Undergraduate Major Program Modifications - the Faculty of Arts ...

Proposed Major Undergraduate Program Modifications, 2013-2014 Calendar 

January 22, 2013 

Proposals for major modifications to academic programs are defined within the University of 

Toronto Quality Assurance Process (UTQAP). 1 Major modifications include proposals for 

Majors or Specialists where a similar Specialist/Major currently exists, as well as changes to 

curricula that do no affect the nature or essence of a program or its learning outcomes, including 

the creation/deletion of streams within a Major or Specialist. Streams are clusters of courses 

which student must choose as part of the requirements of their Major or Specialist. 

As per the UTQAP and Faculty’s processes, recommendations from the Curriculum Committees 

for major program modifications are brought to Faculty Council for final approval and are 

reported to the University’s Committee on Academic Policy and Programs for information. 

As a result of ongoing curriculum renewal, departments, centres, and institutes continue to 

review their programs. Within the Faculty, major undergraduate program changes are reviewed 

and approved by the Faculty’s curriculum committees: Humanities Curriculum Committee, 

Sciences Curriculum Committee, and Social Sciences Curriculum Committee. Each Committee 

is composed of teaching staff, students, principals, and program academic administrators. The 

Committees meet over the course of the fall and winter to consider new courses, programs, and 

program requirements proposed by academic units in their respective area. 2 Proposals are 

reviewed to ensure they are aligned with the Faculty’s degree learning expectations and they 

meet Faculty degree requirements. As well, the consultation process within academic units is 

documented in the proposals presented to the curriculum committees. In addition, the Life 

Sciences Planning Curriculum Committee reviews all new entries and revisions in order to 

harmonize Life Sciences courses and programs across the St. George Campus. 3 

Modifications to the Environmental Sciences Major are pending approval by the Sciences 

Curriculum Committee (January 25, 2013). The other proposed modifications were approved by 

the Curriculum Committees: Humanities Curriculum Committee (November 19, 2012) and 

Social Sciences Curriculum Committee (November 21, 2012). A summary of proposed major 

modifications is presented below and the full proposals are provided in Appendix A. 

1 http://www.vpacademic.utoronto.ca/Assets/VP+Academic+Digital+Assets/pdf/UTQAP+document.pdf 

2 See http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/faculty-governance/curriculum-committees for the schedule and 

documentation for all the FAS Curriculum Committees 

3 http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/cpad-info/pdfs/ctte/LifeSciencesPlanningCttee.pdf/view

Summary of proposed major program modifications for 2013-14 Calendar 

School of the Environment 

Environmental Science Major 

Change of program name and redesign of the program 

Environment, natural resources and related programs and courses at the undergraduate level are 

offered by several units within the Faculty of Arts & Science. The Working Group on 

Environment, Resources and Related Programs was established by the Faculty in the spring of 

2011 in order to assess the current organization of these programs and make recommendations to 

the Faculty. Following the Faculty-wide consultations in Fall 2011 and the Final Report on the 

Environment, a new Environmental Science Program committee was established in spring 2012. 

This committee consisted of undergraduate and graduate students and faculty currently teaching 

environmental science courses, both within the School of the Environment and their home 

departments. Departments represented included: Anthropology/Archaeology, Chemistry, 

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Earth Sciences, Geography, Physics and the School of the 

Environment. The committee reviewed existing top Environmental Science programs, consulted 

with colleagues at peer institutions and engaged in an in-depth discussion of the learning 

outcomes, program requirements and focus of the program. Consultations took place throughout 

this process with chairs and associate chairs-undergraduate to discuss overlap of 

courses/programs, interest in involvement in the program and other issues. Subsequent 

consultation with undergraduate students has also involved a call to an open 

information/consultation meeting to discuss the proposed program and its implications for inprogram 

students (i.e., no impact to students wanting to complete the existing Environment and 

Science major). 

The committee proposes the name of the program be changed from Environment & Science to 

Environmental Science. This is to reflect the enhanced science curriculum in the revised 

program and to bring the name of the major in line with current programs at competitor 

institutions. The name Environmental Science is also important for students’ potential graduate 

school or career choices as it signifies a certain type of interdisciplinary scientific training related 

to environmental issues. 

The major modification to the program also includes clarification and refinement of learning 

objectives to enhance Environmental Science components and a redesign of the program to 

provide a better structure—centered around learning objectives—and providing a clear 

progression of required courses at the 200-, 300- and 400-level. Changes in the program 

requirements are the following: 

a) revised admissions requirements; 

b) required core science courses at the 200- and 300-level, including Environmental Scienceonly 

labs for ENV234H1; 

c) new 200-level Physics course designed to integrate physics concepts and methods with 

Environmental Science issues; 

d) required 300-level Laboratory and Field Methods Techniques course to ensure students are 

exposed to interdisciplinary data collection and analysis methods used by Environmental 

Scientists; and, 

e) science-based 400-level course options, with more to be developed and approved through 

governance in subsequent years.

Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations 

Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations (NMC) – Major and Specialist 

New streams: General (roughly equivalent to current program), Ancient, Medieval, and Modern. 

We are proposing to revise the program in order to offer more nuance for UG study. A single 

“NMC” POSt affirms that the connections between all fields in our department are numerous, 

strong, and interwoven, though the disciplines, times, and areas covered are diverse. The streams 

provide the best of all worlds: signaling unity and coherence of studying near and middle-eastern 

civilizations while allowing students to focus their studies within one of the new streams. The 

proposal highlights: 

- The creation of four streams for the specialist and major programs: General (which roughly 

corresponds to the current program), Ancient, Medieval, and Modern. For the Major, the 

streams consist of 5 FCEs (including 1-2 FCEs in the relevant languages). For the Specialist, 

the streams consist of 6 FCEs in addition to the required 4 FCEs in one or two primary 

source languages. 

- The overall number of courses required in each program is unchanged. 

- There are no changes in learning outcomes for the General Stream; but addition of following 

for each period “the acquisition of knowledge, critical analysis, writing and presentation 

skills and experience, and linguistic competency in the ancient/medieval/modern period of 

the Near and Middle East”. 

Rotman Commerce Program 

Accounting Specialist 

New streams: Public Accounting (equivalent of current program) and Financial Reporting and 

Control. 

The Public Accounting stream, for which the requirements are necessarily restrictive of the needs 

of professional accreditation, do not allow faculty the ability to offer certain important courses 

that reflect the cutting edge of practice and research in accounting. These courses include, in 

particular, two new courses: RSM425H1 Theory of Financial Reporting and Control and 

RSM429H1 Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation. These courses lie more at the 

intersection of accounting and finance or accounting and management and are less devoted to the 

functions of public accounting (which places a heavy emphasis on fields such as audit and tax 

accounting). Accounting students, preparing for an accounting-related career outside of public 

accounting, should have a broader exposure to other management disciplines, which this new 

stream provides in two ways. First, it requires 1.0 FCE of management breadth from the nonfinance, 

non-accounting disciplines rather than 0.5 FCE as in the public accounting stream. 

Second, it provides an additional 1.0 FCE of RSM electives because it only requires 9.0 FCE of 

specific RSM courses (while the “Public Accounting” stream requires/specifies all 10.0 RSM 

FCEs). 

- Proposed creation of two streams for the Specialist: Public Accounting (which is the 

equivalent of the current program, with 15 FCEs) and Financial Reporting and Control. This 

second stream) requires 1 FCE less (14 FCEs overall) and provides more choices among 

required courses. 

- No changes in learning outcomes for the Public Accounting stream. Students in the Financial 

Reporting and Control stream will not be able to meet the post-secondary education 

requirements for licensing as a public accountant in Ontario.

Major Modifications, 2013-14 Calendar Year 

Appendix A 

PROGRAM PROPOSAL PACKAGE for CALENDAR 

NEW STREAMS WITHIN PROGRAM 

Department/Unit: Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations 

Program: Specialist 

PART I – Calendar Entry 

1. Description 

Program Description: 

The Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations is concerned with the interdisciplinary study of the civilizations 

and cultures of the Near and Middle East from Neolithic times until the present, including their archaeology, history, 

mythology, religion and thought, art and architecture, and languages and literatures (Akkadian, Babylonian, Sumerian, 

Aramaic, Syriac, ancient Egyptian, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian and Turkish). The Department’s programs provide students 

with a unique opportunity to study non-Western complex societies and civilizations. 

The Near East is generally understood to refer to the region at the eastern end of the Mediterranean and beyond, from 

ancient times up to the advent of Islam in the seventh century CE. The Middle East begins with the advent of Islam and 

refers to a much broader geographical area whose predominant Islamic culture in medieval and modern times has 

stretched to North Africa and Spain in the west and to Central Asia, India, and Southeast Asia in the east. 

The Department welcomes students of all academic backgrounds who wish to learn about the Near and Middle East. 

NMC101H1, NMC102H1 and NMC104H1 introduce students to the ancient Near East, including ancient Egypt, 

Mesopotamia, and Israel, while NMC103H1 introduces students to the Islamic world. Students pursuing a Specialist or 

Major program are required to take two of these Gateway courses and are given the option to enrol in one of four streams: 

an open stream, an ancient stream, a medieval stream, or a modern stream. 

Many courses offered in the Department do not require any knowledge of the languages of the region. However, the 

Department strongly believes that a deeper understanding of the civilizations and cultures of the Near and Middle East can 

be achieved through the study of one or more of its languages. In fact, admission to a graduate program in NMC requires 

the applicant to have acquired a background in languages. Students should consult the Department’s web site 

www.utoronto.ca/nmc for more detailed information about programs and courses offered in a particular year. 

Undergraduate Enquiries: 4 Bancroft Avenue, Room 200, nmc@utoronto.ca or Prof. Robert Holmstedt, undergraduate 

coordinator (robert.holmstedt@utoronto.ca) 

Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations Specialist (Arts program) (11 FCEs, including at least 4 300+ FCEs, 1 FCE of 

which must be at the 400-level.) 

At least 9 FCEs must be NMC and/or NML courses. Others may be taken only from a list of pre-approved courses offered 

by other departments. 

1. First Year: 1 FCE from NMC101H1/NMC102H1/NMC103H1/NMC104H1. 

2. 4 FCEs in one or two primary source languages (Akkadian, Ancient Egyptian, Biblical, Middle, or Modern Hebrew, 

Aramaic, Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Turkish), with NML designator (i.e., not literature in translation). It is recommended 

that language instruction begin in first year if possible. 

3. Higher years: one of the four following streams: 

NMC Specialist (General) (6 FCEs) 

3. 3 FCEs from NMC 241H1, 270H1, 273Y1, 274Y1, 275H1, 277H1, 278H1, 342H1, 343H1, 344H1, 346H1, 347H1, 

348Y1, 355H1, 370H1, 373H1, 374H1, 376H1, 377Y1, 378H1, 451H1, 471H1, 472H1, 473H1, 475H1, 476H1, 478H1, 

479H1 (History & Society courses) and NMC 283Y1, 284H1, 285H1, 286H1, 289H1, 380Y1, 381H1, 382Y1, 384H1, 

385H1, 387H1, 388H1, 389H1, 481H1, 484H1 (Religion & Thought courses). 

4. 2 FCEs from NMC 260Y1, 261Y0, 360H1, 361H1, 362Y1, 363H1, 364H1, 365Y1, 366Y1, 367H1, 368H1, 369Y1, 461Y1, 

462Y1, 465H1, 466H1, 467H1, 468H1, 469Y1 (Archaeology courses) and NMC 392H1, 393H1, 394H1, 396Y1, 491H1 

(Art & Architecture courses). 

5. 1 additional FCE of NMC or NML courses or those from a list of pre-approved courses offered by other departments. 

NMC Specialist (Ancient) (6 FCEs) 

2a. The 4 FCEs in primary source languages must be from among the following languages: Akkadian, Ancient Egyptian, 

Biblical or Middle Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac. 

3. 3 FCEs from NMC 270H1, 277H1, 343H1, 344H1, 346H1, 347H1, 370H1, 472H1 (History & Society courses) and NMC 

289H1, 380Y1, 382Y1 (Religion & Thought courses). 

1


Appendix A 

4. 2 FCEs from NMC 260Y1, 261Y0, 360H1, 361H1, 362Y1, 363H1, 364H1, 366Y1, 369Y1, 461Y1, 462Y1, 465H1, 466H1, 

467H1, 468H1 (Archaeology courses) and NMC 491H1 (Art & Architecture course). 

5. 1 additional FCE in Medieval or Modern stream courses or those from a list of pre-approved courses offered by other 

departments. 

NMC Specialist (Medieval) (6 FCEs) 

2a. The 4 FCEs in primary source languages must be from among the following languages: Biblical or Middle Hebrew, 

Aramaic, Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Turkish. 

3. 3 FCEs from NMC 270H1, 273Y1, 274Y1, 275H1, 277H1, 342H1, 348Y1, 374H1, 376H1, 377Y1, 471H1, 472H1 (History 

& Society courses) and NMC 283Y1, 285H1, 286H1, 289H1, 384H1, 385H1, 387H1, 388H1, 389H1, 481H1, 484H1 

(Religion & Thought courses). 

4. 2 FCEs from NMC 261Y0, 365Y1, 366Y1, 367H1, 369Y1, 462Y1, 465H1, 469Y1 (Archaeology courses) and NMC 

393H1, 394H1, 396Y1 (Art & Architecture courses). 

5. 1 additional FCE in Ancient or Modern stream courses or those from a list of pre-approved courses offered by other 

departments. 

NMC Specialist (Modern) (6 FCEs) 

2a. The 4 FCEs in primary source languages must be from among the following languages: Modern Hebrew, Arabic, 

Persian, Turkish. 

3. 3 FCEs from NMC 241H1, 270H1, 274Y1, 277H1, 278H1, 348Y1, 355H1, 373H1, 374H1, 377Y1, 378H1, 451H1, 

472H1, 473H1, 475H1, 476H1, 478H1, 479H1 (History & Society courses) and NMC 283Y1, 284H1, 285H1, 286H1, 

289H1, 381H1, 384H1, 385H1, 387H1, 389H1, 481H1, 484H1 (Religion & Thought courses). 

4. 2 FCEs from NMC 261Y0, 367H1, 368H1, 369Y1, 462Y1, 465H1 (Archaeology courses) and NMC 392H1, 394H1, 

396Y1 (Art & Architecture courses). 

5. 1 additional FCE in Ancient or Medieval stream courses or those from a list of pre-approved courses offered by other 

departments. 

2. Academic Context 

The non-subtitled “open” NMC stream is maximally flexible and allows students to capitalize on the strengths of 

interdisciplinary study within the temporal and spatial domain covered by NMC. 

The three sub-titled streams (NMC: Ancient, NMC: Medieval, NMC: Modern) provide guidance after the first-year courses 

for less self-directed students to achieve a transparent coherence in their NMC studies. The streams also visibly signal 

focused preparation in one of the general historical stages within the umbrella of Near and Middle Eastern civilizations for 

those students who, for job preparation or graduate studies, desire this recognition on their transcript. 

3. Learning Outcomes 

The Specialist program in NMC is designed to allow students an intensive training in a complex Humanities program. The 

aim of the Specialist is to allow students to specialize in one of the many areas of study in the department with a core of 

language courses that is the foundation of the program. All four streams in the Specialist program share the same learning 

goals, distinguished only by the temporal orientation of the three sub-titled streams: 

1. To achieve intermediate to advanced language competency in one or more of the languages of the Near and Middle 

East. Nine languages are taught in the department to the intermediate or advanced level: Arabic, Modern Hebrew, 

Persian, and Turkish, on the modern side; Akkadian, Aramaic/Syriac, Biblical Hebrew, Middle Hebrew, and Ancient 

Egyptian on the ancient side. 

2. To achieve in-depth knowledge of the historical development of the Near and Middle East, encompassing the political, 

religious, cultural, and economic development of the region including familiarity with the methodology of historical 

investigation, literary analysis and religious history. 

3. To acquire of critical and analytical thinking skills, including the ability to read primary sources critically and develop a 

theoretical approach to the historical and literary history of the Near and Middle East. 

4. To acquire essential writing, organizational and oral communication skills that will allow the student to excel in any 

environment. 

5. To prepare for a variety of professions or work in a wide spectrum of jobs from law, journalism, foreign service, and 

museums to NGOs and other positions for which background knowledge of the Near and Middle East and the 

analytical skills acquired through study in NMC will provide. 

6. The Ancient Stream: to focus the acquisition of knowledge, critical analysis, writing and presentation skills and 

experience, and linguistic competency in the ancient period of the Near and Middle East. 

7. The Medieval Stream: to focus the acquisition of knowledge, critical analysis, writing and presentation skills and 

experience, and linguistic competency in the medieval period of the Near and Middle East. 

8. The Modern Stream: to focus the acquisition of knowledge, critical analysis, writing and presentation skills and 

experience, and linguistic competency in the modern period of the Near and Middle East. 

2


Appendix A 

PART II – Internal Information for Governance 

4. Rationale and Background Information 

We are proposing to revise the program in order to offer more nuance for UG study. A single “NMC” POSt affirms that the 

connections between all fields in our department are numerous, strong, and interwoven, though the disciplines, times, and 

areas covered are diverse. The streams provide the best of all worlds: signaling unity and coherence of studying near and 

middle-eastern civilizations while allowing students to focus their studies within one of the new streams. 

5. Departmental/College Resource Implications 

Estimated enrolment per academic year in this program 

(please explain) 

New courses necessary to mount for this program 

Additional instructor requirements 

Teaching assistant requirements 

Laboratory equipment requirements 

Computing resource requirements 

Libraries resource requirements 

Other 

Same as existing: @1700 students (=@1150 FCE) 

none 

none 

Same as existing 




N/A 

DELETE the statement that DOES NOT apply: 

I will provide these resources required for this program from my existing budget. 

DATE Oct 26, 2012 

Name of Chair/Program Director: Robert Holmstedt (UG coordinator) [in consultation with and 

with the approval of the dept. chair, Timothy Harrison] 

3


Appendix A 

PROGRAM PROPOSAL PACKAGE for CALENDAR 


Department/Unit: Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations 

Underline the appropriate category among the following two: 

Program: Major 



Program Description: 

The Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations is concerned with the interdisciplinary study of the civilizations and 

cultures of the Near and Middle East from Neolithic times until the present, including their archaeology, history, mythology, 

religion and thought, art and architecture, and languages and literatures (Akkadian, Babylonian, Sumerian, Aramaic, Syriac, 

ancient Egyptian, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian and Turkish). The Department’s programs provide students with a unique 

opportunity to study non-Western complex societies and civilizations. 

The Near East is generally understood to refer to the region at the eastern end of the Mediterranean and beyond, from 

ancient times up to the advent of Islam in the seventh century CE. The Middle East begins with the advent of Islam and refers 

to a much broader geographical area whose predominant Islamic culture in medieval and modern times has stretched to 

North Africa and Spain in the west and to Central Asia, India, and Southeast Asia in the east. 

The Department welcomes students of all academic backgrounds who wish to learn about the Near and Middle East. 

NMC101H1, NMC102H1 and NMC104H1 introduce students to the ancient Near East, including ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, 

and Israel, while NMC103H1 introduces students to the Islamic world. Students pursuing a Specialist or Major program are 

required to take two of these Gateway courses and are given the option to enrol in one of four streams: an open stream, an 

ancient stream, a medieval stream, or a modern stream. 

Many courses offered in the Department do not require any knowledge of the languages of the region. However, the 

Department strongly believes that a deeper understanding of the civilizations and cultures of the Near and Middle East can be 

achieved through the study of one or more of its languages. In fact, admission to a graduate program in NMC requires the 

applicant to have acquired a background in languages. Students should consult the Department’s web site 

www.utoronto.ca/nmc for more detailed information about programs and courses offered in a particular year. 

Undergraduate Enquiries: 4 Bancroft Avenue, Room 200, nmc@utoronto.ca or Prof. Robert Holmstedt, undergraduate 

coordinator (robert.holmstedt@utoronto.ca) 

Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations Major (Arts program) (6 FCEs including at least 2 300+-level FCEs, 1 FCE of which 

must be at the 400-level) 

At least 5 FCEs must be NMC and/or NML courses. 1 FCE may be taken from a list of pre-approved courses offered by other 

departments. 

1. First Year: 1 FCE from NMC101H1/NMC102H1/NMC103H1/NMC104H1. 

2. Higher years: one of the four following streams. 

NMC Major (General) (5 FCEs) 

2. 3 to 4 FCEs from any NMC courses. 

3. 1 to 2 FCEs FCEs in language (NML courses). 

NMC Major (Ancient Stream) (5 FCEs) 

2. 2 to 3 FCEs from Group A and 1 FCEs from Group B/Group C. 

3. 1 to 2 FCEs in Ancient Stream languages (Akkadian, Ancient Egyptian, Biblical or Middle Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac) 

NMC Major (Medieval Stream) (5 FCEs) 

2. 2 to 3 FCEs from Group B and 1 FCEs from Group A/Group C. 

3. 1 to 2 FCEs in Medieval Stream languages (Biblical, Middle Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Turkish). 

NMC Major (Modern Stream) (5 FCEs) 

2. 2 to 3 FCEs from Group C and 1 FCEs from Group A/Group B. 

3. 1 to 2 FCEs in Modern Stream languages (Modern Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Turkish). 

4


Appendix A 

NMC Groups 

Group A (Ancient Stream) 

NMC 250H, 251H 252H, 253H, 260Y, 261Y, 270H, 277H, 289H, 299Y, 343H, 344H, 346H, 347H, 351H, 360H, 361H, 

362Y, 363H, 364H, 366Y, 369Y, 370H, 380Y, 382Y, 399Y, 450H, 461Y, 462Y, 465H, 466H, 467H, 468H, 472H, 491H, 495Y, 

496H, 497H, 499Y. 

Group B (Medieval Stream) 

NMC 258H, 261Y, 270H, 273Y, 274Y, 275H, 277H, 283Y, 285H, 286H, 289H, 299Y, 342H, 348Y, 350H, 365Y, 366Y, 

367H, 369Y, 374H, 376H, 377Y, 384H, 385H, 387H, 388H, 389H, 393H, 394H, 396Y, 399Y, 462Y, 465H, 469Y, 

471H, 472H, 481H, 484H, 495Y, 496H, 497H, 499Y. 

Group C (Modern Stream) 

NMC 241H, 255H, 258H, 261Y, 270H, 274Y, 277H, 278H, 283Y, 284H, 285H, 286H, 289H, 299Y, 348Y, 355H, 

367H, 368H, 369Y, 373H, 374H, 377Y, 378H, 381H, 384H, 385H, 387H, 389H, 392H, 394H, 396Y, 399Y, 451H, 

462Y, 465H, 472H, 473H, 475H, 476H, 478H, 479H, 481H, 484H, 495Y, 496H, 497H, 499Y. 


The non-subtitled “open” NMC stream is maximally flexible and allows students to capitalize on the strengths of 

interdisciplinary study within the temporal and spatial domain covered by NMC. 

The three sub-titled streams (NMC: Ancient, NMC: Medieval, NMC: Modern) provide guidance for less self-directed students 

to achieve a transparent coherence in their NMC studies. The streams also visibly signal focused preparation in one of the 

general historical stages within the umbrella of Near and Middle Eastern civilizations for those students who, for job 

preparation or graduate studies, desire this recognition on their transcript. 


The Major program in NMC is designed to allow students an in-depth training in a complex Humanities program. All four 

streams in the Major program share the same learning goals, differing only in the temporal orientation of the three sub-titled 

streams: 

1. To achieve in-depth knowledge of one of the ten areas of study offered in the Department, including familiarity with the 

methodologies of that particular area. 

2. To acquire critical and analytical thinking skills, including the possibility of learning to read primary sources. 

3. To acquire essential writing, organizational and oral communication skills that will allow the student to excel in any 

environment. 

4. To achieve basic competency in a primary language of the spoken or written cultural discourse of the Near and Middle 

East. 

5. To prepare for a variety of professions or work in a wide spectrum of jobs, including law, journalism, government and 

foreign service, museums, NGOs, and commerce for which background knowledge of the Near and Middle East and the 

analytical skills acquired through study in NMC will be of value. 

6. The Ancient Stream: to focus the acquisition of knowledge, critical analysis, writing and presentation skills and experience, 

and linguistic competency in the ancient period of the Near and Middle East. 

7. The Medieval Stream: to focus the acquisition of knowledge, critical analysis, writing and presentation skills and 

experience, and linguistic competency in the medieval period of the Near and Middle East. 

8. The Modern Stream: to focus the acquisition of knowledge, critical analysis, writing and presentation skills and experience, 

and linguistic competency in the modern period of the Near and Middle East. 



We are proposing to revise the program in order to offer more nuance for UG study. A single “NMC” POSt affirms that the 

connections between all fields in our department are numerous, strong, and interwoven, though the disciplines, times, and 

areas covered are diverse. The streams provide the best of all worlds: signaling unity and coherence of studying N&ME 

civilizations while allowing students to focus their studies within one of the new streams. 


5


Estimated enrolment per academic year in this program 

(please explain) 

New courses necessary to mount for this program 







Appendix A 

Same as existing: 164 students (2012) 

none 

none 





N/A 



DATE Oct 26, 2012 

Name of Chair/Program Director: Robert Holmstedt (UG coordinator) [in consultation with and with 

the approval of the dept. chair, Timothy Harrison] 

6


Appendix A 

PROGRAM PROPOSAL FORM for 2012-2013 CALENDAR 


Department/Unit: Rotman Commerce 

Program: Accounting Specialist (BCom) 



Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto offers an innovative curriculum combining studies in management, 

economics, and the liberal arts for an enriched professional undergraduate experience. The program explores the role of 

commerce in modern society while developing skill and confidence in analysis, effective communications and decision 

making. 

The Bachelor of Commerce degree builds on a common foundation of business and liberal arts courses. Rotman 

Commerce students go on to specialize in one of three programs: Accounting, Finance & Economics or Management. 

Each program combines courses in management and applied economics with a variety of courses in the Arts & Sciences. 

The balance assures graduates of a solid understanding of business and modern society along with a command of critical 

skills in decision-making and organizational leadership. 

Rotman Commerce graduates frequently become economists, accountants, actuaries, financial analysts, marketing 

analysts, managers in firms and government, or proprietors of small businesses. Some commerce students elect to 

undertake post-graduate studies in the form of further university education: law schools and MBA programs have been 

particularly favoured destinations of recent graduates. 

To qualify for a Bachelor of Commerce degree, a student must: 

(a) Complete twenty full-course equivalents, including no more than six 100-series courses; 

(b) Complete one of the Specialist programs – Accounting, Finance & Economics or Management (see below); 

(c) Complete the Faculty Breadth Requirement for BCom students (see below); 

(d) Complete ten full course equivalents from Management (RSM) and ten full course equivalents from disciplines outside of 

RSM which include Economics (ECO) and other Arts & Science courses. 

(e) Obtain standing (i.e., complete with a grade of 50% or more) in at least six 300- or 400-series courses, including at least 

one 400-series course. No more than one 300+series transfer credit may be counted towards these six. (Students 

participating in an approved exchange program may count all 300+ transfer credits from the exchange towards the 

required six.) 

(f) Achieve a cumulative GPA of 1.85 or more by the time of graduation. 

Notes 

•Enrolment in the Rotman Commerce program is limited. Most students are admitted to first-year with a Rotman Commerce 

Admission Guarantee (see below for terms and conditions of the guarantee). Formal program enrolment takes place in the 

second-year, provided that the conditions of the guarantee have been met. A limited number of spaces may also be 

available in second-year for other Arts & Science students who were not admitted with the Admission Guarantee (see 

section on “Other Students” for specific admission criteria). 

• First-Year Students Admitted with the Rotman Commerce Admission Guarantee: 

Students admitted with the Rotman Commerce Admission Guarantee will be invited to enroll in the program after first-year, 

provided that the following requirements have been met: 

Complete RSM100Y Introduction to Management with a mark of at least 67% 

Complete ECO100Y Introduction to Economics with a mark of at least 67% 

Complete MAT133Y Calculus and Linear Algebra for Commerce (or equivalent) with a mark of at least 63% 

Accumulate a minimum of 4.0 credits 

These requirements must be met within one calendar year of their first enrolment in Arts & Science. For students beginning 

in September, the requirements must be satisfied no later than the end of the following Summer Session. 

Students may repeat any of the required courses once, in order to attain the requisite mark. The repeated course(s) must be 

completed within the calendar year (as per the terms of the guarantee); as such, the repeated course(s) must be taken 

7


Appendix A 

during the Summer Session of first-year (i.e. a student may not extend the terms of her/his guarantee in order to attain the 

minimum marks). 

Failure to meet any of the above, or failure to finish all the required courses by the end of the Summer after first year 

(assuming full-time studies) will result in losing the admission guarantee. None of these courses may be completed using 

the CR/NCR option. 

•Part-Time Students: 

Students holding the Rotman Commerce Admission Guarantee, who have applied for and been admitted to Part-Time 

study, will be assessed for entry into Rotman Commerce programs at the point when they have completed 4.0 credits 

including the required courses (see above for the requirements of the guarantee). To qualify under the Part-Time provision, 

students must have been enrolled in a part-time course load from the beginning of each session. Part-time students may 

repeat each of the required courses once in order to attain the minimum marks. 

• Other Students: 

A limited number of spaces in Rotman Commerce may be available to Arts & Science students who were not admitted to 

first-year with the Rotman Commerce Admission Guarantee. The number of spaces available is determined annually but is 

generally fewer than 20. 

Applications are submitted in late-April/May of each year and admission decisions are made and communicated in late- 

June. All admission requirements must be completed by May 1 in order to be eligible for admission. Students who have not 

completed the necessary requirements (see below for specifics) by May 1 must apply for admission the following year. 

Admission Requirements: 

Complete RSM100Y1 and ECO100Y1, each with a mark of at least 67% 

Complete one of MAT133Y1/(135H1, 136H1)/137Y1/(123H1, 124H1)/(125H1, 126H1), with a mark of at least 63% 

Attain an average of at least 73% across the 3 qualifying courses (RSM100Y1, ECO100Y1 and MAT133Y1). Note: 

in the case of repeated attempts, the highest mark attained will be considered when calculating this average 

Accumulate a minimum of 4.0 credits 

Submit the Rotman Commerce Supplemental Application 

Admission will be based on marks, the Supplemental Application and in some cases, a personal interview. 

Note: admission to second-year of the Rotman Commerce program is extremely competitive; meeting the minimum 

academic requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. 

For information regarding admission to the program, contact Rotman Commerce Admissions at 

rotmancommerce.admissions@utoronto.ca or 416.946.0844. 

• Tuition Fees: Students enrolling in the Rotman Commerce programs pay fees that are higher than other Arts & Science 

programs. 

• Mathematics Note: MAT133Y1/(MAT123H1,MAT124H1) are courses that satisfy the minimum Program requirements. 

Students who are likely to enroll in 200+ series MAT or CSC courses are advised to take 

MAT135H1,MAT136H1/MAT137Y1 instead, which are theoretically-oriented courses for mathematically-based disciplines 

such as Mathematics, Computer Science, and Actuarial Science. 

• Maximum Course Load: Rotman Commerce students are limited to a maximum of 6.0 credits in any Fall/Winter session 

of their program. 

Accounting Specialist program (14-15 FCEs) 

Students must choose one of the two streams; either Public Accounting or Financial Reporting and Control. 

First Year: 

1. ECO 100Y1, RSM100Y1 

2. MAT 133Y1/(123H1,124H1)/135Y1/137Y1/157Y1 

3. Students are encouraged to take at least one course towards the Breadth Requirement (above) in First Year 

Second Year: 

4. ECO 204Y1/206Y1; ECO 220Y1/227Y1/(STA250H1,STA255H1)/(STA257H1,STA261H1) 

5. RSM219H, RSM220H1, 221H1, 222H1 

STREAM A: Public Accounting (8 FCEs) 

Second Year: 

6. RSM 225H1, 0.5 from RSM230H1, 250H1, 260H1, 270H1, 392H1 

8


Appendix A 

Third Year: 

7. RSM320H1, 321H1, 322H1, 323H1, 324H1, 332H1, 333H1 

8. Any 1.0 300+ ECO 

Fourth Year: 

9. RSM422H1, 423H1, 424H1, 426H1, 427H1 

Note: Students must take a minimum of 10.0 RSM and 10.0 non-RSM courses (See B. Com. degree requirements above). 

ECO 209Y1 and 374H1 are strongly recommended. 

STREAM B: Financial Reporting and Control (7 FCEs) 

Second Year: 

6. 1.0 from: RSM 250H1, 260H1, 270H1, 392H1 

Third and Fourth Years: 

7. RSM323H1, 324H1, 332H1, 333H1 

8. Any 1.0 300+ ECO 

9. Complete 1.0 in Applied Accounting**: RSM328H1, 428H1, 425H1 (new course: Financial Reporting and Control: 

Theory and Contemporary Topics) 

10. Complete 1.5 in Advanced Accounting**: RSM320H1, 321H1, 322H1, 327H1, 422H1, 423H1, 424H1, 427H1 

11. RSM429H1 (new course: Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation) 

Note: Students must take a minimum of 10.0 RSM and 10.0 non-RSM courses (See B. Com. degree requirements above). 


This program specialist exists to provide in-depth accounting education to students wishing to pursue a career in 

accounting. The specialist allows students to choose one of two streams: Public Accounting (stream “A”) or Financial 

Reporting and Control (Stream “B”). The public accounting stream is accredited by the Institute for Chartered Accountants 

of Ontario (ICAO) and allows students to begin the examination process for obtaining the CA designation and it also meets 

the requirements for direct entry into the CGA program at the PACE level. It provides advanced training in accounting, 

particularly in the public accounting fields of financial accounting, tax and audit, complemented by exposure to finance and 

other management disciplines, as well as significant exposure to microeconomics and econometrics. This specialist stream 

requires 15 FCEs; this is due primarily to the need to meet the ICAO requirements for accreditation while maintaining a 

common foundation in finance and economics with the other BCom specialists. The financial reporting and control stream 

meets the needs of students who intend to pursue careers in accounting, but not in public accounting. This includes 

students interested in the CMA designation. Such students benefit from a greater emphasis on management and financial 

accounting (including the new capstone course on financial reporting and control) in lieu of tax and audit in the required 

curriculum, and they also benefit from greater breadth in their non-accounting RSM courses (both through an increased 

breadth requirement and through a larger number of elective RSM courses). This stream does not exceed 14 FCEs. 


Students who complete this degree program will: 

• gain an understanding of economic reasoning and economic models 

• gain an appreciation of the economic and social context of business, including: 

‣ the civil institutions that support modern capitalism 

‣ the ways in which business contributes to the prosperity and well-being of society 

‣ the global context of business 

• develop literacy in the language and concepts of accounting and finance 

• learn to use data and financial information to support sound decision-making 

• develop effective writing, presentation, and teamwork skills 

• master the fundamentals of accounting, including financial, managerial, audit, and tax accounting 

• develop a deeper understanding of accounting in the areas of their choice, depending on the stream 

• be prepared to pursue a professional accounting designation of their choice 

• in the case of the public accounting stream, be able to meet the post-secondary education requirements for licensing as a 

public accountant in Ontario 

4. Degree Objectives 

4.1 DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE 

9


Appendix A 

The program requires a structured and defined curriculum that is progressively advanced and requires significant prerequisite 

knowledge. Years 1 and 2 provide a foundation in the fundamentals of accounting, economic reasoning and 

models, quantitative analysis and an introduction to the role of commerce in modern society. Years 3 and 4 require a 

sequence of increasingly advanced material that builds on, and requires a command of, the first- and second-year 

curriculum. Many required courses are at the 300- and 400- level (6-6.5 FCEs for the financial reporting and control stream; 

7-7.5 FCEs for the public accounting stream). The final term in fourth year culminates with a capstone course (RSM426H1 

Critical Thinking, Analysis and Decision Making for the public accounting stream and RSM429H1 Financial Statement 

Analysis and Valuation for the financial reporting and control stream) in which students are required to integrate the 

technical and practical knowledge obtained in the prerequisite courses and apply it to practical situations and problems. 

4.2 COMPETENCIES 

4.2.1 CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING 

Most advanced 300- and 400- level courses required in this Specialist such as RSM321, RSM322, RSM324, RSM424 and 

RSM426, cover technical accounting material, and then develop technical problem solving and critical thinking skills by 

applying the technical accounting material to case studies and practical problems. 

4.2.2 COMMUNICATION 

In RSM100 (a required first-year course) all students must attend four writing tutorials led by professional writing instructors. 

The tutorials develop students’ skills in written communication with an emphasis on developing business communications 

and documents, the rules of grammar, and effective argument. 

In many upper-level RSM courses, students undertake individual and group written work, often accompanied by in-class 

presentation of that work. In addition, students are encouraged to take the commerce-only writing course offered by Innis 

College’s Writing and Rhetoric program: INI302H Writing in Business and the Professions for Rotman Commerce Students. 

4.2.3 INFORMATION LITERACY 

The entire discipline of accounting is about the acquisition, organization, processing, auditing, and use of information— 

particularly financial information. Virtually every upper-level course in this specialist focuses heavily on the analysis of 

particular information collection and reporting systems, and on their strengths and weaknesses for business decisionmaking. 

Courses such as ECO220Y teach students how to access data and how to analyze it. RSM332 and RSM333 (both 

required finance courses) introduce analyst reports and financials, teaching students how to both access this information 

and interpret it. 

4.2.4 QUANTITATIVE REASONING 

All students complete MAT133Y1 Calculus and Linear Algebra for Commerce (or its equivalent) as well as ECO220Y1 

Quantitative Methods in Economics (or equivalent courses offered through Statistics). In addition, ECO204, RSM332, 

RSM333, and many of the upper-level accounting courses employ mathematical and statistical analysis. 

4.2.5 SOCIAL AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY 

Two modules in RSM100 are devoted to business ethics, which includes ethics in the workplace (individual ethics), 

business accountability (managerial ethics, assessing ethical behaviour, company practices and business ethics and social 

responsibility (responsibility towards the environment, the customer, employees and investors). Courses such as RSM323, 

RSM423 and RSM427 cover the rules of professional ethics specific to distinct accounting professions. 

4.3 AN INTEGRATIVE, INQUIRY-BASED ACTIVITY 

Public Accounting Stream (Stream “A”): 

RSM426 Critical Thinking, Analysis and Decision Making is a capstone course stressing the pervasive competencies and 

critical thinking skills required from business school graduates, future professional accountants and advisors. The course 

provides students with the opportunity to integrate technical and practical knowledge obtained in the prerequisite and other 

University courses and to apply this knowledge to case type situations. 

The overall objective is to enhance the participants’ abilities to demonstrate the pervasive competencies, including written 

communication skills, required of the professional accountant as part of a business decision-making team. The course 

presents case simulations of problems encountered in the business world. The student is required to employ a crossfunctional 

approach to problem solving, as real life problems require integration across the specific knowledge areas of risk 

management, performance measurement, assurance, finance, taxation, information technology and organizational 

effectiveness. Students will be required, based on the case, to play different roles depending on the users’ needs. 

The case method is stressed and students work in groups to prepare solutions to the cases. Solution preparation involves 

thorough familiarization with the case facts and issues, analysis of alternatives, integration of knowledge and application of 

judgment to arrive at a practical recommendation. Active in-class participation and a formal case presentation are required. 

Financial Reporting and Control Stream (Stream “B”): 

RSM429H1 Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation is a capstone course for the new stream which will be of interest to 

students wishing to pursue a career where one needs to understand and analyze financial statements “intelligently.” This 

1


Appendix A 

includes those interested in finance related professions such as Investment Banking, Research and Investment 

Management. Students interested in consulting and marketing will also find this course useful because of its approach that 

focuses on business analysis with tie-ins to corporate strategy. 

The overall objective of the course is to help students value businesses using financial statements. We will discuss how 

accounting regulations and managerial discretion influence presented financial statements. Students will understand how to 

interpret financial statements, analyze cash flows, make judgments about earnings quality and uncover hidden assets and 

liabilities. Students will also be exposed to research from accounting and finance that focuses on how financial statement 

analysis can be used in devising trading rules. Finally, the course will use financial statement analysis prospectively to 

forecast and value firms using cash flow based and accounting based methods. 



@@ 

6. Summary of Changes (required for Minor Changes and Major Modifications A) 

• Learning Objectives: None 

• Modes of Delivery: None 

• Changes in Program Requirements: Addition of a new stream (Financial Reporting and Control), requiring 1 FCE less 

and providing more choices among required courses. Note that the Public Accounting Stream corresponds to the existing 

Specialist. 

• New Courses: RSM425H1 Financial Reporting and Control: Theory and Contemporary Topics: RSM429H1 Financial 

Statement Analysis and Valuation e 

• Deleted Courses: None 


Estimated enrolment per academic year 

in this program (please explain) 

New courses necessary to mount for this 

program 

Anticipate approximately 40% of all Rotman Commerce students to enrol in 

the Accounting Specialist (i.e. 200 students in each of years 2, 3 and 4), of 

which 1/3 are likely to enrol in the financial reporting and control stream 

and 2/3 are likely to enrol in the public accounting stream. 

RSM425H1 Financial Reporting and Control: Theory and Contemporary 

Topics 

RSM429H1 Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation 









1


Appendix A 

DATE 

October 27, 2012 

Name of Chair/Program Director 

Professor Kenneth Corts 

1


Appendix A 

PART III – Additional Information for Major Modifications only 

Please fill in spaces with your own words. Expand boxes as needed. 

Refer to the Checklist to make sure you are filling all sections relevant to the type of proposal. 

8. Impact on your Units or Others 

Impact on our own unit’s program of study: We anticipate that students in the newly created stream of the Accounting 

specialist will come primarily from the existing Accounting specialist, possibly with a slight diversion from the Finance 

and Economics or Management specialists as well. There will therefore be a slight shift in course demand from 

formerly core accounting courses, especially the more advanced tax and audit courses, as well as the public 

accounting stream’s capstone course, to accounting and finance electives. This does not pose a staffing problem. 

There is no impact on other units, as the changes in the program all relate to RSM courses. 

9. For Major Modification A only (i.e., existing program showing significant changes to the Learning Outcomes, 

the modes of delivery or the program requirements, such as required service learning) 

Impact on Students and Student Accommodation 

[To be filled in.] 

10. For Major Modification B only (i.e., newly-created program where a Major/Specialist with the same 

designation currently exists) 

Need and Demand 

The Financial Reporting and Control Stream was proposed by the Rotman accounting faculty, who believe that the 

public accounting stream, for which the requirements are necessarily restrictive due to the need for professional 

accreditation, do not allow them the freedom to offer certain important courses that reflect the cutting edge of practice 

and research in accounting. These courses include, in particular, two new courses: RSM425H1 Theory of Financial 

Reporting and Control and RSM429H1 Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation. These are courses that lie more 

at the intersection of accounting and finance or accounting and management and are less devoted to the functions of 

public accounting (which places a heavy emphasis on fields such as audit and tax accounting). The accounting 

faculty also believe that accounting students preparing for an accounting-related career outside of public accounting 

should have a broader exposure to other management disciplines, which this new stream provides in two ways. First, 

it requires 1.0 FCE of management breadth from the non-finance, non-accounting disciplines rather than 0.5 FCE as 

in the public accounting stream. Second, it provides an additional 1.0 FCE of RSM electives because it only requires 

9.0 FCE of specific RSM courses (while the “Public Accounting” stream requires/specifies all 10.0 RSM FCEs). 

11. For Major Modification B only (i.e., newly-created program where a Major/Specialist with the same 

designation currently exists 

Assessment of Learning 

The courses required by this specialist require a combination of tests and exams, written work, group projects, and 

presentations, which together allow instructors to assess student mastery of the analytical content as well as skills in 

research, teamwork, writing, presentation, and application of theory to practice. 

1

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