Sample Course Plans by Programs and Modules
How to Start Your Social Science Journey: Building Your Degree, First-Year Courses, and Understanding Modules
As you embark on your journey into an undergraduate program in social science, you might have several questions: How do you build a degree? What courses will you take in your first year? What does a module look like? I hope to shed light on these aspects to address your curiosities and spark your excitement for the adventure ahead. Starting with a general program in your first year, you have the freedom to explore various courses and discover what aligns with your strengths and interests before declaring a specific program. One requirement is that you must include at least one credit from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities or the Faculty of Science, which ensures you have a broad academic experience. By March of your first year, you’ll submit an intent to register form, indicating your desire to return for your second year and your chosen program of study. This late declaration allows you ample time to refine your academic focus based on your experiences. The modular system we use enables you to build your degree with courses that align with your goals, strengths, and interests, though there are limits to the number of modules you can include. The most popular degree path is the four-year Bachelor of Arts, consisting of 20 credits. Let's delve into how your foundational first-year courses integrate with this modular system to shape your degree.
Crafting Your Perfect First Year Building Your Social Science Degree with Expert Guidance
For full-time students in their first year, the typical course load consists of five credits at the 1,000 level. Take, for instance, a student who enters social science with a keen interest in both psychology and economics. To build a module in psychology, this student must complete one credit in first-year psychology, and the same applies to economics. These two courses already account for two of the five credits required in the first year.
So, how does the student fulfill the remaining three credits? This is where summer academic orientation proves invaluable. Each summer, incoming first-year students are invited to connect with orientation experts to discuss their interests, strengths, degree options, and to make informed course selections. The summer academic orientation staff are well-acquainted with the first-year requirements for social science students and advise that anyone interested in psychology or economics should include a first-year math course as part of their foundational credits. Consequently, math appears in this student's first-year course plan.
Summer orientation staff also review students' high school math backgrounds to recommend appropriate math courses that meet the first-year requirements for both psychology and economics, ensuring that students stay on track to build modules in these areas. While it's beneficial for students to research their areas of interest before meeting with orientation staff, support is always available to help make informed decisions about first-year credits. In this case, the student, who excelled in high school English and has a passion for literature, opts for a first-year English course. This choice not only leverages the student’s strengths but also satisfies the breadth requirement for a credit from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities or the Faculty of Science.
After consulting with summer academic orientation staff, the student selects their final course: geography and environment. Discovering that this course covers physical geography, human geography, environmental studies, and geographical information systems, the student has now carefully curated a first-year course load that includes foundational credits for modules in psychology, economics, English, and geography and the environment.
Building Your Social Science Degree: Navigating Double Majors, Modular Credits, and Electives
As our first-year student progresses into their second year, they are excited to embark on their planned double major in psychology and economics. Each major module in social science typically consists of 6 credits, so with two majors, our student will be working towards a total of 12 modular credits—6 for psychology and 6 for economics, as depicted here. This visual representation illustrates how a 4-year, 20-credit degree is structured through the modular system, showing how the 5 credits earned in the first year lay a solid foundation for their degree. Additionally, you'll see that each year allows space for elective credits. These electives can be filled with breadth or essay credits if needed or with courses that pique the student’s interest and serve as prerequisites for future post-degree or graduate programs.
Navigating Social Science Modules: Choosing Your Path and Maximizing Flexibility
In the realm of social science, we offer a diverse array of modules to cater to various academic interests and career goals. The Honors Specialization, typically comprising 9 credits, allows students to delve deeply into a subject area with advanced-level courses, making it an ideal choice for those considering graduate school. Achieving marks in the 70% range is essential for this path. On the other hand, a Specialization also involves 9 credits but may include courses that are not as advanced, with a minimum mark requirement of 60%. A Major generally consists of 6 credits, while a Minor is made up of 4 credits and can complement either a Major or an Honors Specialization. Students who pursue a double major have the opportunity to earn an Honors designation, provided their marks meet the 70% threshold. Flexibility is a key feature of our program, as students can combine modules and even incorporate courses from other faculties, allowing them to explore a variety of disciplines and tailor their academic experience to their interests.
