The Majority of Majors in the B.Sc. Program Take a Liberal Education Elective (0.5 credits) in First Semester
New students often wonder which courses are the "best" to take. In fact, there is no "best" option. An elective is just that - an elective! You may take whatever interests you.
Please see below for a small list of 'popular' choices that are taken by many B.Sc. students - it is provided only as a general guide, and should not be considered comprehensive (see link below for the complete list).
Students are welcome to choose any course on the complete Liberal Education [1] list for B.Sc. students, as long as you are able to register (ie: as long as the course has space available, is being offered in the correct semester, is not restricted to students in certain majors, and any necessary prerequisites are met).
There are many courses to choose from. New students normally select a first-year course (1000 level - sometimes referred to as 100 level), as higher level courses often require prerequisites to be taken first.
Students are advised to register for their required Science courses first (they take priority) and then schedule the elective around the required courses.
The B.Sc. Academic Counselling Centre cannot help students register for an elective course that is full or restricted to students in certain programs or majors. If you meet the prerequisties on a course, you can add yourself to the waitlist on WebAdvisor for any preferred elective courses. In the meantime, students should register for an alternate course. For information on course restrictions, please see the restriction section of our Course Selection Information page [2]. Some restrictions are removed during the course selection period - click here for the updated list from the Registrar's Office [3].
NEUR majors may choose to register in PSYC 1000 section DE01 (online) if they wish to do so in Semester 1, as the major is included on the restriction. PSYC 1000 is a required course taken in Semester 2, but may be taken in Semester 1 if desired (pending space availability).
If you click on the course codes below, you will be to view the Course Description [4] given in the Undergraduate Calendar [5] (an important resource for all students).
Popular Choices for First Year Liberal Education Electives
The following courses should be available to first year students in Fall 25, with the majority not having restriction to particular majors or programs (assuming space is available). This list may change as course selection approaches. Courses with sections indicated as "DE01" are online asycnronous courses, and therefore have no scheduled class times. (last updated June 2025).
| Fall 2025 | Winter 2026 |
|---|---|
|
ANTH 1120 [6] - Biological Anthropology (may be restricted until July 30, 2025) |
ACCT 1220 [7] - Introductory Financial Accounting (no restriction in place on the DE01 - online - section only) |
| ARTH 1510 [8] - Art Historical Studies I |
ANTH 1150 [9] - Introduction to Anthropology (may be restricted until July 23, 2025) |
|
ACCT 1220 [7] - Introductory Financial Accounting (no restriction in place on the DE01 - online - section only) |
ECON 1050 [10] - Introductory Microeconomics |
| CLAS 1000 [11] - Introduction to Classical Culture |
ECON 1100 [12] - Introductory Macroeconomics |
| ECON 1050 [10] - Introductory Microeconomics |
ENGL 1030 [13] - Effective Writing (may be restricted until July 23, 2025) |
| ECON 1100 [12] - Introductory Macroeconomics |
FREN 1XXX [14] - French Studies (exact course depends on ability and temporary restrictions may also be in place) |
| FREN 1200 [15] - French Language I | FRHD 1010 [16] - Human Development |
| FRHD 1010 [16] - Human Development | FRHD 1020 [17] - Couple & Family Relationships |
| FRHD 1100 [18] - Life: Health and Well-Being | FRHD 1100 [18] - Life: Health and Well-Being |
| GEOG 1220 [19] - Explaining Environmental Change |
GEOG 1220 [19] - Explaining Environmental Change (may be restricted until July 23, 2025) |
|
HIST 1XXX [20] - History (usually three or four to choose from - restrictions may be in place until July 23, 2025) |
HIST 1XXX [20] - History (usually three or four to choose from - restrictions may be in place until July 23, 2025) |
| IDEV 1000 [21] - Understanding Development | INDG 1100 [22] - Indigenous Language & Culture |
|
ITAL 1060 [23] - Introductory Italian I (may be restricted until July 23, 2025) |
ITAL 1060 [23] - Introductory Italian I |
| LAT 1100 [24] - Preliminary Latin I |
LING 1000 [25] - Introduction to Linguistics |
| LING 1000 [25] - Introduction to Linguistics |
MCS 1000 [26] - Introductory Marketing (no restriction in place on the DE01 - online - section only) |
| MUSC 1130 [27] - Introduction to Musicianship |
PHIL 1XXX [28] - Philosophy (usually three or four to choose from - restrictions may be in place until July 23, 2025) |
|
PHIL 1XXX [28] - Philosophy (usually three or four to choose from - restrictions may be in place until July 23, 2025) |
PSYC 1000 [29] - Introduction to Psychology* (may be restricted until July 23, 2025 --- *NEUR majors can register initially as it is required for this major) |
|
PSYC 1000 [29] - Introduction to Psychology* (may be restricted until July 23, 2025 --- *NEUR majors can register initially) |
SOC 1100 [30] - Sociology (may be restricted until July 23, 2025) |
| SOC 1100 [30] - Sociology | SPMT 1020 [31] - Sport Management Today |
|
SPAN 1100 [22] - Introductory Spanish (may be restricted until July 23, 2025) |
|
| SPAN 1500 [32] - Hispanic Film | |
| SPMT 1020 [31] - Sport Management Today |