Regulations for All Honours Programs

All students registered in honours programs are subject to the following regulations:

1. An honours degree program must consist of a minimum of 20.0 credits (or equivalent), including at least 9.0 senior credits in the area of specialization or at least 6.0 senior credits in each of two areas of specialization at the honours level. Individual departments may require more than this minimum. Students may elect to take a combined Honours BA program (available combinations are described in the Faculty of Arts - Departments section) or a joint Honours BSc program (available combinations are described in the Faculty of Science - Departments section). In cases where program descriptions of each of the constituent parts of a combination stipulates a different number of courses required for the combination, the larger total will apply.
2. Effective September 2005, progression requirements for the honours BA program will be based on grade point averages (GPA) obtained from all courses taken and will be calculated on a cumulative basis. For progression, the requirement will be a minimum GPA of 5.00 in each of the honours subject(s) of specialization and a minimum overall GPA of 5.00. For graduation, a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 in each area of specialization and a minimum overall GPA of 5.00 is required.
   This honours BA program regulation also applies to all honours BA and BSc programs in the Departments of Geography and Environmental Studies, Kinesiology & Physical Education and Psychology (with the exception of the Honours Political Science Research Specialization, Honours Psychology Research Specialist, Joint Honours Biology and Psychology programs).

   Effective September 2005, progression requirements for the honours BSc program will be based on grade point averages (GPA) obtained from all courses taken and will be calculated on a cumulative basis. For progression and graduation, the requirement will be a minimum GPA of 4.00 in each of the honours subject(s) of specialization and a minimum overall GPA of 4.00.
   This honours BSc program regulation also applies to honours BA and BSc programs in the Departments of Biology and Mathematics.

   Some programs have additional progression requirements stated in the program description. Refer to Regulation 3 below.
   Honours students enrolled in majors, minors and options must satisfy the progression and graduation requirements for those programs. Effective for new students admitted in September 2007, general major designations will no longer be available to students in honours programs.

3. Where student demand for entry or progression into Year 2 of an honours program in arts or science exceeds the availability of student spaces, students who meet the minimum criteria for progression from Year 1 to Year 2 will be considered for admission on the basis of their overall GPA (from all courses taken at Wilfrid Laurier University). Departments that intend to use other forms of GPA calculation must so advise students by October 1.
4. Students enrolled in honours programs who have failed to achieve the standing required for admission to the subsequent year of their program must proceed to the general program or may be required to withdraw if general progression regulations are not met. The honours BA and BSc programs are excluded from academic probation regulations.
   
5. Unless other department regulations apply, students who have failed a course may proceed in the honours program, provided they have the required average. (For calculation of a GPA involving a repeated course, refer to the section, Grades, in the Undergraduate University Regulations chapter.) Such a student must repeat a failed course if it is a required course. If it is not a course required for the program, the student may repeat the course, or take an additional course. No course may be attempted more than twice.
6. At the end of Year 1, students may transfer into an honours program from either a general or another honours program at the discretion of the department. Thereafter, students may not transfer unless they have maintained the progression requirements. In departments where there is a distinction between honours- and general-level courses, students may count a maximum of 2.0 senior general credits toward their honours course requirements. All transfers after the end of Year 1 must have the approval of both the department and the dean.
7. Students in honours programs and combination or joint honours programs must have their entire program approved by the honours department(s) by the beginning of each academic year.
8. Any exceptions to the honours regulations require the written approval of both the department and the dean. Exceptions that would make the number of credits required for graduation fewer than 20.0 are not permitted.
9. Effective September 2005, at the end of Year 4 in a BA or BSc honours program (including Economics), students who are registered in an honours program, meet all progression requirements and successfully complete all credits of that program, but who cannot graduate from that honours program because their GPA is insufficient, have the option of receiving a general degree that notes an area of specialization in the subject area(s) of their honours programs. The grade point average and other relevant graduation requirements for a general degree must be met. (Note: honours degrees will not recognize unsuccessful attempts at honours subjects taken in combination: students in a combined honours program who are unsuccessful in meeting the GPA requirements of one of their honours subjects do not have the option of receiving a degree which certifies completion of a single honours subject and a "general-level" area of specialization.