1. An honours degree program must consist of a minimum of 20.0 credits (or equivalent), including at least 9.0 senior credits in the area of specialization or at least 6.0 senior credits in each of two areas of specialization at the honours level. Individual departments may require more than this minimum. Students may elect to take a combined Honours BA program (available combinations are described in the Faculty of Arts - Programs and Courses section) or a joint Honours BSc program (available combinations are described in the Faculty of Science - Programs and Courses section). In cases where program descriptions of each of the constituent parts of a combination stipulates a different number of courses required for the combination, the larger total will apply.
2. Progression requirements will be based on grade point averages obtained from all courses taken and will be calculated on a cumulative basis. For progression from Year 1 to Year 2, the requirement will be a minimum GP(A) of 6.00 in each of the honours subject(s) of specialization and a minimum GPA of 4.00 overall. For admission to Year 3 and Year 4, and for graduation a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 in each area of specialization and a minimum overall GPA of 6.00 is required.
   Some programs have additional progression requirements stated in the program description. Refer to regulation 3.
   Honours students enrolled in majors, minors and options must satisfy the progression and graduation requirements for those programs.
3. Where student demand for entry or progression into Year 2 of an honours program in arts or science exceeds the availability of student spaces, students who meet the minimum criteria for progression from Year 1 to Year 2 will be considered for admission on the basis of their overall GPA (from all courses taken at Wilfrid Laurier University). Departments that intend to use other forms of GPA calculation must so advise students by October 1.
4. Students enrolled in honours programs who have failed to achieve the standing required for admission to the subsequent year of their program may proceed on academic probation for a period of 12 months, provided the honours department recommends, and the dean approves, such action. An honours student may proceed on probation only once. The terms of probation, which normally include making up deficiencies from the previous year, will be determined by the dean and the chair(s) of the honours department(s) and will be conveyed to the student by the Office of the Registrar.
5. Unless other department regulations apply, students who have failed a course may proceed in the honours program, provided they have the required average. (For calculation of a GPA involving a repeated course, refer to the section, Grades, in the Undergraduate University Regulations chapter.) Such a student must repeat a failed course if it is a required course. If it is not a course required for the program, the student may repeat the course, or take an additional course. No course may be attempted more than twice.
6. At the end of Year 1, students may transfer into an honours program from either a general or another honours program at the discretion of the department. Thereafter, students may not transfer unless they have maintained the progression requirements. In departments where there is a distinction between honours- and general-level courses, students may count a maximum of 2.0 senior general credits toward their honours course requirements. All transfers after the end of Year 1 must have the approval of both the department and the dean.
7. Students in honours programs and combination or joint honours programs must have their entire program approved by the honours department(s) by the beginning of each academic year.
8. Any exceptions to the honours regulations require the written approval of both the department and the dean. Exceptions that would make the number of credits required for graduation fewer than 20.0 are not permitted.
9. Candidates in an honours program for the BA or BSc degree who have passed all courses of the final year, but have failed to obtain the requisite average for an honours degree, may elect to receive a general degree. They may not repeat Year 4 to upgrade.

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Faculty of Arts

Official electronic version updated at 10:33 a.m. March 31, 2005

M Watson, Editor Class Timetable