Explore our Programs

Canada’s Top Programs

With more than 340 academic programs, the Faculty of Arts & Science is one of Canada’s largest and most research-intensive institutions.

From criminology and neuroscience to psychology and economics, our programs are among the world’s best, according to the annual QS World University Rankings.

With so many program choices, you will also have the flexibility to take courses and combine programs in widely different areas to diversify your knowledge and skills.  

Animated gif showing different program combinations

 

Explore Programs by Admission Category

A program is a group of courses taken in a specific subject area. For example, history, computer science or economics. Our 340+ programs are categorized into six admission categories. When you apply to the Faculty of Arts & Science, you will apply to one of the admission categories below based on which programs interest you.

Click on the admission category name to see the list of associated programs. 

Program High School Subject(s) Required in Addition to English
Computer Science Calculus
Data Science Calculus

Legend:

J: This program of study is jointly listed under the Humanities and Social Sciences admission categories. This means that on your application, you can apply to either the Humanities or the Social Sciences admission category.

Program High School Subject(s) Required in Addition to English
African Studies (J)  
American Studies (J)  
Art History  
Asian Canadian Studies  
Bioethics Biology (recommended)
Book and Media Studies  
Buddhist Studies  
Business German  
Canadian Studies (J)  
Caribbean Studies (J)  
Celtic Studies  
Christianity and Culture  
Christianity and Education  
Cinema Studies  
Classical Civilization  
Classics (Greek and Latin)  
Cognitive Science Calculus (recommended)
Contemporary Asian Studies, Dr. David Chu Program in (J)  
Creativity and Society (J)  
Creative Writing  
Critical Studies in Equity and Solidarity (J)  
Diaspora and Transnational Studies  
Digital Humanities  
Drama  
East Asian Studies (J)  
Education and Society (J)  
English  
Environmental Ethics (J)  
Ethics, Society, and Law (J)  
European Affairs (J)  
French Language  
French Language and French Linguistics  
French Language and Literature  
French Language Learning  
French Studies  
German Studies  
German Studies in English  
Greek  
Health Studies (J)  
History  
History and Philosophy of Science and Technology  
Indigenous Studies (J)  
International Relations (J) Calculus (recommended)
Islamic Studies  
Italian  
Italian Culture and Communication Studies  
Jewish Studies  
Latin  
Latin American Studies (J)  
Linguistics  
Literature and Critical Theory  
Material Culture and Semiotics (J)  
Mediaeval Studies  
Music  
Music History and Culture  
Music with Ensemble Option  
Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations  
Philosophy  
Portuguese  
Religion  
Renaissance Studies (J)  
Russian Literature in Translation  
Sexual Diversity Studies (J)  
Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures  
Slavic and East European Literature in Translation  
South Asian Studies (J)  
Spanish  
Visual Studies Minor  
Women and Gender Studies (J)  
Writing and Rhetoric  
Yiddish Studies  

Legend: 

Bio: Biology; C: Calculus; Ch: Chemistry; Ph: Physics

Rec.: Recommended but not required

Program High School Subject(s) Required in Addition to English
Animal Physiology C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Anthropology: Evolutionary C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Biochemistry C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Biodiversity and Conservation Biology C, Bio
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology C, Bio, Ch
Biological Chemistry C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Biological Physics C, Bio, Ch, Ph
Biology C, Bio, Ch (Ch not Req'd for minor)
Biomedical Toxicology C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Cell and Molecular Biology C, Bio, Ch, Ph (Ph rec not Req'd for major)
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology C, Bio, Ch
Environment and Behaviour C (Rec. Bio)
Environment and Energy C, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Environment and Health C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Environment and Toxicology C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Environmental Biology C, Bio, Ch (Ch not Req'd for minor)
Environmental Chemistry C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Environmental Geosciences C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Environmental Science C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Forest Conservation Science C, Bio (Rec. Ch)
Fundamental Genetics and its Applications C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Genome Biology C, Bio, Ch
Global Health C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Health and Disease C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Human Biology C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Immunology C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Molecular Genetics and Microbiology C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Neuroscience C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Nutritional Sciences C, Bio, Ch
Pathobiology C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Pharmaceutical Chemistry C, Bio, Ch, Ph
Pharmacology C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Physiology C, Bio, Ch (Rec. Ph)
Psychology C, Bio (Rec. Ch, Ph)
Psychology Research C, Bio (Rec. Ch or Ph)
Quantitative Biology C, Bio
Program Subject(s) Required in Addition to English
Accounting Calculus
Finance and Economics Calculus
Management Calculus

Legend:

J: This program of study is jointly listed under the Humanities and Social Sciences admission categories. This means that on your application, you can apply to either the Humanities or the Social Sciences admission category.

It is important to do your research ahead of time so that you know the admission requirements for each admission category, including the high school subjects needed in order to enrol in specific courses in your first year of study, or for entry into your program(s) of study in your second year. This information can be found on our admission category pages.  

Apply to Programs at the End of First Year

You will apply to your program, or programs, of study at the end of first year. This means you will have the opportunity to explore a variety of interests in your first year before you begin your program(s) of study in your second year. You may apply to programs outside of your admission category and you can switch programs if you change your mind about what you want to study.

Some programs have limited enrolment. This means you will have to complete some additional requirements, such as obtaining minimum grades or completing required first-year courses, in order to enrol. These additional requirements are listed in the Arts & Science Academic Calendar.

You will have to fulfill all of the requirements of your program(s) to graduate.

Build a Personalized Degree

You can build a unique, personalized degree by combining programs from different subject areas. In the videos below, students discuss their program combinations: 

Cara, major in genome biology, minor in book and media studies

Zoe, major in chemistry, double minors in astronomy and astrophysics and science and society

Harsh, double major in actuarial science and economics, minor in French

Visit our YouTube channel to watch more videos of students speaking about their programs. 

Degree Requirements

To complete your degree in Arts & Science, you must complete 20 credits in a variety of subjects. Students typically complete five credits per year.

In Arts & Science, programs of study are offered as one or several of the following types:

  • Specialist: This program type is the greatest concentration on one subject area. More than half of the credits taken (10+) will be in this academic area.
  • Major: A major consists of around one third (six to eight) of the total credits.
  • Minor: This is the smallest program type at just four credits.

Programs of study can be combined provided you meet the program requirements. In order to graduate, you must present a minimum of one of the following combinations of programs:

One Specialist

Total: 20 credits

Electives 4-10 credits, Specialist 10-16 credits

Two Majors

Total: 20 credits

Electives 4-8 credits, Major 1 6-8 credits, Major 2 6-8 credits

One Major + Two Minors

Total: 20 credits

Electives 4-6 credits, Major 6-8 credits, Minor 1 4 credits, Minor 2 4 credits

Note that the program breakdowns shown above reflect the minimum program requirements to graduate. You will have the option to use your elective course credits to complete additional majors or minors.  

Some programs offer focuses — a special cluster of courses on a particular theme or topic that you can take in conjunction with a Specialist or Major. 

Complete a Certificate (Optional)

Certificates are composed of a sequence of 2.0-3.0 credits relating to an identified topic or theme that may complement a degree program. The Faculty of Arts & Science offers certificates in:  

  • Black Canadian Studies 
  • Business Fundamentals 
  • Global German Studies 
  • International Affairs 
  • Sustainability 
  • Psychology of Economics and Management 

A completed certificate will appear on your transcript. Certificates do not offer any kind of professional certification, nor will they contribute toward the programs required to complete your degree.  

Learn more about certificates in the Arts & Science Calendar.