Regulations for All Honours Programs
All students registered in honours programs are subject to the following regulations:
- An honours degree program must consist of a minimum of 20.0 credits, including at least 9.0 senior credits in the major or at least 6.0 senior credits in each of two combined majors 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 - Departments section, the Faculty of Science - Departments section, the School of Business and Economics - Economics Department section and Martin Luther University College) or a joint Honours BSc program (available combinations are described in the Faculty of Science - Departments section).
Where a combined program states a 100 level credit limit, the program with the lower limit applies to the combined degree. 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. - Progression requirements for the honours BA program are based on grade point averages (GPA) obtained from all courses taken and will be calculated on a cumulative basis. For progression, the requirement will be a minimum GPA of 5.00 (C) in each of the honours major(s) and a minimum overall GPA of 5.00. For graduation, a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 (B-) in each major and a minimum overall GPA of 5.00 is required.
This honours BA program regulation also applies to all honours BA and BSc programs in the Departments of Geography and Environmental Studies and Psychology (Exceptions are noted in the program descriptions of the Psychology programs, and the Biology and Psychology joint programs).
In cases where progression and graduation requirements of each of the constituent parts of a combination stipulates a different cumulative overall GPA required for the combination, the larger cumulative overall GPA will apply.
Some programs have additional progression requirements stated in the program description. Refer to Regulation 3 below. Honours students enrolled in options and minors must satisfy the progression and graduation requirements for those programs.
- 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.
- Students are expected to choose a major by the end of Year 1 (5.0 credits). For those who are still undecided at that point, they may continue in Honours BA Arts up to the time when they have completed 15.0 credits. Honours BA Arts students progress through Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 if they achieve a cumulative GPA of 5.00 (C) in Faculty of Arts credits. When the 15.0 credits have been successfully completed, normally by the end of Year 3, students must make a choice whether to graduate with a General BA degree without designation, or to declare an honours program and continue into Year 4. It is the responsibility of the student to fulfill the requirements of the honours program.
Students who fail to achieve a cumulative GPA of 5.00 in Faculty of Arts credits must proceed in the general program or may be required to withdraw if general progression requirements are not met.
Honours BA and BSc programs are excluded from academic probation regulations. - 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 University Undergraduate 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.
- At the end of Year 1, students may transfer into another honours program at the discretion of the department. Thereafter, students may not transfer unless they have maintained the progression requirements. All transfers after the end of Year 1 must have the approval of the department.
- 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.
- 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.
- At the end of Year 4 in a BA or BSc honours program, students who are registered in an honours program, meet all progression requirements and successfully complete all credits of that program, but who cannot graduate from that honours program because their GPA is insufficient, have the option of receiving a BA or BSc degree (without General or Honours) which denotes the major of the honours program and a maximum of two eligible options/minors on the transcript. Concentrations and specializations associated with an honours major are not allowed with an alternate degree. For all Faculty of Arts majors, an overall and major GPA of 5.00 must be met.
(Note: honours degrees will not recognize unsuccessful attempts at honours subjects taken in combination: students in a combined honours program who are unsuccessful in meeting the GPA requirements of one of their honours subjects do not have the option of receiving a degree which certifies completion of a single honours subject and a "general-level" major.)
