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  5. Course selection for Year 4 BMSc

Course selection for Year 4 BMSc

In Year 4, students must finish up their modular courses, as well as satisfy any outstanding Graduation Requirements.

A full load of 5.0 courses during the fall/winter of Year 4 BMSc is not a graduation requirement. Keep in mind, however, that (i) 20.0 credits are required to graduate with a BMSc degree, and (ii) some programs to which students may apply in the future may either require or prefer a full load of 5.0 courses during the fall/winter (e.g., Schulich Medicine requires a full load of 5.0 courses during the fall/winter of each year for which the GPA is considered).

  1. Check the list of modular courses in the Academic Calendar to ensure that your course selection for Year 4 includes the remaining courses listed in your Honours Specialization module.
  2. Check the worksheet for your Honours Specialization module to double-check that you will have all the courses needed to graduate. If there is any discrepancy between the Academic Calendar (see note below) and the worksheet, then Connect with a BMSUE Coordinator.
  3. Ensure that all Graduation Requirements are satisfied.

Notes:

  • The academic year in which you were admitted to a module determines the Academic Calendar to use when checking your module requirements.
    If the requirements of your module have changed since you were admitted to it (usually Year 3), then Connect with a BMSUE Coordinator to find out which Academic Calendar to use (current or previous version) for your modular requirements.

  • Course load and number of options/electives for Year 4 BMSc
    As far as your graduation requirements are concerned, there is no requirement that a full load of 5.0 courses be taken during the fall/winter of Year 4 BMSc. Keep in mind, however, that you need 20.0 credits to graduate and that some programs to which you may wish to apply in the future could require or prefer that a full load of 5.0 courses be taken during the fall/winter. Satisfying your remaining modular and graduation requirements (see below), as well as making yourself eligible for future programs, will determine how many option/elective courses you will take in Year 4. 

  • If your Honours Specialization requires a 4986Y course (e.g., half credit that spans both terms), then you will take 4 courses in one term, 3 courses in the other term, the 1.0-credit Research Project, and 4986Y. Depending on the term in which your required modular courses are offered, you might have the flexibility to take 4 courses in first term and 3 in second term, or the other way around - 3 courses in first term and 4 in second term. Things to think about when deciding in which term you want to take 4 courses and in which term you want to take 3 courses:
    • are there things happening in one of the terms that add to the load of your term? Applications to medical school in first term might influence your decision.
    • is the capstone course heavier in one term than the other? It's not uncommon for students to say that the capstone requirements are heavier in second term.
  • Graduation Requirements: check the Graduation Regulations in the Academic Calendar. Take note of the minimum marks that you must achieve in each modular course and optional/elective course, and the minimum average that must be achieved on the group of courses that comprise your module. The general graduation requirements that are checked during the adjudication cycle after you apply to graduate are:
    • 5.0 first-year courses at the 1000-level (including 1.0 course from Category A or B)
    • modular requirements
    • breadth requirements
    • essay requirements
    • 20.0 credits (including at least 13.0 courses numbered 2000 and above)
  1. Check the list of modular courses in the Academic Calendar for each Major to ensure that your course selection for Year 4 will complete all remaining courses for each Major module.
  2. Even more importantly, check the Double Major worksheet. These worksheets apply the set of rules (the Common Course Policy) that comes into effect when two modules are taken that contain "common courses" - courses that are required in both Majors. The worksheets are updated by the BMSUE Coordinators each year to incorporate any changes in the modular requirements listed in the Academic Calendar. If there is any discrepancy between the Academic Calendar (see note below) and the worksheet, then Connect with a BMSUE Coordinator.
  3. Ensure that all Graduation Requirements are satisfied.

Notes:

  • The academic year in which you are admitted to each Major determines the Academic Calendar to use when checking your module requirements.
    Check the top right of the Double Major worksheet to ensure that the year in which you are/were registered in Year 3 matches up to the worksheet.

  • Course load and number of option/electives for Year 4 BMSc
    As far as your graduation requirements are concerned, there is no requirement that a full load of 5.0 courses be taken during the fall/winter of Year 4 BMSc. Keep in mind, however, that you need 20.0 credits to graduate and that some programs to which you may wish to apply in the future could require/prefer that a full load of 5.0 courses be taken during the fall/winter. Satisfying your remaining modular and graduation requirements (see below), as well as making yourself eligible for future programs, will determine how many option/elective courses you will take in Year 4.

  • Graduation Requirements: check the Graduation Regulations in the Academic Calendar. Take note of the minimum marks that you must achieve in each modular course and optional/elective course, and the minimum average that must be achieved on the group of courses that comprise your module. The general graduation requirements that are checked during the adjudication cycle after you apply to graduate are:
    • 5.0 first-year courses at the 1000-level (including 1.0 course from Category A or B)
    • modular requirements
    • breadth requirements
    • essay requirements
    • 20.0 credits (including at least 13.0 courses numbered 2000 and above)