CMS Core Requirements

Students must take a range of courses that support the disciplines within science, prepare them for the upper-level courses in the three packages they chose, and fulfill BSc lower-level requirements. In addition core requirements, students select three packages of a minimum of nine upper-level credits.

Required Core Courses

• MATH 100/101 (or equivalent)
• One of STAT 200, STAT 241, STAT 251 or BIOL 300
• Communicating Science (SCIE 300)
• One of CPSC 100, CPSC 103, CPSC 110, CPSC 301, EOSC 211, MATH 210 or PHYS 210

Required Core Lab Courses

Any two of the following lab courses.

• CHEM 355 (1 cr) - Prerequisites: One of CHEM 203, 211 or 235.
• EOSC 442 (1 cr) - Prerequisites: One of EOSC 340, EOSC 345 and one of CPSC 103, CPSC 110, EOSC 211, MATH 210, PHYS 210 and one of STAT 200, STAT 201, STAT 251, BIOL 300.
• BIOL 342 (2 cr) - Prerequisite: Third-year standing or higher in Combined Major in Science, and one of (a) BIOL 121 and BIOL 180, or (b) SCIE 001, or (c) 8 transfer credits of first-year biology.
• PHYS 309 (3 cr) - Prerequisite: One of PHYS 209, PHYS 229, ENPH 259.

Packages

To plan your CMS program you must select three areas (we call them packages) of science that you wish to explore. You cannot combine subjects within a discipline. 

• Chemistry
• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Life Science
• Mathematical Sciences
  • Computer Science
  • Mathematics
  • Statistics
• Physics and Astronomy
  • Physics
  • Astronomy

Science Breadth Requirement

All B.Sc. students are required to have reasonable breadth in their understanding of science. Students in a combined major or combined honours specialization must successfully complete at least 3 credits from any 5 of the 7 categories as stated in the Science Breadth Requirement page in the Academic Calendar.

Promotion from Second Year to Third Year

Promotion to 3rd-year class standing requires successful completion of a total of 48 or more credits, including at least 30 science credits, of which 15 must be second year or above (200 - 400 level) science credits.

Promotion from Third Year to Fourth Year

Promotion to 4th-year class standing requires successful completion of a total of 72 or more credits, including:

1. At least 21 upper-level (300 or 400 level) credits;
2. At least 50 science credits, of which 15 must be upper-level (300 or 400 level) science credits;
3. The Laboratory Science Requirement;
4. The Communication Requirement. In most cases for students joining the CMS program from the 2024W session onwards, this will be fulfilled by SCIE 113 (unless otherwise exempted e.g. students who took SCIE 001) and SCIE 300.

For more details on Promotion Requirements for B.Sc. students, please visit the Promotion Requirements and Degree Progression page in the Academic Calendar.

FAQ

Questions about requirements? Some of the most commonly asked questions are answered below. If you have further questions, please email Dr. Vishakha Monga.