Plan Selection

New this Year - Modular Degree Plans

First-year students choosing their degree plans this May/June will be the first cohort to register in our new modular degree plans.

Nearly all departments in Arts and Science are offering modular degree plans that allow you to combine almost any Arts and Science plan, customizing your degree program to match your personal interests and career or future education pathway.

These plans will allow you to combine a wide range of subjects to focus on within your degree that has not been possible until this point. Depending on how you structure your degree, you can also benefit from increased room for electives, because the modular plans will each have fewer requisites overall.

Students pursuing a Specialization in Life Science, Biochemistry, Kinesiology or Bachelor of Music and Students interested in requesting a Chemistry or Physics Major or Specialization.

These degrees and plan structures are not changing within the Modular Framework, but students in these direct-entry programs and degree plans will have the option to add a modular minor, if desired. Just keep in mind that combining these particular plans with an added minor may exceed 120.0 units, which means taking more courses (and possibly more time) to graduate.

The Modular Degree Framework

Whether it’s a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Honours), Bachelor of Computing (Honours), or Bachelor of Music degree that you’re pursuing, the total number of units that you need in order to have that degree conferred is 120.0.

Just like the previous degree and plan structures, within those 120.0 units, the plan option(s) that you choose will help you understand what specific courses are required for you.

You can think of your degree as a container that will be filled once you are ready to graduate.

Think of the plan options – majors, minors, specializations – as building blocks that you are going to use to fill the container. Because the plans have different amounts of units, there are different ways that you can stack them within your degree. Elective units are also a key part of an undergraduate degree in Arts and Science, and these will be used to top up that container to reach the 120.0 units you need.

The new Modular Degree Framework allows for a greater variety of plan combinations than have ever been available to Arts and Science students. Have a look at the Modular Degree Plans section below to review the unit numbers for the plan(s) that you’re interested in, as the exact numbers will vary.

Here are the ways that you might choose to use these plan building blocks in your degree:

Major + Minor

Double Major

Specialization + Minor

Major + Double Minor

Specialization

Here are a few important things to keep in mind:

If you choose a major, you also need to choose one of the following:
- one minor
- two minors, or
- a second major
Every degree program must have some elective courses. These degree combinations have been carefully structured to allow enough space for some electives. Because of this, combinations like two specializations, or two majors and a minor, for example, are not possible.
You can combine Arts, Science and/or Computing plans. Your transcript and diploma will appear this way:
- If you are in a Computing major with a Science or Arts major (or minor), you will graduate with a Bachelor of Computing (Honours) degree.
- If you are in a Science major with another Science or Arts major (or any minor), you will graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree.
- If you are in an Arts major with another Arts major (or any minor), you will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree.
Some departments offer both specialization plan options and major plan options. If you’re curious about the differences between the two, you can review the course requirements for each plan in the Academic Calendar or connect with the department to discuss the best path for you.
Review the Modular Degree Plans section below to see the specific details of the concentrations you are interested in. These plans will appear in the 2025/26 Arts and Science Calendar, which will be published online in June.

Overlapping Requirements and Supporting Courses

Should you choose a plan combination where a course listed as a supporting requirement for one of your degree plans is also listed as a mandatory requirement for another plan, you will be permitted to double count that course toward both plans.

In a small number of potential combinations, too many courses overlap between plans to take enough courses to satisfy both. When this is the case, that particular plan combination is not viable. For example, a major in Applied Economics with a minor in Economics would not be a viable combination. It is your responsibility to ensure you are registered in a viable plan combination by reviewing the degree plan requirements, and consulting with Academic Advisors as needed. Please also see section 3 of the Academic Programs section in the Academic Calendar.

In completing degree plan combinations that contain supporting courses being shared between two plans, it is important to remember to check your overall unit count regularly. All degree programs require a minimum of 120.0 units to graduate and it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they have taken enough elective courses to meet these overall requirements.

New Degree Plans (to be published in the 2025/26 Academic Calendar)

Below you will find the modular plans proposed for each department. As noted above, many of our departments are offering new modular degree plans but several are choosing to keep their existing plan structures.

For existing plan structures and more information on degree programs offered in Arts and Science, please visit the Academic Calendar.

Important! This information is currently being presented for planning purposes only. The plans and changes proposed here are pending approval of Faculty Board and will appear in the 2025/26 Academic Calendar when published in June.

Computing

TBD
TBD

Notes:

The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

Creative Arts

Film and Media
Music
Drama

TBD
TBD

Notes:

The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

DAN School Modular Degree Information Session - Tuesday, March 25, from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Notes:

The new Major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second Major, or one or two Minors)
The Specialization remains only available to the direct-entry students in the Bachelor of Music (BMus) degree

DAN School Modular Degree Information Session - Tuesday, March 25, from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Notes:

The new Specialization can be paired with a Minor plan, but this is not mandatory
The new Major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second Major, or one or two Minors)
Although the new DRAM Specialization has the same overall number of units as the previous DRAM Major (60.0), there are modifications to the courses that comprise the new Specialization plan requirements

Languages

French
LLCU (including GMST, INDG, ITLN, LANG, LING, LLCU, SPAN)

TBD
TBD

Notes:

The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

TBD
TBD

Notes:

The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

Humanities

Notes:

The new ARTH specialization is identical to the existing/previous major plans
The new specialization can be paired with a minor plan, but this is not mandatory
The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

Notes:

The new specialization can be paired with a minor plan, but this is not mandatory
The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

Notes:

The new specialization is identical to the existing/previous major plan
The new specialization can be paired with a minor plan, but this is not mandatory
The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

Notes:

The new specialization is identical to the existing/previous major plan
The new specialization can be paired with a minor plan, but this is not mandatory
The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

Jewish Studies – Minor (Arts)

Notes:

The new Specialization can be paired with a Minor Plan, but this is not mandatory
The new Major MUST be paired with another Plan of some kind (a second Major, or one or two Minors)
Although the new PHIL Specialization has the same overall number of units as the previous PHIL Major (60.0), there are modifications to the courses that comprise the new Specialization plan requirements

Notes:

The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

Life and Physical Sciences

TBD
TBD

Notes:

The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

Notes:

The new Specializations can be paired with a Minor Plan, but this is not mandatory
The new Major MUST be paired with another Plan of some kind (a second Major, or one or two Minors)
The new BIOL Specialization includes a choice of either a Research or Course option; the new BIOL Major does not include a Research Option
Although the new BIOL Specialization has the same overall number of units as the previous BIOL Specialization (72.0), there are modifications to the courses that comprise the new plan requirements

Notes:

For certification reasons, the CHEM Major is remaining as-is, keeping the current/existing unit numbers and courses
The Major can be paired with a modular Minor plan, but this is not mandatory
The new Specialization can be paired with a Minor plan, but this is not mandatory

Notes:

The new ENVS specialization has the same number of units as the existing ENVS major, but some of the requirements that define those units have been modified
The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)
Same as previous plan versions, supporting units can be used in multiple plans.

Notes:

The new Majors MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second Major, or one or two Minors)
The existing Specialization in Earth System Science (99.0 units) is still available and unchanged. Students currently in or requesting this Specialization can request a modular Minor as well, but must be aware that the combination of required units will exceed 120.0.

Notes:

The new Major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second Major, or one or two Minors)
Same as in previous plan versions, supporting units can be used in multiple plans

TBD
TBD

Notes:

The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

TBD
TBD

Notes:

The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

Notes:

The new Specialization can be paired with a Minor Plan, but this is not mandatory
The new Major MUST be paired with another Plan of some kind (a second Major, or one or two Minors)
The new MATH Specialization includes a choice of a sub-plan, either in Pure Mathematics or Applied Mathematics
Although the new MATH Specialization has the same overall number of units as the previous MATH Major (60.0), there are modifications to the courses that comprise the new Specialization plan requirements
Although the new STAT Specialization has the same overall number of units as the previous STAT Major (60.0), there are modifications to the courses that comprise the new Specialization plan requirements

TBD
TBD

Notes:

The new major MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)

Looking for more information? View this Psychology-specific recorded webinar on the Modular Degree Framework.

Notes:

The new PSYC specializations, both the Arts version and the Science version, are identical in number of units to their corresponding existing/previous major plans; the highlighted areas on the new specializations note the differences in specific courses from the existing major
The new specializations can be paired with a minor plan, but this is not mandatory
The new majors MUST be paired with another plan of some kind (a second major, or one or two minors)
Students currently in a Joint Honours plan in PSYC must complete that degree/plan; requests to change from current Joint Honours plans to new modular majors or specializations will not be granted by the department.

How Plan Selection Works

Plan Selection will take place in two stages:

STAGE 1: Specialization Plan Selection Period (May 21 to 27)

Stage 1 is only for students requesting specialization plans (including Direct-Entry LISC/BCHM students who wish to select a specialization in LISC or in BCHM). Requests for majors and minors will not be made during Stage 1.

Students accepted into specialization plans who also wish to add a minor will request the minor plan via the Plan Change portal from June 2 to 9.

We are in the process of finalizing details on Plan Selection processes and will post detailed instructions as soon as they are confirmed.

STAGE 2: Major/Minor Plan Selection Period (June 2 to 9)

Stage 2 is for students requesting majors and minors. Students who want to combine a specialization with a minor will participate in both Stage 1 and Stage 2.

We are in the process of finalizing details on Plan Selection processes and will post detailed instructions as soon as they are confirmed.

Plan Thresholds

All plans in Arts and Science have minimum academic requirements that a student must satisfy in order to be admitted to that plan. To view the thresholds for all plans in Arts and Science please see the "What it takes" page under Degree Plans and Options.

Each plan will have an automatic acceptance threshold and a pending list threshold. Once you have decided which plan(s) you are eligible for and that you wish to pursue, follow the steps noted above in How Plan Selection Works to make your requests. Be sure to enter your top choice of plan(s) first. When you enter your request one of three outcomes will occur:

Automatically Accepted - If you meet the automatic threshold for the plan(s) you have requested, you will receive a message from SOLUS telling you that you have been accepted into your plan. Once accepted, your plan information in SOLUS will be updated and a new entry noting the change will be recorded on your SOLUS record and transcript. (If you later participate in Plan Change, either in this academic cycle or in the future, each time you are accepted to a different plan, a new entry will be recorded on your SOLUS record and on your transcript.) Important note! If you request a plan combination (major/major, major/minor, etc.) you must meet the automatic thresholds for EACH of those plans to be automatically accepted to that combination. If you meet the automatic threshold for one plan and the pending threshold for the other plan, you will placed on the pending list for that combination and will be required to make an alternate choice.
Placed on a Pending (waiting) list - If you receive a message on SOLUS telling you that you have been placed on a pending list, this means that your request will be manually reviewed by the department following the Plan Selection period (see below). In addition to being informed that you are on a pending list, SOLUS will also inform you that you must select an alternate plan that you can be automatically accepted to. In other words, your alternate plan cannot be another selection where you would be on a pending list.

If you choose to leave SOLUS without being automatically accepted to a plan, you will be removed from the pending list.

Denied plan request – If you do not meet the automatic or pending thresholds for each of the plans you select, you cannot be accepted and must make a new request for a plan or plan combination you do qualify for. You are not registered in a degree plan until you have met the automatic thresholds and SOLUS has accepted your request.

Following the Plan Selection process on SOLUS, departmental administrators will manually review all students on their pending lists. If a department accepts you from their pending list, your plan information in SOLUS will be updated and a new entry denoting the change will be recorded on your SOLUS record and transcript. You will receive an email once the department makes their decision.

Remember: Departments will be reviewing their pending lists after the Plan Selection period has closed so you may not see a change to your plan until after that date.

Refused admission for that plan? If you do not meet the minimum requirements for the plan you want, please consider the following strategies:

What it takes to be accepted to a Plan

We are in the process of finalizing these details and will post additional instructions shortly. Please check back here for updates.

The plans found below indicate the minimum academic requirements to be automatically accepted or placed on a pending list for every available plan in Arts and Science. All requirements include a minimum GPA and/or a minimum grade in specific 100-level courses. If a course number is labelled with a #, this denotes a “wildcard”, and any course number is acceptable. For example, PHYS 1## indicates that any 100-level Physics class is acceptable for eligibility.

Some plans have other minimum prerequisite standards that must be met before a student can access second year courses. These are indicated in the “Notes” section of the tables. While the department may accept a student into the plan, if the students do not hold the correct prerequisites they may not be able to complete the degree within the usual timeframe, and may be at a significant academic disadvantage in accessing required upper-year courses in the same sequence as other students who do have the first-year courses completed.

Please note: These academic thresholds are for students applying to plans from first-year going into second year. Although they can be used as a rough guideline, they are not directly applicable to upper-year students wishing to change their plan. All upper-year student change of plan requests are processed departmental approval, and are based on plan capacity and academic eligibility. Upper-year students should refer to the Plan Change webpage for information and guidance on changing degree plans.

While every attempt is made to ensure our webpages are up-to-date and accurate, sometimes errors occur. The content on these pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice.

Computing

Advice for Choosing Your Degree Plan

At the heart of it, our advice to you is simple – pick the option that best suits your academic interests and strengths. Students with many subject interests who are looking for variety, flexibility, and interdisciplinarity should consider a major/minor/minor combination. Students who want to study two subjects in depth can pursue a double major. Others who are looking for more depth and focus in a singular area are best to choose a specialization (with or without a minor). Consider also how many electives you want to be able to have in your degree: a standalone specialization or a major/minor combination are the two modular plan options that would leave the most space in your degree for electives.

Strategies to help with decision-making

If you have a particular career path or further educational goals in mind after your undergraduate studies are completed, there are some helpful sources of information that you should use to help you plan.

Career-wise, we encourage you to do some research into what specific degrees/plans/courses are required for or would be relevant to the fields you want to pursue. If you have particular post-graduate or professional programs you are aiming for, investigate what areas of focus those institutions are seeking for admission into the programs you are interested in applying to. Having this big-picture information will help you pick a degree structure that best fit your goals.

If you are completely unsure of what direction you will take or what to study, we recommend connecting with Career Services for some guidance. They offer some great tips and tools to help you explore your strengths and interests to guide your decision-making.

Eligibility for Graduate School

If you intend to apply to graduate school or professional school, in most cases choosing a modular degree plan will not impact your eligibility, whether you choose to pursue a major or a specialization. As always, we advise that you consult with the specific graduate or professional programs that you are considering, as you will get the most accurate eligibility details straight from the source. Additionally, meeting with a Career Coach at Queen’s Career Services may help you understand all the options that are ahead of you.

Choosing a degree combination that complements or matches the area of study you are interested in could better match your future study focus and make your application more competitive. In some cases, it may also allow for better access to prerequisites you need for professional programs.

Next Steps and Key Dates (2025)

March: Participating departments are offering information sessions to students interested in learning more about:

the changes in their degree plan offerings,
what the new plans are expected to look like compared to the current ones,
how the new plans will meet the same learning outcomes as the current ones,
what options will be available to students, and
any other information relevant to current students with respect to that department’s plan offerings.

Scheduled sessions:

Mathematics and Statistics Modular Degree Information Session, Monday, March 10, from 5:30 – 6:30 pm
DAN School Modular Degree Information Session, Tuesday, March 25, from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

March 13 – Major’s Night: Still deciding which degree plan you will choose in May for plan selection? ASUS, Career Services, and the Faculty of Arts and Science will be hosting a Majors Night in Grant Hall on Thursday, March 13 from 4:00-7:00 pm.

Each department will be represented, so stop in to talk to advisors and upper-year students who can answer all the questions you have to help you make an informed decision. Find more information on the Career Services webpage.

March to July: Academic advising will be available for questions related to modular degree plans.

May 21 to June 9: First-year students will select their degree plan(s). Upper-year students have an opportunity to request a change of their degree plan(s).

**New this Year** - Modular Degree Plans

The Modular Degree Framework

Overlapping Requirements and Supporting Courses

New Degree Plans (to be published in the 2025/26 Academic Calendar)

Computing

Creative Arts

Languages

Humanities

Life and Physical Sciences

Social Sciences

How Plan Selection Works

Plan Thresholds

What it takes to be accepted to a Plan

Computing

Creative Arts

Humanities

Languages

Life and Physical Sciences

Social Sciences

Advice for Choosing Your Degree Plan

Next Steps and Key Dates (2025)

New this Year - Modular Degree Plans