Program of Studies

(Approved by the Senate on April 17, 2023, effective May 1, 2023)

All courses and programs of study, as well as their requirements, are recommended by the faculties in question and approved by the Senate of the University.

When program requirements are modified, faculties must ensure that the changes involved do not penalize students already enrolled in the programs in question.

B-2.1. Categories of programs (offered since 2006)

(Approved by the Senate on April 17, 2023, effective May 1, 2023)
(B-2.1. - Modified and approved by the Senate on June 19, 2023)

Honours bachelor's

An undergraduate degree requiring the equivalent of four years of study and at least 120 units with the required cumulative grade point average (CGPA), except in specific cases approved by the Senate (i.e., Bachelor of Journalism). There are six types of honours bachelor’s degrees:

  1. Honours bachelor's

This degree is conferred upon completion of a program requiring in-depth training in a single discipline or in an interdisciplinary area of studies with a minimum of 54 units in the discipline or interdisciplinary area.

  1. Honours bachelor's with a minor

This degree is conferred upon completion of the honours bachelor’s degree as defined above, and of a minor, which introduces students to a field of study and consists of 30 units, unless otherwise indicated.

  1. Honours bachelor's with double major

This degree is conferred upon completion of a program involving intensive training in two main disciplines or two areas and consisting of 42 units in each discipline or area, unless otherwise indicated.

  1. Honours bachelor's with major and minor

This degree is conferred upon completion of a program involving both intensive training in one discipline or in one interdisciplinary area and an introduction to a field or sub-field within a discipline or subject.

  1. Joint honours bachelor's

This degree is conferred upon completion of a program allowing students to specialize in two related disciplines or fields and consisting of at least 42 units in one discipline or field and 36 units in the other.

Other honours bachelor's programs

An honours bachelor’s degree is also conferred upon completion of the following programs:

Multidisciplinary program

An undergraduate program requiring students to take courses in at least three disciplines.

Multidisciplinary program with a minor

An undergraduate program requiring students to take courses in at least three disciplines and to which a minor can be added.

Specialized programs in the Faculty of Arts (e.g. Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music), Faculty of Engineering (e.g. Bachelor of Applied Science), Faculty of Health Sciences (e.g. Bachelor of Science in Nursing), Faculty of Law (Licence en droit), and the Telfer School of Management (e.g. Bachelor of Commerce).

Undergraduate Doctorate

An undergraduate degree in certain professional programs (e.g., medicine, pharmacy, law), the length, number of units, and level of completion of which are determined by the accreditation standards of the professional program in question.

Bachelor's

An undergraduate degree requiring the equivalent of three or four years of studies and, respectively, 90 or 120 units with the required cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Offered in Arts, Science and Social Sciences, the bachelor’s degree provides a basic university education. In these faculties, it is possible to obtain a bachelor’s degree with a combination of elective courses, options, minors or majors, provided that the minimal program requirements are met.

Certificate

The certificate is an independent undergraduate program requiring at least 30 units and entitling the student to a diploma called an “undergraduate certificate” and conferred by the Senate of the University.

Undergraduate microprogram

A microprogram can be part of the requirements of a program or independent, and may be pursued for professional and career development purposes without admission to an undergraduate program.

A microprogram fits the following criteria:

  • consists of an identified set and sequence of courses within an area of disciplinary or interdisciplinary study
  • consists of up to 21 course units
  • is available to both students admitted to an undergraduate program as well as to students not admitted to a program leading to a degree who enrol as non-degree students
  • is recorded on the student’s transcript but not on the diploma

International Dual Degree

A form of international collaboration whereby the University of Ottawa and an international partner institution collaborate to mutually recognize a portion of the requirements from the partner institution’s degree program towards their own degree program. Students receive degrees from each participating institution, and often in a condensed amount of time.

International Collaborative Program

A form of international collaboration that allows the University of Ottawa to offer students enrolled in a degree program at an international partner university to transition to studies at the University of Ottawa. Students either transfer from the partner institution into a uOttawa degree program or complete a study period at uOttawa which may count towards their home degree and will enable them to meet the admission requirements of a uOttawa degree program. The University of Ottawa must validate the international partner institution’s courses and requirements as meeting the prerequisites and requirements for the designated program at uOttawa depending on the appropriate model (2+2, 3+1+2, 4+1, etc.). The international partner institution may choose to recognize the courses taken at uOttawa towards its own degree; this is not required of this form of collaboration and would be the responsibility of the partner institution to administer and validate.
 

B-2.2. Specific types of programs

A major involves intensive training in a main discipline or field of study. It consists of at least 42 units in the discipline or field of study, of which 18 for courses at the 3000 level or above and at least 6 units at the 4000 level.

A minor provides introductory-level training in a branch or sub-branch of a particular discipline or subject. It consists of 30 units, of which at least 6 are at the 3000 level or above.

Integrated program

A program in which the degree requirements of two separate bachelor's degrees are completed, thus leading to two separate diplomas.

French Immersion studies

An academic stream offered in certain honours bachelor’s programs and where a specific number of courses must be taken in one’s second language (French), with or without an accompanying language course.

Cooperative education

An academic stream offered in certain honours bachelor’s programs where academic terms alternate with paid work terms (placements).