L.R. Wilson Hall, Room 3038, ext. 24655, 23153
http://artsci.mcmaster.ca
DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Marquis/B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS
S. Anderson
R. Bishop/B.A.
COUNCIL OF INSTRUCTORS AS OF JANUARY 15, 2024
Alan Chen (Physics and Astronomy)
David Clark (English and Cultural Studies)
James Gillett (Health, Aging and Society)
David Goutor (Labour Studies)
Robert Innes (Indigenous Studies; Political Science)
Lovaye Kajiura (Biology)
Alexander Leferman (Philosophy)
David Lozinski (Mathematics and Statistics)
Elizabeth Marquis (Arts & Science; School of the Arts)
Inder Marwah (Political Science)
Anastasios Papanastasiou (Economics)
Jenna Rajchgot (Mathematics and Statistics)
P.K. Rangachari (Medicine)
Alina Sajed (Political Science)
Mat Savelli (Health, Aging and Society)
Manuel Vasquez Villavicencio (Arts & Science; Philosophy)
Jean Wilson (Arts & Science; Linguistics and Languages)
The Arts & Science Program provides students with a broad-based, liberal education. By means of electives, the Program also allows for substantial specialization in a particular discipline or area. The interdisciplinary Program has been designed for students who wish to further their intellectual growth through the study of significant achievements in both the arts and the sciences and through practice in methods of inquiry.
The integrated curriculum consists of courses offered by the Council of Instructors of the Arts & Science Program, together with other courses offered by departments across the University. The curriculum is designed to meet three major objectives:
- to enable substantial work in both the arts and the sciences;
- to develop skills in writing, speaking, and critical thinking;
- to foster the art of scholarly inquiry into issues of public concern.
Meeting the last of these objectives is the particular aim of inquiry courses, which begin in Level I and continue in Upper Levels. To investigate with skill and insight a complex public issue, such as world population growth in relation to food supply, requires an understanding of the methods and findings of many disciplines; it calls on a liberal education. Moreover, acquiring skill in such investigations requires practice in formulating questions, searching out evidence, and bringing the insights of academic disciplines to bear on the interpretation of evidence.
The Program offers preparation for advanced study in many professional schools, including those of business, dentistry, health administration, journalism, law, medicine, occupational therapy, and teaching; and for research in many disciplines and interdisciplinary areas.
Students in this program who wish to prepare for graduate study in an academic discipline should consult with the appropriate department concerning requirements. In general, preparation for graduate study may be accomplished by combining the core Honours Arts & Science curriculum with a concentration of electives in the intended area of graduate study. Combined Honours Programs, which are available in many subjects, combine the core curriculum of the Arts & Science Program with a prescribed set of courses in a subject and can typically be expected to satisfy course requirements for admission to graduate study in the particular subject.
Academic Regulations
Student Academic Responsibility
You are responsible for adhering to the statement on student academic responsibility found in the General Academic Regulations of this calendar.
Access to Courses
All undergraduate courses at McMaster have an enrolment capacity. The University is committed to making every effort to accommodate students in required courses so that their program of study is not extended. Unless otherwise specified, registration is on a first-come basis and in some cases priority is given to students from particular programs or Faculties. Students will be informed of their enrolment periods and are encouraged to enroll as soon as online enrolment is available to them in the Student Centre in Mosaic.
Student Communication Responsibility
It is the student’s responsibility to:
- maintain current contact information with the University, including address, phone numbers, and emergency contact information.
- use the university provided e-mail address or maintain a valid forwarding e-mail address.
- regularly check the official University communications channels. Official University communications are considered received if sent by postal mail, by fax, or by e-mail to the student’s designated primary e-mail account via their @mcmaster.ca alias.
- accept that forwarded e-mails may be lost and that e-mail is considered received if sent via the student’s @mcmaster.ca alias.
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The Arts & Science Program is governed by the General Academic Regulations of the University, (See the General Academic Regulations section in this Calendar) and the regulations described below.
The Program begins in Level I and leads to the degree, Bachelor of Arts & Science (Honours) on completion of Level IV. The four-level program provides an opportunity for specialization through electives and through an individual study or thesis course.
Students who decide to conclude their studies in the program on completion of Level III may qualify to graduate with the degree, Bachelor of Arts & Science (B.Arts Sc.). Students must have a GPA of at least 6.0 to continue in the program. In the case of some Combined Honours programs, the average must include specified courses.
Registration in Level I of the Arts & Science Program is limited to approximately 70 students.
Inquiry Seminar Requirements
Inquiry courses include ARTSSCI 1C06 A/B and a set of Upper-Level Inquiry seminars on a variety of topics. ARTSSCI 1C06 A/B must be completed in Level I. Twelve units of Upper-Level ARTSSCI Inquiry are required and are taken in Level III or IV. At least nine of these twelve units of Upper-Level Inquiry must be Level IV ARTSSCI Inquiry courses.
Combined Honours Programs
Students in the Arts & Science Program may undertake Combined Honours Programs in many disciplines within the Faculties of Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences. See Arts & Science and Another Subject for a list of combined programs that are already established. On-line application for Admission to Level II (April) is required for all Combined Honours Programs.
Individual Study/Thesis
Students in the B.Arts Sc. (Honours) Program are required to complete an individual study or thesis (ARTSSCI 4A06 A/B or 4C06 A/B ). Students in many Combined Honours Programs are also required to complete an individual study or thesis, often through a course in the discipline of their Combined Honours Program (offered by the relevant department). Students should consult the Combined Honours Program description for specific requirements (http://artsci.mcmaster.ca).
For further information, please see Academic Standing and Program Requirements in the General Academic Regulations section in this Calendar.
Minors
Students in the Arts & Science Program may elect to complete a Minor. Normally, a Minor requires students to complete a minimum of 24 units in the Minor subject. Students are responsible for ensuring that the courses taken meet the requirements for a Minor. Students who have the necessary requirements may apply for recognition of that Minor when they graduate. If granted, this recognition will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
Within the Arts & Science Program, Minors are available to students provided that the subject area of the Minor is not integral to the requirements of their degree program. At least 12 units (above Level 1) toward the Minor must be considered elective to the degree. At least 18 units must be completed at McMaster. A maximum of 6 units can be counted toward two separate Minors. No single course may be counted toward program requirements and two separate Minors.
Please see Minors in the General Academic Regulations section of this Calendar for further information. All courses have an enrolment capacity and the Program cannot guarantee registration in courses, even when all requisites have been met. Therefore, the completion of a Minor is not guaranteed.
Workload
Students are expected to avoid timetable conflicts among their courses, and students on a full academic load should ensure the number of courses is balanced in each term. Students who wish to take more courses than recommended for a single level of their program may request to do so if their Grade Point Average on completion of the previous Fall/Winter Terms is at least 7.0. Students are permitted to overload by up to three units during Fall or Winter Term with permission of the Director. Students registered in the final level of their program may request permission to overload by up to six additional units (three units per Term) in order to become eligible to graduate. Students wishing to enrol in more than 12 units during the Spring/Summer Session or more than six units in either term of that Session may do so with the permission of the Director. Additional academic fees will be assessed for overload work.
International/Canadian Exchange Programs
One calendar year before study abroad: Interested students should consult the Director, Arts & Science Program.
Calendar year of planned travel: No later than the end of December, students must propose a program of study for approval by the Director. Credit will be confirmed only after transcripts are received and academic achievements are reviewed on the student’s return.
To be eligible for study abroad students must have completed 60 units with a GPA of at least 7.0. The B.Arts Sc. (three-year) degree is not granted on the basis of international study; the 30 final units of work must be done at McMaster.
Information concerning student exchanges can also be found in the General Academic Regulations section of this Calendar under the heading “Exchange (Study Abroad)” and on the McMaster Exchange Program website (https://studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/global/study-abroad/). Inquiries can be directed to the International Student Services office at:
International Student Services
Gilmour Hall, Room 110
https://studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/international-students/
Telephone: (905) 525-9140, extension 24254
Bachelor of Arts & Science (Honours)