Undergraduate Program Requirements

Major/Plan: A scholarly focus in an academic subject area offering both breadth and depth, such as Biophysics or Human Resources Management, consisting of 24 to 30 core courses (based on a standard 40 course degree program).

Double Major/Plan: Offered only in the Bachelor of Arts degree. An approved scholarly focus in one program in two, combined, academic subject areas, such as English and History, English and Philosophy, Criminology and Sociology, consisting of 13-15 core courses in each Major area of study.

Courses that comprise an essential knowledge base for a career or further study. In many programs these are labelled as Required or Core Elective courses.

A degree level course that provides choice in the core studies of a program.

Degree level courses related either to their career paths or their personal interests. Open electives allow students to experience subject matter outside their core area(s) of study(ies), to earn a Minor, and/or to gain greater depth or breadth within their core studies.

Open electives include all degree-level courses except those identified as liberal studies courses, courses graded on a pass/fail basis, and those courses specifically excluded by Program or Teaching Departments/Schools.

Liberal Studies develop the capacity to understand and appraise the social and cultural context in which the graduate will work as a professional and live as an educated citizen. Courses are indicated as follows, LL - Lower Level, UL - Upper Level, some language courses can be both LL and UL. Courses not identified as either (LL) or (UL) are NOT Liberal Studies courses and will not be used towards the fulfilment of a Liberal Studies Requirement for graduation purposes.

Liberal Studies courses must be completed as part of the requirements for graduation in all TMU undergraduate programs. The required number of Lower and Upper Level Liberal studies courses varies according to program.

Courses must be in disciplines outside your field of professional specialization; their purpose is to develop your capacity to understand and appraise the social and cultural context in which graduates will work as professionals and live as educated citizens.

Due to their close relation to the professional fields, certain courses listed in the Lower Level Liberal Studies Table A (opens in new window)   and in the Upper Level Liberal Studies Table B (opens in new window)  cannot be taken for Liberal Studies credit by students in some programs. A list of these programs and restricted courses is provided in the Undergraduate Calendar. (opens in new window) 

A Minor is an opportunity for you to explore a secondary area of undergraduate study either for personal interest beyond your degree program, or as an area of specific expertise related to your degree program.  Minors are noted only a student's transcript, not on the degree parchment.

A minor consists of a specific set of six courses as outlined in the Minors section of the Undergraduate Calendar.  You cannot substitute courses for a minor.  Some minors are not available to students in some programs, where the subject matter is too close to their main discipline.  These restrictions are stated in the Undergraduate Calendar. 

 Note: Student's priority should be given to the completion of their program’s graduation requirements. Taking courses over and above basic program requirements in order to earn a Minor may adversely affect overall academic performance and jeopardize Academic Standing. Students on Probationary Standing will not be authorized to take extra courses for the purposes of earning a Minor.

For more details, go to the Undergraduate Calendar. (opens in new window) 

Graduating with a Minor

It is your responsibility to apply for the Minor at the time you submit an Application to Graduate on MyServiceHub. Step by Step instructions are available through MyServiceHub Support - Select a Minor. (opens in new window) 

Your eligibility to graduate from your program will not be affected in the event that you do not meet graduation requirements of the Minor(s).   

A Specialization is an optional, formal recognized designation showing successful completion of a required series of courses.

Toronto Metropolitan University’s Optional Specializations provide an opportunity for students to enrich and augment their studies by focusing on a particular area of interest.  

Specialization courses are completed in addition to the student’s regular program requirements, often in the Spring/Summer or via Distance Education. Optional Specializations are noted on the student’s Official Transcript upon graduation from their program.

More information on Optional Specializations can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar. (opens in new window) 

A Concentration is a group of defined (6 -12 one-count core elective) courses representing a sub-specialization or emphasis within the major area of study. More than one Concentration may be completed but an individual course may only be applied to the requirements of one Concentration.

Concentrations (opens in new window)  must be formally declared and completed as part of graduation from your program. Concentrations are noted on a student's academic record/official transcript. 

For complete details and to see if your program includes/offers a Concentration go to the Undergraduate Calendar. (opens in new window) 

A program may also include other educational components: Option, Stream, Module, Co-Operative Work Term, Internship, etc.

Completion of the program's curriculum within a timespan from admission to the program to graduation must not exceed the number of years as follows:

• Full-time degree programs: the maximum timespan is normally 8 (eight) years, calculated as the number of years of curriculum outlined in the undergraduate calendar multiplied by 2 (two). In the case of co-op programs requiring an additional year of program registration, 1 (one) additional year is added to the normal timespan.
  
• Part-time degree programs: the maximum timespan is normally 14 (fourteen) years, calculated as the number of required single-term courses (or equivalent) divided by 3 (three).
• Under extenuating circumstances, students may petition from the Dean or Designate of their Faculty for an extension. Students will be required to meet the academic requirements in effect when/if the extension is granted. To petition for a Timespan Extension, students must complete the  (PDF file) Undergraduate, Law and Chang School Timespan Extension Petition Form and follow the submission instructions on the form. 
  
• If the timespan extension is denied, or if an additional timespan is required after the approved timespan extension is completed, students can appeal to the Senate Appeals Committee for a final consideration of their request. Senate Appeal Committee decisions are final and not appealable.  To submit an appeal to the Senate Appeal Committee, students must complete the  (PDF file) Senate Appeal of Timespan and follow the submission instructions on the form.

Refer to Senate Policy 170(a): Policy on Undergraduate Course Grading, Academic Program Standing, and Eligibility to Graduate (opens in new window) .

• Program time span is normally 3 (three) years. The Extended Time Program (ETP) is available to students who require extended time to complete their degree on health-related grounds, for reasons relating to accessibility, to meet family-care demands, and for other extenuating circumstances.
• Students unable to complete their studies within the 3 year period (6 years for approved ETP students) may petition from the Dean or Designate of their Faculty for an extension. Students will be required to meet the academic requirements in effect when/if the extension is granted. To petition for a Timespan Extension, students must complete the  (PDF file) Undergraduate, Law and Chang School Timespan Extension Petition Form and follow the submission instructions on the form.
• The total extended time cannot exceed cannot exceed six years for full-time students or eight years for ETP students.
• If the timespan extension is denied, or if an additional timespan is required after the approved timespan extension is completed, students can appeal to the Senate Appeals Committee for a final consideration of their request. Senate Appeal Committee decisions are final and not appealable.  To submit an appeal to the Senate Appeal Committee, students must complete the  (PDF file) Senate Appeal of Timespan (opens in new window)  and follow the submission instructions on the form.

Refer to Senate Policy 170(a): Policy on Undergraduate Course Grading, Academic Program Standing, and Eligibility to Graduate (opens in new window) .

• Chang School Certificate Programs: the number of required single-term courses (or equivalent) divided by 2 (two), plus 1 (one) year. The maximum timespan is measured from the original registration in the certificate program.
• Under extenuating circumstances, students may petition from the Program Director for the Chang School for an extension. Students will be required to meet the academic requirements in effect when/if the extension is granted. To petition for a Timespan Extension, students must complete the  (PDF file) Undergraduate, Law and Chang School Timespan Extension Petition Form and follow the submission instructions on the form. 
• If the timespan extension is denied, or if an additional timespan is required after the approved timespan extension is completed, students can appeal to the Senate Appeals Committee for a final consideration of their request. Senate Appeal Committee decisions are final and not appealable.  To submit an appeal to the Senate Appeal Committee, students must complete the  (PDF file) Senate Appeal of Timespan and follow the submission instructions on the form.

Refer to Senate Policy 170(a): Policy on Undergraduate Course Grading, Academic Program Standing, and Eligibility to Graduate (opens in new window) .