Humanities at Mac

Switching Programs in First Year and How to Become a Combined Honours Student

Angelica was Previously Enrolled in the Commerce Program at McMaster for 1 Year

Switching programs isn’t something to be afraid of, if you do it at the right time. First year is ideal, especially the first term of first year, because you’re able to salvage your second term and have the rest of the year to explore what program works best for you. I was initially accepted into the DeGroote School of Business and, frankly, was quite miserable because I had no interest and no motivation to study business. Within 3 weeks, I visited academic advisors at both the DeGroote and Humanities offices, switched programs, dropped out of and gained admission into new courses for second term, and officially became a Humanities student. The transition was actually quite seamless – it was too late to drop out of my first term courses, but early enough to choose new second term courses and plan ahead. Some of those plans involved the Combined Honours program – to be accepted into the program a first year student needs 2 things:

1. a certain grade point average (GPA)

2. completion of required courses

*it is important to note that requirements differ between disciplines; one must keep track of requirements for both disciplines in their specific Combined Honours (an example is provided below)*

The GPA differs depending on the disciplines in your Combined Honours (there are many combinations), but it’s usually a 5.0 or higher, including a grade of at least x in a course(s) mandatory to the program. For Combined Honours in Classics and Anthropology, a GPA of at least 5.0 and a grade of at least C in one of ANTHROP 1AA3 or 1AB3 are required for admission FOR THE ANTHROPOLOGY PORTION – for Classics, a GPA of at least 5.0 and a grade of at least C in three units of Level I Classics, Greek or Latin courses is required. A first year must fulfill ALL these requirements to gain admission into their desired Combined Honours program. It may seem like a lot of work, but once provided with the course lists for each discipline and a rigid set of requirements, picking courses is relatively easy.

Additionally, 30 units of any Level 1 (first year) program must be completed – essentially, complete 10 first year courses. These can be any courses, as long as they include the required Level 1 courses for each discipline (ex. Anthropology: ANTHROP 1AA3 or 1AB3, Classics: 3 units Level I Classics, Greek or Latin) and the overall GPA is 5.0 or higher. Apart from these requirements, first years are given a lot of freedom but also a lot of direction. And don’t forget to take advantage of Mac’s resources – the academic advisors helped me a lot, especially when switching programs and choosing my next steps.

There are many advantages to being a Combined Honours student, and though it may seem confusing at first, Mac’s website and academic advisors make the process quite clear.

What would you have changed if you could go back to apply in high school? What advice would you provide to students?

I initially enrolled at Mac for Business, ignoring my passion for ancient civilizations because those around me – friends, family, teachers, and guidance counsellors – regarded a Business education as much more practical and profitable than an education in the Humanities. However, I found myself struggling to be successful in a field that I had no interest in. About 3 weeks into first year, I switched to the Humanities and I can confidently say that it was the right decision. My academic standing improved, I was more enthused about my education, and I could start planning a career path that actually suited me instead of others. I would advise high school applicants to pay attention to what truly interests them – regardless of what others say, there IS a job that suits your interests. Also, use your resources! Academic advisors can help you customize an educational plan tailored to your interests/passions and profs are always available to answer your questions.