New Student Registration: Bachelor of Science with Major

If you have been admitted to the BSc with Major in Applied Forensic Psychology, you will be pre-registered in PSYC 101 (1st term) and 102 (2nd term) and 110 (1st term). You should also register in BIOL 111 and 112, as these courses are required for your program.  If you choose to take a third science, CHEM 101 and 102, or CHEM 121 and 122 (normally 101/102), is the standard choice, though you may instead choose climate and environment, computer science, Earth and environmental sciences, or physics. (Students who intend an honours program in applied forensic psychology will be required to take one set of the introductory chemistry courses during their program. The major program in applied forensic psychology does not require chemistry.)

Psychology Courses

You will choose BIOL 111 and 112 and CHEM 101 and 102.   If you intend an honours degree in biology, note that PHYS 101 and 102, (or 121 and 122 if you would prefer) will be required at some point in your program, though not necessarily in first year.  Other options for a third science in first year are climate and environment, computer science, and Earth and environmental sciences.  (Economics and psychology are additional options as science courses, but are normally used by science students as arts subjects.  If you would like to choose one of these as a science option, you should confer with an academic advisor to ensure that you understand how that discipline can be used as a science subject in your program.  Note also that students are permitted only to use one or the other of these two "arts" subjects, and not both, as "Science B or C"; see "Questions" section below for further discussion of "Science B" and "Science C".)

Biology Courses

CHEM 121 and 122 are recommended; if you are unsure of your degree path, however, CHEM 101 and 102 are acceptable options. Physics (101 and 102, or 121 and 122) is a good option for your second science, as the intro courses are required for chemistry majors and must be completed before the end of second year.  However, if you would prefer to take biology, climate and environment, computer science, or Earth and environmental sciences in first year, and take PHYS 101 and 102 (or 121 and 122) in second year instead, you may do so.  For students who wish to complete a chemistry program with a concentration in biochemistry, BIOL 111 and 112 should also be completed within the first two years, so would be good choices for first year.  Students who plan to pursue an honours degree in chemistry, with a biochemistry concentration, should consider taking the 18 credits of lab-based intro CHEM, intro PHYS, and intro BIOL in first year.  (Economics and psychology are additional options as science courses, but are normally used by science students as arts subjects.  If you would like to choose one of these as a science option, you should confer with an academic advisor to ensure that you understand how that discipline can be used as a science subject in your program.  Note also that students are permitted only to use one or the other of these two "arts" subjects, and not both, as "Science B or C"; see "Questions" section below for further discussion of "Science B" and "Science C".)

Chemistry Courses

You will choose CSCI 161 and 162, and 6 credits of introductory courses in any one or two of the other sciences:  biology, chemistry, climate and environment, Earth and environmental sciences, or physics.  (Economics and psychology are additional options as science courses, but are normally used by science students as arts subjects.  If you would like to choose one of these as a science option, you should confer with an academic advisor to ensure that you understand how that discipline can be used as a science subject in your program.  Note also that students are permitted only to use one or the other of these two "arts" subjects, and not both, as "Science B or C"; see "Questions" section below for further discussion of "Science B" and "Science C".)

Computer Science Courses

There are three program streams from which you can choose (no concentration, Geoscience concentration, Environmental Systems concentration) and your course selection may vary depending on the stream you choose to follow.  If you are unsure of the direction you want to take, follow the one that seems like the best fit for your interests; you can easily adjust your program in second year if needed.  Another approach could be to follow the Geoscience stream, choosing PHYS 101 (or 121) and BIOL 112 as your final 6 credits of science; those courses would fit the first-year requirements for all three streams.

• For the no concentration stream, you will choose EESC 171 or 173; EESC 172; CHEM 101/102 (or CHEM 121/122); PHYS 101/102 (or PHYS 121/122), or BIOL 111/112, or PHYS 101 (or 121) and BIOL 112, or BIOL 111 and PHYS 102.
• For the Geoscience concentration, you will choose EESC 171 and 172; CHEM 101/102 (or CHEM 121/122); PHYS 101/102 (or PHYS 121/122), or BIOL 111/112, or PHYS 101 (or 121) and BIOL 112, or BIOL 111 and PHYS 102.
• For the Environmental Systems concentration, you will choose 3 credits from EESC 171, 173, or CLEN 101; 3 credits from EESC 172, 273, 274, or CLEN 102; CHEM 101/102 (or CHEM 121/122); PHYS 101 (or 121); BIOL 112.

Earth & Environmental Sciences Courses

Economics is not an available major in the Bachelor of Science.  However, it is an allowable subject for an advanced major or honours degree in the BSc.  If you are interested in pursuing one of these economics programs (both of which require higher grades and averages than the major program), be sure to include ECON 101 and 102 in your registration this year.  You should follow the standard first-year course pattern for one of the other sciences (whatever your second-choice major would be); all of those first-year courses would fit into either economics program you may choose.  Depending on your grades and averages in first year, you would be eligible to apply for the advanced major or honours degree at the end of the year.  (See Table 7.1.5 in the Academic Calendar for grade and average requirements for this degree option.)  For questions or course planning for one of these programs, Academic Advising would be pleased to assist you.

Economics Courses

You are already taking MATH 106 and 107, which are the foundational courses for students intending mathematics as the major subject of study. If you plan to do an advanced major or honours in mathematics, you will eventually need to take CSCI 161 because it is a required course for those programs.  CSCI 162 is also required for honours, and recommended (though not required) for advanced major, so you may wish to take these courses this year. Other science options are biology, chemistry, climate and environment, Earth and environmental sciences, and physics.  (Economics and psychology are additional options as science courses, but are normally used by science students as arts subjects.  If you would like to choose one of these as a science option, you should confer with an academic advisor to ensure that you understand how that discipline can be used as a science subject in your program.  Note also that students are permitted only to use one or the other of these two "arts" subjects, and not both, as "Science B or C"; see "Questions" section below for further discussion of "Science B" and "Science C".)

Mathematics Courses

You will choose PHYS 121 and 122.  The other primary science subject for physics students is math and you are already taking MATH 106 and 107 as part of your first-year course pattern.  Your remaining science should be computer science (CSCI 161 and 162) or chemistry (CHEM 121 and 122).  Your program will require both CHEM 121 and CSCI 161, but also requires 6 credits in one of these disciplines, so taking the two CSCI or the two CHEM courses this year will fulfill that 6-credit requirement.  The second of those requirements can be taken in a later year, or you can choose to take it this year, also, as another science course.  (Only 3 credits - one course - is required in each of CHEM and CSCI, but you are welcome to take 6 credits in each, if you wish.)  Other science options for this year are biology, climate and environment, and Earth and environmental sciences.  (Economics and psychology are additional options as science courses generally, but will not fit into the physics programs as "Science B or C".  Physics students interested in these disciplines can take them as arts subjects, which is how most science students use them anyway.)

Physics Courses

You will choose PSYC 101 and 102.  You should also register in BIOL 111 and 112, as these courses are required for your program.  If you choose to take a third science, CHEM 101 and 102, or CHEM 121 and 122 (normally 101/102), is the standard choice, though you may instead choose climate and environment, computer science, Earth and environmental sciences, or physics. (Students who intend an honours program in psychology will be required to take one set of the introductory chemistry courses during their program. The major program in psychology does not require chemistry.)

Psychology Courses

1. I am interested in Development Studies, but there is only one 3-credit course available at the 100-level. What else should I take in the other semester to fill out my schedule?
You can take any other 3-credit course from the arts subjects listed above.  If you decide to do a pair in DEVS, you can complete your additional 9 credits in future years.

2. I am interested in English, but there is only one 3-credit course available at the 100-level.  What else should I take in the other semester to fill out my schedule?
If you choose to take ENGL 111 in the first term, you can take any other English course at the 200 level that is offered in the second semester providing there is availability in the course. Alternatively, you can take any other 3-credit course from the arts and science subjects listed above, as long as there is no first-term prerequisite for the course.  You can also choose to take an ENGL 111 in second term, and a different subject in first term.

3. I am interested in Public Policy and Governance, but there is only one 3-credit course available at the 100-level.  What else should I take in the other semester to fill out my schedule?
You can take any other 3-credit course from the arts subjects listed above.  If you decide to do a pair in PGOV, you can complete your additional 9 credits in future years.

4. What if I am interested in taking a course in a subject that is not mentioned above?
The other subjects offered at StFX are in our professional or applied science programs: Aquatic Resources; Business Administration; Engineering; Health; Human Kinetics; Human Nutrition; Nursing.  Most courses in these departments are restricted to students in the relevant degree programs.  Such courses can be used only as approved or open electives in the BSc (with the exception of Human Nutrition courses that fulfill the requirements for an optional Food and Nutrition minor).  Even if you are able to get an override into any of these courses, you are strongly advised against taking such courses in first year, with the following possible exceptions.

AQUA 101 and 102 are open to students in all programs.  These courses can be used as approved or open electives in the BSc programs.  If you are interested in exploring the option of the BSc in Aquatic Resources program, you should contact the Aquatic Resources coordinator or program manager, and should plan to take these courses in your first year.

BSAD 111 and 112 are available to non-business students, if there are seats available after registration has concluded for first-year students, but these courses are only usable as open electives in the BSc program.  If you are planning the BSc with Advanced Major in a Science with Business Administration, you could consider taking these courses in first year, but note that most students in that program take them in second year, so there is no urgency, and you would be better served by following the standard course pattern above.

HNU 142 is restricted to students in the Human Nutrition programs.  However, if you plan to complete a Food and Nutrition minor in your BSc, you may want to apply to the HNU chair for a degree override to try to take that course in your first year.  If you are unable to get an override this year, you can still plan to do the minor, and take HNU 142 in second year.  (The chair will normally grant an override, as long as there are seats available in the course after all HNU students have registered.)

5. The Academic Calendar refers to “Science A”, “Science B” and “Science C”. What do these mean?
“Science A” is your major (or advanced major or honours) subject. It is your primary area of study.

“Science B” is a second science in which you will need to complete a total of 12 credits (with 6 credits above the 100-level). Normally, you will take 6 credits of 100-level “Science B” courses in your first year. (For students planning a joint advanced major or joint honours degree, Science B is the secondary subject of study.  For students planning an optional minor in a science subject, Science B is that subject.)

“Science C” is a third science in which you will need to complete a total of 6 credits.

One of your three required science subjects (Science A, Science B, Science C) must be from the department of Mathematics and Statistics, and must include MATH 106 and 107. (Students who do not major in mathematics will require Science B or Science C to be mathematics.)

6. The Academic Calendar refers to “Arts X” and “Arts Y”. What do these mean?
“Arts X” is 12 credits in one arts subject, referred to as a "pair" (see the Glossary of Terms for a full definition) and “Arts Y” is 6 credits in a second arts subject.  Note that Arts X, the "pair", is not usually two courses; it is a total of 12 credits, and is most often four 3-credit courses.

Arts X and Arts Y must be different subjects.  All 12 credits of Arts X must be in the same subject.  All 6 credits of Arts Y must be in the same subject.

7. What if I am interested in an honours or an advanced major degree?
Course selection is no different for first year. You may wish to check table 7.1.5 in your Academic Calendar for grade and average requirements, so that you are aware of the grades you will need for admission to these programs at the end of first or second year.

8. Can I do a minor in my Bachelor of Science degree?
The BSc programs (with Major, Advanced Major, or Honours) do allow an optional minor.  Students may opt to do a minor in a science subject or in an arts subject.  Minors are not available in Business Administration or in the professional / applied sciences subjects of Aquatic Resources, Engineering, Health, Human Kinetics, or Nursing.

9. I am in the Applied Forensic Psychology program.  PSYC 110 is in 1st term; what else should I take in the second semester to fill out my schedule?
You can take any other 3-credit course from the arts and science subjects listed above, as long as there is no first-term prerequisite for the course.