A bachelor's degree requires the completion of 120 credits worth of course work.
Academic and program advisors are available to assist you with your specific degree requirements.
Our Academic Calendar is the authoritative source for all academic programs and degree requirements.
In our Academic Calendar, see specific requirements for:
- your chosen degree: Section 11 — Academic Programs
- your chosen major, minor, or honours: Section 12 — Programs and Courses
Students with continuous enrolment at Mount Allison may elect to graduate under any ONE calendar in force during their registration (subject to the availability of courses).
Majors, minors, honours, and certificates
Not sure about the difference between a major, a minor, an honours, and a certificate?
Majors and minors must be declared by the end of year two, the year in which you will have 54 credits completed (BA, BSc, BComm).
For requirements of specific majors, minors, honours, and certificates, visit Academic Calendar — Section 11.
For a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
One of the following must be completed:
A major + a minor
The credits required for a BA or BSc include those required for a major plus the credits required for a minor from any other program. No more than 9 credits can be counted in common between a major and a minor.
Though every 120-credit degree will be different, the typical distribution for degrees will look like this:
For more details:
A double major
Students who satisfy the requirements for a second major from any other program will have achieved a BA or BSc with a double major, and will have both majors recorded on their transcript.
No more than 24 credits can be counted in common between the two majors.
A general degree (3 minors)
Students who satisfy the requirements for three minors will have achieved a BA or BSc General Degree, and will have this title plus all minors recorded.
A triple minor will not total fewer than 72 credits, despite requirements in common.
Honours
A minor is not required, but if completed, will be recorded. Likewise, if an additional major is completed, it will be recorded. There is no regulation limiting the number of credits counted in common.
Honours must be declared by December of year three. Students with 54-83 credits completed are considered to be in year three.
For a BComm, BMus, and BFA
A Bachelor of Commerce
The credits required for a BComm include Commerce Degree Core Program requirements, Commerce elective credits, and a minor in a non-Commerce discipline.
- In lieu of a minor students may complete a major in a non-Commerce discipline (maximum 24 credits may be counted in common with core and Commerce elective courses)
- The regulation requiring a minor is waived for students pursuing honours in economics
- The regulation requiring a minor is waived for students pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce with Aviation
Though every 120-credit degree will be different, the typical credit distribution for a BComm will look like this.
For more details: Academic Calendar — 11.5 Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts
For a BMus or BFA, a minor is not required, but a minor will be recorded if completed under the non-Music or non-Fine Arts electives.
Though every 120-credit degree will be different, the typical credits distribution will look like this:
For more details:
Undergraduate certificates
Undergraduate certificates can be taken as part of your degree program.
Certificates highlight knowledge or competencies in a particular area. Each is built around a theme and requires you to complete 12-18 credits in specific disciplines.
Certificates must be taken at the same time as your Mount Allison degree and must be completed prior to graduation from the degree program.
3/4000 level course requirements
A specified number of credits earned at an advanced level must be included:
Bachelor of Arts — advanced level requirements
The Bachelor of Arts degree requires:
- 36 credits from courses at the 3/4000 level
- minimum 30 credits must be from Mount Allison courses
Bachelor of Science — advanced level requirements
The Bachelor of Science degree requires:
- 30 credits from Science courses at the 3/4000 level
- minimum 24 credits must be from Mount Allison courses
- 72 credits from Science courses in total
See our Academic Calendar regulation 11.3.11 for a list of courses considered as Science credits.
Bachelor of Commerce — advanced level requirements
The Bachelor of Commerce degree requires:
- 39 credits from courses at the 3/4000 level
- minimum 33 credits must be from Mount Allison courses
Distribution requirements
In keeping with Mount Allison's philosophy of a liberal arts and sciences education, distribution requirements encourage academic breadth and depth by requiring students to take courses from outside their academic discipline.
Distribution requirements are described in our Academic Calendar:
- Bachelor of Arts — 11.2.2 Distribution Requirements
- Bachelor of Science — 11.3.2 Distribution Requirements
- Bachelor of Commerce — 11.5.3 Distribution Requirements
Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Music students are not required to complete distribution requirements.
When should I complete my distribution requirements?
Distribution requirements can be completed at any time during the course of your degree.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce students are strongly encouraged to complete their distribution requirements during their first year of study.
Bachelor of Science students should aim to complete three to six credits of distribution each year.
Can courses for my major/minor be used for distribution requirements?
Courses taken to fill requirements for a major and/or minor program may also be designated to fulfill distribution requirements.
Changes to the distribution requirements 2017-2020
Changes to distribution requirements for Bachelor of Arts and Science were implemented in September 2017, and again in January 2020.
Students with continuous enrolment at the University may elect to graduate under any ONE calendar in force during their registration (subject to the availability of courses).
Students returning after an interval of a year or more will be readmitted under the calendar in force when they return.
Please contact advisor@mta.ca if you have any questions about changes to distribution requirements, or which Calendar to follow.
Academic residency requirements
When transferring credits from another institution, it is important to keep the following in mind:
- At least half the credits required for a degree
- At least half of the requirements for a major or honours program
- At least six credits of the requirements for a minor
- No more than six credits transferred at the 3/4000 level may be used to fulfill 3/4000 level requirements (overall for the degree, and for the major)
See section 10.10.2 of our Academic Calendar for more information about academic residency requirements.
Courses completed on an official Mount Allison study abroad or exchange program will count towards a minor, major, or honours, as well as the 3/4000 level degree requirements.
Questions? Contact our Academic Advisors at advisor@mta.ca
Plan your degree
Plan your degree and keep track of your progress with degree audit forms, program evaluations, and degree mapping guides.