Program Requirements
Students who need to complete 97-120 credits to fulfil their degree requirements are admitted to the Freshman/Foundation Year. Students with specific career goals should consult an academic adviser about their choice of program within the B.A. & Sc. However, students intending to pursue further studies following the B.A. & Sc. should refer to the admissions requirements of particular programs for the appropriate prerequisite courses.
Foundational Courses
The Freshman/Foundation Year requirements include foundational courses in both Science and Arts which must be selected as follows:
MATH
At least two mathematics courses:
At most one of a First Calculus:
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MATH 139 Calculus 1 with Precalculus (4 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Review of trigonometry and other Precalculus topics. Limits, continuity, derivative. Differentiation of elementary functions. Antidifferentiation. Applications.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Roth, Charles (Fall)
Fall
4 hours lecture, 1 hour tutorial
Prerequisite: a course in functions
Restriction: 1) Not open to students who have taken CEGEP objective 00UN or equivalent.2) Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 140 or MATH 150. 3) Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 122, except by permission of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
Students continue in MATH 141
Each Tutorial section is enrolment limited
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MATH 140 Calculus 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Review of functions and graphs. Limits, continuity, derivative. Differentiation of elementary functions. Antidifferentiation. Applications.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Sabok, Marcin; Trudeau, Sidney (Fall)
3 hours lecture, 1 hour tutorial
Prerequisite: High School Calculus
Restriction(s): 1) Not open to students who have taken MATH139 or MATH 150 or CEGEP objective 00UN or equivalent. 2) Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 122, except by permission of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
Each Tutorial section is enrolment limited
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MATH 150 Calculus A (4 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Functions, limits and continuity, differentiation, L'Hospital's rule, applications, Taylor polynomials, parametric curves, functions of several variables.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Kelome, Djivede (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lecture, 2 hours tutorial
Students with no prior exposure to vector geometry are advised to take MATH 133 concurrently. Intended for students with high school calculus who have not received six advanced placement credits
Restriction(s): 1) Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 139 or MATH 140 or CEGEP objective 00UN or equivalent. 2) Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 122,except by permission of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
MATH 150 and MATH 151 cover the material of MATH 139, MATH 140, MATH 141, MATH 222
At most one of a Second Calculus:
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MATH 141 Calculus 2 (4 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : The definite integral. Techniques of integration. Applications. Introduction to sequences and series.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Trudeau, Sidney (Winter)
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken CEGEP objective 00UP or equivalent.
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 122,except by permission of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
Each Tutorial section is enrolment limited
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MATH 151 Calculus B (4 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Integration, methods and applications, infinite sequences and series, power series, arc length and curvature, multiple integration.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Roth, Charles (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lecture; 2 hours tutorial
Each Tutorial section is enrolment limited
Prerequisite: MATH 150
Restriction(s): 1) Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 141 or CEGEP objective 00UP or equivalent. 2) Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 122, except by permission of the Department of Mathematic sand Statistics.
At most one of a Linear Algebra course:
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MATH 133 Linear Algebra and Geometry (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Systems of linear equations, matrices, inverses, determinants; geometric vectors in three dimensions, dot product, cross product, lines and planes; introduction to vector spaces, linear dependence and independence, bases. Linear transformations. Eigenvalues and diagonalization.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Macdonald, Jeremy (Fall) Roth, Charles (Winter)
3 hours lecture, 1 hour tutorial
Prerequisite: a course in functions
Restriction(s): 1) Not open to students who have taken CEGEP objective 00UQ or equivalent. 2) Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 123, except by permission of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
SCIENCE
At least three foundational science courses:
Any number of:
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BIOL 111 Principles: Organismal Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to the phylogeny, structure, function and adaptation of unicellular organisms, plants and animals in the biosphere.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Hargreaves, Anna; L'Heureux, Anne-Marie; Shapiro, Benjamin Jesse; Hendry, Andrew; Cristescu, Elena (Fall)
Fall
2 hours lecture and 2 hours laboratory
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CEGEP objective 00UK or equivalent; or BIOL 115.
This course serves as an alternative to CEGEP objective code 00UK
Labs are held weekly, starting from the second week of term. Attendance at the first lab is mandatory to confirm registration in the course.
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BIOL 112 Cell and Molecular Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The cell: ultrastructure, division, chemical constituents and reactions. Bioenergetics: photosynthesis and respiration. Principles of genetics, the molecular basis of inheritance and biotechnology.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Dent, Joseph Alan; L'Heureux, Anne-Marie; Schöck, Frieder (Winter)
Winter
2 hours lecture and 3 hours laboratory
Labs are held weekly, starting from the second week of term. Attendance at the first lab is mandatory to confirm registration in the course.
This course serves as an alternative to CEGEP objective code 00XU
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking CEGEP objective 00XU or equivalent;or BIOL 115; or AEBI 122
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CHEM 110 General Chemistry 1 (4 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : A study of the fundamental principles of atomic structure, radiation and nuclear chemistry, valence theory, coordination chemistry, and the periodic table.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Sirjoosingh, Pallavi; Kakkar, Ashok K; McKeague, Maureen; Denisova, Irina (Fall)
Fall
Prerequisites/corequisites: College level mathematics and physics or permission of instructor; CHEM 120 is not a prerequisite
Each lab section is limited enrolment
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CHEM 120 General Chemistry 2 (4 credits) *
Overview
Chemistry : A study of the fundamental principles of physical chemistry.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Sirjoosingh, Pallavi; Sewall, Samuel Lewis; Wiseman, Paul; Denisova, Irina (Winter)
Winter
Prerequisites/corequisites: College level mathematics and physics, or permission of instructor: CHEM 110 is not a prerequisite
Each lab section is limited enrolment
* Note: CHEM 120 is not open to students who have taken CHEM 115.
At most one of a First Physics:
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PHYS 101 Introductory Physics - Mechanics (4 credits)
Overview
Physics : An introductory course in physics without calculus, covering mechanics (kinematics, dynamics, energy, and rotational motion), oscillations and waves, sound, light, and wave optics.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Caron-Huot, Simon (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lectures; 2 hours laboratory; tutorial sessions
Restriction: Not open to students taking or having taken PHYS 131, CEGEP objective 00UR or equivalent
Laboratory sections have limited enrolment
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PHYS 131 Mechanics and Waves (4 credits)
Overview
Physics : The basic laws and principles of Newtonian mechanics; oscillations, waves, and wave optics.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Ragan, Kenneth J (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lectures; 1 hour tutorial, 3 hours laboratory in alternate weeks; tutorial sessions
Corequisite: MATH 139 or higher level calculus course.
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken or are taking PHYS 101, or who have taken CEGEP objective 00UR or equivalent.
Laboratory sections have limited enrolment
At most one of a Second Physics:
Note: PHYS 101 is a prerequisite for PHYS 102; and PHYS 131 is a prerequisite for PHYS 142.
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PHYS 102 Introductory Physics - Electromagnetism (4 credits)
Overview
Physics : Electric field and potential. D.C. circuits and measurements. Capacitance. Magnetic field and induction. Electromagnetic waves and geometrical optics.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Provatas, Nikolaos (Winter)
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PHYS 142 Electromagnetism and Optics (4 credits)
Overview
Physics : The basic laws of electricity and magnetism; geometrical optics.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Guo, Hong (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory in alternate weeks; tutorial sessions
Prerequisite: PHYS 131.
Corequisite: MATH 141 or higher level calculus course.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking PHYS 102, or who have taken CEGEP objective 00US or equivalent.
Laboratory sections have limited enrolment
At most two of another Foundational Science:
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COMP 202 Foundations of Programming (3 credits) *
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to computer programming in a high level language: variables, expressions, primitive types, methods, conditionals, loops. Introduction to algorithms, data structures (arrays, strings), modular software design, libraries, file input/output, debugging, exception handling. Selected topics.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: M'hiri, Faten (Fall) M'hiri, Faten (Winter)
3 hours
Prerequisite: a CEGEP level mathematics course
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking COMP 204, COMP 208, or GEOG 333; not open to students who have taken or are taking COMP 206 or COMP 250.
COMP 202 is intended as a general introductory course, while COMP 204 is intended for students in life sciences, and COMP 208 is intended for students in physical sciences and engineering.
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ESYS 104 The Earth System (3 credits)
Overview
Earth System Science : Earth system science examines the complex interactions among the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere. It focuses on physical, chemical, and biological processes that extend over spatial scales ranging from microns to the size of planetary orbits, and spans time scales from fractions of a second to billions of years.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Minarik, William (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lecture
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PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3 credits) *
Overview
Psychology : Introduction to the scientific study of mind and behavior, including basic concepts and methods in psychology while also highlighting the relevance of psychology to everyday life; attachment, aggression, depression, parenting and personality change.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
2 lectures; 1 conference
Restriction: Not open to students who have passed an Introductory Psychology course in CEGEP: 350-101 or 350-102 or equivalent
* Note: Students in a minor or major concentration where COMP 202 or PSYC 100 is a required course will need to take an alternative COMP or PSYC course if using COMP 202 or PSYC 100 to satisfy the Freshman/Foundation Year requirement.
ARTS
At least three Arts courses (or 9 credits) to be chosen in two of the following three categories: Humanities, Languages, and Social Sciences.
A maximum of two courses (or 6 credits) may be chosen from one category, and no more than two courses (or 6 credits) can be taken in any one department.
Note: No course may fulfil the requirements for more than one program, including the B.A. & Sc. Freshman/Foundation Year.
Humanities (Literature and Civilization):
Courses selected from the following subjects:
- Art History and Communications Studies (ARTH and COMS)
- Classics (CLAS)
- East Asian Studies (EAST)
- English (ENGL)
- French Language and Literature (FREN)
- German Studies (GERM)
- Hispanic Studies (HISP)
- Islamic Studies (ISLA)
- Italian studies (ITAL)
- Jewish Studies (JWST)
- Music for Arts (MUAR only)
- Philosophy (PHIL)
- Religious Studies (RELG)
- Russian Studies (RUSS)
Languages:
Courses may be taken in this category to improve language skills.
Languages include:
- Classics (Latin, Ancient Greek, Modern Greek) (CLAS)
- East Asian Studies (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) (EAST)
- English as a Second Language (CEAP, CESL)
- French as a Second Language (FRSL)
- French Language and Literature (FREN)
- German Studies (GERM)
- Hispanic Studies (Spanish) (HISP)
- Islamic Studies (Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu) (ISLA)
- Italian (ITAL)
- Jewish Studies (Hebrew, Yiddish) (JWST)
- Russian and Slavic Studies (Polish, Russian, Armenian, Czech) (RUSS)
Social Sciences:
Courses selected from the following subjects:
- Anthropology (ANTH)
- Economics (ECON)
- History (HIST)
- Linguistics (LING)
- Political Science (POLI)
- Sociology (SOCI)
Advanced Standing/Transfer Credits
Students who have completed the Diploma of Collegial Studies, Advanced Placement exams, Advanced Levels, the International Baccalaureate, the French Baccalaureate, or McGill placement examinations may receive exemption and/or credit for all or part of the Mathematics and foundational science courses as well as exemption from all or part of the Arts courses requirement of the Freshman/Foundation Year. Similarly, students who have completed courses at other universities or colleges may receive exemptions and/or credits.
Advanced Placement Examination results with a score of 4 or 5 must be declared by the student at the time of initial registration at the University.
For more information about advanced standing, please consult: http://www.mcgill.ca/students/transfercredit/. Students must carefully select their mathematics and science Freshman/Foundation Year courses so that they have all the required prerequisites for their intended departmental programs.
