Academic Calendar 2008-2009

CALENDAR SUPPLEMENT 2008-2009

  • Published August 27, 2008
  • The Calendar Supplement contains updated
    information and should be used in conjunction
    with the regular Academic Calendar.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome to Trent

  • Message from the President
  • About Trent
  • Using the Calendar
  • Goals, Objectives, Rights and Responsibilities
  • University Diary

GRADUATE CALENDAR

Graduate Studies at Trent

  • Administration
  • Important Deadlines
  • Academic Regulations

Programs

Research Centres and Institutes

UNDERGRADUATE CALENDAR

Undergraduate Studies at Trent

  • Academic Regulations
  • Degree Requirements

Programs

Special Programs & Opportunities

  • Community-Based Education Program
  • Degree Completion Programs
  • Diploma Programs
  • Emphases
  • International Educational Opportunities
  • Joint Programs with Sir Sandford Fleming College
  • Oshawa and Part-Time Studies
  • Special Concentration Programs
  • Specializations
  • Year Abroad Programs

Admissions

Application

Registration

Fees

Financial Aid and Recognition of Academic Excellence

Residence

Academic Support Services

Student Services

GENERAL INFORMATION

Personnel and Contact Information

  • Board of Governors, Officers and Administrative Personnel
  • Academic Staff
  • Directory

Maps

2007-2008 Calendar

2006-2007 Calendar

2005-2006 Calendar

2004-2005 Calendar

2003-2004 Calendar

2002-2003 Calendar

2001-2002 Calendar

2000-2001 Calendar

1999-2000 Calendar

1998-1999 Calendar

 

Undergraduate Studies at Trent

Trent University has a strong commitment to undergraduate studies. We offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, both traditional and interdisciplinary, in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences. We also offer a number of special opportunities for our students to extend their learning experience beyond the boundaries of their disciplines and of the University itself. In our teaching we stress the importance of close interaction between faculty and students through small group contact and individualized learning.

Academic Information & Regulations

Academic Sessions

The academic year is divided into two “sessions”: the Fall/Winter session (normally beginning in September and ending in April) and the summer session (normally beginning in May and ending in August). The Fall/Winter session contains full courses which are offered from September to April, Fall term courses which are offered from September to December, and Winter term courses which are offered from January to April. The Fall and Winter terms last for 12 weeks each, and contain a one-week reading break in each term.

The summer session begins in May and is completed in August. This session is comprised of numerous terms and offers courses over a six-, eight- and twelve-week period.

The University offers field schools in archaeology and field courses in Biology, Geography and Indigenous Studies in the Summer session. Details of these courses are available from the departments concerned.

Academic Load

For many academic purposes, a student registered in 3.5 credits or more is considered ‘full-time’ and in 3 credits or fewer as ‘part-time’. This definition also applies when billing students for tuition fees. It is not, however, the same definition that may be used for other purposes, and students are advised to check with the administrative office when determining their status.

Access to Instruction

It is Trent University’s intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a student has a disability and/or health consideration and feels that he/she may need accommodations to succeed in a course, the student should contact the Disability Services Office (BL Suite 109, 748-1281), disabilityservices@trentu.ca) as soon as possible.

Disabilities include (but are not limited to) neurological impairment, orthopedic/mobility impairment, traumatic brain injury, sensory impairment (visual, hearing, etc.), chronic medical conditions, emotional/psychological disabilities and learning disabilities.

To allow students with disabilities to actively and freely participate in courses every reasonable effort will be made to provide appropriate accommodations as outlined by the Disability Services Office.

A student’s desire for anonymity is of utmost importance and confidentiality will be respected.

Change of Name

The Office of the Registrar is committed to the integrity of its student records. Each student is therefore required to provide, either on application for admission or in personal data required for registration, his/her legal name. Any requests to change a name, by means of alteration of deletion, substitution or addition, must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. Upon making application to graduate, a student may be asked to provide proof of his/her name.

Change of Address

A student must maintain current and up-to-date mailing address information on the records of the University in order to receive pertinent mailings, including Tuition and Education Credit Certificates etc. Address changes may be done through myTrent.

Course Numbering

Courses listed in this Calendar follow the form: SUBJ 100 or SUBJ 1000. SUBJ refers to the department offering the course. The course number may be a 3, 4 or, in limited cases, 5 digit number. The first digit refers to the level of the course.

Course Credits

Single-, double- and half-credit courses are offered. Double-credit courses are identified by the suffix “D” and half-credit courses by the suffix “H.” (For quarter- and three-quarter credit courses in the Consecutive Bachelor of Education program see p. 95).

Cross-listed Courses

     Many courses are cross-listed, that is, they are offered jointly by two or more departments. Cross-listed courses may not be double-counted in order to fulfill degree requirements. For example CAST 201 is cross listed with POST 201; it may be counted for credit as a Canadian Studies course or as a Politics course, but not as both.

Definition of Year

     A student’s progress towards a degree is measured in terms of credits passed rather than years of study completed. Where it is necessary or helpful to equate credits passed with years of study, the following table may be used:

Credits completed:

Year Equivalent

4.5 or fewer credits

1

5.0 to 9.5 credits

2

10 to 14.5 credits

3

15 credits or more

4

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E-mail Accounts

At the time of first registering at the University, students are provided with a Trent user id and password, and a Trent e-mail account. The Trent e-mail account is considered the official e-mail account and will be used to communicate with the students. Students are responsible for ensuring that they monitor and maintain their Trent e-mail account. Students should be aware that e-mails from non-Trent accounts may not be considered to be official.
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Grades and Grading Schemes

Except for courses taken under a pass/fail option, courses are graded according to the following scale. Averages are calculated using the number grade assigned to the student for each course.

Grading Criteria
The final grade in a course is based on at least some of the following criteria:
              •   in-term oral and written work
              •   in-term or mid-year tests or examinations
              •   final examinations
              •   practicums and community-based projects.

     Normally, at least 25% of the grade in a course offered in the regular academic session must be determined and made available by the drop date. No final examination is worth more than 50% of the final grade. Instructors are encouraged not to base final grades entirely on tests and examinations.

Numerical Equivalents of Letter Grades

A+ 90 – 100 B+ 77 – 79 C+ 67 – 69 D+ 57 – 59 F 0 – 49
A 85 – 89 B 73 – 76 C 63 – 66 D 53 – 56    
A- 80 – 84 B- 70 – 72 C- 60 – 62 D- 50 – 52    

Course Repeats
Only a course for which a final grade of D (50-59.9) or F (0-49.9) has been assigned may be repeated. All attempts will appear on students’ academic records, but no more than one attempt will be assigned credit. The attempt with the highest grade will be used to determine the cumulative average.

Grade Reports
Grades are made available through myTrent as soon as possible after the completion of the course. Students may request a copy of their grade report at the completion of the Fall/Winter session and the Summer session. Requests must be in writing to the Office of the Registrar. Grade reports will not be released for students who have an outstanding financial obligation to the University.

Course Syllabuses

Each course has a syllabus which includes the method of assessment and the grading scheme.

In some cases an instructor may judge that certain regulations are inappropriate for a particular course, and may be granted a formal exemption from them by the Dean of Arts and Science. Any such exemptions will be noted in the course syllabus.

The instructor reviews the syllabus with the students at the first class in the course. Any change thereafter in the grading scheme must be agreed to in writing by all students present at a subsequent class; at the class immediately following that one the revised section of the syllabus must be posted or otherwise communicated.

Course Overload

Course overload is defined as enrolment in more than five credits in the Fall/Winter session or enrolment in more than 2.5 credits (or equivalent) during the Fall session or the Winter session.

Students require approval for course overload. Full-time students with at least a 70% average over a minimum of the five most recent credits will be granted their request upon submission of a completed Course Overload Request Form to the Office of the Registrar. Students whose current average is less than 70% must petition the Committee on Undergraduate Petitions, through their Senior Tutor, for approval of course overload.

Letters of Permission

Letters of Permission are granted under the authority of the Committee on Undergraduate Petitions, and applications are made through the Office of the Registrar.
•   Applications for a Letter of Permission to universities within Canada are made through the Office of the Registrar.
•   Applications for an International Letter of Permission for a year abroad are made through the Trent International Program office.
•   International Letters of Permission for the summer session are made through the Office of the Registrar.
•   The application for a Letter of Permission must show that departmental approvals and equivalency assessments have been obtained. (Departmental approval may also be required for courses outside of a student’s major.)
•   Calendar course descriptions for all courses being requested must also accompany the application.   
•   For the Fall/Winter session, applications for Letters of Permission must be received by the due date.
•   For Summer Session, applications must be received no later than two weeks after Spring Convocation.
•   Allow 10 working days for processing.
•   There is a $50 processing fee which must be submitted with the completed application form.
•   Incomplete applications will be returned to the student unprocessed.

Restrictions
•   Students taking Summer courses at another university on a Letter of Permission may not attempt more than two credits (or equivalent).
•   Students on probation may take up to one credit at a time on a Letter of Permission.
•   No more than five credits may be completed on a Letter of Permission. (For transfer students this number may be lower, depending on how many transfer credits they have received.)
•   The total number of non-Trent credits may not exceed 10.
•   Five of the last seven credits obtained by a candidate for a degree must be completed at Trent.

Study at Foreign Universities
•   Students wishing to complete only 1-2 credits (summer or academic year) at a foreign university should apply through the Office of the Registrar.                   
•   Students wishing to take a term or full year of study at a foreign university must apply through the Trent International Program for an International Letter of Permission and have their plans for study approved by the appropriate academic departments. A number of departments and programs encourage study abroad, and formal arrangements exist with several foreign universities.
•   A year studying abroad will normally constitute the third year of an Honours program.
•   The deadline for the International Letter of Permission application is February 2.
       
For more detailed information about study at foreign universities, see International Educational Opportunities (p. 241).

Official Results of Letter of Permission
Students are required to make arrangements to have an official transcript forwarded to the Office of the Registrar upon completion of the course. Once the official transcript is received, the student record will be updated with the completed course(s) and grade(s) and this information will then appear on the student’s record on myTrent and on Official Transcripts.

Student Records

Access to Student Record Policy
    By applying for admission to Trent University and by registering in programs or courses at the University, students accept the University’s right to collect pertinent personal and academic information. The information is used to assess their qualifications for admission, establish and update a record of their academic performance, determine their eligibility for awards and scholarships, determine government funding, and allow the University to undertake its obligations under the Trent Act, 1963. For further information on the collection and use of this information, or if you have concerns about the collection and use of this information, please contact the University Registrar at (705) 748-1215.
        All documentation provided to the University to support an application for admission, housing, financial awards, or any petition or appeal becomes the property of the University.
        The University Registrar, in the Office of the Registrar, is the custodian of all official physical and electronic academic records of all students who have been or are currently registered in degree programs at Trent University. The Office of the Registrar strives to ensure the security and privacy of personal information through the application of appropriate systems for access to that information, the development of procedures, and the education and training of staff and faculty to treat personal information in confidence.

Trent University’s Principles on Access to Confidential Student Records and Disclosure of Information:
The University will not disclose personal information it has collected except in the following circumstances:

  1. the person has consented in writing to disclosure of specific information for a particular purpose
  2. the person has authorized in writing another individual to act on their behalf or participate in their affairs at the University
  3. the information is required by an authorized staff person in the course of their work
  4. to comply with legal requirements, including but not limited to, granting of access to Statistics Canada
  5. in compelling or compassionate circumstances, or as otherwise permitted under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

    The University will disclose information about students who have graduated, such as degree conferred, date, medals and scholarships, as this information is printed in the Convocation program. Whether a student is currently registered is not considered to be public information and may not be disclosed except as specified in the above Principles.

I. Disclosure to the student

  1. Students normally have the right to review the information contained in their hard copy file, with the exception of confidential evaluations and letters of reference provided by a third party. Students who wish to review their hard copy file must make an appointment with the University Registrar (or designate). Any student who is not satisfied with the access provided may make a formal request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act through the office of the access/privacy coordinator.
  2. Students may request that incorrect information in their files be corrected and that those who may have received incorrect information are notified of the change. Students seeking to correct their information may be asked to complete a formal access/correction request.
  3. Students have access to their electronic record through myAcademic Record. This includes biographic and academic information.
  4. Documents submitted by or for the student in support of the application for admission or for transfer credit become the property of Trent University and will not be released or redirected. In rare instances authorized by the University Registrar or designate, an original transcript may be released to the student and a copy retained in the file, with an explanation for this action.
  5. Students with no outstanding financial obligations to the University may, upon written request and payment of a fee, obtain an official transcript of their academic record at the University or have copies sent to a third party. Transcripts will show the scholarship, awards and prizes granted, courses taken, grades achieved, academic status, and degrees conferred.
  6. Students with outstanding financial obligations to the University will be denied access to information such as grades, official transcripts and degree certificates, and will be unable to add or drop courses.
    1. Disclosure to faculty and administrative officers of the University
          Faculty and administrative staff of the University who require access to student records in order to carry out their official duties are given access on a ‘need to know’ basis.

III. Disclosure to parents, guardians, educational institutions and agencies

  1. Requests for student record information received from another institution of learning, or from other organizations, will be permitted only with written authorization from the student; such authorization specifies the information to be provided (e.g. Official transcript) and to whom the information is to be sent.
  2. Student record information (including application, admission and/or registration information), will not be released to a third party, such as a parent or guardian, without the student’s written authorization.

IV. Disclosure to government agencies
    Student record information may be provided in the following instances:

  1. in response to a court order, summons, or subpoena directing the University to release information
  2. to provide the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities with enrolment reports
  3. to provide data to Stats Canada for national surveys
  4. to provide data as required by professional licensing and certification bodies
  5. to provide information as allowed under access/privacy legislation.

V. Disclosure to Student Governments
    All registered students pay student association fees. The Trent Central Student Association, the College Cabinets, the Julian Blackburn College Student Association, the Trent/UOIT Student Association and the Graduate Student Association (“The Associations”) do, from time to time, require specific student record information for particular purposes. The Office of Student Affairs is authorized to provide the Associations with labels, lists and/or e-mail addresses for the purposes of communicating with students or determining their eligibility for some services.
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Protection of Personal Information

Trent University gathers and maintains information used for the purposes of admissions decisions and/or offers, registration and other fundamental activities related to being a member of the Trent University community and attending a public post-secondary institution in the Province of Ontario. Information provided to the University by students, and any other information placed into the student record, will be protected and used in compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (2006).

    Any personal information provided by registering/registered students is collected under the authority of Section 3 of the Trent University Act, 1963. It will be used by the University to register students in courses and for academic and administrative purposes related to being a student of Trent University. Questions on how student information is collected, used or disclosed, may be made in writing to the University Registrar, Office of the Registrar, Blackburn Hall, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, or email: registrar@trentu.ca.
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Notification of Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

Students’ personal information is collected, used and disclosed in accordance with the Ontario Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It is used by the University to create permanent student records, track academic progress, process fees, conduct research into university enrolment, administer programs and services of the University and communicate with students regarding University business.

    The name, sex, date of birth and student number of students in Peterborough are provided on a confidential basis to the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) Student Health Benefits Office for the purpose of enrolment in the student health plan(s) and the issuing of refunds where applicable. This information is transferred by the TCSA to its insurance broker Morneau Sobeco to establish membership in the student health plan and to benefits carrier Green Shield Canada for the purpose of processing student health claims. Student names and trentu.ca email addresses are provided to the TCSA, Graduate Student Association, Julian Blackburn College Student Association or Student Association of UOIT/Durham College (as the case may be) for the purpose of communications related to the student’s membership in the association. Names and student numbers may be made available to student associations in the form of a voters’ list for student elections.
    The University may enter into an agreement with one or more statistical research firms to conduct surveys on behalf of the University. With the University’s permission, these firms may contact groups of students by email to request their participation in a survey on a voluntary and confidential basis. Students may choose to opt out of any such survey and not be contacted further.
    Information regarding graduation and awards may be made public.
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Notification of Use and Disclosure of Personal Information to Statistics Canada

    Statistics Canada is the national statistical agency. As such, Statistics Canada carries out hundreds of surveys each year on a wide range of matters including education.
    It is essential to be able to follow students across time and institutions to understand, for example, the factors affecting enrolment demand at post-secondary institutions. The increased emphasis on accountability for public investment means that Statistics Canada regularly asks all colleges and universities to provide data on students and graduates.
    The Federal Statistics Act provides the legal authority for Statistics Canada to obtain access to personal information held by educational institutions. The information may be used only for statistical purposes, and the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act prevent the information from being released in any way that would identify a student.
    Students who do not wish to have their information used are able to ask Statistics Canada to remove their identification and contact information from the national database.
    Further information on the use of this information can be obtained from Statistics Canada’s website: www.statcan.ca or by writing to the Postsecondary Section, Centre for Education Statistics, 17th Floor, R.H. Coats Building, Tunney’s Pasture, Ottawa, K1A 0T6.
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Transcripts

    Copies of official grade transcripts will be issued at the student’s request. In accordance with the Access to Student Record Policy, the student’s signature is required for the release of records. Transcripts issued directly to the student are stamped “Issued to Student”. Official transcripts are sent directly to other institutions or to third parties at the student’s request.

Ordering Transcripts
    Transcripts may be ordered in person at the Office of the Registrar, by mail, or through the Transcript request available on the University website. A fee must be paid for each copy of a transcript.
    Requests must be accompanied by the following information:

  1. Full name when registered as a student, and current name (if different)
  2. Trent student number (or date of birth) and the degree pursued (e.g., B.A., B. Sc.)
  3. Current mailing address and a daytime telephone number
  4. Number of transcripts required
  5. The complete name and address of where the transcript is to be sent
  6. Payment information
  7. Signature.

Picking up transcripts
    If someone other than the student is required to pick up the transcript, the student must give that person a signed authorization identifying the person and indicating that they are authorized to pick up the transcript. Photo identification will be required.

Payment
    Transcripts will be issued at the cost of $10 (for regular processing); requests for 24-hour processing of transcripts will be charged $25. The Office of the Registrar accepts cash, money orders and cheques (payable to Trent University), Visa and MasterCard. When paying by credit card, students must include their name, the type of credit card, the credit card number, the card’s expiry date and their signature.
        Transcripts will not be released for students who have an outstanding financial obligation to the University.

Final Examinations and Mid-year Tests

Scheduling
With the exception of laboratory examinations in the sciences, no in-class tests or final examinations which are worth more than 10% of the final grade may be held during the last two weeks of classes in the Fall or Winter term. In the Summer session the period during which in-class tests and examinations may not be held is the last two weeks for 12-week courses and the last week for 6- and 8-week courses.

The examination schedule is designed to avoid conflicts and to ensure that no student writes more than twice within a 24-hour period. In the case of take-home examinations or tests, the instructor assigns a submission date before the end of the examination period.

The writing time allotted is the same for all students in a course (with the exception of students with disabilities; see below).

Students who wish to observe cultural or religious holidays during an examination period must notify the Office of the Registrar in writing by the final Friday in September. If it is possible, scheduling will be adjusted to accommodate these dates. If it is not possible, students must submit a written request to their instructors for alternative arrangements, explaining the reason for the request and including supporting documentation.

 Examinations and tests for students with disabilities who require disability-related supports – e.g. extra time or other assistance – are available. All requests must be made through the Disability Services Office at least two weeks before the examination or test, and must be supported by appropriate documentation from a qualified health care diagnostician. Information regarding documentation guidelines is available at www.trentu.ca/disabilityservices.

Student Identification
Students must bring their Trent student cards to all examinations. Cards must be visible to the Examination Invigilator. Students who fail to produce a valid student card must report to the Dean’s Office, with their card, by 1 p.m. on the next working day. Students whose names are not printed on an attendance list are not registered in the course. They must report to the Office of the Registrar by 1 p.m. on the next working day to clarify their status. Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero for the course.

Missed Examinations
Students who miss an examination for reasons beyond their control should consult with their instructor immediately about the possibility of alternate arrangements. If such arrangements are not possible, students may petition for aegrotat standing. (See below for the requirements for aegrotat standing.)

Unsatisfactory Examination Results
There are no supplemental examinations. The only options available to students who are dissatisfied with the result of an examination are to appeal the final grade in the course (see Appeals of final grades below) or to repeat the course, if the final grade is D or F. (See Course credits)

Availability of Past Examinations
The Bata Library and the UOIT Durham College Library (Oshawa) keep on reserve copies of all examinations from the previous three years in currently offered courses or a reasonable sampling of the types of questions asked.

Student Access to Graded Examination Papers
Graded examination papers are the property of the University and are not intended to be available to students. They may be seen by students only if a formal appeal of a final grade has been unsuccessful (see Academic Appeals below). Requests to see an examination paper must be made in writing to the Office of the Registrar. There is a fee for each request.

Mid-year Review

     Mid-year marks are available through myAcademic Record in January to help students assess their academic performance; they do not represent official grades, and mid-year grades do not appear on any formal document.

Official Final Grades

Final grades are official thirty days after they have been released by the Office of the Registrar. If errors in the calculation or recording of grades come to light after the grades have been released, all affected grades may be recalculated and raised or lowered with the approval of the Dean. However, this process must be completed, and corrected transcripts must be issued, before the thirty day period has passed. Instructors and/or departments are not permitted to release final grades. Final examination marks can be released to students only after final grades have been released by the Office of the Registrar.

Difficulties with the Completion of Course Work

There are three options available to students who have difficulties with the completion of their course work for reasons beyond their control: if they cannot complete their course work before the end of the academic session, they may request incomplete standing; if they cannot write the final examination in a course, they may request aegrotat standing; if they wish to withdraw from the course altogether, but have missed the deadline for withdrawal without academic penalty, they may petition for late withdrawal. These three options are described in detail below.

Incomplete Standing

Incomplete standing permits students to submit any remaining work in a course by a specified date after the end of the academic session. Failure by students to organize their workload is not considered adequate grounds for incomplete standing. A petition for incomplete standing must be made to the instructor, and approved by the chair, before the department or program deadline (if there is one), but in any case before submission of final grades to the Office of the Registrar.
     The instructor specifies the deadline for submission of outstanding work and the grade which will be assigned if the deadline is not met. The latest possible deadlines for the submission of outstanding work are:
              •   February 28 for courses completed in the Fall session
              •   June 30 for courses completed in the Winter session
              •   September 30 for courses completed in the Summer session.

Aegrotat Standing
Students may, if eligible, be exempted from writing the final examination in a course. A petition for aegrotat standing must be made to the instructor as soon as the relevant circumstances are known, and normally before the scheduled examination time. A petition for aegrotat standing must be made to the instructor, normally before the examination. An aegrotat standing is granted only if all required term work has been completed and the student has a passing average. Students are advised to familiarize themselves with the procedures for calculating aegrotat standing in the department or program involved.

Late Withdrawal
Late withdrawal is granted to students who have missed the deadline for withdrawal from courses without academic penalty but, for reasons judged to be compelling, have been unable to complete their course work. A petition for late withdrawal is made to the Committee on Undergraduate Standings & Petitions through the Senior Tutor as soon as possible and normally before the end of the academic session.

Academic Status

Assessment Average
A student’s academic status is determined by a session average or by a cumulative average (see below).

  • The cumulative average includes all courses for which a grade has been assigned and all attempted courses for all programs/degrees excluding repeated courses with a lower grade. (Transfer credits are given a pass grade and thus are not included in the average.)
  • The session average includes all courses in the current session (Fall-Winter or Summer) for which a grade has been assigned.

     The initial assessment average is calculated at the end of the academic session in which students have completed the third credit in their program. It includes all courses for which a grade has been assigned since beginning the program. Thereafter, the cumulative and session averages are calculated at the end of each academic session.

Categories of Academic Status
     There are five categories of academic status: good standing, probation, conditional probation, academic suspension and suspension - academic dishonesty. Regulations governing them differ, depending on whether the assessment averages are based on a full-time load (more than three credits) or a part-time load (three credits or less).
     1. Good Standing
    
Full-time load: Students are in good standing if their session average is at least 60%.
     Part-time load: Students are in good standing if their cumulative average is at least 60%.
     2. Probation
Full-time load: Students are initially placed on probation if their session average is 50 – 59.9%, or if they are returning from academic suspension. If their session average is 60% or higher upon the next assessment, probation is lifted.
         Part-time load: Students are initially placed on probation if their cumulative average is 50 – 59.9%, or if they are returning from academic suspension. If their cumulative average is 60% or higher upon the next assessment, probation is lifted. Otherwise probation continues as long as the session average is 50% or higher.
     3. Conditional Probation
         Students who are accepted into the Fresh Start Program will have an academic status of Conditional Probation for the session that they are in the program.
     4. Academic Suspension
Full-time load: Students are suspended from the University for a year if their session average is less than 50%, or if they are on probation and it is less than 60%.
         Part-time load: Students are suspended from the University if their initial assessment average is less than 50%, or if their session average while on probation is less than 50%.
     5. Suspension – Academic Dishonesty
Students may be placed on suspension by the Dean for repeated violations of the Academic Dishonesty Policy. The first time penalties of “Suspension – Academic Dishonesty” are imposed, their duration will be for periods of up to one year. Subsequent penalties will be for periods of up to three years. Appeals of the Dean’s decision should be made to the Special Appeals Committee. Students seeking support with an appeal should consult their senior tutor or seek advice from faculty members.

Procedures for Students on Probation or under Academic Suspension
Students who are placed on academic suspension may petition that their status be reconsidered through the Senior Tutor of their College. Upon the advice of the Senior Tutor, the student may be admitted to the Fresh Start Program. If accepted into the Fresh Start Program, they will have their academic standing changed to Conditional Probation and be permitted to continue their studies at a reduced course load and under the supervision of their Senior Tutor for the Fall/Winter session immediately following their having been placed on Academic Suspension. Students may enroll in the Fresh Start Program one time only. In some cases, the student may be allowed to return on Probation. In all cases, the student has the option of petitioning their academic suspension through the Committee on Undergraduate Standings and Petitions.

Dean’s and President’s Honour Rolls

All students who achieve an average of A- (80%) or better in their most recent session and have an overall cumulative average of B (75%) or better, will have their names placed on the Dean’s Honour Roll.

All graduating students who achieve an overall cumulative average of A- (80%) or better will have their names placed on the President’s Honour Roll.

The names of graduating students who are eligible for the Dean’s Honour Roll and/or the President’s Honour Roll will be noted in the convocation program.

Academic Appeals

Appeals of Grades on Term Work
Appeals of grades on term assignments and tests are made to the course instructor and subsequently, if necessary, to the chair of the department or program. Students are advised to familiarize themselves with the appeals policy of the department or program involved.

Appeals of Final Grades
Appeals of final grades are made in writing to the Office of the Registrar. There is a fee for each appeal, refundable if the grade is raised. The grade of a student who is making an appeal cannot be lowered as a result of that appeal.
     Only the following work may be reassessed in appeals of final grades:
        •   term work not returned to students before the submission of final grades to the Office of the Registrar
        •   final examinations
        The deadlines for appeals of final grades are:
        •   September 19, 2008 for courses completed in the 2008 Summer session
        •   March 9, 2009 for courses completed in the 2008 Fall session                
        •   July 6, 2009 for courses completed in the 2009 Winter session     Students are informed of the results of appeals of final grades as soon as possible after the appeal deadline, but, in any case, before the beginning of the next academic session after the appeal deadline.

Appeals of Academic Regulations
Students who believe that specific academic regulations have imposed undue hardship on them may petition the application of the regulations to the Committee on Undergraduate Standings & Petitions through their Senior Tutor.

Special Appeals
If all other levels of appeals or petitions have been exhausted and have been unsuccessful, students may make an appeal to the Special Appeals Committee through the secretary of the committee. Such appeals must be made within four weeks of receipt of the previous ruling, and must be in writing on the appropriate forms available from the University Secretariat in Bata Library. All decisions of the Special Appeals Committee are final and take effect when issued.

Academic Dishonesty Policy

Application
This policy applies to students registered in undergraduate courses in the Faculty of Arts and Science and graduate students registered in graduate programs at Trent University.

Terminology
In this policy, “department” is used to cover undergraduate departments, programs, and schools as well as graduate programs. “Chair” is used to cover chairs and directors of undergraduate departments, programs, and schools as well as directors of graduate programs. “Dean” is used to refer to the Associate Dean of Arts and Science (Teaching and Learning) in the case of undergraduate students and to the Dean of Graduate Studies in the case of graduate students.

Academic Honesty
All members of the University community share the responsibility for the academic standards and reputation of the University. When students submit work for academic evaluation and credit, they imply that they are the sole authors of the work. Clear and careful attribution of the words and ideas of others is an essential part of academic scholarship. Academic honesty is a cornerstone of the development and acquisition of knowledge and is a condition of continued membership in the University community.

Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. Engaging in any form of academic dishonesty or misconduct in order to obtain academic credit or advantage of any kind is an offence under this policy.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation of the words, ideas, images, data, or any other form of scholarly work of another person (including essays, theses, lab reports, projects, assignments, presentations, and posters) in a way that represents or could be reasonably seen to represent the work as one’s own. Plagiarism covers a wide range of academic offences, from failure to acknowledge sources correctly to submitting materials downloaded from the world wide web.

Cheating
Cheating includes dishonest academic conduct or attempted dishonest academic conduct during tests or examinations or in the preparation of any other course work or in the presentation of credentials for admission to the University or one of its programs. Some common examples are:
         –   submitting one’s own original student work for credit in two or more different courses without the prior agreement of the instructors involved
         –   bringing aids, including electronic aids, that have not been authorized by the instructor into an examination or test
         –   impersonating another individual or colluding in an impersonation for an examination or test
         –   copying from another individual or knowingly permitting another individual to copy from one’s test, examination paper, lab report, or assignment
         –   communicating in any way with another student during a test or examination
         –   purchasing from, or selling to, another any piece of work for submission, or facilitating the selling and purchasing of such material
         –   submitting any purchased material as one’s own work
         –   falsifying or tampering with results in laboratory experiments or research assignments
         –   falsifying transcripts or tampering with documents used to make decisions about admissions to the University or one of its programs
         –   withholding transcripts or other required documents at the time of application to the University
         –   submitting false or misrepresentative medical certificates or other documentation in support of requests for concessions on academic work or deadlines
     Students who have any doubt as to what might be considered academic dishonesty in a particular course should consult the instructor of the course to obtain appropriate guidelines.

Penalties
A student who has been found to have committed an academic offence will be subject to a penalty or penalties commensurate with the offence. Penalties may range from a reprimand to suspension from the University. Examples include the reduction of a mark on work submitted for evaluation, the requirement to submit another piece of work or to retake a test or examination, and a grade of “0 – Academic Dishonesty” on a student’s transcript. For academic offences involving loss of marks, penalties more serious than a “0” on a piece of work submitted for evaluation will be imposed only by the Dean. The application of penalties imposed by the Dean will be overseen by the Registrar. In deciding on the appropriate sanction to be imposed for an act of academic dishonesty, consideration may be given to the following factors:
         –   the extent of the dishonesty
         –   whether the act in question was inadvertent or deliberate
         –   the importance of the work in question as a component of the course or program
         –   whether the student has been found to have committed any previous act of academic dishonesty
         –   whether the act in question was an isolated incident or part of repeated acts of academic dishonesty
         –   any other relevant circumstances

Procedures

  1. Evaluation of work by course instructors
    1. If an instructor has reason to believe academic dishonesty on the part of a student, the instructor will so inform the student within a reasonable time and invite the student to discuss the matter. If, after such discussion and reviewing the evidence, the instructor is satisfied that no academic dishonesty has occurred, no further action will be taken by the instructor unless new evidence comes to the attention of the instructor.
    2. If, after such discussion or if the student fails to respond to the request for a meeting or does not attend a prearranged meeting, the instructor decides that academic dishonesty has occurred and decides that reduction of the earned mark on an assignment (including a test or examination) is appropriate, the instructor will provide the student with an Academic Dishonesty Form which records the reduced mark and the reason for it. The form, along with the documented evidence, will be filed at the department office. Filing the form constitutes the recording of an academic offence. If the student’s name already appears on file at the department office for an incident of academic dishonesty, the student’s name will be forwarded to the Office of the Dean. The instructor will explain to the student the consequences of having his/her name forwarded to the Office of the Dean. The student may appeal the decision of the instructor by writing to the chair of the department setting out the grounds for appeal within one week of notification of the instructor’s decision. The chair should respond to the student within one week of receiving the appeal.
    3.  If, after such discussion or if the student fails to respond to the request for a meeting or does not attend a prearranged meeting, the instructor believes that academic dishonesty has occurred that would warrant a grade of “0” on an assignment (including a test or examination) because of the severity of the academic dishonesty, the instructor will report the matter to the chair. The chair will notify the student in writing of the allegation and will invite the student to meet within a reasonable time. If the student does not respond to the request for a meeting or does not attend a prearranged meeting, the chair will proceed to make a decision on the basis of the evidence before him/her. If, after reviewing the evidence, the chair is not satisfied that academic dishonesty occurred, the chair will inform the student in writing of his/her decision and no further action will be taken by the chair unless new evidence comes to the attention of the chair. If the chair is satisfied that academic dishonesty occurred, the chair will decide the appropriate penalty (up to and including a “0” in the piece of work) and inform the student in writing of his/her decision. In the latter case, the chair will inform the student that his/her name, along with the documented evidence, will be placed on file in the department office. The chair will also inform the student that his/her name will be forwarded to the Office of the Dean. The chair will explain to the student the consequences of having his/her name forwarded to the Office of the Dean. (See 4 below.) The student may appeal the decision of the chair by writing to the Dean setting out the grounds for appeal within two weeks of notification of the chair’s decision. The Dean should respond to the appeal within two weeks of receiving the appeal.

  2. Conduct during examinations or tests
    Where an allegation of academic dishonesty arises during a test or examination, the responsible invigilator will collect the available evidence and report the incident to the chair of the relevant department. The chair will notify the student in writing of the allegation and will invite the student to meet within a reasonable time. If the student does not respond to the request for a meeting or does not attend a prearranged meeting, the chair will proceed to make a decision on the basis of the evidence before him/her. If, after reviewing the evidence, the chair is not satisfied that academic dishonesty occurred, the chair will inform the student in writing of his/her decision and no further action will be taken by the chair unless new evidence comes to the attention of the chair. If the chair is satisfied that academic dishonesty occurred, the chair will decide the appropriate penalty (up to and including a “0” in the test or examination) and inform the student in writing of his/her decision. In the latter case, the chair will inform the student that his/her name, along with the documented evidence, will be placed on file in the department office. The chair will also inform the student that his/her name will be forwarded to the Office of the Dean. The chair will explain to the student the consequences of having his/her name forwarded to the Office of the Dean. (See 4 below.) The student may appeal the decision of the chair by writing to the Dean setting out the grounds for appeal within two weeks of notification of the chair’s decision. The Dean should respond to the appeal within two weeks of receiving the appeal.

  3.  Applications to the University or one of its programs
    Where the alleged academic dishonesty involves falsifying, misrepresenting, or withholding records for entry into the University or one of its programs, the Registrar will be informed. The Registrar will notify the student in writing of the allegation and will invite the student to meet within a reasonable time. If the student does not respond to the request for a meeting or does not attend a prearranged meeting, the Registrar will proceed to make a decision on the basis of the evidence before him/her. If, after reviewing the evidence, the Registrar is satisfied that no academic dishonesty occurred, the Registrar will inform the student in writing of his/her decision and no further action will be taken by the Registrar unless new evidence comes to the attention of the Registrar. If the Registrar is satisfied that academic dishonesty has occurred, the Registrar will decide the appropriate penalty and inform the student in writing of his/her decision. A written record of the incident, along with the documented evidence, will be kept on file at the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Dean will be notified. The Registrar will explain to the student the consequences of having his/her name forwarded to the Office of the Dean. (See 4 below.) The student may appeal the decision of the Registrar by writing to the Dean setting out the grounds for appeal within two weeks of notification of the Registrar’s decision. The Dean should respond to the appeal within two weeks of receiving the appeal.

  4. Notification to the Office of the Dean
    1. The Dean will not proceed to consider a notice from the chair or the Registrar of an incident of academic dishonesty by a student until after any appeal has been determined or the relevant appeal period has expired. If no appeal has been made or if the finding of academic dishonesty has been upheld, the Dean will review the matter to consider whether further penalties should be imposed. If the Dean decides to request a meeting with the student, the student will be invited to meet within a reasonable time. If the student does not respond to a request for a meeting or does not attend a prearranged meeting, the Dean will proceed to make a decision as to whether further penalties should be imposed on the basis of the evidence before him/her. Upon reviewing the evidence, the Dean will impose such further penalties as he/she sees fit, up to and including a grade of “0 – Academic Dishonesty” in any course in which that student is registered and has been found guilty of academic dishonesty. The notation “0 – Academic Dishonesty” will appear on the student’s transcript. The Dean will inform the student in writing of his/her decision. The student may appeal a decision of the Dean to impose further penalties to the Special Appeals Committee within four weeks of notification of the decision of the Dean. The decision of the Special Appeals Committee is final.
    2. If, subsequent to any occasion on which the Dean has awarded one or more grades of “0 – Academic Dishonesty” to a student, the Dean receives notice of a further incident of academic dishonesty by that student, the Dean will invite the student to meet within a reasonable time, but not until after any appeal has been determined or the relevant appeal period has expired. If the student does not respond to the request for a meeting or does not attend a pre-arranged meeting, the Dean will proceed to make a decision as to whether further penalties should be imposed on the basis of the evidence before him/her. Upon reviewing the evidence, the Dean will impose such further penalties as he/she sees fit, up to and including the standing “Suspension – Academic Dishonesty” for a period of up to one year. The notation “Suspension – Academic Dishonesty” will appear on the student’s transcript. The Dean will inform the student in writing of his/her decision. The student may appeal a decision of the Dean to impose further penalties to the Special Appeals Committee within four weeks of notification of the decision of the Dean. The decision of the Special Appeals Committee is final.
    3. If a student has been readmitted to the University after having served a “Suspension – Academic Dishonesty” penalty and subsequently is reported to the Office of the Dean for academic dishonesty, the Dean will invite the student to meet within a reasonable time, but not until after any appeal has been determined or the relevant appeal period has expired. If the student does not respond to the request for a meeting or does not attend a prearranged meeting, the Dean will proceed to make a decision on the basis of the evidence before him/her. Upon reviewing the evidence, the Dean will impose such further penalties as he/she sees fit, up to and including the standing of “Suspension – Academic Dishonesty” for a period of up to three years. The notation “Suspension – Academic Dishonesty” will appear on the student’s transcript. The Dean will inform the student in writing of his/her decision. The student may appeal a decision of the Dean to impose further penalties to the Special Appeals Committee within four weeks of notification of the decision of the Dean. The decision of the Special Appeals Committee is final.

  5. Assistance with the appeals procedure: Students seeking support for an appeal may consult their senior tutor or seek advice from faculty members. For guidance on the appeals procedures at the University, please see the “Petitions and Appeals” section of the calendar.

  6. Other allegations of academic dishonesty: Any other allegations of academic dishonesty may be made in writing to the Dean. The Dean will determine the appropriate procedure to be followed.

  7. No record of dropped allegations: At any stage, if, after reviewing the evidence, the instructor, chair, or Registrar decides that the allegations are not supported by sufficient evidence, no record of the incident will be kept on file at the offices of the department, Registrar, or Dean.

  8. Withdrawal is not a stay of proceedings: A student’s withdrawal from a course, program, or the University does not stay or prevent proceedings for academic dishonesty under this policy. Penalties for academic dishonesty determined under this policy will appear as appropriate on the student’s record, including the student’s transcript, despite any such withdrawal.

  9. Removal of transcript notations: If a student has a notation of "0 – Academic Dishonesty" or "Suspension – Academic Dishonesty" on his or her transcript, an application can be made in writing to the Vice President (Academic) to have the "Academic Dishonesty" notation removed from the transcript; "0" grades and notations of suspension cannot be removed. Such applications may not be initiated before a student graduates or until two years have lapsed since the penalty was imposed, whichever is later.

Graduation and Convocation

   For students to graduate, Senate must confirm that they have successfully completed the academic requirements for their degree. Once they have graduated and are free of all financial obligations to the University, they are eligible to receive official transcripts, noting the successful completion of their degree, and to receive their degree or diploma at the Spring convocation ceremony.
     In the year in which they intend to graduate, students must submit an Application to Graduate form to the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar will assess whether the students are enrolled in the courses required to complete the academic requirements for their degree, and will inform the students by letter of the result of this assessment. A fee is charged for late applications. See the University Diary for deadlines.
     Once grades have been processed, the names of all students who have successfully completed the academic requirements for their degree are submitted to Senate for approval.
     Students who have successfully completed the academic requirements for their degree, but who are not free of financial obligations to the University, may participate in Convocation but will not receive their degree or diploma until their financial obligations are met.
     Students who have successfully completed the academic requirements for their degree too late for Convocation will have their names submitted to the next appropriate meeting of Senate, and are eligible to receive their degree or diploma at the next Spring convocation ceremony, assuming that they are free of all financial obligations to the University.

Petitions and Appeals

     Students who foresee difficulties completing their course work may petition for incomplete or aegrotat standing or for late withdrawal, depending on the circumstances. Students may appeal grades which they have received, regulations which have caused them undue hardship, the penalty of academic suspension, and penalties for academic misconduct. As a last resort, students may appeal the results of previous petitions or appeals through a special appeal.
     The table below summarizes the procedures for petitions and appeals, indicating the appropriate situation for each (“why”), the persons responsible for dealing with them (“who”) and the deadlines for submission (“when”). It is intended only as a convenient summary; before pursuing any of these options, students should consult the appropriate section of the calendar where the official procedures and requirements are laid out in full.
     Although the procedures outlined below have been designed to be as thorough as possible, there may be situations which are not adequately covered by any of them. In such cases students are strongly advised to consult their Instructor, the chair of their department or program, their Academic Advisor, their Senior Tutor, or the Dean of Arts and Science, as appropriate.

Why

Who

When

Petitions Concerning Incomplete Work

• Incomplete Standing (p. 19)

You will be unable to complete your course work by the end of term.

Course Instructor (with the approval of the chair)

Before department or program deadline (if there is one) but in any case before submission of final grades.

• Aegrotat Standing (p. 19)

You will be unable to write the final examination.

Course Instructor

Normally before final examination.

Late Withdrawal (p. 19)

You were unable to withdraw from a course before the published deadline to withdraw without academic penalty.

  • Senior Tutor
  • Committee on Undergraduate Standings & Petitions (if necessary)

After the published date for withdrawal without academic penalty but normally before the end of the academic session

Appeals of Grades and Regulations

• Term Work (p. 21)

You wish to appeal a grade in a term assignment or test.

  • Course Instructor
  • Chair (if necessary)

Before department or program deadline (if there is one) but in any case before submission of final grades.

• Final Grades (p. 21)

You wish to appeal a grade in a final examination or in term work which was not returned to you before the submission of final grades.

Office of the Registrar

See deadlines in calendar.
(p. 21)

• Academic Regulations (p. 21)

You wish to appeal an academic regulation.

Committee on Under­graduate Standing & Petitions (through Senior Tutor)

Consult Senior Tutor.

Appeals of Academic Suspension (p. 20)

You have been suspended as a result of your academic standing.

1. Senior Tutor
2. Committee on Under­graduate Standings & Petitions (if necessary)

By July 13 for the previous
Fall/Winter session, or within two weeks of receiving notice.

Appeals of Penalties for Academic Misconduct (p. 23)

You wish to have a penalty for academic conduct withdrawn (ranging from a reprimand to expulsion from the University).

1. Chair (appeal of Course Instructor’s ruling)
2. Dean of Arts and Science (appeal of Chair’s ruling or Registrar’s ruling)
3. Special Appeals Committee (appeal of Dean’s ruling)

Within 1 week of imposition of penalty

Within 2 weeks of imposition of penalty

 

Within 4 weeks of imposition of penalty

Special Appeals (p. 21)

You wish to appeal the result of any previous appeals or
petitions.

 

Special Appeals Committee

Within 4 weeks of receipt of previous ruling.


Degree Requirements

Trent University offers the following degree and diploma programs:

Degree Programs                                                                        Diploma Programs
Bachelor of Arts (Honours and General)                                     Canadian Studies
Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours)                          Foundations of Indigenous Learning
Bachelor of Education Consecutive Program                              Indigenous Environmental Studies
Bachelor of Science (Honours and General)                               Indigenous Management &
Bachelor of Science in Nursing                                                     Economic Development
Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science                                     Kanyen’keha (Mohawk) Language

  • The University encourages students in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs to plan an Honours degree. The Honours degree is the basic qualification for entry to graduate programs and generally enhances employment opportunities.
  • The Honours Degree programs and the Bachelor of Science Degree programs in Nursing and in Forensic Science are 20 credit programs, normally requiring four years of full-time study.
  • The General Degree programs are 15 credit programs, normally requiring three years of full-time study.
  • The Diploma programs are one or two years of full-time study.

Applicable Calendar for Degree Completion
The regulations in force in the year in which a student applies to graduate are normally the ones listed in that year’s Calendar. It is the responsibility of students to consult the Calendar each year and to follow regulations as stated.

Requirements for all Bachelor’s degrees
For requirements for the Consecutive Bachelor of Education program see p. 95. Requirements for all other programs consist of:
1. requirements for specific programs as outlined in the Academic Programs section of this calendar
2. at least three credits leading to majors in different disciplines
3. no more than seven 100-level credits
4. a minimum grade of C- (60%) in a required introductory course for the degree, if there is one
5. a maximum of three credits with D grades (50 to 59%)              
6. a maximum of one credit with a D grade (50 to 59%) in a course required for a major.

 

Honours
Arts & Science

Honours Business Admin.

General Arts & Science

Nursing

Forensic Science

7.    total credits required

20

20

15

20

20

8.   minimum cumulative average
       required in Honours program
      *see p. 55

65

70*

n/a

n/a

65

9.   minimum credits required
       beyond the 200-level
       –   in some programs 200- and 300-
            level courses are equivalent

7

7

4

4

7

10. maximum credits unsuccessfully
attempted in Honours program
       – includes D (50 to 59%) grades not
          for credit and F grades

6

6

n/a

n/a

3

11. maximum credits allowed in a
       discipline
       *see Business Administration program for details

13

n/a*

8

n/a

n/a

12. maximum credits which can be
       required in each discipline of a joint-
       major

8

8

6

n/a

n/a

 

Notes
     •   The minimum cumulative average required for Honours (see 8 above) includes only courses for which credit has been earned: neither F grades nor D grades beyond the maximum allowed for credit (see 5 and 6 above) are included in the average. Students in the Honours program who do not maintain this average, or who exceed the maximum of six credits unsuccessfully attempted, will be awarded a General degree, assuming they meet the requirements for the degree.
     •   The same course may not simultaneously satisfy the requirements of both programs in a joint-major degree.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree
Some programs lead to a B.Sc. degree. Other programs lead either to a B.A. or a B.Sc. degree, depending on the courses taken; for these programs, students must indicate on the Application to Graduate if they wish to be awarded a B.Sc.

B.Sc. 
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 
Biology
Chemical Physics
Chemistry
Computing Systems & Physics
Environmental Chemistry
Mathematical Computer Science
Mathematical Economics
Mathematical Physics
Mathematics
Physics & Astronomy

B.A./B.Sc.
Anthropology
Computing Systems
Information Systems (joint-major only) Economics
Environmental & Resource Science
Geography
Psychology

•   Fourteen science credits (including one in Mathematics, but not MATH 2080, 2084H or 2085H) are required for the Honours degree.
•   Eleven science credits (including one in Mathematics, but not MATH 2080, 2084H or 2085H) are required for the General degree.
•   For science courses in the B.A./B.Sc. programs, see individual entries.
•   The Forensic Science degree (B.Sc.F.S.) and Nursing degree (B.Sc.N.) are standalone professional degrees in science and are not subject to the same B.Sc. major requirements as the Programs noted above. Please see these Departments’ specific degree requirements.

Requirement for a minor
Students who have fulfilled the requirements for a single-major or joint-major Honours degree may apply to the Office of the Registrar for a minor in a different subject. See individual department and program entries for details.

 

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