Faculty of Science

Academic Standing

The Faculty of Science operates under a "unit-weight" system in which student progress is measured by units successfully completed rather than by years. See "Determination of Level of Study" in the undergraduate studies academic calendar for details.

At the end of each term, the Examinations and Standings Committee of the Faculty of Science determines the academic standing for students in the Faculty. The grades defined under "General Information" in the undergraduate studies academic calendar are used to make these evaluations. The Registrar then posts academic standings on Quest.

Students, who meet the academic requirements for their plan, will be in Excellent, Good, or Satisfactory standing, depending on the plan and their term and overall averages. Failure to meet minimum average requirements for the plan may result in a Conditional or Failed academic standing. Students with a Conditional standing are strongly advised to meet with their Academic Advisor for plan-specific advice or the Science Student Success Officer (SSSO) for strategies to overcome barriers to academic success. Students with a Conditional standing are normally given only one additional term to attain a satisfactory standing.

Excellent, Good or Satisfactory Standing

Students who meet, or exceed, the minimum required standards of any academic plan will be placed in "Excellent," "Good," or "Satisfactory" standing. Assuming all other program requirements are met, most programs in Science use the standings as follows:

• Excellent: cumulative average greater than or equal to 80%
• Good: cumulative average greater than or equal to 70% and less than 80%
• Satisfactory: cumulative average greater than or equal to 60% and less than 70%

Please consult individual program descriptions for exceptions.

Conditional Standing

Students who marginally fail to meet the required standards of any academic plan, will be placed in Conditional standing. These students must regain at least a Satisfactory standing in that  program or will subsequently be withdrawn from it. Students are not able to graduate while in Conditional standing.

Students who receive a Conditional standing at the end of their first or second term of study may, with Faculty approval, choose to enrol voluntarily in the Foundation Term.

Progression Standards for students in 1A or 1B

Students in 1A or 1B who are given Conditional standing (i.e. who do not receive a Satisfactory or better standing) are encouraged to meet with the SSSO to determine their best course of action.

Failed

Students in 1A or 1B will normally receive an academic standing of "Failed" from the Faculty of Science under the following conditions:

• after failing a minimum of 1.5 units in a single academic term;
• after failing to achieve an overall cumulative average of at least 55% and a cumulative Science average of 55%; or
• if the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies, judges that a student is unlikely to profit from further study.

Students receiving this standing have three options:

1. Foundation Term: Student will be moved to General Science and must follow a structured term of courses as determined by the SSSO. The course load will be UNIV 101 and either two science courses, or one Science and one Math course, excluding SCI-labelled or SCBUS courses. Students must obtain a minimum grade of 60% in each lecture and lab. General requirements, principles, and outcomes can be found in the Foundation Term section of the undergraduate studies academic calendar.
2. Science Non-degree Term: Students who wish to pursue studies in another Faculty must enroll in a Science Non-degree term in preparation for the transfer.
3. Apply for readmission after an absence of two consecutive academic terms (eight months).

Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty

Students will normally have an academic standing of "Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty" in the following situations:

• not meeting the conditions for readmission;
• not meeting the average requirements for the Foundation Term.

Unsatisfactory - eligible for Honours Science Non-Major only

Students, whose overall, major or special major averages do not qualify for Conditional standing, will be moved into Honours Science. In a future term, depending on cumulative overall, major or special major average, students may be eligible to resume their original honours plans. Readmission to a co-operative program is not guaranteed and depends on availability of space and academic averages. For students with averages below the requirements for Honours Science, see "Unsatisfactory - eligible for General Science only".

Unsatisfactory - eligible for General Science only

When students in an honours plan do not qualify for Conditional standing or Honours Science, they may be moved to the General Science program, depending on their averages. Students are deemed to be successful in their subsequent term if both the cumulative science and overall averages are at least 55%. In a future term, depending on cumulative science and overall averages, students may be eligible to resume their original honours plan or can continue in General Science. Readmission to a co-operative program normally does not occur.

Progression Standards for students in 2A or above

Students in 2A or above who are given a Conditional standing (i.e., who have not achieved a Satisfactory or better standing) are encouraged to meet with the SSSO to determine their best course of action.

Unsatisfactory - eligible for Honours Science Non-Major only

Students, whose overall, major or special major averages do not qualify for Conditional standing, will be moved into Honours Science. In a future term, depending on cumulative overall, major or special major averages, students may be eligible to resume their original honours plans. Readmission to a co-operative program normally does not occur. For students with averages below the requirements for Honours Science see "Unsatisfactory - eligible for General Science only". 

Unsatisfactory - eligible for General Science only

When students in an honours plan do not qualify for Conditional standing or Honours Science, they may be moved to the General Science program, depending on their averages. Students are deemed to be successful in their subsequent term if both the cumulative Science and overall averages are at least 55%. In a future term, depending on cumulative science and overall averages, students may be eligible to resume their original honours plan or can continue in General Science. Readmission to a co-operative program normally does not occur. 

Failed

Students will normally have an academic standing of "Failed" from the Faculty of Science in the following situations: 

• after failing a minimum of 1.5 units in a single academic term;
• after failing to achieve an overall cumulative average of at least 55% and a cumulative Science average of 55% or
• if the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies, judges that a student is unlikely to profit from further study.

Students receiving this standing have two options:

1. Students who receive their first failed academic standing may normally apply for readmission after an absence of two consecutive terms (eight months).
2. Students who are already enrolled in courses for the following term, when they receive this standing, can either withdraw or be moved to a Science Non-degree term and allowed to finish that term. However, students who continue in a Science Non-degree term will not be eligible to apply for readmission into any Science degree program in the future.

Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty

Students will normally have a standing of "Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty" in the following situations:

• Not meeting the conditions for readmission;
• After failing more than 5.0 cumulative units, regardless of the Science or overall averages;
• Not meeting program/plan average requirements and/or failing 1.5 units or more, in any given term, following a previous "Failed" standing from the Faculty of Science.

Readmission following a "Failed" standing

Students who have had a "Failed" standing must submit a formal application for readmission to the Science Undergraduate Office two months before the requested term of readmission. Applicants must include, with their application, a statement outlining why they expect to succeed.

Readmission will include the following conditions. Students will be readmitted into the General Science program and must maintain a 55% cumulative GPA and a 55% Science average. This determination will be made based on a minimum of five lecture courses that must be taken within a maximum of two terms. Students must complete a minimum of two approved Science lecture courses, plus any related labs where applicable, each term. Successful completion of this term will result in clearing of failed and below-average course grades up to a maximum of 3.0 units. Cleared grades will be removed from averages but not removed from the student's academic record. When conditions are not met, students will receive a "Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty" standing.

Science Non-degree term

Students are normally allowed to enroll in one Science Non-degree term following a "Failed" or a "Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty" standing. Students enrolled in such a term are ineligible to return to any Science degree program. Enrolment in a Science Non-degree term is done in consultation with an Academic Services Officer and an advisor from the Faculty in which the student is anticipating admission.

Repeating Courses

When courses are taken twice but passed once, both grades are included in average calculations regardless of whether the failure occurred on the first or second attempt. In such cases, both a credit and a failure are recorded.  In instances where a successfully completed course is repeated, the second instance will not receive credit and will not count in the average.

Third attempts in previously failed courses, or their equivalent, are allowed in some plans in Science but not all. Where it is not allowed, the information is outlined in the program/plan section of the undergraduate calendar. Students uncertain of the rules for their program/plan should contact an Undergraduate Advisor before starting a third attempt. Fourth attempts are not allowed. 

Double Counting of Courses

• Primary academic plan: A set of courses, a number of which may be mandatory and of a specialized nature, that lead toward a degree (e.g., a BSc). Students can earn only one degree from one set of courses. Primary academic plans may include specializations, which provide additional depth into some aspect within the primary academic plan.

• Minor: A set of courses in a subject area that is outside the primary academic plan. Some minor plan requirements specify primary academic plans to which the minor cannot be assigned.

• Option: A specified combination of courses that provides a secondary emphasis in a primary academic plan. Options are meant to provide breadth beyond the primary academic plan and can be in another subject area or in a career-oriented area. An option normally stipulates fewer courses than a minor.

• Joint degree: A degree plan that includes a primary academic plan and a secondary academic plan in another faculty. The primary plan is the degree awarded. The secondary plan is stated as joint to that degree.

• Concurrent degrees: Two separate degrees that run at the same time and both are completed by the time of graduation. Two concurrent degrees within the Faculty of Science are not permitted e.g., BSc Chemistry and a BSc Physics. Concurrent degrees from more than one faculty will be considered on a case by case basis, and normally will include a residency requirement in each faculty.

Joint degrees, minors and options are subject to double counting because they are secondary plans that are added to the primary academic plan. Double counting of courses is allowed; where relevant, students should be aware of other faculties’ double counting rules. A course can be used only twice — once for the primary plan requirements and a second time for one of the following: a joint degree, minor, option, or other plan. A third count of the course is not allowed.

Some minors and options have additional restrictions; consult the plan description for details. Students transferring into Science need to consider transfers rules: Application for readmission and transfer students. Plans within the School of Pharmacy and School of Optometry and Vision Science may deviate from the regulations outlined above.

Science Regulations Governing 6th and 7th course enrolments/term

1. The maximum allowable per term lecture enrolment in the Three-year General BSc plan is 2.5 lecture units (5 courses).
2. The normal allowable per term course load in Honours BSc plans is 5 lecture courses and their associated labs.  Enrolment will be capped at 3.25 units per term unless it occurs as part of the published course sequence of a Science plan.

• Students are advised not to enrol in 6 lecture courses per term and, normally, will be required to drop one course unless their cumulative overall average is above 80%.
• Students wishing to exceed 3.25 units by enrolling in:
  
  • Any combination of lectures and labs, involving less than 7 lecture courses, will:
    • Submit a unit load override request to their program advisor for consideration, within the course selection period.
  • 7 lecture courses, will:
    • Normally, have a 90% cumulative average.
    • Submit a petition for consideration by the Science Petitions Committee.  The petition must be delivered to the Science Undergraduate Office and include the 70A form, supporting rationale or documentation, as well as comments from their program advisor. Petitions must be submitted at least one month before the start of the term (April 1 for Spring, August 1 for Fall, and December 1 for Winter).