New Student Registration: Bachelor of Arts with Major
Welcome to the Bachelor of Arts with Major!
First-year course selection for the Bachelor of Arts offers a lot of options. Whether you know exactly what you want to study in first year, or you are looking for ideas and want to explore new subjects, the BA program can accommodate you.
There are no required courses for the Bachelor of Arts degree program. This allows you much freedom in choosing what you want to study in your first year. For some students, that is a liberating thought; for others, it is a daunting concept. The good news is that there are no “wrong” choices. Whatever you choose to study this year, the courses will be usable in your degree program.
Students accepted into the Applied Forensic Psychology program or the Public Policy and Governance program will have some required courses that they will need to incorporate into their course selection, and those can be found below.
For all BA students, however, the standard first-year course pattern is the same, and it's quite simple:
Standard First-Year COURSE PATTERN
- Subject 1 - 6 credits ( 3 credits each term)
- Subject 2 - 6 credits ( 3 credits each term)
- Subject 3 - 6 credits ( 3 credits each term)
- Subject 4 - 6 credits ( 3 credits each term)
- Subject 5 - 6 credits ( 3 credits each term)
Let us guide you through the process...
Most students choose to carry a full course load, which is a total of 30 credits. A one-term course is 3 credits and a full-year course is 6 credits. This means that students are registered in 5 courses each term. For students in the BA, this usually means taking 5 different subjects in first term, and follow-up or companion courses in those same 5 subjects in second term. By year-end, these students have 6 credits each (a full-year equivalent) in 5 different subjects.
Most disciplines have 6 credits of introductory courses at the 100-level. In most cases, those 6 credits are the prerequisites for upper-level courses. Therefore, completing 6 credits of intro courses lays the academic foundation for students to take more courses in those disciplines in subsequent years. It is therefore important to try to complete the full 6 credits of intro courses in subjects in which you are interested, and in which you think you may wish to take more courses.
There are three disciplines that have only one 3-credit course at the 100-level: Development Studies, English, and Public Policy and Governance. These subjects are equally viable options for you, and the lack of a second intro course is not an issue at all. See Questions 1 - 3 below for guidance on course selection to support these choices.
How do you decide which subjects to take in first year? Read on...
Things to Remember
- The BA with Major degree requires a major and a minor. These are the two subjects in which you will concentrate much of your studies throughout your degree.
- The BA with Major also requires students to complete 12 credits (which we call "pairs") in each of two different subjects, outside of the major and minor. (See the "Glossary of Terms" for the definition of a "pair".) So you will need to complete upper-level courses in four different subjects in your overall degree pattern (major, minor, two pairs). In first year, you will explore options that might be the foundational courses for such pairs (which you will complete in future years).
- If you are beginning your first year with a clear idea of your intended major and minor, be sure to include introductory courses (normally 6 credits) in each of those subjects. (If these include Development Studies, English, and/or Public Policy and Governance, see Questions 1 - 3 below.)
- If you are debating among three or four subjects as possible majors and/or minors, be sure to include 6 credits in each subject you are considering (if those subjects have 6 credits at the 100-level).
- It is advisable to take at least three subjects from the list of arts courses in which students can do a major in the Bachelor of Arts. (See the table below.) This will provide you with some options to consider for possible majors. You are welcome to choose all of your courses from those subjects, if you wish, and many students do.
- There are other arts and science subjects from which you can choose, as well. See the tables below. Most subjects in those tables are available as minor or pair options.
- If you were admitted to the BA with Applied Forensic Psychology as your major subject, you will be pre-registered in PSYC 101 (1st term) and 102 (2nd term) and PSYC 110 (1st term). You will then register in 21 additional credits. For those 21 additional credits, you will normally choose 6 credits of introductory courses in each of three other subjects, plus one 3-credit course in a third subject in 2nd term. (See Question 4 below for more information.)
- If you were admitted to the BA with Public Policy and Governance as your major subject, you will register for ECON 101 and 102; PSCI 101 and 102; PGOV 101; and 15 additional credits. For those 15 additional credits, you will normally choose 6 credits of introductory courses in each of two other subjects, plus one 3-credit course in a third subject. (See Question 3 below for further guidance on course selection.)
- If you have selected the Humanities Colloquium, 18 credits have been pre-selected for you (English, History, Philosophy) and you will be pre-registered in those courses. You will need to choose two other subjects and register in 12 additional credits. (See Question 6 below for more information about the Humanities Colloquium.)
- If you have selected the Social Justice Colloquium, 18 credits have been pre-selected for you (Anthropology, Development Studies, History, Women's and Gender Studies) and you will be pre-registered in those courses. You will need to choose two other subjects and register in an additional 12 credits. (See Question 7 below for more information about the Social Justice Colloquium.)
- If you are one of the many who do not yet know which subjects will be of most interest to them, explore the options and choose courses that sound interesting to you. Remember that there are no “wrong” choices. In fact, some students do not find their true interest until second year, and that is still fine.
- Whether you know what you want to study, or are still searching for your passion, seriously consider exploring at least one or two subjects that are new to you. The BA program, especially in first year, is a perfect opportunity for trying something new. You never know what unexpected interest you might discover.
Please note that the subjects displayed in the following tables are also links to their respective pages on this website. If first-year, 100-level courses are offered in a particular subject, their course descriptions are displayed at the bottom of the applicable subject page.
* Computer Science and Mathematics & Statistics are departments in the Faculty of Science, but for purposes of the BA, they are considered as arts subjects.
| ADDITIONAL ARTS SUBJECTS | ADDITIONAL SCIENCE SUBJECTS |
| Art (Studio Art and Art History) | Biology |
| Classical Studies | Chemistry |
| German | Climate and Environment |
| Mi’kmaq | Earth Sciences |
| Physics |
Questions You Might Have
1. I am interested in Development Studies, but there is only one 3-credit course available at the 100-level. What else should I take in the other semester to fill out my schedule?
You can take any other 3-credit course from the arts (or science) subjects listed above. If you plan to do a joint major or honours in DEVS, you may wish to take ECON 101 and 102 in first year, as these courses are required for those programs. You would also be advised to read the Development Studies page, found at the link in the table above, for further guidance on first-year course selection, if you plan a minor, major, or honours program in DEVS.
2. I am interested in English, but there is only one 3-credit course available at the 100-level. What else should I take in the other semester to fill out my schedule?
If you choose to take ENGL 111 in the first term, you can take any English course at the 200 level that is offered in the second semester (subject to availability). Alternatively, you can take any other 3-credit course from the arts (or science) subjects listed above. If the course you wish to take is a second-term course, you will need to ensure that it does not have a first-term prerequisite. You can also choose to take ENGL 111 in second term and a different subject in first term.
3. I am interested in Public Policy and Governance, but there is only one 3-credit course available at the 100-level. What else should I take in the other semester to fill out my schedule?
You can take any other 3-credit course from the arts and science subjects listed above. If you plan to do PGOV as a major or honours subject, you could opt to take PGOV 101 in first term and STAT 101 in second term, since the latter is a required 3-credit course for those programs. (This would be in addition to ECON 101 and 102, and PSCI 101 and 102, as outlined in the "Things to Remember" section above.) If you intend to do a minor or more in Public Policy and Governance, you should read the Public Policy and Governance page, found at the link in the table above, for further guidance on first-year course selection.
4. I am in the Applied Forensic Psychology program. PSYC 110 is a first-term course. What do I take to fill out my schedule for the other 3 credits?
You can take any other 3-credit course from the arts and science subjects listed above, to round out your schedule for second term, as long as the course does not have a first-term prerequisite.
5. What if I am interested in taking a course in a subject that is not mentioned above?
The other subjects offered at StFX are in our professional or applied science programs: Aquatic Resources; Business Administration; Engineering; Health; Human Kinetics; Human Nutrition; Nursing. These subjects cannot be used as minors or pairs, so can be open electives only in the BA degree pattern. Most courses in these departments (other than Aquatic Resources) are restricted to students in these programs. If you are interested in taking courses from one of these programs you will need to contact the relevant department chair. (The exception is Aquatic Resources, whose courses are open to all students.) Override permission for BSAD, ENGR, and HNU courses will normally be granted if seats are available after their degree students have registered. Override permission for HLTH and NURS courses will not be granted. Override permission for first-year HKIN courses is rarely an option; most courses fill completely with first-year HKIN students, and some of those first-year courses are never options for non-HKIN students (HKIN 115, 161, 162, and skills courses).
6. What is the Humanities Colloquium?
The Humanities Colloquium is an opportunity for first-year Bachelor of Arts students to study Western Civilization with an interdisciplinary focus on the great books. It offers ENGL 100 (Introduction to Literature and Critical Writing); HIST 101 (Western Civilization: Earliest Civilizations to the Wars of Religion); HIST 102 (Western Civilization: Columbus to Decolonization); and PHIL 100 (Introductory Philosophy) in an integrated, chronologically coordinated way. If you have an interest in these courses, investigate the option of this unique enhanced learning experience here.
7. What is the Social Justice Colloquium?
The Social Justice Colloquium is an opportunity for first-year Bachelor of Arts students to consider why inequality exists and how we can work together to create a world with greater opportunities for all people. It offers ANTH 112 (Introduction to Socio-cultural Anthropology), DEVS 101 (Introduction to Development Studies), HIST 141 (Empire & Plague, 1300-1800), HIST 142 (Revolution: Global from 1750), and WMGS 100 (Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies) in a coordinated format to encourage the study of social justice from various perspectives. If you have an interest in these courses, investigate the option of this unique enhanced learning experience here.
8. What if I am interested in an honours or an advanced major degree?
Course selection is no different for first year. You may wish to check table 4.1.5 in the Academic Calendar for grade and average requirements, so that you are aware of the grades you will need for admission to these programs at the end of second year.
Registration Help Centre
By Email Only: nsr@stfx.ca
The registration help centre will be in operation and will respond to email from June 10 through August 30.
Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Atlantic Time
For registration issues after August 30, please email the registrar's office: @email
Please include your full name and Student ID number in all correspondence.
