First Year in Social Science

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Flexible Degree Options

Our diverse programs will offer you a variety of ways to explore the many different fields. We offer programs in traditional disciplines as well as interdisciplinary programs. You can focus on one area of study or you can combine two different areas of study – either from within Social Science (such as studying Sociology and Anthropology) or from another Faculty across campus (such as studying Economics and Philosophy).

Many of our modules can be combined with the Honors Business Administration (HBA) degree offered by the Ivey Business School. The combined degree allows you to complete your Honors BA and HBA in five years rather than six.

To help you make your selection, the Faculty of Social Science offers academic counselling and student support.

Social Science

All First year Social Science students enrol in an open first-year, featuring a variety of disciplines. The courses can provide an introduction to the diverse areas of study that make up Social Science and allow you to explore areas outside of the faculty.

Required First Year Courses

  • Satisfactory completion of 5.0 courses numbered 1000 - 1999.
  • At least 1.0 course must be selected from Categories A (Social Science, Interdisciplinary and
    Multidisciplinary), and one from either Category B (Arts and Humanities, Languages) or
    Category C (Engineering, Medical Science, Science)


The 5.0 courses must include at least four different subjects with no more than 2.0 courses in one subject. Each module has specific first-year requirements, generally consisting of first-year courses in the specific subject. See the course options listed below.

By the end of the first year, students can select the specific program which they would like to pursue through the Intent to Register process.

  • American Studies - American Studies 1020
  • American Cultural Studies - American Studies 1020, plus 2.0 additional courses from Political Science 1020E, a first-year History, or a first-year English
  • Anthropology, including Archaeology and Biological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Sociocultural Anthropology - Anthropology 1020 or one of Anthropology 1021A/B or Anthropology 1025F/G combined with one of Anthropology 1022A/B or Anthropology 1026F/G
  • Criminology - 1.0 from: Sociology 1020, 1021E, 1025A/B, 1026F/G, 1027A/B
  • Economics, including Financial Economics and Global Economics - Economics 1021A/B and 1022A/B; and 0.5 course from Calculus 1000A/B or 1500A/B
  • Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies - GSWS 1020E, or any two of GSWS 1021F/G, GSWS 1022F/G, GSWS 1023F/G and GSWS 1024F/G
  • Geography and Environment, including Environment and Health and Geographic Information Science - 1.0 course from Geography 1100, 1300A/B, 1400F/G, 1500F/G or Environmental Science 1021F/G
  • History - 1.0 course from: History 1201E, 1401E, 1601E, 1801E, 1803E, 1805E, 1807 or 1810E
  • Indigenous Studies - Indigenous Studies 1020E. Anthropology 1025F/G and 1026F/G are
    recommended in first year
  • International Relations - Political Science 1020E and 1.0 course in History numbered 1000-1999
  • Jewish Studies -
  • Linguistics - Anthropology 1027A/B and Linguistics 1028A/B.
  • Physical Geography - 1.0 from: Geography 1100, Geography 1300A/B, Geography 1400F/G or Geography 1500F/G, Earth Sciences 1022A/B, Earth Sciences 1023A/B, Earth Sciences 1070A/B, Earth Sciences 1081A/B, Environmental Science 1021F/G, Biology 1001A, Biology 1002B, Biology 1201A, Biology 1202B
  • Political Science, including Democratic Governance and Global Justice  - Political Science 1020E
  • Politics, Philosophy & Economics - Political Science 1020E, Economics 1021A/B and 1022A/B,
    and 1.0 Philosophy course(s) at the 1000 level
  • Psychology - Psychology 1000; 1.0 course from Psychology 1000 or Psychology 1002A/B AND Psychology 1003A/B; 0.5 course: Data Science 1000A/B; 0.5 course from: Calculus 1000A/B, Calculus 1301A/B, Calculus 1500A/B, Calculus 1501A/B, Mathematics 1225A/B, Mathematics 1228A/B, Mathematics 1229A/B, Mathematics 1600A/B, Applied Mathematics 1201A/B, the former Statistical Sciences 1024A/B. Mathematics 1228A/B is recommended
  • Sociology - 1.0 from: Sociology 1020, 1021E, 1025A/B, 1026F/G, 1027A/B,
  • Transitional Justice - 1.0 essay course in Social Science or Arts and Humanities
  • Urban Development - 1.0 course from Geography 1100, 1300A/B, 1400F/G, Geography 1500F/G,
    Environmental Science 1021F/G, (with Geography 1400F/G recommended); 1.0 course from Economics 1021A/B and 1022A/B