Last updated: April 3, 2013 @ 11:43AM

General Studies

Students wishing to pursue a pattern of studies that does not coincide with either a single major or a combined major program may choose either a Bachelor of Arts (Pass) Degree in General Studies or Bachelor of Science (Honours or Pass) Degree in General Studies.

Bachelor of Arts (Pass) Degree

BA in General Studies is available as a 15-credit degree only. Course selection for this degree program is strictly limited and as the requirements differ from other BA degrees, students should be aware of the specific requirements for this degree. The requirement for graduation with a BA in General Studies is a minimum 60 percent overall average on completion of program requirements.

A Bachelor of Arts General Studies degree will carry no major, minor or area of concentration.

Students electing to pursue a General Studies program should develop a program plan in consultation with an Academic Adviser in the Office of the Registrar. or with their respective Faculty Academic Adviser.

Program Notes
  1. The majority of the credits earned must be offered by Departments/Centres within the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences.
  2. It is recommended that students in the BA program in General Studies take one Humanities context credit; one Sciences context credit; one Social Sciences context credit; two elective credits in Year 1.
  3. A minimum of two credits must be included from both the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Social Sciences.
  4. In 15 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
    In some circumstances, in order to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 15 credits may be taken.

Program Requirements

A student may select a maximum of five credits from each of two disciplines (including courses cross listed with each discipline), with the exception of courses from the Faculties of Applied Health Sciences, Business and Education. A maximum of five credits may be taken from any combination of designated Applied Health Sciences, Business and Education courses (including courses cross listed with that faculty.)

Pass
·   one Humanities context credit
·   one Sciences context credit
·   one Social Sciences context credit
·   one additional Humanities or Social Sciences credit (see program note 3)
·   eleven elective credits (see program note 4)

Brock University/Niagara College Degree Completion Pilot Project

This degree completion program is designed for graduates of Niagara College's General Arts and Science program to complete a BA in General Studies at Brock. Due to the structure of the program Niagara College graduates will lack prerequisites for upper-year Brock courses. Course selection will be limited and students are advised to consult an Academic Adviser in the Office of the Registrar to develop a program plan. As this is a limited enrolment program applications will be reviewed by an Admissions Committee, chaired by the Chair of Sociology and composed of representatives from Brock and Niagara College. Students admitted to the program, who subsequently elect to change their major, may have the applicability of the transfer credits re-evaluated.

Program Requirements

Graduation from the Niagara College two-year General Arts and Science Diploma program with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of B (70 percent) or better (with a minimum grade of B in SOCL 100, 200 and 104) and a minimum grade of 70 percent in CANA 1F91.

To complete the BA program in General Studies, students will be required to complete at least seven Brock credits (in addition to CANA 1F91.)

Pass

A maximum of two credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; a maximum of two credits may be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above.
·   One APCO/COSC or MATH credit or one credit in a language other than English
·   one Sciences context credit
·   two and one-half SOCI credits
·   two and one-half elective credits (excluding SOCI courses)

Bachelor of Science

A BSc in General Studies is offered at both the Honours and Pass degree levels.

A BSc General Studies degree will carry no major, minor, or area of concentration.

Students electing to pursue a General Studies program must identify 2 subject areas, with the majority of credits earned offered by Departments/Centres within the Faculty of Mathematics and Science. In addition students should develop a program plan in consultation with an Academic Adviser in the Office of the Registrar. Such a plan requires approval by the Dean of Mathematics and Science.

It should be noted that a maximum of seven credits from any combination of courses from the Faculties of Applied Health Sciences, Business and Education can be included in an Honours BSc; a maximum of five credits may be taken within a Pass BSc. Education may only be used as the three-credit component and only in a Pass degree. An Honours degree with Education as a component is not possible.

Program Notes
  1. The majority of the credits earned must be offered by Departments/Centres within the Faculty of Mathematics and Science.
  2. Students with 70 percent or greater in 4U chemistry (or equivalent) must enroll in CHEM 1F92. CHEM 1P00 is designed to assist students with insufficient background in chemistry to succeed in CHEM 1F92. Students with less than 70 percent in 4U chemistry, or who have not taken advanced high school chemistry are allowed to take CHEM 1F92 instead of CHEM 1P00 by permission of the Department of Chemistry if they pass a written test of basic chemistry knowledge, which is administered before classes begin.
  3. The Science elective credit must be chosen from those courses offered by a department in the Faculty of Mathematics and Science, excluding ASTR 1P01, 1P02, SCIE 1P50 and 1P51.
  4. In 20 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)9 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
    In 15 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.

    In some circumstances, in order to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 15 or 20 credits may be taken.


Program Requirements

It is recommended that students in the BSc program in General Studies take the following courses in Year 1:
·   BIOL 1F90
·   CHEM 1F92 (preferred) or CHEM 1P00 and one-half elective credit of (see program note 2)
·   MATH 1P97 and 1P98
·   one Humanities or Social Sciences context credit
·   one Science elective (see program note 3)

In subsequent years a student may choose to declare a major, in a subject area of interest, or remain in General Studies and follow the program requirements outlined below.

Honours
·   Seven credits must be chosen in one subject
·   five credits must be chosen in another subject
·   three credits numbered 2(alpha)90 or above, with a minimum of two credits from the chosen subjects
·   three credits numbered 3(alpha)90 or above, with a minimum of two credits from the chosen subjects
·   one APCO, COSC or MATH credit
·   one Humanities context credit
·   one Sciences context credit
·   one Social Sciences context credit
·   two elective credits

Pass
·   Five credits must be chosen in one subject
·   three credits must be chosen in another subject
·   three credits numbered 2(alpha)90 or above, with a minimum of two credits from the chosen subjects
·   one APCO, COSC or MATH credit
·   one Humanities context credit
·   one Sciences context credit
·   one Social Sciences context credit
·   two elective credits