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Common Course Policy

The Common Course Policy comes into effect when a BMSc student pursues two modules and some of the same courses appear in both modules. The Common Course Policy works the same way for Double Majors, Honors Specialization + Major, and Honors Specialization + Minor.

Students completing Double Majors in the BMSc Program must familiarize themselves with the Common Course Policy. Note, however, that worksheets for the various Double Major combinations have been created that apply the Common Course Policy (see below). These worksheets should be used as guidelines for the courses required for the Double Major modules offered in the BMSc Program. Refer any questions about these worksheets to a  BMSUE Coordinator.

If you are going into Year 4 (or are in Year 4) and want to have your graduation requirements checked for Double Majors, then submit your completed worksheet to the BMSUE Question Portal. Please do NOT submit your worksheet to the Academic Advising Office via their Help Portal since it is the BMSUE Coordinators who adjudicate BMSc students for graduation eligibility.

BMSc students completing two modules may double-count a maximum of 1.0 "common course" toward two modules. A common course is a course that is mandatory in both modules (see Exception*).

When two modules contain more than 1.0 common course, the remaining common course(s) must be distributed between the two modules as evenly as possible. A "substitute course(s)" approved by the department offering the module must be taken to maintain the required number of courses in the module.

Notes:

  • the requirements of each module, as specified in the Academic Calendar, must be met
  • two modules cannot be completed if more than half of the courses in one module are common with courses in the other module (e.g., a Minor having 2.5 or more courses that are common with either a Major or an Honours Specialization module cannot be completed in addition to the Major or Honours Specialization module
  • when choice exists in a module, courses are not considered common unless and until all choice is exhausted. If one course must be selected from a list of courses, then every course in the list must be taken before the course is considered to be common to both modules. If the choice exists to take another course, then another course must be taken (see Exception*);
  • if more than 1.0 common course exists in two modules, then the 1.0 common course with the highest mark (either two half courses or one full course) is double-counted and used toward both modules;
  • the mark in a double-counted course is used in calculating the average for each module;
  • an approved substitute course must be completed with the minimum mark requirement for the module/degree and the mark is included in the calculation of the cumulative average of the module (for graduation purposes).

Exception*: if the two modules contain less than 1.0 common course, as defined above, then students are permitted to count up to 1.0 common course at the 2000- and 3000-level from picklists in the modules without exhausting the choice within the picklists. Students completing BMSc degrees must consult with a BMSUE Coordinator to ensure that they satisfy the exception.

Step 1: determine whether the two modules contain "common courses"

  • Look at the courses listed under each of the module that you intend to complete in the Academic Calendar.
    • If a particular course is mandatory in both modules, then it is a common course.
    • If a course is mandatory in one module and included in a pick-list in the second module, then the course is considered a common course only if the two modules contain fewer than 1.0 course that is mandatory in both modules.
    • If a course is included in a pick-list in one module and included in a pick-list in the second module, then the course is considered a common course only if the two modules contain fewer than 1.0 course that is mandatory in both modules.

Step 2: determine how many common courses exist

  • Count up the common courses that you discovered in Step 1. Each full course is counted as 1.0 course and each half course is counted as 0.5 course.
    • If the total number of common courses is 0.5 or 1.0, then you do not have to follow any more steps!
    • Only complete Steps 3 and 4 if there are 1.5 or more common courses in the two modules.

Step 3: if there are 1.5 or more common courses, then determine which 1.0 common course will be double-counted

  • Take a look at the marks you achieved in the courses that are common to the two modules.
    • The 1.0 common course (one full course or two half courses) with the highest mark is double-counted (used) toward both modules, maximizing the cumulative modular average for both modules.

Step 4: assign the remaining common course(s) to a module(s) and pick a substitute course(s)

  • Determine the number of remaining common course(s) and assign them to the two modules as evenly as possible, as in the examples below.
  • A total of 1.5 courses is common to the two modules:
    • Of these 1.5 common courses, the 1.0 course with the highest mark is double-counted and 0.5 common course remains
    • (mentally) assign the remaining 0.5 common course to one of the two modules (it can be used toward either module - it's your choice)
    • select a 0.5 substitute course for the other module
  • A total of 2.0 courses is common to the two modules:
    • Of these 2.0 common courses, the 1.0 course with the highest mark is double-counted and 1.0 common course remains
    • (mentally) assign 0.5 course to one module and the other 0.5 course to the other module
    • if the remaining 1.0 common course is actually a full course, then mentally split it into two half courses and assign 0.5 to each module
    • select a 0.5 substitute course for each module
  • A total of 2.5 courses is common to the two modules:
    • Of these 2.5 common courses, the 1.0 course with the highest mark is double-counted;  1.5 common courses remain
    • (mentally) assign 1.0 common course to one module and the other 0.5 common course to the other module (you might base your decision on the substitute courses allowed for each module)
    • select 1.0 substitute course for one module and 0.5 substitute course for the other module

 

Do I have to let anyone know which course will be double-counted?

  • No. The BMSUE Office will figure this out when you are adjudicated for graduation (i.e. assessed for your eliglibility to graduate).

Will my transcript show which course is double-counted?

  • No. Your transcript does not indicate which of your completed courses are:
    • modular courses,
    • double-counted courses,
    • substitute courses,
    • optional/elective courses.

Why are there two sets of Double Major worksheets? 

  • Students admitted to Year 3 in 2025/26 and 2026/27, and subsequently registered in the BMSc (Honours) degree with Double Majors in Year 4 in 2026/27 and 2027/28, can take either Medical Sciences 4000E or 1.0 different course in Year 4 (the different course is specified in the worksheets).

How do I know which courses must be completed before Year 3 or Year 4?

  • Courses indicated by green text are the 2000-level Admission Requirements specified in each of the two Majors. These courses must be completed before Year 3 begins.
  • Courses indicated by blue text are the courses included in the Progression Requirements specified in each of the two Majors. These courses must be completed by the end of Year 3. These courses are not offered in the summer, with the exception of Anatomy and Cell Biology 2200A. 

Are Minimum marks required in modular courses? 

  • There is no indicatation of the minimum marks required in modular courses in these worksheets. Check the modular requirements in the Academic Calendar to see if minimum marks are required in specific modular courses.

Keep in mind that an Honours Degree requires a minimum 60% in each modular course, a minimum modular average of 70% and no failures.  

What should I do if I have questions about the Common Course Policy?

  • If you are a BMSc student, then submit a query to the BMSUE Question Portal and a BMSUE Coordinator will answer it

These worksheets are for students admitted to Year 3 BMSc for 2025/26 and onward, and will help you determine which courses you need to satisfy the modular and degree requirements of BMSc with Double Majors.

Honours BMSc degree with Double Majors - Medical Sciences 4000E included in the Majors:

BMSc degree (either 4-year BMSc or Honours BMSc degree) - Medical Sciences 4000E not included in the Majors (allowed for students registered in Year 3 in 2025/26 and 2026/27, only):

Students in Year 4 (or 5) of a Double Major in 2025/26 should refer to the Graduation Requirements page for the appropriate checklist.