ACADEMICS
There are five main academic programs offered in the Faculty of Arts and Science: Cognitive Science, Environment, Sustainability, Science, & Society, Multi-Track Program, and the Joint Honours Program. These are programs that you declare in your U1 year, and work towards accumulating degree requirements for. Each one of these programs allows for ArtSci students to study their chosen disciplines from diverse perspectives.
Visit McGill's website for more about the academic programs offered in the Faculty of Arts and Science here.
PROGRAMS IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE
COGNITIVE SCIENCE (54 CREDIT MAJOR PROGRAM + 18 CREDITS MINOR CONCENTRATION + 3 CREDIT BASC 201)
Advisor: Ryan Bouma; ryan.bouma@mcgill.ca
Students in the Cognitive Science program study a wide range of topics in the fields of neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and computer science. There are required courses you must take in each of these disciplines, but students will pick one discipline or “stream” to focus on in their studies. These students must maintain 21 credits from each of Arts and Science within their Major Program and Minor Concentration. They also must take the required integrative faculty course BASC 201.
Click here for more information about the Cognitive Science Program.
Browse the Cognitive Science Program Checklist that will make it easier for you to plan your course selection (this can also be found on the "Advising" tab in the link above).
*Students who fulfill GPA and CGPA requirements may be eligible for an Honours Program in Cognitive Science. Learn more here: https://www.mcgill.ca/cogsci/honours
ENVIRONMENT (54 CREDIT MAJOR PROGRAM + 18 CREDIT MINOR CONCENTRATION + 3 CREDIT BASC 201)
Advisor: Kathy Roulet; kathy.roulet@mcgill.ca
Students in the Interfaculty Environment Program acquire a Liberal Arts and Science approach to studying environment and environmental issues. These students must maintain 21 credits from each of Arts and Science within their Major Program and Minor Concentration. They also must take the required integrative faculty course BASC 201.
Click here for more information about the Interfaculty Environment Program.
Browse the 2020-2021 MSE Student Handbook
*Students who fulfill certain GPA and CGPA requirements may be eligible for an Honours Program in Environment. Learn more here: https://www.mcgill.ca/study/2018-2019/faculties/basc/undergraduate/programs/bachelor-arts-and-science-ba-sc-honours-environment
SUSTAINABILITY, SCIENCE & SOCIETY (54 CREDIT MAJOR PROGRAM + 18 CREDIT MINOR CONCENTRATION + 3 CREDIT BASC 201)
Advisor: Ms. Michelle Maillet; advisor.geog@mcgill.ca
The SSS Program is an interfaculty program offered by Geography and the McGill School of Environment. Students in the SSS Program gain knowledge about Sustainability on the basis of three thematic pillars: (1) Science and Technology, (2) Economics, Policy, and Governance, and (3) Ethics, Equity, and Justice. These students must maintain 21 credits from each of Arts and Science within their Major Program and Minor Concentration. They also must take the required integrative faculty course BASC 201.
Learn more about the SSS Program here.
Browse the SSS Program Planning Document to help you plan your course selection (this can also be found on the "Home" page of the link above).
*Students who fulfill GPA and CGPA requirements may be eligible for an Honours Program in SSS. Learn more here: https://www.mcgill.ca/sss/honours
MULTI-TRACK PROGRAM (MAJOR CONCENTRATION IN ARTS + MAJOR CONCENTRATION IN SCIENCE + 3 CREDIT BASC 201)
BA&Sc Degree Advisor: Tania Raggo; tania.raggo@mcgill.ca
The Multi-Track Program is great for students who would like to study one subject in Arts and one subject in Science. Multi-Track students must be in contact with their individual concentration advisors for course related questions, and can contact Faculty of Arts and Science degree advisor Tania Raggo for degree related questions. They must also take the integrative 3 credit BASC 201 course.
Click here for more information about the major concentrations offered in the Multi-Track Program.
JOINT HONOURS PROGRAMS (MAJOR CONCENTRATION IN ARTS + MAJOR CONCENTRATION IN SCIENCE (PSYCHOLOGY OR MATHEMATICS) + 3 CREDIT BASC 201)
BA&Sc Degree Advisor: Tania Raggo; tania.raggo@mcgill.ca
Joint Honours Programs are available to students that meet GPA and CGPA requirements. This system is similar to the Multi-Track Program, but only Psychology and Mathematics are offered for the Major Concentration in Science. These students must also take the integrative 3 credit BASC 201 course. Joint Honours students must be in contact with their individual concentration advisors for course related questions, and can contact Faculty of Arts and Science degree advisor Tania Raggo for degree related questions.
Click here to learn more about the Joint Honours Programs.
ARTSCI ACADEMICS FAQ
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN U0 AND U1?
U0 students are students who do not come in with enough CEGEP/AP/IB Diploma credits in order to go straight into taking courses that will go towards their major program. Therefore, their first year is made up of courses that will fulfill their freshman program requirements.
On the other hand, U1 students come into their freshman year with enough credits to satisfy their freshman program requirements. Therefore, their first year at McGill is composed of courses that will begin to fulfill their major program requirements.
WILL THE MULTI-TRACK PROGRAM PREPARE ME WELL FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL IN MY CHOSEN DISCIPLINE(S)?
A little from McGill's Website: "The B.A. & Sc. provides excellent preparation for graduate degrees in integrated disciplines such as Cognitive or Environmental Science or Health Policy. The B.A. & Sc. may or may not be adequate preparation for an Arts or Science specific graduate program (such as Anthropology, Biology, or Russian Literature). If you intend to pursue an Arts or Science specific program at the graduate level, you should consult academic advisors in that discipline at McGill and at universities where you intend to apply in order to find out whether the B.A. & Sc. will prepare you adequately. If you are considering continuing on in a specific Science graduate program, you should examine the difference between the preparation provided by the 36-credit Major Concentrations in the B.A. & Sc. program versus the significantly more specialized major and honours programs offered in the B.Sc. programs."
HOW DO I PLAN MY DEGREE?
If you are a U0 student, you must first fulfill your freshman year requirements before fulfilling your major degree requirements. During your freshman program, it is advised that you look to take courses that are pre-requisites for classes that will go towards your major degree and minor (if necessary). Some helpful tools that you can use to plan out what freshman program courses you can take are the eCalendar and the freshman program page. Contact Tania Raggo if you have further questions that are not answered in these resources.
If you are a U1 student and in the Interfaculty programs of Cognitive Science, Environment, or Sustainability, Science & Society, look to the links in the above section to see the different program planning checklists or handbooks. If you are a U1 student pursuing the multi-track or joint honours programs, look at the links in the above section to see the different major concentrations offered in these programs and their various requirements. Contact the advisors listed in the above programs if you have any other questions that are not answered in these resources.
HOW DO I PLAN WHAT COURSES I TAKE?
Two helpful resources to help plan what courses you take are the eCalendar and the Visual Schedule Builder. Here, you can browse courses and determine which courses have pre-requisites, are offered during the fall or winter semesters, and if you have any conflicts between classes. The VSB does not show any tutorials, conferences, or labs that may be offered as part of your courses, but you will find out more information about these from your instructors at the beginning of each semester.
After you determine your course selection for each semester, log onto Minerva, and hit student menu > registration menu > quick add/drop. Here you will be required to put in the CRNs of the courses you picked on the Visual Schedule Builder. Once you put in all the CRNs, hit "submit changes" and you will automatically be put into the class MyCourses page that will contain the course materials and announcements you will refer to throughout the semester. If you have trouble with getting into any required classes, contact your advisor(s).
HOW DO I ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS?
There are many resources that you can access as a student. Some of them include tutorial services, SKILLS21 workshops, the McGill Writing Center, teaching assistants (TAs), and office hours. Sometimes there are Facebook or messenger groups set up for classes as well. Really take advantage of everything and stay tuned for some remote learning tips and study group sessions that will be organized by this year's FASC!
CONTACT ASUS VP FIRST YEAR AFFAIRS
Contact ASUS's VP First Year Affairs: