BASc Electives
Suggested Electives for:
Suggested Electives for Special Interests
- Aging and Health
- Business and Management
- Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
- Family
- Law
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Research
- Sex Therapy
- Sexuality and Gender
- Social Work
- Speech/Language Pathology
- Teachers College
- Therapeutic Recreation
What are Electives?
An elective is a course, acceptable within the program but chosen at the discretion of the student, meaning you are free to take courses that are of interest to you. The number of electives you need to complete is determined by your BASc major (AHN, CSTU and FSHD). They can be at any level in any area. In the BASc program there isn’t a limit to the number of 1000 level electives you can take. There are some conditions though -- first year students are advised to choose courses that are offered at the first year, 1000 level. Some courses may also have restrictions or prerequisites that you need to satisfy before you can register for the course. You cannot double count a course as both a major requirement and an elective. A restricted elective, means that you must select an elective from a specified list of electives.
To see the courses available and their descriptions you can search either WebAdvisor, or the course descriptions in the Academic Calendar.
How to Pick an Elective
If you’re not sure what to pick for an elective, try a variety of subjects in first year.
For Breadth and Fun: One way to view electives is to see them as a fun break from your major and a something to give more breadth to your studies and make you a well rounded person. If this is how you view electives, then you can pick an area that interests you and that is that is compatible with your strengths so that you will be more motivated, learning will be easier, and success more likely. If you are not sure what your stengths are here is a link to help you develop a profile of yourself.
For Jobs: On the other hand, many students pick electives because they think they will be useful and help them get a job. The Government of Canada Job Bank website that tells you about many different jobs - e.g. what that job does, what skills and education you need etc. To that end, students with this view of electives will often declare a minor so they have an extra credential to put on their resume. Declaring a minor means that you will use your electives to follow a prescribed list of courses in a specific area.
For Graduate School: Students also pick electives that will help them get into the graduate program they would like to pursue. To find out what courses you need to take for graduate school, look at the admissions requirements for that graduate program. For example, students interested in teaching or the rehabilitative sciences (e.g. occupational therapy, speech language pathology) can find admissions requirements on the OUAC website. If you have questions about what University of Guelph courses meet those admissions requirements, the best person to talk to is the Admissions counsellor for that specific graduate program.
Suggested Electives for all BASc Majors (AHN, CSTU, FSHD)
Note: Course offerings are subject to change. Courses may have scheduling changes, restrictions, Priority Access. Please check WebAdvisor for information on the delivery format. Also, when planning electives, carefully check the course description in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar as the course may have additional prerequisites or a co-requisite other than what is required in the major. Below are some suggestions to give you ideas, but there may be other course offerings across campus that would also be a good fit for you.
ANTH*2660 Contemporary Indigenous Peoples of Canada
BIOL*1500 Humans in the Natural World
BOT*1200 Plants and Human Use
CLAS*2000 Classical Mythology
FRHD*1100 Life: Health and Well Being
GEOG*1200 Society and Space
GEOG*1220 Explaining Environmental Change
MCS*2100*DE Personal Financial Management
PSYC*2390 Sensation and Perception
PSYC*2740 Personality
UNIV*2100 Career Ready: Develop Your Future
Suggested Electives for AHN
AGR*2150 Plant Agriculture for International Development
ANTH*1120 Biological Anthropology
ANTH*1150 Introduction to Anthropology
EDRD*3140 Organizational Communication
ENVS*2130 Eating Sustainably in Ontario
ENVS*2210 Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology
FARE*1300 Poverty, Food & Hunger
FRHD*1010 Human Development
FRHD*2060 Adult Development and Aging
FRHD*2100 Development of Human Sexuality
FRHD*3090 Poverty and Health
HORT*1120 Grape and Wine Science
HORT*1130 Science of Gardening
MBG*1000 Genetics and Society
MCS*1000 Introductory Marketing
NUTR*3150 Aging and Nutrition
NUTR*3330 Micronutrients, Phytochemicals and Health
NUTR*3500 Research Internship
NUTR*4090 Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals
NUTR*4120 Applied Clinical Skills
NUTR*4210 Nutrition, Exercise and Energy Metabolism
NUTR*4320 Nutrition and Metabolic Control of Disease
NUTR*4850 Field Experience in Nutrition Education
PATH*3610 Principles of Disease
PHIL*2030 Philosophy of Medicine
PSYC*2410 Behavioural Neuroscience I
PSYC*2450 Developmental Psychology
PSYC*2650 Cognitive Psychology
PSYC*3110 Topics in Health Psychology
PSYC*3480 Psychology of Sport
SOC*2760 Homicide
SOC*4420 Sociology of Food
THST*1040 Introduction to Performance
WMST*1000 Introduction to Women's Studies
WMST*2000 Women and Representation
Suggested Electives for CSTU
ARTH*1510 Art Historical Studies I
ARTH*1520 Art Historical Studies II
ENGL*1030 Effective Writing
ENGL*1200 Reading the Contemporary World
ENGL*2190 Queer Literatures and Cultures
ENGL*2740 Children’s Literature
ENVS*1060 Discovering Planet Earth
FRHD*3500 Research Internship
FRHD*3090 Poverty and Health
HIST*2260 Religion and Society
HIST*3020 Sexuality and Gender in History
HIST*3130 Popular Culture and Punishment 1700-1900
HIST*3200 Youth in History
HIST*3240 Food History
HIST*3640 Madness and Psychiatry
LING*1000 Introduction to Linguistics
MUSC*2150 Music and Popular Culture
NUTR*2050 Nutrition Through the Life Cycle
PHIL*1010 Social and Political Issues
PHYS*1600 Contemporary Astronomy
POLS*1150 Understanding Politics
POLS*2150 Gender and Politics
PSYC*2310 Social Psychology
PSYC*2330 Principles of Learning
SOAN*2290 Identities and Cultural Diversity
SOAN*2400 Introduction to Gender Systems
SOC*1500 Crime and Criminal Justice
THST*1040 Introduction to Performance
WMST*1000 Introduction to Women’s Studies
WMST*2000 Women and Representation
Suggested Electives for FSHD
ANTH*2660 Contemporary Indigenous Peoples of Canada
ANTH*3770 Kinship, Family and Power
ARTH*1510 Art Historical Studies I
ARTH*1520 Art Historical Studies II
BIOL*1080 Biological Concepts of Health
ENGL*1030 Effective Writing
ENGL*1200 Reading the Contemporary World
ENGL*2190 Queer Literatures and Cultures
ENGL*2740 Children’s Literature
FRHD*3060 Principles of Social Gerontology
FRHD*3500 Research Internship
FRHD*4200 Issues in Human Sexuality
FRHD*4290 Practicum II: Family Studies and Human Development
FRHD*4810 Thesis I
FRHD*4910 Thesis II
HIST*2260 Religion and Society
HIST*3020 Sexuality and Gender in History
HIST*3240 Food History
HIST*3640 Madness and Psychiatry
HROB*2010 Foundations of Leadership
HROB*2090 Individuals and Groups in Organizations
MCS*1000 Introductory Marketing
NUTR*2050 Nutrition Through the Life Cycle
NUTR*3150 Aging and Nutrition
NUTR*4070 Nutrition Communication aand Knowledge Translation
PHIL*1010 Social and Political Issues
PHYS*1600 Contemporary Astronomy
POLS*1150 Understanding Politics
POLS*2150 Gender and Politics
PSYC*2310 Social Psychology
PSYC*2330 Principles of Learning
PSYC*3110 Topics in Health Psychology
PSYC*3300 Psychology of Gender
PSYC*3570 The Psychology of Death and Dying
SOAN*2290 Identities and Cultural Diversity
SOAN*2400 Introduction to Gender Systems
SOAN*3100 Gender Perspectives on Families and Households
SOC*1500 Crime and Criminal Justice
Electives for Special Interests
BIOL*1080 Biological Concepts of Health
FRHD*1100 Life, Health and Well-Being
FRHD*3060 Principles of Social Gerontology
FRHD*4290 Practicum II: Family Studies and Human Development
HIST*3240 Food History
HIST*3640 Madness and Psychiatry
NUTR*2050 Nutrition Through the Life Cycle
NUTR*3150 Aging and Nutrition
NUTR*4070 Nutrition Communication aand Knowledge Translation
PSYC*3110 Topics in Health Psychology
PSYC*3570 The Psychology of Death and Dying
Business and Management
HROB*2090 Individuals and Groups in Organizations
HROB*2010 Foundations of Leadership
MCS*1000 Introductory Marketing
MCS*2100 Personal Financial Management
Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care
FRHD*2270 Child Development
FRHD*2280 Adolescent Development
PHIL*2030 Philosophy of Medicine
PSYC*2450 Developmental Psychology
PSYC*3570 Psychology of Death and Dying
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
UNIV*2010 Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Oppression
FRHD*2110 Inclusive Practices for Children with Disabilities and Exceptionalities
FRHD*3090 Poverty and Health
SOAN*2290 Identities and Cultural Diversity
Family
ANTH*3770 Kinship, Family and Power
SOAN*3100 Gender Perspectives on Families and Households
Law
POLS*3130 Law, Politics and Judicial Process
PSYC*3020 Psychology of Law
SOC*1500 Crime and Criminal Justice
SOC*3490 Law and Society
Occupational Therapy
BIOM*2000 Concepts in Human Physiology
PSYC*2390 Sensation and Perception
PSYC*2410 Behavioural Neuroscience
Physiotherapy
BIOL*1080 Biological Concepts of Health
PSYC*2390 Sensation and Perception
PSYC*2410 Behavioural Neuroscience
Research
FRHD*3500 or NUTR*3500 Research Internship
FRHD*4810 or NUTR*4810 Thesis I
FRHD*4910 or NUTR*4910 Thesis II
Sex Therapy
FRHD*4200 Issues in Human Sexuality
FRHD*4290 Practicum II: Family Studies and Human Development
PSYC*2740 Personality
PSYC*3300 Psychology of Gender
Sexuality and Gender
ENGL*2190 Queer Literatures and Cultures
FRHD*4200 Issues in Human Sexuality
FRHD*4290 Practicum II: Family Studies and Human Development
HIST*3020 History in Sexuality and Gender in History
POLS*2150 Gender and Politics
PSYC*3300 Psychology of Gender
SOAN*2400 Introduction to Gender Systems
SOAN*3100 Gender Perspectives on Families and Households
Social Work
FRHD*3090 Poverty and Health
FRHD*4020 Family Theory
PSYC*2310 Social Psychology
PSYC*3570 The Psychology of Death and Dying
Speech/Language Pathology
LING*1000 Introduction to Linguistics
SPAN*3240 Topics in Hispanic Linguistics
PSYC*2390 Sensation and Perception
PSYC*2410 Behavioural Neuroscience
Look at the admission requirements for your college of interest.
PSYC*2330 Principles of Learning
PSYC*3800 Psychology and Education
PSYC*3850 Intellectual Disabilities
SOAN*2290 Identities and Cultural Diversity
Primary/junior Level (K-6)
Courses in Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Math, English/French, Drama/Visual arts/Instrumental Music, History. For example:
ENGL*1200 Reading the Contemporary World
GEOG*2510 Canada: A Regional Synthesis
MUSC*2150 Music and Popular Culture
SART*1150*DE Contemporary Artistic
THST*1040 Introduction to Performance
HIST*1010 Early Modern Europe
HIST*2100 Histories of Canada to 1867
Intermediate/Senior Level (7-10)
Courses in a teachable subject such as Business Studies, Dramatic Arts, English,Environmental Science, First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies, French as a Second Language, Geography, Health & Physical Education, History, Mathematics, Music, Science. For example:
ENGL*1200 Reading the Contemporary World
ENVS*1100 Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences
FRHD 4020 Family Theory
FRHD 4400 Youth, Risk and Resilience
FREN*1200 French Language I
GEOG*1220 Explaining Environmental Change
HIST*2100 Histories of Canada to 1867
INDG*1000 Indigenous-Settler Relations
MCS 2100 Personal Financial Management
NUTR 2050 Nutrition Through the Life Cycle
THST*1040 Introduction to Performance
Therapeutic Recreation
PSYC*2020 Clinical Psychology and Mental Health
PSYC*3480 Psychology of Sport