Why ArtSci

While we are currently delivering our undergraduate programs remotely, we will deliver these programs in person on campus again as soon as public health guidelines permit.

The Faculty of Arts and Science offers a number of 3-year and 4-year Bachelor’s and Bachelor’s Honours programs, though they may be completed over more years. We have over 2,000 program options and our graduation rate is 89.5%, which is the highest among Canadian universities. In addition, over 90% of our graduates are employed within six months following graduation.

Our “on campus” undergraduate students are also able to take Arts and Science Online courses and certificates.

Hear more about Queen's from alumna Norees Gasper.
History and Religious Studies, ArtSci '19

On Campus or Online? - Prospective Undergraduate Student Webinar

Discover the difference between our “on campus” programs, which are currently being delivered remotely but will be delivered in person as soon as public health guidelines permit, and our fully online programs. 

Top 5 Reasons to Choose Arts & Science at Queen's - Prospective Undergraduate Student Webinar

Find out why you should choose Arts and Science at Queen’s. Our top 5 reasons are just the start of your journey to discovering our Faculty and Queen’s. 

Arts and Science Program Options - Prospective Undergraduate Student Webinar
November 9, 2020 7:00pm

In Arts and Science, you have options! Find out about whether you should apply to the common first year, and take the chance to explore your options while you settle into university life, or if you should apply directly to one of our programs (Fine Art, Computing, Kinesiology and Health Studies, Life Sciences, Music, and Music Theatre). We know that it’s important for you to find the right fit and that, either way, your first year will be a great experience!

The Arts and Science Experience - Prospective Undergraduate Student Webinar
November 11, 2020 7:00am

Learn about the experience Artsci (research, internships, certificates, BISC, community). Find out about how you can benefit from Arts and Science being an integrated faculty, with a strong sense of shared purpose. Learn about the opportunities to add to your degree and develop transdisciplinary skills that are highly valued by employers - from doing research to internships, exchanges, certificates and, most importantly, for getting involved in our community.

FAQs

What is, and where can I access the PSE?

The Personal statement of experience is no longer required for Arts and Science students. We only require your high school transcript.

Can I do both an Arts and a Science degree?

When you apply for admission, you either apply for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree program, the Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree program or the Bachelor of Computing (Honours) degree program. As a student in the Faculty of Arts and Science, you can take a mix of both arts, science and computing courses regardless of your program. You could pursue a science major with an arts minor or an arts major with a science minor, or take electives in anything you like.

What are the requirements to be accepted into the Bachelor of Science Program as a student from an Ontario high school?

English 4U, Advanced Functions 4U, Calculus and Vectors 4U, plus two of Biology 4U, Chemistry 4U or Physics 4U. Six 4U/4M courses required in total

If I only have two grade 12 marks will Queen’s still accept me without the other four marks?

We will look at your grade 12 final marks you have posted to your transcript. If all of your grade 12 marks are not yet posted, we will look at your Grade 11 grades as well to determine if you meet the requirements for a conditional offer of admission. If you receive an offer of admission, it will be conditional based on your grade 12 marks (we assume that they will be in line with your grade 11 performance.) If you did not do well in Grade 11, we will keep you record on file and once all of your grade 12 marks are posted, we will revaluate your application.

If I apply to the Bachelor of Arts Program do I only need grade 12 English or do I need grade 12 Science courses too?

If you are applying to the Bachelor of Arts Program you need English 4U, plus two additional 4U courses. Additional three required courses may be 4U or 4M. No science courses are required.

Does Queen’s look at what order you rank your preferred choice of majors?

No.

On my OUAC application, do I apply to the specific program or to the degree?

If you are interested in a direct entry program (Kinesiology, Life Science, Computing, Music, Visual Arts, Concurrent Education) you will apply to that specific program. However, if you are interested in any of the other Arts and Science programs you will simply apply to either the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Bachelor of Science (Honours) program in OUAC. The application will ask you what program you want to major in, but this information is only requested to give us a general idea of what you are interested in. You will select your major at the end of first year.

Do any programs offer early admission?

We will start sending out offers of admission as early as December, with the exception of admission to the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Visual Art. These programs involve auditions and portfolio reviews that usually take place in February and March as part of the Admissions process.

What are the pros and cons of applying to the general first year arts and science program versus the direct entry program?

The majority of our direct entry programs are specialization degrees and are a great choice if you are 100% sure you want to study that subject and you prefer the guarantee of access to the major of your choice. These degrees are highly structured so most of your courses will be chosen for you.  If you are more open to exploring new areas of study, or if you enjoy studying a wide range of different subjects, the general first year program is a great choice for you. It allows more freedom and flexibility to choose from a wider range of degree plans and combinations. You won’t have to commit to a major until you’ve had a chance to try out your first year courses.

Are there limited seats for different programs? And if so, how many?

If you are a first year student in Arts and Science not in a direct entry program, you will be asked to choose your Major at the end of first year. Entry into Majors is competitive – it is not first-come, first-served, but rather based on your first-year grades. We publish the required grades to be accepted into each Degree Plan (Major) in February and as long as students meet these published thresholds, they will be accepted into that Plan.   

If you apply to a Bachelor of Arts Program can you switch to a Bachelor of Science Program at the end of your first year?

Yes, if you are admitted to the Arts Program and you meet the grade threshold to be accepted into the Science Major of your choice, you will be automatically moved into the Bachelor of Science degree program. 

Can you switch to a direct entry program at the end of first year, if you were in a general Arts or Science program to start?

Sometimes. If there is space available (on a competitive basis) and if you meet the admission requirements, you may be able to move into a direct entry program after first year. This typically requires some significant catch-up as direct entry programs have a number of required core courses, not available to students outside of that program.   

If I apply for an online degree can I switch to on-campus second year?

No, these admission pathways are separate so Distance Students are restricted to taking online courses only. We recommend you apply for admission to the on-campus degree program if you are looking for the flexibility to take both on-campus and online courses.

What is the difference between Life Science direct entry and Life Science general entry?

If you are interested in pursuing Life Science as your Major, you have two options – you could apply via the direct entry route or the general science route. If you are 100% sure you want to be a Life Science major and you prefer the guarantee of being in the major of your choice, then the direct entry route is your best choice. If you want some freedom and flexibility and like the option of not being committed to a major until you’ve had a chance to try out your first year courses, then the science general entry option is best for you.  

What does the application look like if I want to apply to the Psychology program?

If you are interested in studying Psychology, you can apply to either the general Arts or general Science first year program (we offer both an Arts and a Science degree in Psychology.) You will take PSYC 100 in your first year, along with 4 other courses. If you meet the minimum grade requirements at the end of first year, you will be accepted to the Psychology degree plan. 

What’s the difference between the Bachelor of Health Science, the health studies, and the life science program?

Life Science is a Science degree focused on the physical and natural sciences side of the human body covering subjects like chemistry, anatomy, biology, physiology, etc. (what we call “pure science”.) Health Studies is an Arts degree focused on the social science side of health, looking at nutrition, aging, the social determinants of health and race etc. The Bachelor of Health Science degree covers a blend of pure science and social science, looking at the psychology and the social aspects of health. It is not part of the Faculty of Arts and Science, it is offered through the Faculty of Health Sciences.

I want to apply to med school, what major/minor combination should I pursue?

There are no disciplinary pre-requisites or preferred disciplines to apply to medical school. Admission is primarily based on your grades, MCAT scores and interview, so you should study something that you really enjoy and will do well in. There is no pre-med program at Queen’s. 

How does the Concurrent Education program work?

Concurrent Education (also known as “con-ed”) is a direct entry program with the Faculty of Education that allows you to complete the requirements for your Bachelor of Education degree at the same time as your Bachelor of Arts, Science or Computing degree. In addition to your regular Arts and Science course load, each term you will take PROF and PRAC courses as well to go toward your Bachelor of Education degree. PROF courses are professional skills courses for teachers and you will take them once a week throughout each term. PRAC courses are  practicums, which are usually taken in May once the winter term is over. They may involve working in a school, shadowing teachers on the job as well as teaching what you have learned. Once you have completed your Arts, Science or Computing degree at the end of 4 years, you will spend your 5^th year of study completing the requirements for your Bachelor of Education degree.

Are programs like drama and music audition based?

Entrance into the Drama Plan is not audition based. You will take DRAM 100 as a general arts student in first year and as long as you meet the minimum grade threshold you will be accepted into the Drama Major Plan. There are two streams in Music – a Bachelor of Music direct entry program which does require an audition and a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree with a Major or Minor in Music which does not require an audition (you just need to meet the grade threshold for entry at the end of first year, like Drama.) 

Can I do a double major at Queen’s?

Yes, but we call it a Medial instead. If you are keen on pursuing two different areas or concentrations of study, a medial Plan is a great option – it allows you to combine almost any concentration we offer in Arts and still leave you with some room for electives. We do not offer Medial Plans in Science but instead, we offer a limited number of our popular science combinations as specializations instead (like BIPS – our Biology/Psychology specialization, for example.)

Are there any additional requirements besides required courses and marks to get into a medial (double-major) plan?

No, you just need to earn the marks and GPA needed for those concentrations to be accepted into the medial Plan. 

If I choose a major in science (Chemistry for example) and a minor in arts (French for example), would I still earn a Bachelor of Science Degree?

Yes, your degree program will be awarded according to what you graduate with – in this case, you would earn a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Chemistry with a Minor (Arts) in French Studies. 

If I get accepted to the Bachelor or Arts Program and want to switch to the Science Program later, can I still do this even if I didn’t take grade 12 science in high school?

Yes. Once you are in the first year Arts and Science program you are free to take any A&S courses you like. We do not do back and check high school prerequisites. If you are admitted as an Arts student and meet the grade thresholds to be accepted into the science Plan of your choice, we will change your Program to Science. 

How do certificates work?

A certificate is a small suite of courses (most compromise of 4 to 6 courses) based on a theme that you can take as an extra credential to your degree. There are roughly a dozen different certificate programs you can choose from and they are open to nearly all students in the Faculty of Arts and Science, regardless of the degree program you are pursing.

What should I do if I have an IEP (Individual Education Plan)?

Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) is a department at Queen’s that assists students with accommodation needs. Students must register with QSAS and present documentation to receive a letter of accommodation (LOA) and be assigned an Accessibility Advisor. Once you have registered you will meet with your Accessibility Advisor and they will walk you through your approved accommodations and how to let you instructors know what you need. 

If you are having trouble in a class and need help, is there someone available to help you?

Yes! There are lots of people at Queen’s here to support you -- firstly, your professors and teaching assistants. They are always available for help and support by visiting them during their office hours or emailing them with questions or concerns. If they can’t help you with the issue you are having they will refer you to the supports on campus you need. The Student Services Office is another great resource for questions, referrals to resources, academic advising and the best place to go if you need help but don’t know where to start or who to ask. Queen’s also offers a number of academic resources through Student Academic Success Services (SASS): offering workshops for study skills, exam prep, a writing centre, language coaching, and many other supports. There are also resources for personal support available such as Student Wellness Services which offers health promotion and wellness coaching and workshops, personal counselling and medical services. Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) is a service available for academic accommodations, adaptive technology and supports for students with disabilities. Plus so many more we can’t list them all here!

With the current health (COVID-19) situation, will there be classes and labs in-person next year?

We all hope so, but it is too soon to tell yet. We must follow the advice and direction of our public health professionals and once they are able to assess safety measures for next fall and winter terms we will start planning and communicating with students as soon as possible. Remember that Queen’s is not a one year experience only. Even if your first year of study is online, this doesn’t mean that you won’t get the university experience you dreamed of. There will still be several years ahead of you to enjoy the on-campus environment.

Does the internship program (QUIP) have to take place in Kingston?

No, there are a number of different positions in a number of different locations available across Canada. International opportunities are a possibility as well.

What would a typical internship look like?

There is no typical internship experience. Some students work in government, some work in labs, offices and several other settings.  Your internship position can align with your degree program, or you can choose to pursue something completely different and open up new doors for yourself.

Since Queen’s began offering “extension” courses in 1889, the Faculty of Arts and Science has remained a trailblazer in distance education, offering online courses and programs distinguished by their exceptional quality through Arts and Science Online.

Arts and Science Online offers 6 online degrees, 6 online certificates, and over 120 online courses, which are taken by 1,400+ distance students as well as Queen’s undergraduate students. 

Arts and Science Online students come from all different walks of life, levels of education and countries around the world. Arts & Science Online offers you the ability to complete a Degree or Certificate program from the comfort of your home and on a schedule that fits your lifestyle.

Queen's is a place where graduate students learn and discover in a close-knit intellectual community. You can share experiences with the world’s best scholars, whether it’s on a campus park bench at Professor’s Walk, at the laboratory or in a coffee house. With the world at your fingertips, excellent funding options and life in the affordable, historic waterfront city of Kingston, Queen's has a great deal to offer. Graduate students come to Queen's to put their ideas in motion, change their lives and the world.

The Faculty of Arts and Science offers over 60 graduate programs, including professional master’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, and is home to over 1,600 graduate students.

The great thing about Grad Studies is that you can continue down the course of study you loved in your undergrad, or you can find a stream that branches off in a different direction.