Change of Plan | Queen's University Faculty of Arts and Science

Automatic Acceptance vs Pending List Acceptance

All plans in Arts and Science have minimum academic requirements that a student must satisfy in order to be admitted to that plan. To view the thresholds for all plans in Arts and Science please see the "What it takes" page below.

Each plan will have an automatic acceptance threshold and a pending list threshold. Be sure to enter your top choice of plan(s) first. When you enter your request one of three outcomes will occur:

Automatically Accepted - If you meet the automatic threshold for the plan(s) you have requested, you will receive a message from SOLUS telling you that you have been accepted into your new plan. Once accepted, your plan information in SOLUS will be updated and a new entry noting the change will be recorded on your SOLUS record and transcript. Important note! If you request a plan combination (major/major, major/minor, etc.) you must meet the automatic thresholds for EACH of those plans to be automatically accepted to that combination. If you meet the automatic threshold for one plan and the pending threshold for the other plan, you will placed on the pending list for that combination and will be required to make an alternate choice.
Placed on a Pending (waiting) list - If you receive a message on SOLUS telling you that you have been placed on a pending list, this means that your request will be manually reviewed by the department following the Plan Change period. In addition to being informed that you are on a pending list, SOLUS will also inform you that you must select an alternate plan that you can be automatically accepted to. In other words, your alternate plan cannot be another selection where you would be on a pending list.

If you choose to leave SOLUS without being automatically accepted to a plan, you will be removed from the pending list.

Denied plan request – If you do not meet the automatic or pending thresholds for each of the plans you select, you cannot be accepted and must make a new request for a plan or plan combination you do qualify for.

Following the Plan Change period, departmental administrators will manually review all students on their pending lists. If a department accepts you from their pending list, your plan information in SOLUS will be updated and a new entry denoting the change will be recorded on your SOLUS record and transcript. You will receive an email once the department makes their decision.

Remember: Departments will be reviewing their pending lists after the Plan Selection period has closed so you may not see a change to your plan until after that date.

Advice for Choosing Your Degree Plan

At the heart of it, our advice to you is simple – pick the option that best suits your academic interests and strengths. Students with many subject interests who are looking for variety, flexibility, and interdisciplinarity should consider a major/minor/minor combination. Students who want to study two subjects in depth can pursue a double major. Others who are looking for more depth and focus in a singular area are best to choose a specialization (with or without a minor). Consider also how many electives you want to be able to have in your degree: a standalone specialization or a major/minor combination are the two modular plan options that would leave the most space in your degree for electives.

Strategies to help with decision-making

If you have a particular career path or further educational goals in mind after your undergraduate studies are completed, there are some helpful sources of information that you should use to help you plan.

Career-wise, we encourage you to do some research into what specific degrees/plans/courses are required for or would be relevant to the fields you want to pursue. If you have particular post-graduate or professional programs you are aiming for, investigate what areas of focus those institutions are seeking for admission into the programs you are interested in applying to. Having this big-picture information will help you pick a degree structure that best fit your goals.

If you are completely unsure of what direction you will take or what to study, we recommend connecting with Career Services for some guidance. They offer some great tips and tools to help you explore your strengths and interests to guide your decision-making.

As an upper-year student, you should also consider:

what degree plans/combinations you are closest to graduating with,
what you still have room to add,
your academic eligibility for placement in a plan, and
whether you’re willing to extend your studies to pursue a new degree structure or not.

To help with this, you can use the Academic Progress and What-If Report features in SOLUS. See tutorials on how to use these features in the Course Selection SOLUS Tutorials, in the Academic Progress and What-If Report expander.

Deciding between the “Current” and “New” Degree Structures

Both the current and the new modular plans hold the same academic value, neither one is universally “better”. If you are eligible to request the new modular plans as an upper-year student, you should make your decision based on how close you are to graduating, your academic interests, and your future goals (please see the Eligibility section above).

Eligibility for Graduate School

If you intend to apply to graduate school or professional school, in most cases choosing a modular degree plan will not impact your eligibility, whether you choose to pursue a major or a specialization. As always, we advise that you consult with the specific graduate or professional programs that you are considering, as you will get the most accurate eligibility details straight from the source. Additionally, meeting with a Career Coach at may help you understand all the options that are ahead of you.

Choosing a degree combination that complements or matches the area of study you are interested in could better match your future study focus and make your application more competitive. In some cases, it may also allow for better access to prerequisites you need for professional programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

As with all academic situations, there will certainly be questions that some students have that are really specific to your own circumstances. If you still have questions after reviewing all of the information on this page, please reach out for help!

Do I have to change my degree plan if I’m happy with the plan I’m registered in now?

No, you are welcome to stay in your current plan.

Can I change my plan to a current one instead of the modular one?

No, you can request a plan change into one of the new degree plans moving forward only, or into a degree plan that remains unchanged from before. We will no longer offer the old plans to students who are not currently registered in them.

When do I have to make a decision? What is the deadline to request a degree plan change?

The plan change period typically runs during the last 2 weeks in May. We will post the dates as soon as they are confirmed.

If I don’t like the minor I pick, can I change it later?

Yes, just like now, students can request to change their degree plans (majors, minors, specializations) at any point in their undergraduate career.

Does this mean that I create my own plan?

You create the combination of plans to design the degree that is best suited for you, but as in the previous/existing plans versions, the plans themselves have set requirements for Core courses and Option courses, and certain plans will have Sub-plans and/or Supporting courses as well that you’ll need to satisfy.

Do I still have to take the same number of courses overall to graduate?

Yes, you still need at least 120.0 units in total to graduate with an Honours degree, regardless of which degree plan structure you follow though changing a plan in upper years may mean more plan units are required and more time may be needed to complete your degree.

Will the courses I’ve taken already count toward the new plan I’m requesting?

It 91��Ƭ�� ’s important to have a good look at the courses you’ve taken and compare them with the requirements of the plan(s) you’re requesting to move into, and have a good understanding of what courses will be satisfying the new plan(s)’ requirements and what courses will be functioning as electives.

I have a PIC grade (personal interest credit P grade) in a course. How does that affect my choices?

You can’t use PIC courses toward any plan requirements. If you want to choose a degree plan and you have already taken a required course with a PIC grade you will either need to retake that course and earn a grade or take something else that could count in its place.

I’m a Commerce student with an FAS minor. How will this change affect me?

Commerce students not currently in a minor can request a modular minor. Those already registered in a minor can follow the current requirements or request a change to the modular minor.

What will my transcript/diploma state if I’m in an Arts/Science degree plan combination?

If you are in a Computing major with a Science or Arts major (or minor), you will graduate with a Bachelor of Computing (Honours) degree.
If you are in a Science major with an another Science or Arts major (or any minor), you will graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree.
If you are in an Arts major with another Arts major (or any minor), you will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree.

If I change degree plans, will this show on my transcript?

Yes, all plan changes appear on your transcript, but this should not be cause for concern. It 91��Ƭ�� ’s common for students to change direction, and noting this change provides the transcript reader with context to understand your record and academic history at Queen 91��Ƭ�� ’s.

Will my transcript or my printed degree say that this is a “modular degree”?

No, the terms “modular degree” or “modular plan” are not formal academic notations. The type of undergraduate Arts and Science degree that you are earning is the same as always – BAH, BSCH, BCMPH, or BMUS. The use of the term “modular” is to provide everyone participating in this structural shift with a mental model for understanding how the new system works.

I’m in ConEd – does this change impact my teachable subjects?

The courses and number of units that satisfy the requirements for a teachable subject are not impacted by the plan changes in your Arts and Science degree. If you have questions about new options and potential impacts regarding your Arts and Science courses and your teachable subjects, please .

Plan Thresholds: What it Takes to be Accepted to a Plan

To see what it takes to be accepted to a plan, please view this spreadsheet.

Other Plan Changes

Leave of Absence

Students may wish to take time away from school for a variety of reasons. If you make this decision before you have registered in the upcoming academic session, there are no forms to fill out to do this; you simply do not participate in the registration process. However, note that if you are in receipt of a scholarship or bursary, you may wish to speak to Student Awards to arrange a deferral of the funding until you return. If you have participated in the course selection period in July but not yet made your tuition payment, you are still required to drop your courses. These courses are considered active so tuition charges will apply and they will appear on your transcript with a failing grade, if abandoned.

There are times when a leave of absence from studies is unplanned. If, during the academic session, an illness or other extenuating circumstances will prevent you from attending class, attending an exam, or handing in an assignment, you must contact your instructor(s) and teaching assistants directly to make alternative arrangements. You should speak to an academic advisor in the Faculty of Arts and Science Student Services Office if you will need to be absent from your studies for a long period of time, or over a significant period of the academic session, such as midterms or final exams. Make sure to obtain doctors' notes or other relevant supporting documentation to verify that the time you are taking away from your studies is indeed medically necessary. Your instructors may wish to see your doctor's note upon your return, and it is within their rights to require you to provide that documentation.

If you have a parent or other representative call on your behalf, remember that they will not be able to discuss your academic or financial information with the University unless you have specifically designated access rights to them on your SOLUS account.

If you are away from your studies for an entire academic session or more, and have not attended another post-secondary institution during your time away, please notify the Faculty of Arts and Science Office by submitting a Return to Studies Form when you are ready to take classes again. No matter how long your leave of absence may be, you can resume your studies. However, along with all students registering in the academic session in which you wish to return, your record must be academically competitive and meet departmental requirements for proceeding in your concentration for that session.

Remember that you need to receive a Letter of Permission (LOP) from the Faculty in order to take any courses at another post-secondary institution while you are away from Queen's. For more information follow the steps in the PDF guide for a Letter of Permission to take courses at another University (College courses are not applicable for LOPs). Please note that taking courses elsewhere without a LOP can jeopardize your status as an admitted student at Queen's.

Transfer to Direct Entry Programs

Students who were admitted to the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Physical and Health Education (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Kinesiology Specialization or the Bachelor of Fine Art (Visual Art) were registered in the appropriate plan(s) when admitted to the Faculty. Unless you want to change your plan, you need not take any further action. To transfer to or from one of these plans, follow the advice at the links below:

Fine Art (Visual Art)

Certificate Request Application

A selected number of departments also offer the opportunities for students to receive a specialized certificate, in addition to their degree.

To learn more about certificates in Arts and Science, visit the Academic Calendar.

If you wish to add a certificate, please email asc.studentservices@queensu.ca and we will add the certificate for you. Be sure to include your student number and the certificate that you wish to add. All emails sent to us must be from your Queen 91��Ƭ�� ’s email account.