Course Selection for Year 3 BMSc

Course selection in Year 3 BMSc varies from student to student, depending on the Honors Specialization, Specialization or Double Major modules that each student wishes to pursue in Year 4. Students can and do switch modules for Year 4 BMSc, provided their course selection in Year 3 is appropriate for the desired module in Year 4 (see Modules Offered in the BMSc Program for details).

In Year 3, students do not have to take the courses that are required for the modules in which they are registered if they intend to switch modules for Year 4. Students are encouraged to register for the courses required for their intended module in Year 4, keeping in mind that enrollment in Honors Specialization modules in Year 4 is limited (see the chart of minimum averages required for Honors Specialization modules) and that constraints (e.g. priorities and reserved spaces in courses) may limit students' Access to Courses.

Admission to an Honors Specialization module in Year 4 is open to any BMSc student in Year 3, provided they have completed the courses listed in the Weighted Average Chart and have a competitive Weighted Average. Students registered in Honors Specialization modules in Year 3 are not given preference for admission to Honors Specialization modules in Year 4 and students in Year 3 BMSc with Double Majors, for example, have the same opportunity for admission to an Honors Specialization in Year 4 as a student registered in the Honors Specialization module in Year 3.

NOTE: Students are not required to carry a full load of 5.0 courses during the Fall/Winter of Year 3 BMSc for admission/progression to Year 4 Honors Specialization, Specialization or Double Major modules. Graduation with a BMSc degree does, however, require a minimum of 20.0 credits. A full load of 5.0 courses during the Fall/Winter may be required/preferred for admission to other programs (e.g. professional programs).

For students pursuing BMSc (Honors) degrees with either an Honors Specialization module or  Double Majors, note that every modular course must be completed with a mark of at least 60%.
A mark higher than 60% is required in some modular courses for certain modules, e.g. the Honors Specialization and Major in Microbiology and Immunology requires marks of at least 70% in both Microbiology and Immunology 3100A and 3300B.

Students pursuing Honors Specialization modules:

Registration in each Honors Specialization module in Years 3 and 4 is limited to a particular number of students and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Any student in Year 3 BMSc can apply for admission/progression to any Honors Specialization modules for Year 4, provided the appropriate courses are taken in Year 3, the minimum Weighted Average (75%) is achieved, and students satisfy the general requirements for admission/progression in Honors degrees. When more students apply for an Honors Specialization module than there are available spaces, admission becomes competitive and requires an a Weighted Average greater than 75% (see the chart of maximum capacities and minimum averages for Honors Specialization modules).

Courses

By the end of Year 3, students must complete ALL of the courses listed in the Weighted Average Chart for the Honors Specialization module to which they wish to apply for Year 4. If there are 2000- and 3000- level courses  listed in the Academic Calendar on the page for the module you are pursuing but these courses are NOT listed in the Weighted Average Chart, then you do NOT have to complete these courses before Year 4. They can be taken in Year 4, provided there are no timetable conflicts with required 4000-level courses.

Since admission to some Honors Specialization modules is competitive in Year 4, students are encouraged to satisfy the requirements for either an alternative Honors Specialization module or Double Majors.

Note: most of the basic medical science courses have constraints on registration (priorities, restrictions, reserved spaces). See Access to Courses for full details.

The number of options to be taken (to result in a full load of 5.0 courses)
is determined once all of the courses listed in the Weighted Average Chart have been selected. Students are not required, however, to carry a full load of 5.0 courses during the Fall/Winter of Year 3 BMSc for admission/progression to an Honors Specialization module in Year 4.

The academic year in which you are admitted to a module determines the Academic Calendar you must use for module requirements.
For example, if you are admitted to Year 3 of the Honors Specialization in Physiology for 2017/18, then use the 2017/18 Academic Calendar for the module requirements. Sometimes modules change and you should contact the BMSUE Coordinator if you aren't certain which calendar to use for your module requirements.

Weighted Averages and the Weighted Average Chart:

The Weighted Average Chart outlines:

  • the courses that must be completed by the end of Year 3 to be considered for admission to any Honors Specialization module in Year 4, and
  • how the Weighted Average is calculated for each Honors Specialization module

Find out more about:
(i) calculating Weighted Averages and
(ii) determining the average you may need on your third-year courses to be competitive for an Honors Specialization module in Year 4

Minimum weighted averages required for admission

A minimum Weighted Average of 75% must be achieved for admission to any Honors Specialization module in the BMSc Program in Year 4. Each Honors Specialization has a maximum capacity in Year 4 and an average greater than 75% is required for admission when more qualified students apply than there are spaces in the module. See the Helpful Links below for more information about how to calculate the Weighted Average.

See Minimum Averages Required for Admission to Honors Specialization modules for the maximum capacity of each Honors Specialization module and the minimum Weighted Average required for admission to Year 4 for the past few years.

Questions??

Departmental Counsellors can answer questions about the modules and courses offered by their department.

The Academic Counselling Team in North Campus Building (NCB) Rm 280 should be contacted for any "what if" questions, e.g. What would happen if I don't take a particular course in Year 3?

Before contacting either a Departmental Counsellor or the Academic Counselling Team:

Students pursuing Double Majors:

Although students have to be eligible to register in the BMSc Program in order to register in Double Majors that lead to BMSc degrees, registration is not limited in any of the Major modules. Double Majors can be completed in either a BMSc (Honors) degree if the marks/averages are appropriate (see the Academic Calendar) or a BMSc (non-honors) degree.

Note: many 4000-level courses in the basic medical sciences have a minimum mark prerequisite in 3000-level prerequisite(s). The constraint charts and the chart of reserved spaces in 4000-level courses (on the webpage for Access to Courses) should always be taken into consideration when selecting courses in both Years 3 and 4

Courses

In Year 3, students must complete the prerequisites for the 4000-level courses they need to take for the two Major modules in which they wish to register in Year 4.

In addition to satisfying the prerequisites for 4000-level courses, students should complete enough modular courses so that they will have a reasonable load of courses in both Years 3 and 4. A maximum of 1.0 "common course" can be used towards both Major modules - see the Common Course Policy for details.

Most of the basic medical science courses have constraints on registration (priorities, restrictions, reserved spaces). See Access to Courses for full details.

Notes:

  • Enrollment in Double Majors in Year 4 is not limited to a particular number of students
  • There is not a Weighted Average Chart for admission to Double Majors in Year 4

The number of options to be taken
is determined once all of the modular courses to be taken in Year 3 have been selected. Students are not required to carry a full load of 5.0 courses during the Fall/Winter of Year 3 BMSc for admission/progression to Double Majors in Year 4.

The academic year in which you are admitted to a module determines the Academic Calendar you must use for module requirements.
For example, if you are admitted to Year 3 of a Major in IMS for 2017/18, then you use the 2017/18 Academic Calendar for the module requirements. Sometimes modules change and you should contact the BMSUE Coordinator if you aren't certain which calendar to use for your module requirements.

Double Major Worksheets (Common Course Policy)

Students completing Double Majors in the BMSc Program almost always have "common courses" that appear in the two Majors and, when this occurs, the Common Course Policy comes into effect.

Check out the worksheets for the various Double Major combinations as they will help with course selection for both Years 3 and 4.
Do not send in these worksheets for review in Year 3 as you can figure out the courses you need to take in Year 3 (and the minimum marks required in these courses) by checking the Academic Calendar for the courses you wish to take in Year 4.

NOTE: students cannot complete a Major in Pharmacology and a Major in Physiology. 

Questions??

Departmental Counsellors can answer questions about the modules and courses offered by their department.

The Academic Counselling Team in North Campus Building (NCB) Rm 280 should be contacted for any "what if" questions, e.g. what would happen if I don't take a particular course in Year 3?

Before contacting either a Departmental Counsellor or the Academic Counselling Team:

Students pursuing the Specialization in IMS:

Very few students pursue the Specialization in IMS since this module leads to graduation with a non-honors degree.

Courses

In Year 3, students must complete the prerequisites for the 4000-level courses they need to take for the Specialization in IMS in Year 4.

Most of the basic medical science courses have constraints on registration (priorities, restrictions, reserved spaces). See Access to Courses for full details.

Notes:

  • Students are encouraged to pursue Honors Specialization or Double Majors, rather than the Specialization in IMS since the Specialization module does not lead to graduation with an Honors degree
  • Enrollment in the Specialization in IMS in Year 4 is not limited to a particular number of students
  • There is not a Weighted Average Chart for admission to the Specialization in IMS in Year 4

The number of options to be taken (to result in a full load of 5.0 courses)
is determined once all of the modular courses to be taken in Year 3 have been selected. Students are not required, however, to carry a full load of 5.0 courses during the Fall/Winter of Year 3 BMSc for admission/progression to the Specialization in IMS in Year 4.

Questions??

The Academic Counselling Team in North Campus Building (NCB) 280 should be contacted for any questions about course selection in Year 3 BMSc and admission to the Specialization in IMS for Year 4 BMSc. Before contacting the Academic Counselling Team:

Did you know???

That we've made a list of Registration Tips from A-Z to help with your course selection in Year 3 BMSc?

Lacking a prerequisite???

Contact the departmental counsellor to ask if special permission might be granted.

Did you know???

That access to basic medical science courses is regulated by constraints? See Access to Courses for details.