The information on this page, in conjunction with the eCalendar links provided, will help you plan your first year course selection as a U1 student in the Bachelor of Science.
On this page:
Finalizing your course selection
Selecting your program(s)
B.Sc. students are admitted to a program group (such as the Physical, Earth, Math & Computer Science group). You can choose any program from within the group to which you were admitted. As a U1 student, you must choose a program at the time of registration.
Choosing your "Program" means selecting:
- The type of program you wish to pursue (Liberal, Major, Honours, etc...).
- The specific discipline(s) you want to study (for example: Biology, Environment, Physics, etc...).
Consult the program types below to see how they are structured and how they will allow you to combine various disciplines in your Science degree.
Liberal program
Liberal programs provide students with the opportunity to study the core of one science discipline along with a breadth component from another area of science or from many other disciplines. In a Liberal program, you must complete a Core Science Component (CSC) (45–50 credits), plus a Breadth Component (at least 18 credits).
For the Breadth Component, you must complete one of the following:
- Minor Program (18–24 credits) – one of the programs listed in the eCalendar (see link below)
- Arts Minor or Major Concentration (18 or 36 credits) – one of the programs listed in the eCalendar (see link below)
- A Core Science Component in a second area (45–50 credits) – at least 24 credits must be distinct from the courses used to satisfy the primary Core Science Component. Note that a second Core Science Component can be selected from any of the Science groups.
Note that you while your first Core Science Component must be taken within the Science program group that you were admitted to, you can take a Minor OR a second CSC from another Science program group. If you are doing the B.Sc. Liberal, you won't be able to declare a second CSC from outside of your own group using MINERVA, so if you wish to do this, please email your assigned academic advisor to make your request and have your student record updated accordingly.
| To view the list of programs and their associated requirements, consult the following eCalendar Links: | |
|---|---|
| Core Science Components (listed by Science program group, under the heading "Liberal program - Core Science Components") | eCalendar link |
| Minor programs | eCalendar link |
| Arts Major and Minor Concentrations open to Science students | eCalendar link |
Major programs
Major programs are more specialized than Liberal programs and are usually centered on a specific discipline or department. A Major is a versatile, comprehensive primary area of study. Most Major programs require about two-thirds of your total credits. With the remaining credits, you can choose electives, or you may want to use those additional credits to take a Minor, which can be chosen from a wide variety of areas both within and outside Science.
| To view the list of programs and their associated requirements, consult the following eCalendar Links: | |
|---|---|
| Majors (listed by Science program group, under the heading "Major Programs" | eCalendar link |
| Minors | eCalendar link |
| Arts Majors and Minor Concentrations open to Science students | eCalendar link |
Honours programs
Honours programs typically involve an even higher degree of specialization (as compared with Liberal and Major programs). They often include supervised research and require students to maintain a high academic standard. Although Honours programs are specially designed to prepare students for graduate studies, they are not normally required to be admissible to most graduate schools. Students who intend to pursue graduate studies in their discipline should consult a Program advisor regarding the appropriate selection of courses in their field.
Students interested in declaring an Honours program must consult the eCalendar information for their program of choice as some Honours programs require the completion of specific prerequisites during your U1 year. Students must obtain prior departmental approval before declaring an Honours program - consult appropriate Program advisors to request approval.
| To view the list of programs and their associated requirements, consult the following eCalendar Link: | |
|---|---|
| Honours programs (listed by Science program group, under the heading "Honours Programs") | eCalendar link |
Joint programs (Joint Majors and Joint Honours)
Joint programs bring together related sciences. They are for students interested in working at the intersection of two major areas, rather than students with an interest in both areas (where a major and minor combination might be more appropriate).
Students interested in declaring a Joint Honours program must consult the eCalendar information for their program of choice as some Joint Honours programs require the completion of specific prerequisites during your U1 year. Students must obtain prior departmental approval before declaring a Joint Honours program - consult appropriate Program advisors to request approval.
| To view the list of programs and their associated requirements, consult the following eCalendar Link: | |
|---|---|
| Joint Honours programs (listed by group, under the headings "Joint Major Programs" and "Joint Honours Programs") | eCalendar link |
Get advice
Students selecting a program should choose an area that fits their general academic interests and background. The Bachelor's degree is intended to serve as a general preliminary step in the pursuit of major career goals. As a Science graduate, you will be prepared to pursue careers in a variety of fields that will make use of your specialist knowledge - you may find yourself applying to graduate schools, preparing for medical or dental school applications or considering careers in a wide range of occupations. The flexibility of the degree will serve you well after graduation, but having so many choices can feel daunting. This is why we recommend you put some time and research into identifying your strengths and interests and discovering what options you are most interested in pursuing.
McGill offers many resources through Career Planning Services, from tools that allow you to explore careers by Major or by Industry, obtain information on job market trends, or complete a Self-assessment (which is the first and the most important step in choosing an occupation or major and planning your career.
Students who are still unsure about their program choice may wish to discuss degree planning ideas with:
- Academic advisors (Degree advisors and Program advisors)
- Instructors and teaching assistants
- Career advisor
- Mentors
- Family
- Friends
Course and credit load
The normal course load is 15 credits (4-5 courses) per term for a total of approximately 30 credits (8-10 courses) per year.
Some basic science courses are worth 4 credits - this means that taking 4 courses can still add up to 30 or more credits for the year. You may wish to take only 4 courses in order to avoid being overloaded. If this is the first time you are studying in English, we strongly recommend that you take only 4 courses during your first term.
The credit rating of a course reflects the number of weekly contact hours. In general, a three-credit course indicates three hours of lectures per week for one term. Laboratory contact hours usually count for fewer credits. Credits also reflect the amount of effort required of the student and generally assume two hours of personal study for each contact hour. A typical semester full load is 15 credits, although 12 credits or more is considered full time.
Keep the following regulations in mind:
- 12 credits per term to maintain full-time status, eligibility for student visas, loans and bursaries;
- Up to 14 credits (4 courses) maximum per term for students in probationary standing;
- Up to 17 credits per term for students in satisfactory standing;
- 27 graded (non-S/U) credits per academic year (both the fall and winter terms) to be considered for renewal of entrance scholarships or for in-course McGill scholarships or awards, including Dean's Honour List; at least 27 graded credits that fulfill the degree requirements to be considered for faculty scholarships; 30 graded credits per year to maintain Canada scholarships;
- Maximum allowed credits is up to 17 credits per term for students whose standing is Satisfactory or Interim Satisfactory.
- Students whose CGPA is 3.5 or higher and who wish to take a course overload of up to a maximum of 19 credits are required to fill out an online request form and are strongly urged to consult their advisor. Allow several working days for the processing of your request. Note: Students in their first semester are not allowed to request a credit overload.
Finalizing your course selection
Once you have made your program choice and consulted with academic advisors (as needed), you will select your first year courses according to program requirements outlined in the eCalendar (see links in "Selecting your program"). It is also recommended that you consult the information provided on the websites of the department(s) offering your program(s) of choice.
Most courses chosen in the first year at McGill will be at the 200 level, with the exception of language courses, where the appropriate level will be determined by a placement test administered by the department offering the course. The first digit of the course number normally denotes the course level.