Programs of Study

Programs are groupings of courses in one or more disciplines. Degree students must select and register in a Program or Programs following the session in which they receive their fourth credit. (Note: Some Programs have limited enrolment. See the Program descriptions for admission requirements or speak to the Program Supervisor.) A list of Programs may be found in the Guide to Programs and Courses Offered section of this Calendar. Only programs offered by the University of Toronto Scarborough may be used to meet the degree requirements.
Note: Successful completion of a program does not in itself ensure successful completion of the degree requirements. See the Degrees section of this Calendar.

Specialist Programs 

Specialist Programs normally consist of twelve to sixteen full credits, including at least four full credits at the C- and/or D-level, of which one full credit must be at the D-level. They 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.

Major Programs 

Major Programs normally consist of seven to eight full credits, including at least two at the C- and/or D-level. They are designed to provide concentration in an area of study defined as a discipline, a group of disciplines or a particular theme or area of study.

Minor Programs 

Minor Programs which consist of four full credits, including at least one full-credit at the C- and/or D-level are designed to provide study in a specific area for students desiring wide-ranging but coherent Programs of study in different areas of the curriculum. 

Approved Individual Programs 

Students may propose individual Programs of study, other than those described in this Calendar. Such proposals will be considered favourably only from students with cumulative grade point averages of 3.5 or greater. To be approved, individual Programs should specify four full credits for a Minor Program, six to eight full credits for a Major Program and ten to fourteen full credits for a Specialist Program. The courses should all be offered at U of T Scarborough and should form a logical program. The student should offer a rationale for the proposal. Proposals should be made to the Vice-Dean and must be submitted at least eight months prior to the session in which the student expects to graduate.

Co-operative Programs 

Co-operative programs are enrichment Programs designed to integrate related, practical experience with regular University studies. All Co-operative Programs are either Specialist or Major Programs and may be taken only as part of a four-year degree. Major Co-operative Programs must be combined with another Major Program. Academic credits associated with the successful completion of work-term requirements are additional to the 20.0 normally required for a degree. For this reason, some Co-operative Programs may take up to five years to complete.

 Joint Programs

Joint programs are offered in collaboration with Centennial College. All Joint Programs are either Specialist or Major Programs and may be taken only as part of an Honours degree. Joint Major Programs must be combined with another Major Program or two Minor Programs. In most cases, students also have the opportunity to qualify for a diploma or certificate from Centennial College, which may require one additional academic session. See specific program descriptions for more details.

Course selection and registration for Programs of study

  1. Students are responsible for ensuring that 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.
  2. While students with fewer than 4.0 credits are not required to select a Program, they should, when selecting their courses, consider carefully the requirements of any Programs they may later choose to follow. Supervisors, instructors in A-level courses and academic advisors may be consulted for assistance.
  3. Students who have registered in a Program should consult annually with the supervisors of their Programs to ensure that their course selection will meet Program requirements.
  4. Students must register in their Program(s) following the session in which they attain their fourth full credit.
Note: Successful completion of a program does not in itself ensure successful completion of the degree requirements. See the Degrees section of this Calendar.

Program Transfers

Students who wish to transfer from one Program to another after classes have started should discuss the proposed transfer with the supervisor of the new Program and notify the Registrar's Office of the change through ROSI.

Certification of completion of Programs

Completion of Programs is certified when the degree is conferred. Certification is given only for University of Toronto Scarborough programs. Students in their final year who have confirmed their intention to graduate at the next Convocation or who have confirmed that they are about to complete an upgraded degree do not have to request certification of completion of their Programs.
When Program requirements are changed, students may elect to satisfy the requirements in effect when the student first completed courses at U of T Scarborough or subsequent requirements if the student finds them more favourable. However, U of T Scarborough reserves the right to require substitution for courses which are no longer offered.

Regulations concerning Programs of study

  1. Students may register in no more than three Programs at any one time (including no more than two Majors and/or Specialists) and may receive certification of completion of no more than three Programs.
  2. Students may register in no more than one limited enrolment Specialist Program at any one time.
  3. Students may register in no more than one Co-operative Program at any one time.
  4. Where a student completes the requirements of a Minor Program and subsequently chooses to complete a Major or Specialist Program in the same area the student may use the courses already accredited to the Minor Program to fulfill the requirements of the Major or Specialist Program. Upon successful completion of the additional requirements, any previous certification of the Minor Program will be superseded on the student's transcript by certification of the Major or Specialist Program.
  5. Where a student completes the requirements of a Major Program and subsequently chooses to complete a Specialist Program in the same area, the student may use the courses already accredited to the Major Program to fulfill the requirements of the Specialist Program. Upon successful completion of the additional requirements, any previous certification of the Major Program will be superseded on the student's transcript by certification of the Specialist Program.
  6. Supervisors have the authority to deal with special circumstances concerning Program requirements. They may
    • accredit to Program requirements, courses 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 should ask their supervisor to record them on a Program exceptions form.
  7. Students should note that certain Programs will require them to take some of their courses on the St. George Campus. However, only University of Toronto Scarborough Programs may be used to meet degree requirements.
  8. Students intending to enrol in any course on another campus which they intend counting towards their Program should consult with their Program Supervisor first.
  9. Students transferring from another institution to the University of Toronto Scarborough will be required to complete at least half of their credits and half of their Program requirements as University of Toronto Scarborough students. Students transferring from other divisions of the University of Toronto are exempt from this requirement.

Registration in Programs which have been Withdrawn

Normally students will not be allowed to register in Programs that have been withdrawn. However, where the required courses for the Programs are still offered or suitable substitutions are available, students who have completed at least four full credits at the end of the session in which the Program is withdrawn may still apply for admission to the Program. Such admission will be contingent on a written agreement with the Chair of the relevant Department (or delegate), stipulating the requirements to be met and a time limit for the student's completion of the Program. Students should note that the University is not obliged to make such arrangements.
Students currently registered in Programs that have been withdrawn will be able to complete their Programs within a specified time frame. U of T Scarborough 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 Supervisor of Studies or the Chair of the Department in which the Program was offered.