Theme 1

Combined Honours Calendar revisions

The core issue is inconsistency in Calendar language across SEOS-related combined honours programs. Admissions language, GPA expectations, and honours-course requirements are not described in many cases, which makes the Calendar harder to read and causes real problems with Advising.

• The current direction is to use a cleaner shared template while preserving any genuinely program-specific requirements.
• The main challenge is balancing the needs of different programs and departments.
• The working intent is not to substantively change the programs themselves.

Theme 2

PHYS102a after PHYS110

Some students take PHYS110 and then "drop down" to PHYS102B. These students are then unable to register for PHYS102A since they completed PHYS110.

This thread began with trying to solve this awkward problem and broadened into a cleaning some prerequisite logic for BIO/EOS 311.

• The agreed upon solution was to remove the PHYS102a requirement for students that have completed PHYS110.
• This work is ready for submission at the next cycle.

Theme 3

Second-year computing and program structure

This is the broadest thread in the current portfolio. The underlying concern is that year 2 computing is not currently well implemented. We are also trying to reduce barriers to entry into second year courses, decrease contact hours in year 2, and reduce some redundancy in course content.

• The current direction is to move EOS/GEOG 230 into the second-year for most programs.
• Tutorials will come off of EOS210 and EOS261.
• EOS240 prerequisites will need to be relaxed so this course can serve more programs.
• EOS261 will leave second year and potentially change or merge with other courses.
• Broad support at department and undergraduate meetings, but department consensus is still forming. Some department members on leave need to be consulted.

Theme 4

MATH changes and calendar housekeeping

MATH is changing the second year calculus offerings, so we need to update our programs and pre-requisites accordingly.

• MATH200 and MATH204 will be discontinued
• New offerings include two flavors of Multivariable Calculus:MATH200A and MATH200B and a differentially equations course MATH201
• Programs that offer MATH202 pathways only need to update the non MATH202 option
• Programs that require MATH200 and MATH204 need to change to the new courses
• Pre-requisites on third and fourth year courses need to be updated

Theme 5

First year enrolment and barriers to entry

Department retreat discussion highlighted some options to increase first year enrolment and pointed out some potential barriers to entry in our current programs. Our first and second year contact hours are 4-6 hours higher than many comparable programs, including the BSc in Geography.

• Explore removing the lab from EOS130.
• Explore removing the lab from EOS240.
• Explore more flexible pre-req structures at year 1 and 2
• More offerings of EOS110 and EOS170