not below 120. Pre-study may be completed at the University of Calgary or another post-secondary institution.
2. Honours Bachelor’s degree: Further specialization of a bachelor’s degree requiring high academic standing and typically requiring a thesis project. A minimum 120-unit credential are required. The Faculty determines requirements and honours standing is noted on the transcript and parchment.
3. Combined Bachelor’s degree: A minimum of 150 units are required and typically requires a minimum of five years of study. Awarded when students are registered in two different degrees (including honours degrees) simultaneously. Students graduate from both degrees concurrently. A student who wishes to graduate from one degree is no longer eligible for combine degree status and must complete each program requirements separately. Students receive two parchments for combined degrees. Combined degree combinations are institutionally approved.

Principles for Combined Undergraduate Degree Programs:

1. Combined degree programs are possible between faculties and within a faculty. Each faculty will specify which degree programs can be combined in the Academic Calendar along with the graduation requirements.
2. Students must meet the admission, academic review and graduation requirements of both programs.
3. A minimum of 30 additional units will be required beyond the individual degree programs, for a minimum of 150 units. There is no maximum limit.
4. Concurrent degrees in the Werklund School of Education are considered a combined degree.

4. Conjoint Undergraduate Degrees: A degree with instruction from two institutions. The degree may be awarded by the University of Calgary or a partner institution. Since both institutions have teaching responsibility for the degree, there is a formal agreement outlining the program structure, jurisdictional and academic regulations. Partnerships agreements, where another institution solely confers the credential, are not covered by conjoint degree definitions.

Types of Conjoint Undergraduate Degrees:

1. Collaborative program: The degree and curriculum belongs to the University of Calgary, however, the partner institution may provide some of the instruction. Fifty percent of the content must be delivered by the University of Calgary. Parchment only indicates the University of Calgary.
2. Dual degree programs: Students attend and fulfill degree requirements at the University of Calgary and another institution as outlined in a formal agreement. Students receive two parchments, one from each institution and transcripts are issued by both institutions.
3. Joint degree programs: Students study at the University of Calgary and one or more other institutions. Program requirements are outlined in a formal agreement and normally includes at least fifty percent of University of Calgary content. Students receives one parchment and one transcript with both institutions identified. The agreement indicates which institution will issue the parchment and the transcript. University of Calgary documentation will indicate “Joint Degree offered in Collaboration with the <University Name>.”

5. Professional Undergraduate Degrees: Undergraduate degrees that lead to a professional Doctor degree (e.g., Doctor of Medicine, Juris Doctor and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine).

Sub-Degree Nomenclature

1. Majors: Normally 42–48 units completed within the number of units required for a bachelor’s degree. Majors appear on the parchment and transcript. Some degree programs do not have a major listed (e.g., Bachelor Nursing). Majors are identified in the Provincial Provider and Program Registry System (PaPRS).
2. Double Major: Normally an additional 42-48 units in an area that is different from the first major, in the same degree. Double majors are completed within the number of units required for a bachelor’s degree. Students must obtain approval from their faculty to have courses count toward both a major and a minor. One parchment is issued with both majors listed and both majors are listed on the transcript. Double majors are institutionally approved.
3. Minor: A minor requires a minimum of 30 units normally completed within the number of units required for a bachelor’s degree. Minors are not typically associated with the student’s major field of study. Minors are recorded on the transcript but not on the parchment. Students must obtain approval from their home faculty to have courses count toward both a major and a minor. Students may declare up to two minors. Minors are institutionally approved.
4. Specialization: Exclusively used by the Schulich School of Engineering to identify a specialized area of study that is available to multiple majors but associated with the field of study (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with a specialization in Biomedical Engineering) at the undergraduate level. A specialization requires between 18 and 24 units and may require a student to take additional courses beyond the number of units required for a bachelor’s degree. Students cannot complete a minor with a specialization. Specializations appear on the transcript but not on the parchment and are institutionally approved.
5. Concentration: A Concentration represents a focus within a degree or a major and requires a minimum 18 units. Concentrations will appear on the transcript but not on the parchment and are institutionally approved. Minors cannot not have concentrations.
6. Route: Exclusively used for the Bachelor of Education to identify the education level within the K-12 system (e.g., early years, elementary, secondary or K-12). Routes are noted on the transcript but not on the parchment and are institutionally approved.
7. Co-operative Education/Internship Programs: Formalized placement programs where student alternate work terms with academic terms. Students may complete a co-op program in one major. COOP/INTE will appear on the parchment and transcript and are institutionally approved. Students must complete one or more placements totaling a minimum of 12 months.

The University of Calgary may award the following undergraduate certificates and diplomas:

1. University Certificate: Composed of 15-30 units and is a free-standing credential. A transcripts and parchment are issued; however, the recipient does not participate in convocation. University certificates may ladder into other credit programs. University Certificates are identified in PaPRS.
2. University Diploma: Composed of 30-60 units and is a free-standing credential. A transcripts and parchment are issued and the recipient may participate in convocation. University diplomas may ladder into other credit programs. University Diplomas are identified in PaPRS.
3. Embedded Certificate: Composed of 12–24 units normally taken concurrently with an eligible degree program. Courses taken as part of a degree program may also count toward embedded certificate requirements. The embedded certificate must be completed prior to graduation from the degree program. Embedded certificates may not ladder into other credit programs. The certificate will be noted on the transcript and a single parchment will note both the degree and the embedded certificate earned. Since embedded certificates are designed to be completed within the degree framework, additional course work beyond the degree should not be required. Embedded certificates are intended to be thematic in nature and of interest to students across multiple faculties. When possible, embedded certificates should offer a breadth of courses across faculties related to the theme and should be open to students across the university with no dependency on a major area of study. Courses offerings should be flexible to enable completion within the number of units required for a bachelor’s degree. Embedded certificates are institutionally approved.

1. Doctoral Degrees: Advanced degree beyond the level of a Master’s degree that requires course work, completion of candidacy and successful defense of a doctoral thesis. Includes the PhD, which demonstrates mastery of a field of study and demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, and profession/practice oriented doctoral degrees (such as the Doctor of Education) which demonstrate advanced knowledge of professional practice and demonstrated ability to conduct independent applied research.. Doctoral degrees are identified in PAPRS.
2. Master’s Degrees: A degree requiring advanced study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Research-oriented master’s degrees focus on advanced research in a discipline and involve a significant supervised research component; may be thesis-based or course-based. Profession-oriented master’s degrees are course based and equip students with research-informed knowledge that prepares them to be advanced practitioners in their field of study. Master’s degrees are identified in PAPRS.
3. Combined Graduate Programs: Students are registered simultaneously in two degree programs at the University of Calgary or a degree and a post-baccalaureate certificate/diploma (e.g., JD/MBA, , JD/MPP MSW/MBA, etc.) Students must complete both programs concurrently. Students who wish to complete the programs separately will not be eligible for combined degree status. Two parchments will be issued.
4. Conjoint Graduate Degrees: A degree program involving more than one University.

1. Collaborative program: A collaborative agreement with another institution to offer a University of Calgary degree. The partner institution may provide some of the instruction, but the courses are University of Calgary courses. Sixty percent of the content must be delivered by the University of Calgary. A University of Calgary parchment is the only credential issued.
2. Cotutelle: A doctoral program conducted at two institutions, with a supervisory committee comprised of faculty from both institutions. Programs must include at least thirty-three percent of University of Calgary content (measured as time registered at the institution). The degree will be awarded by both institutions and parchments will indicate “Awarded under a Cotutelle arrangement with (University Name).”
3. Dual degree programs: Students study at two institutions. Students fulfill degree requirements at both institutions as outlined in a formal agreement. Students receive a transcript and parchment from each institution.
4. Joint degree programs: Students study at the University of Calgary and one or more other institutions. Normally includes at least fifty percent of University of Calgary content. Students receive one parchment. The University of Calgary parchment will indicate “Joint Degree offered in collaboration with the (University Name).”

Sub-Degree Nomenclature

1. Area of Study: Area of study highlights the area within a teaching faculty when the area is not evident in the degree title. For example, a PhD in Management will show the area of study as being Management. More than one area of study may be listed. Appears on the parchment and transcript. The area of study is identified in PaPRS.
2. Specialization: Specific focus within a graduate degree identified by specific course requirements. Appears on parchment and transcript. Specializations can be specific to an Area of Study, or Interdisciplinary (available to more than one area of specialization). Only one specialization is included on the parchment. Specializations are institutionally approved.
3. Interdisciplinary program: A thesis-based program that blends learning and supervision from two approved areas of study within the same degree title. A unique program plan is developed. A single parchment recognizes both areas of study (i.e., a PhD in Geography and Biological Sciences).

Graduate certificates and diplomas are typically stand-alone credentials that can ladder to higher-level credentials and are identified in PaPRS. There are three types of graduate certificates and three types of graduate diplomas that may be awarded by the University of Calgary:

Certificates:

1. Post-Baccalaureate: Comprised of a minimum of 12 units. Will be noted on the transcript and a parchment will be issued. Students participate in convocation. May ladder into a master’s degree.
2. Post-Masters: Comprised of a minimum of 12 units. Will be noted on the transcript and a parchment will be issued. Students participate in convocation. May ladder into a doctoral degree.
3. Post-Doctoral: Comprised of a minimum of 12 units. Will be noted on the transcript and a parchment will be issued. Students participate in convocation.

Diplomas:

1. Post-Baccalaureate: Comprised of a minimum of 18 units. Will be noted on the transcript and a parchment will be issued. Students participate in convocation. May ladder into a master’s degree.
2. Post-Masters: Comprised of a minimum of 18 units. Will be noted on the transcript and a parchment will be issued. Students participate in convocation May ladder into a doctoral degree.
3. Post-Doctoral: Comprised of a minimum of 18 units. Will be noted on the transcript and a parchment will be issued. Students participate in convocation.