Majors and Minors

Majors

There are 27 different majors (2022/23 Undergraduate Calendar) to choose from in the Honours B.Sc. program. These 27 majors are generally divided into three groups: Biological Science, Physical Science and Additional Science. Each major will have an assigned Program Counsellor and B.Sc. Faculty Advisor. The following list separates all the B.Sc. majors into the three categories. The courses required for each major can be determined by following the links to the Schedule of Studies in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Biological science:

Physical science:

Additional science:

Switching Majors

Switching to a different major within the Honours B.Sc. program is generally a straightforward process. Students should follow the instructions below if they wish to switch their major (students wishing to switch to the BIOM or HK majors must submit an application and meet minimum requirements to be accepted - further information also given below).

Students who are currently registered in the General B.Sc. program may also switch into a major in the Honours B.Sc. program by following the process below. The same is true for students wishing to switch from the Honours B.Sc. to the General B.Sc.

All majors - with the exception of Bio-Medical Science, Human Kinetics, and all Co-op programs - only require the approval of the Program Counsellor for the new major in order to switch.

Please follow these three easy steps:

1. Complete an Undergraduate Schedule of Studies Change Request form.
2. Please email the completed form to bscweb@uoguelph.ca for authorization. Be sure that you have signed the form.
3. We will forward your authorized form for final processing by the Registrar's Office.

For example, if you are switching from the Biological Science major to the Zoology major, you would write the following into the corresponding spaces on the form (no quotes):

Degree Program (top line): "BSCH"

Current Schedule of Studies:
Program Type: "Honours"
Specializations Type #1: "Major"
Specializations Subject #1: "Biological Science"

Revised Schedule of Studies:
Program Type: "Honours"
Specializations Type #1: "Major"
Specializations Subject: #1 "Zoology"

'Calendar to be used' is most often the year you started at the University of Guelph, and indicates the Undergraduate Calendar year requirements that you are following for your program. Leave blank if you are unsure. Please contact your Program Counsellor if you have any questions regarding your Undergraduate Calendar year.

'College' may be left blank if you are unsure.

In most cases, the sections dealing with Course Substitutions, Exemptions and Waivers will be left blank.

B.Sc. students who wish to switch to the Bio-Medical Science major or the Human Kinetics major must apply to do so by the last class day of the Winter semester. Please consult the Undergraduate Calendar for entry requirements (BIOM or HK). These majors only admit students at one time during the academic year. Apply directly to the Department of Biomedical Sciences or the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences by submitting a Schedule of Studies Change Request form to Kim Best (BIOM - OVC Room 2633) or Anne Lovett-Hutchinson (HK - ANNU 353).

If you wish to apply to a Co-op major, please see the information and instructions on the Co-operative Education & Career Services Website.

If you have any questions about switching to a different B.Sc. major, please contact the B.Sc. Academic Counselling Centre at bscweb@uoguelph.ca for assistance.

Switching or declaring a major from a general degree:

If you are currently enrolled in the General B.Sc. program, you will need to follow the same process as above to switch into the Honours B.Sc. degree program and declare a major. Please complete the Schedule of Studies Change Request form to switch from the General B.Sc. to the Honours B.Sc. with a major.

Changing Undergraduate Calendar Year

Students who wish to do so may generally move forward to a newer Undergraduate Calendar year for their major and minor (if applicable). For example, if the requirements for the major or minor have changed and you wish to follow the new requirements. However, both major and minor must normally follow the same Undergraduate Calendar year.  Moving backward in Undergraduate Calendar year is usually not an option. To change Undergraduate Calendar year, please complete an Undergraduate Schedule of Studies Change Request form and submit to the B.Sc. Academic Counselling Centre for authorization.

Minors

Minors are available in science, business, arts and social science areas. A minor may include additional prerequisite courses not included in the minor, so it is best to consult the Faculty Advisor with any questions. In the links below, please scroll down to the bottom of the page for the listing of minor requirements. Please note that the Studio Art and Criminal Justice & Public Policy (suspended, see below) minors will require a signature from the Faculty Advisor for the minor before declaring, as there are specific requirements that must be met.

Biological sciences:

Mathematical sciences

Physical sciences:

Environmental sciences:

Additional minors:

The following Liberal Education minors are available:

Declaring a Minor

For most minors, only the signature of your Program Counsellor is required to declare a minor - whether in the Sciences, Arts, or Social Sciences. Please note that the Studio Art and Criminal Justice & Public Policy (suspended) minors will require a signature from the Faculty Advisor for the minor before declaring, as there are specific requirements that must be met. The B.Sc. Program Counsellors can authorize the addition of the Family & Child Studies minor, but only after the admission criteria have been met.

Three easy steps to declaring a Minor:

1. Complete an Undergraduate Schedule of Studies Change Request form.
2. Please email the completed form to bscweb@uoguelph.ca. Be sure that you have signed the form.
3. We will forward your authorized form for final processing by the Registrar's Office.

For example, if you are a Human Kinetics major and are wanting to add a minor in Nutritional & Nutraceutical Sciences, you would write the following into the corresponding spaces on the form (no quotes):

Degree Program (top line): "BSCH"

Current Schedule of Studies:
Program Type: "Honours"
Specializations Type #1: "Major"
Specializations Subject #1: "Human Kinetics"

Revised Schedule of Studies:
Program Type: "Honours"
Specializations Type #1: "Major"
Specializations Subject #1: "Human Kinetics"
Specializations Type #2: "Minor"
Specializations Subject #2: "Nutritional & Nutraceutical Sciences"

'Calendar to be used' is most often the year you started at the University of Guelph, and indicates the Undergraduate Calendar year requirements that you are following for your program. This must be the same for both major and minor. Leave blank if you are unsure. Please contact your Program Counsellor if you have any questions regarding your Undergraduate Calendar year.

'College' may be left blank if you are unsure.

In most cases, the sections dealing with Course Substitutions, Exemptions and Waivers will be left blank.

Note: If the minor is in a non-science area, then the number of science credits required for the Honours B.Sc. degree is reduced from 16.0 to 14.0 credits. Only 2.5 credits (updated from 2.0 credits in October 2012) may overlap (double count) between a major and minor. Please make an appointment with your Program Counsellor if you have questions.

You may only declare a minor if you are in the Honours B.Sc. program.

Changing Degree Programs

The University of Guelph offers 12 different undergraduate Degree Programs. Switching between degree programs is based on your high school transcript as well as the marks achieved in specific University of Guelph courses. If you are considering transferring degree programs, you should consult with i) the Program Counsellor for the degree program to which you want to transfer and ii) the B.Sc. Program Counsellor for your currently registered major.

To transfer degree programs, you will need to apply for an Internal Transfer through University Admissions. For full details regarding specific subject requirements, deadlines, and application procedures, please see the Internal Transfer/Re-admission site. Please note that admission to another degree program is not guaranteed.

There are 3 different "Bachelor of Science" degrees: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture [B.Sc.(Agr.)], Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences [B.Sc.(Env.)] and Bachelor of Science [B.Sc.]. Each of these is a separate degree program, with their own regulations and requirements. You must apply to transfer between programs.

Note: If you are considering switching degree programs before the start of your first semester, please contact your Program Counsellor for advice.

Current Students

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