4 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

Full	McMaster Social Sciences I OUAC ML Remove	McMaster Humanities I OUAC MH Remove	Carleton Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Honours (4 years) OUAC CH Remove	Western Arts and Humanities OUAC EA Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–87%“Low-to mid-80s”	80–83%“Anticipated admission average of low-80s”	75%	80–83%“Low 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	ENG4U	ENG4U SBI4U SCH4U	ENG4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English 4U * Completion of Advanced Functions 4U and Calculus & Vectors 4U are strongly recommended for students interested in Economics. * Completion of Calculus & Vectors 4U and Biology 4U are strongly recommended for students interested in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour.	English 4U *Completion of Biology 4U is recommended for students who are interested in pursuing the Cognitive Science of Language program in Level II.	Programs: African Studies, Anthropology, Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies, Art History, Biology, Childhood and Youth Studies, Criminology and Criminal Justice, English, Environmental and Climate Change Studies, European and Russian Studies, Film Studies, French, Geography, Geomatics, Greek and Roman Studies, History, History and Theory of Architecture, Human Rights and Social Justice, Indigenous Studies, Law, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Sociology, Women's and Gender Studies, and Undeclared. English (ENG4U) +7 more on the program page	English, ENG4U
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Marks only	Yes Unless otherwise noted, required courses must be completed with a minimum average of 70%. Prospective students applying to Fine Arts will need to submit a portfolio. For the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH), students must indicate interest on the OUAC application and complete a Statement of Interest by February 28, 2026. Usually closes before January 15
Co-op	Available	No	Available	Available
Degree	Bachelor of Arts, BA, Bachelor of Social Work, BSW	—	—	Bachelor of Arts, BA, Bachelor of Business Administration/Bachelor of Arts, BBA/BA, Bachelor of Fine Arts, BFA, Certificate, Cert, Diploma, Dipl.
First-year intakewhere published	950	480	—	—
What you study	Anthropology Economics Health Informatics Human Geography	African StudiesAncient Middle Eastern LanguagesClassical Studies Comparative Literary Studies	Aboriginal Studies African Studies Anthropology Cinematics & Photography	Ancient Middle Eastern LanguagesCinematics & Photography Classical Greek Studies Classical Studies
What it is	Social Sciences I is a first-year entry point where you explore human behaviour, society, and social systems through subjects like economics, sociology, anthropology, politics, and social work. Unlike a specialized program, you sample multiple disciplines before declaring a focus, letting you discover which area — from international development to health policy — matches your interests. It suits students curious about how societies work and drawn to understanding people and social issues from different angles.	Humanities I is your first year of study in the liberal arts, where you explore human culture, language, history, and society through subjects like English, history, drama, and linguistics. You take a range of courses across these fields to discover what interests you before specializing in a particular discipline in later years. This suits students who are curious about how people think, communicate, and organize themselves, but aren't yet certain which humanities subject to focus on.	A Bachelor of Arts is a four-year degree where you study humanities and social sciences — subjects like English, history, psychology, anthropology, or environmental studies. You choose a major (or sometimes two) and take courses across different disciplines to build broad knowledge alongside deep expertise in your chosen area. This program suits students curious about understanding human culture, society, language, and ideas, who want flexibility to explore different fields before specializing.	Arts and Humanities programs at Western let you study literature, history, languages, creative work, and visual art — subjects focused on human culture and expression rather than science or business. You can pursue a general BA, combine business with arts, earn a specialized BFA in fine art, or complete a shorter certificate or diploma. The co-op option lets you alternate study terms with paid work placements related to your field. This suits people drawn to writing, analysis, visual creativity, or understanding how societies and cultures work.
The door tomajors you reach through it	criminology geography political science psychology sociology	communications english history languages philosophy	criminology english geography history languages philosophy political science psychology	english languages philosophy
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	16 published, 9 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them
Source	McMaster University on OUInfo	McMaster University on OUInfo	Carleton University on OUInfo	Western University on OUInfo

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