The breadth requirement gives you the opportunity to choose courses across a range of subject areas, allowing you to gain knowledge and an understanding of disciplines outside of your main fields of study. Breadth requirements allow you to develop new insights, experiences, and potentially, new ways of thinking.
Top things you need to know
The breadth requirement can be completed at any time throughout your studies, although it must be completed before you graduate. You have two options to fulfill your breadth requirement:
- You must take at least 1.0 credit in each of 4 of the 5 breadth categories, or
- You must take at least 1.0 credit in each of 3 of the 5 breadth categories PLUS 0.5 credit in each of the other 2 course categories
The 5 breadth categories that you can choose from are:
- Creative and Cultural Representations (category 1)
- Thought, Belief, and Behaviour (category 2)
- Society and Its Institutions (category 3)
- Living Things and Their Environment (category 4)
- The Physical and Mathematical Universes (category 5)
A course’s breadth requirement category can be found following the course description in the Calendar for the year in which the course is taken. If a course has two breadth requirement categories listed, it will count for 0.5 credit in each of the two categories.
Any course that you complete that has a breadth requirement category (there are a few that do not) will count toward this degree requirement, including courses that you complete for your program(s).
Make sure to check that you meet the course prerequisites and/or corequisites, if relevant.
Transfer credits can be used towards fulfilling your breadth requirement. Look for the category that was assigned on Degree Explorer or in your transfer credit assessment letter. If the category is not specified, or if you have questions about your transfer credits, contact your College Registrar’s Office or a Student Services Advisor in the Office of the Faculty Registrar.
