Advising
Degree Advising and SOUSA
The Science Office for Undergraduate Student Advising (SOUSA) is the office that houses the Faculty's degree advisors. Degree advisors are experts in University and Faculty regulations and the requirements of the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts & Science degrees.
Degree advisors and the SOUSA team provide assistance with degree planning and a variety of student affairs matters (such as study away, readmission, transfers, etc.). They are a good place to start for students who are not certain where to address their questions. They also offer help managing academic situations during periods of personal, financial, or medical problems, by working with students to identify various possibilities and strategies for making informed decisions.
Every student in the B.Sc. degree is assigned a degree advisor in SOUSA. The advisor’s name appears near the top of the Unofficial Transcript on Minerva. Students can contact their advisor directly or via email at advisor.science@mcgill.ca.
Speak with your degree advisor or consult the SOUSA website if you have questions about:
- Foundation Program
- Degree planning
- Degree requirements
- University and Faculty regulations
- Study away/exchange
- Final exam issues (e.g. implications of deferring an exam)
- Interfaculty transfers
- Readmission
Special requests can be made, in writing, to the Associate Dean, Student Affairs.
The Committee on Student Standing (CSS) will consider appeals of the Associate Dean's decisions. For information about CSS, see the Associate Dean, Student Affairs' assistant.
Program Advising
Program advisors, located in their respective academic units or departments (e.g., the advisor for Biology programs is located in the Department of Biology), are experts in the requirements of their unit/department's courses and programs. Each major, minor, honours, joint, and interfaculty program at McGill has a program advisor.
Program advisors are not assigned. Consult the list of program advisors by Academic Unit/Department for contact information.
Speak with a program advisor if you have questions about:
- Program requirements (majors, minors, etc.)
- Courses offered in their department/unit
- Course registration issues (e.g., requesting permission to register for a course that is full or has restrictions)
- Careers in a specific field of study
- Getting the most out of your program
- Graduate school in your field
- Research
First Year Advising
All incoming students are strongly encouraged to consult Science's new student website for detailed information and guidance on first year course selection.
The Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) is a 120-credit degree that includes the mandatory Science Foundation Program, which provides a common academic base for all students. However, students may receive advanced standing and be exempt from some or all of the Foundation requirements depending on their pre-McGill studies (e.g., CEGEP Diploma of Collegial Studies in Science, IB, A-Levels, APs, French Baccalaureate). Students must ensure they meet the Foundation Program requirements, regardless of the number of Advanced Standing credits they have received.
Students entering U0 (who need 97–120 credits to complete their degree requirements) will normally register for courses aimed at fulfilling their Foundation Program requirements until they complete their first year. Students are encouraged to consult a degree advisor in SOUSA for guidance on their course selection.
Students entering U1 (who need 96 or fewer credits to complete their degree requirements) will choose (i.e., declare) their intended program(s) of study when registration opens. As such, they should consult a program advisor in their intended Department(s) of study to obtain guidance on their course selection. To facilitate degree planning and ensure they have fulfilled all Foundation Program requirements, they are also encouraged to contact their degree advisor before finalizing their first year course selection.