The Bachelor of Science degree will be seeing a new admission process come 2027.
As part of the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) “FAS 2025” plan, the Faculty will be changing the application process for prospective science students. FAS 2025 is a combination of five initiatives that prioritize “enriching the student experience and supporting our people.” The change came after approval by the majority in the March 27 Senate meeting.
Currently, students looking to study science apply under three categories—a broad science category, life sciences, or concurrent education and science. The new changes will break the broad science application down into four subcategories, each with different admission requirements.
Under the new changes, students using Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) will apply under Biology and NeuroCognitive Sciences (QSB), Earth and Environmental Sciences (QSE), Physical and Chemical Sciences (QSP), or Mathematics and Statistics (QSM).
In an interview with The Journal, Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson explained this change has two broader purposes—for the University to demonstrate what they have to offer and for students to be able to envision themselves as Queen’s students.
“It might not be clear to a student that environmental science is part of science. It might not be clear that psychology is part of science, [or that] geography is part of science,” Stephenson said.
In Ontario, high school course codes have either a “U,” “C,” or “M,” depending on if they’re a University, College, or mixed course. Students applying through OUAC under the science category currently need English 4U, Advanced Functions 4U, Calculus and Vectors 4U, in addition to two of Biology 4U, Chemistry 4U, or Physics 4U, and at least one other 4U or M course.
QSB and QSE both have the same requirements as the current general category, aside from the removal of Advanced Functions 4U, as it’s already a prerequisite for Calculus and Vectors 4U. Those applying to QSP must take English 4U, Calculus and Vectors 4U, Physics 4U or Chemistry 4U, and the option of any three other courses at the 4U or M level. QSM only requires English 4U, Calculus and Vectors 4U, and four other 4U or M courses.
Stephenson clarified this change won’t prevent students from choosing a major outside of the subsection of science they applied.
“You’re going to be given a little bit of a nudge in a certain direction, but you won’t be locked [into a group of majors],” she said.
FAS is considering pre-enrolling incoming students in mandatory courses related to their stream. While the Senate document didn’t outline a specific plan for how this would work, Stephenson confirmed the Faculty is open to the idea.
This admission change won’t impact those applying in the 2026 application cycle.
Tags
Bachelor of Science degree, Changes to admission, FAS 2025, Modular Degree Framework, Senate
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