Programs

General Information

Programs, commonly referred to as Subject POSt(s), and sometimes as programs of study, are groupings of courses in one or more disciplines. Students are reminded that completion of a program (or programs) will fulfill only one component of the requirements necessary to earn their degree (see the Degree Requirements section of the Calendar). 

Degree students must select their Subject POSt(s) when they have passed 4.0 credits, including transfer credits. The first period to select and/or apply to programs begins in March for students who expect to complete their fourth credit by the end of the Winter session; the second period begins in June for students who expect to complete their fourth credit by the end of the Summer session.  

For a program to be considered complete, all of its program requirements must be fulfilled. Program requirements can be viewed on the Calendar on the page corresponding to the program in question.

Program admission and course requirements can change from year to year; the requirements they must complete are those that are in place for the academic session in which they were first registered in the program(s) they have selected as a Subject POSt, or any subsequent year. When selecting courses, students who have not yet selected a Subject POSt should consider carefully the admission and program requirements of any programs they may later choose to follow. Program Supervisors/Directors, instructors in A-level courses and academic advisors from the Academic Advising & Career Centre may be consulted for assistance. 

Students are strongly urged to consult frequently with their Program Supervisor/Director or departmental program advisors as they progress through the program requirements; they are identified in the Discipline sections of the Calendar. 

Program Supervisors/Directors and departmental program advisors have the authority to deal with special circumstances concerning program requirements. They may:

  • Accredit to program requirements, courses are taken on other campuses of this University or at other Universities; and
  • Permit course substitutions or other modifications of program requirements where they deem them appropriate.

When special arrangements are made, students must ask their Program Supervisor, or departmental program advisor, to record them in Degree Explorer. 

 

Types of Programs

Specialist

  • Specialist programs are designed to provide depth and intensity of study within a limited area defined as a discipline, a group of disciplines, or a particular theme or area of study. They will normally require students to complete 12.0 to 16.0 credits, including at least 4.0 credits at the C- and/or D-level, of which 1.0 credit must be at the D-level. 

Major

  • Major programs are designed to provide a concentration in an area of study defined as a discipline, a group of disciplines or a particular theme or area of study. They will normally consist of 7.0 to 9.0 credits, including at least 2.0 credits at the C- and/or D-level. 

Minor

  • Minor offerings are designed to provide study in a specific area for students desiring wide-ranging but coherent programs in different areas of the curriculum. They will normally consist of 4.0 to 5.0 credits, including at least 1.0 credit at the C- and/or D-level. 

 

Limited and Unlimited Enrolment

Programs are designated as either "limited" or "unlimited" enrolment. To determine if a program is limited or unlimited enrolment visit the Office of the Registrar website.  

Limited Enrolment

  • Enrolment in some programs is limited to a maximum number of students. Such limits are generally defined by specified course and/or grades "enrolment" requirements, which are identified in the discipline areas of this Calendar and/or in descriptions of individual programs. Other admission requirements may also apply. 

Unlimited Enrolment

  • Beyond the overall limitations on program enrolment stated above, unlimited enrolment programs will not have enrolment requirements, and will not limit the number of students who may enroll. 

 

Registration for Subject POSt(s)

Degree students must select their Subject POSt(s) when they have passed 4.0 credits, including transfer credits. The first period to select and/or apply to programs begins in March for students who expect to complete their fourth credit by the end of the Winter session; the second period begins in June for students who expect to complete their fourth credit by the end of the Summer session.

Students may only select Subject POSt(s) offered by UTSC; instructions can be found on the Office of the Registrar website.

Program admission and course requirements can change from year to year through the curriculum change process; students must complete the requirements that are in place for the academic session in which they were first registered in the program(s) they have selected as a Subject POSt, or any subsequent year.

The Calendar is published once annually, normally by mid-May and comes into effect as of September of the same year. Consult Program Supervisors, instructors in A-level courses and academic advisors from the Academic Advising & Career Centre for assistance regarding changes to program or course requirements.

Students in first year (e.g., with fewer than 4.0 credits) are not required to select a program, however, course selection may be guided by the admission and program requirements of any programs they may choose to register in. Consult Program Supervisors/Directors, instructors in A-level courses and academic advisors from the Academic Advising & Career Centre for assistance with course selection. 

Notes:

  • Students who have registered in a program(s) should consult at least once each year with their program supervisor to ensure their course selection will meet program requirements.

  • Students are responsible for ensuring their course selection will enable them to complete the requirements of their program(s) by the time they complete their other degree requirements. In certain programs, approval by the supervisor of some or all courses is necessary. In all programs, the supervisor is available for advice concerning program requirements and course selection. 

     

Changing Programs

  • Students wanting to change their UTSC program(s) must do so through ACORN.
  • Students should be mindful that admission and course requirements can change from year to year; students must meet the program admission requirements and complete the course requirements that are in place for the academic session in which first they begin the program(s) they have selected as a Subject POSt, or any subsequent year. It is therefore in the student's best interest to declare the change in Subject POSt as early as possible.
  • As all Specialist programs in Management (BBA) share a common core of course requirements, students who have already been admitted to a Specialist Management Subject POSt, but who wish to move from one Specialist Management program to another Specialist Management program are permitted to follow the program requirements in place when they were originally admitted to a Management program.
  • Students who are enrolled in a Co-operative program Subject POSt who want to move from the Co-op program to the non Co-op version of the same program may follow the program requirements that are in place for the year the student was admitted to the Co-op program, or any subsequent year.
  • Students who have started, or completed, the course requirements of a program, and subsequently decide to move to a different program in the same subject area (e.g., moving from a Minor in Global Asia Studies to a Major or Specialist in Global Asia Studies, or from a Specialist in Human Biology to a Major in Human Biology) may use the courses already completed towards the new program. Students must meet the program admission requirements and complete the course requirements that are in place for the academic session in which they first begin the program(s) they have selected as a Subject POSt, or any subsequent year. It is therefore in the student's best interest to declare the change in Subject POSt as early as possible.
  • Students are cautioned that some programs of study are subject to higher tuition fees. These fees will be retroactively applied, and students should consult with the Office of the Registrar in advance of making any changes.

 

Language Citation

The Language Citation is intended to provide an incentive to students who are interested in intensive study of a particular language but who cannot, or may not wish to, complete a Specialist, Major, or Minor in the language. It is neither a substitute for a program in the language nor does it impede students wishing to complete such a program. It simply acknowledges language proficiency on the student's transcript. 

The Language Citation is available to students who graduate in 2007 or in a later year. Students who graduated prior to 2007 may be eligible for this citation if they return to UTSC for further language study that contributes to the assessment of the Citation.

Requirements for the Language Citation:

  • The Citation may be earned in French or Mandarin.
  • Students must complete 2.0 credits in the language beyond the introductory level and must achieve a final grade of at least B- in each of the courses that make up those two credits.
  • The 2.0 credits may be language instruction or other courses (e.g. literature courses) where instruction is in the language to be assessed.
  • Students normally take 1.0 credit at the introductory level. Those who already have proficiency in a language and wish to proceed directly to courses beyond the introductory level should consult the relevant program supervisor about appropriate placement. Similarly, students who wish to include courses taken in a country where the language is spoken should consult the relevant program supervisor about appropriate study abroad options. 

Assessment of the Language Citation

The Language Citation will be assessed at the point of graduation. To apply for a Citation, students should contact the Department of Language Studies in advance of graduation, presenting the Department with a copy of their academic record (produced from ACORN through the Student Web Service) and indicating the courses they would like considered in the assessment. For more information contact dls-ua@utsc.utoronto.ca.

The Language Citation will consist of a notation in the UTSC section of the transcript that reads: "Completed the requirements of the Language Citation in [Name of Language]." 

 

Joint Programs with Centennial College

UTSC and Centennial College collaborate to offer Joint programs. These programs build on the academic strengths of the University of Toronto degree together with Centennial College's strengths in technical and practical education. Students earn a University of Toronto degree, and also have the opportunity to qualify for a diploma or certificate from Centennial College, which in some cases may require the completion of an additional academic session. 

All Joint Programs are limited enrolment Specialist or Major programs, and may be taken only as part of an Honours BA or BSc degree. Currently, the following Joint programs are offered:

For specific program details, including application procedures, admission requirements, and program requirements visit the Joint Programs website. Program admission and course requirements are also described in the relevant discipline sections as well as the broader Joint Programs section of the Calendar.

Students in Joint programs will enroll in all degree credit courses at UTSC through ACORN, including those taken at Centennial College. It is recommended to meet regularly with the Joint Programs Co-ordinator to ensure you are progressing appropriately through their program.

Registration and academic information for the Joint programs are shared with the relevant Program Supervisor and Departments at Centennial College.

Tuition and incidental fees are payable to the University in the normal way. In each session in which students are taking one or more courses at Centennial College, a program fee relating to the use of materials is charged. The amount of the fee varies by program. 

 

Combined Degree Programs

UTSC offers a diverse array of Combined Degree Programs (CDPs). A CDP allows a student to be registered in two-degree programs at the same time, creating one approved program combination and pathway. Students complete the requirements for both degrees in a manner that provides a benefit that would not be available to students completing each degree program separately. For more information, see the Combined Degree Programs section of this Calendar.

 

Programs with Suspended Enrolments

Enrolment into the following programs has been suspended indefinitely. Students already enrolled in these programs must refer to the Calendar active at the time they first chose the program as a Subject POSt. 

Suspended effective the 2020-21 academic year:

  • Minor Program in Curatorial Studies

Suspended effective the 2019-20 academic year:

  • Stream in Health Informatics, Specialist/Specialist Co-op Program in Computer Science

Suspended effective the 2014-15 academic year:

  • Major Program in Diaspora and Transnational Studies (Arts)
  • Minor Program in Diaspora and Transnational Studies (Arts)

Suspended effective the 2013-14 academic year:

  • Specialist (Co-operative) Program in Arts Management (Arts)
  • Minor Program in Health Studies (Arts)
  • Minor Program in Religion (Arts)

Suspended effective the 2010-11 academic year:

  • Major Program in International Development Studies (Science)
  • Major Program in International Studies (Arts) 

 

Registration in Programs That Have Been Closed

Students who are already registered in programs that have been suspended to new enrolments or fully closed will be able to complete their programs. UTSC will either offer the courses necessary for them to complete program requirements or will make other appropriate arrangements such as course substitutions. Students should consult with the relevant Program Supervisor/Director or the Chair/Director of the academic unit in which the program was offered. 

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