4.5 Programs of Study for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science

An Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science offers greater specialization in a given field of knowledge than a General Degree, and requires higher than average academic achievement. Possession of this degree would be of great advantage to all students planning more advanced work in their chosen field. In many cases, an Honours Degree is a prerequisite for admission to a graduate program. The Program of Study for an Honours Degree consists of two components: the Course Requirements and one of a Comprehensive Examination and Dissertation. In addition, specific Departmental Regulations may apply.


4.5.1 Course Requirements

  1. The Program of Study for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science is determined by the student’s declared Major(s).

    1. When a student has declared a single Major, that student’s Program of Study shall consist of the requirements for the corresponding Honours program, as set forth in the Program Regulations.

    2. When a student has declared more than one Major in a combination for which a Joint Honours program exists, as set forth in Joint Program Regulations, that student’s Program of Study shall consist of the requirements for the Joint Honours program.

    3. When a student has declared more than one Major in a combination for which no corresponding Joint Honours program exists, that student may obtain permission to complete an Individualized Honours program, on the recommendation of the Head of each Major department. The Individualized Honours program must be approved by the Committee on Undergraduate Studies of the Faculty of Science.

  2. The Program of Study for the Honours Degree shall normally require the student to successfully complete courses from the Major subject(s) as follows, except in cases where it has been deemed that an appropriate rationale exists to warrant the requirement of an extraordinary number of credit hours:

    1. in the case of an Honours program, not fewer than 60 credit hours in the Major subject;

    2. in the case of a Joint Honours or an Individualized Honours program, not fewer than 84 credit hours in the Major subjects, including not fewer than 36 credit hours in each of the Major subjects.

  3. A Program of Study may require the student to successfully complete additional courses from subject areas other than the Major subject(s).

  4. When a student is compelled to complete more than 120 credit hours in order to satisfy the prerequisites of courses required for a Program of Study, all of the courses which a student was required to successfully complete in order to satisfy the requirements of the Honours Degree shall be used in the determination of the student’s Academic Standing.


4.5.2 Comprehensive Examination and Dissertation

  1. A candidate for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science shall complete one of the following options, at the discretion of the Head of each Major department:

    1. the student shall pass a general comprehensive examination in the Major subject(s), or

    2. the student shall submit a dissertation of a standard acceptable to the Head of each Major department, who shall also have the option of requiring the student to pass an oral examination thereon. The Honours dissertation shall be equivalent to either a 3 credit hour course or a 6 credit hour linked course, as specified in the course offerings of the Major department(s).

  2. If a student is required to submit a dissertation, this dissertation must be submitted to the University Library before the Honours Degree is conferred. The deadline for the submission of an Honours dissertation shall be no later than three weeks before the end of the final semester of the student's program.

  3. All Honours dissertations in the University Library shall be available for unrestricted consultation by students and faculty except under very exceptional circumstances which must be approved by the Head of each Major department. Copyright remains with the author. A release form, signed by both the author and the Head of each Major department, must accompany a dissertation when it is submitted to the University Library.


4.5.3 Departmental Regulations

A candidate for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science shall also comply with such additional requirements of each Major department as are approved by the Senate and printed in the Calendar.


4.5.4 Residence Requirements

To qualify for an Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science, a student shall attend a recognized university or an equivalent institution for at least seven semesters as a full-time student. Students transferring credits to Memorial University of Newfoundland from other universities or equivalent institutions shall either:

  1. spend a minimum of four of the seven semesters as full-time students at Memorial University of Newfoundland and take a minimum of 24 credit hours in courses from their Major subject(s) from this University, or

  2. spend fewer than four of the seven semesters as full-time students at Memorial University of Newfoundland and take a minimum of 36 credit hours in courses from their Major subject(s) from this University.