FAS 2025

Digital Academic Calendar (PATH)

The Digital Academic Calendar project, which was launched in 2021, moved the Faculty of Arts and Science and the University away from PDF files and provided an engaging, informative, and responsive student experience for course selection registration and degree planning. It also amalgamated into one place all of the calendars, previously published independently by the faculties and schools.

The recent completion of Phase 2 of the Academic Calendar Project in the Faculty of Arts and Science saw the launch of Course Learning Outcomes within the Calendar. Learning outcomes for courses were previously only available in course syllabi distributed at the start of classes. These learning outcomes enable students to make more informed decisions about course selection in advance of the registration period.

PATH is Phase 3 of the Digital Academic Calendar Project, which will be completed in 2025. It will launch an interface that will improve integration with PeopleSoft, our student record management system, and complete the transformation of our student registration experience. It will alsofurther Queen's reputation as a leader in Canada because Queen's will be the first university in Canada to offer this kind of registration experience. PATH willenable students to quickly see courses most relevant to their requirements and interests, while combining degree audit functionality with personalized course selection and advising reports. It will also show students their timetable graphically in real time as they build it. Students can visually build their personal schedule and portfolio of dream courses and utilize filters to prioritize courses at times that enable them to support themselves with extra-curriculars.

Reactions to the optimized registration experience have been positive as this summer, a group of student leaders from the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) gathered to perform user testing on the PATH interface. Visit the Charting Their Own PATH story to learn more about their experience.

Modular Degree Framework

The Modular Degree Framework proposal is currently under review and requires approval from FAS Faculty Board, the Senate Committee on Academic Development and Procedures (SCADP), and the Senate. The approval process is expected to be completed in January 2025. FAS leadership is sharing information on the initiative to increase awareness and understanding among students, staff, and faculty members on how this initiative will impact student's options and opportunities, as outlined below in the section on benefits to students and FAS.

The Modular Degree Framework Proposal

FAS has proposed a change to the plan structure for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Bachelor of Computing (Honours), and Bachelor of Science (Honours) degrees, moving to a Modular Degree Framework. This Framework offers students the option of completing different combinations of modular degree plans from more than one area of study to complete their degree requirements. General Bachelor's degrees will remain unchanged as standalone 3-year degrees.

The move to the Modular Degree Framework for honours degrees comprises two principal changes:

There will be three new modular degree plans offered to students: Specialization; Double Major; and Major plus a Minor. While the Specialization can be a standalone degree, it can become a modular degree if students choose to add a minor. The Double Major and Major plus a Minor degrees are modular as students complete major and minor degrees from more than one area of study to complete the degree requirements. Students can choose to add a second minor to the Major plus Minor combination.
- Stand alone degree = plan + electives
- Modular degree = plan + plan (+ plan) + electives

Modular Degree Plans showing the breakdowns of all the possible combinations.

To facilitate the move to the Modular Degree Framework, there will be fewer credits (fewer classes) required for the Specialization, Major, and Minor plans. The modular framework proposes that a Major will be a minimum of 48.0 units in a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (BAH) degree, and a minimum of 60.0 units in a Bachelor of Computing and Science (Honours) (BScH) degree. A Minor on the Arts side will comprise a minimum of 24.0 units, while the Science side will comprise a minimum of 30.0 units. Specializations will have a minimum of 60.0 units and a recommended maximum of 84.0 units. The overall degree requirement of 120 credits will remain unchanged.

Benefits to Students and FAS

The move to the Modular Degree Framework will have a positive impact on the student experience in Arts and Science, as it responds to student demand for flexibility and the ability to access and combine a range of subjects within their degree.

Students will benefit from more choice and range in their academic journey.

Students will have more flexibility to design and pursue their own learning journeys, with the option of completing different combinations of modular degree plans from more than one area of study to complete their degree requirements. It also provides students more timetable space to add more minors as well as elective courses to their study plans.

Moving to a Modular Degree Framework will bring FAS into better alignment with peer institutions in the U6 group of research universities (University of Toronto, Western University, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, and University of Waterloo). Students will be given recognition at Queen's for the same work as students at other institutions, such as the University of Toronto and several other Ontario universities, enabling them to earn degrees that are competitive and comparable.

By pursuing their own learning journeys and having a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary subjects, breadth of studies, and additional credentials, students will be better prepared to enter the workforce or for further study in graduate or professional programs.

As a minor in FAS will only be 24.0 credits, they will be more accessible to students from other faculties, which promotes interdisciplinary and community among Queen's students.

The move to the Framework leans into the strengths and diversity of FAS, as an integrated faculty with more than 30 programs under one umbrella, by encouraging multidisciplinary degree combinations.

Plan Selection/Change of Plan Processes

Pending approval by Faculty Board, SCADP, and Senate, current students may select new modular plans starting in May 2025. The proposed modular framework is flexible and will ensure students have options to choose from.

Current first year students entering second year in the 2025-26 academic year will select modular plans in May 2025, during the plan selection period.

Current second year students entering third year and third year students entering fourth year (but not graduating) in the 2025-26 academic year can choose to remain in their current plans or to change to a new modular plan during the plan change period in May, although plan accessibility and choice will vary department by department.

Students graduating in Spring / Fall 2025 will receive degrees as per the plans in which they are enrolled. There will be no changes for them.

For more information, please see the FAQs below or contact Crystal Pigeau at clp7@queensu.ca.

FAQs

Q: How will we ensure that these new plan structures maintain academic quality?

A: Program quality will be maintained as the total number of units for a degree will not change (120.0 units) and the details of the changes proposed for each program will be developed by the relevant academic unit, since that is where disciplinary curriculum expertise resides, with assistance from the FAS Office Curriculum Team.

Each department will develop its own new plan requirements. Data from the environmental scans will help departments to ensure they are in alignment with peer institutions. Each plan revision constitutes a "minor modification" under the QUQAP Framework. As such, they will be approved by FAS curriculum committee and come to Faculty Board for approval as part of the regular monthly curriculum approval process.

Q: Who was involved in the consultation process in the development of these new plan structures?

A: Since August 2023, 500+ hours of consultation and presentations to FAS Department Heads, Undergraduate Chairs, ASUS Assembly, FAS Department Student Council Assembly, Office of the University Registrar, Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment, VP Teaching and Learning, Budget and Planning Office, Student Affairs, Provost and Deans.

Q: How will this impact department plan enrolments?

A: Departments will continue to have control over their plan enrolments through plan selection processes.

Q: How will this new Framework be rolled out?

A: Departments are submitting plan revisions to the FAS Curriculum Committee which will go through approval processes in Fall and early Winter, 2024. Students will receive advising about the new plans at Majors Night in March 2025 and through departmental communications. Students will select the new plans in May 2025 during the plan selection/change of plan period.

Q: Have I-EDIAA learning outcomes been considered?

A: Yes. The move to a Modular Degree Framework supports the FAS priority of increasing I-EDIAA. For several recent programs in FAS, including the Minor in Black Studies, the reduced unit counts for a modular Major make it 'within reach' for this program to also offer a Major in the near future.

New proposed Majors in Employment Relations (a very popular Minor) and the revamped Visual Art program - both smaller academic units with few faculty members - will also benefit from the more streamlined unit counts.

The Modular Degree Framework also makes Minors in languages and what we call "discovery" disciplines (programs like Gender Studies, Religion, and Classics, which are not offered at the secondary level) more accessible. Increased participation in these programs is expected.

I-EDIAA learning outcomes are embedded in Queen's revised degree level expectations (DLEs). And so, as each modular plan is required to meet established program learning outcomes and degree level expectations these standards will be met. This learning outcome mapping will be demonstrated in each new modular plan submission.

FAS Initiatives to Enrich the Student Experience and Support our People