Rex on UCalgary campus

First-year options

Learn more about the options available to you as a first year student.

An option is a course that allows you to explore an additional area of interest outside of your chosen major or degree. The first year of each program offered at the University of Calgary typically includes a number of options.

How do I know which options to take?

Certain programs specify that options be chosen from specific faculties. To help you select options in your first year, these options are listed below according to the faculty that offers each course.

What is an open option?

An open option means you can take any course you like from the list of courses below.

Please note:

  • These options do not apply to the Schulich School of Engineering programs. For further information please see schulich.ucalgary.ca/ and/or see the Engineering Undergrad Studies office.
  • First-year students are typically only allowed to register in 200-level courses.
  • Some of these courses may be restricted to students who are enroled in particular majors and programs.
  • Not all of these courses are offered each year. Check the availability of courses by logging into your Student Centre.
  • A detailed description of all courses can be found in the Academic Calendar.

This is a  list of courses that can be used to fulfill a first-year open option or Arts option.

Not all courses are offered every semester or every year. 

Some courses will have a required prerequisite to be completed prior to taking it, so make sure to check if the option you have selected has a prerequisite prior to attempting registration into the course. Most courses in the list above will have registration restrictions placed on them initially to allow students with that declared major to register first. Note the date(s) that the restriction(s) will lift, as well as any applicable prerequisites. These can both be found in the details of the course in both Course Search and Visual Schedule Builder.

If you would like to register into a second language course and are unsure which level you should select, please consult the SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES, LINGUISTICS, LITERATURES AND CULTURES.

This is a list of recommended courses can be used to fulfill a first-year open option or Science option.

  • Astronomy 207, 209
  • Biology 205*, 297, 211, 213
  • Chemistry 201, 203
  • Computer Science 203*, 217, 219, 251
  • Data Science 201, 211, 299
  • Earth 209*, 210, 299
  • Energy Science 201
  • Environmental Science 201
  • Mathematics 205*, 211, 249, 265, 267, 271
  • Physics 211 or 221, 223, 229
  • Statistics 205, 213, 217 

* Science courses for non-Science majors

Table 2: Science Breadth options (for specific majors only): 

  • Computer Science 217 (Introduction to Computer Science for Multidisciplinary Studies I) 
  • Computer Science 219 (Introduction to Computer Science for Multidisciplinary Studies II)
  • Data Science 201 (Thinking with Data)
  • DATA 211 (Programming with Data)
  • ENSC 201 (Introduction to Environmental Science)
  • ESCI 201 (Introduction to Energy Science)
  • ERTH  210 (Welcome to Earth) 
  • ERTH 301(Geology of the Mountain Regions of Western Canada)
  • ERTH  307 (Geological History of Life)
  • ERTH 308 (Geology and Human Health)
  • ERTH 375 (Natural Disasters and Critical Earth Phenomena)
  • ERTH 350 (Climate, Evolution, and Deep Time)
  • Mathematics 211 (Linear Methods I) 
  • Mathematics 267 (University Calculus II)
  • PHYS 211 or 221 (Mechanics) 
  • PHYS 223 (Introductory Electromagnetism, and Thermal Physics)
  • SCIE 331 (Scientific Explorations) 

This course can be used to fulfill a first-year open option.

This list of courses can be used to fulfill first-year open options.

  • HSOC 201

Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation students should consider taking a blend of specified and open options throughout the degree. 

First-year classes that can be used towards your Health Options:

  • Anthropology 201, 203
  • Biology 205
  • Gender and Sexuality Studies 201
  • Greek and Roman Studies 211
  • Health and Society 201
  • Kinesiology 201, 203, 213, 237, 244, 251, 253, 259, 260
  • Philosophy 259
  • Psychology 203

For more information regarding approved classes to meet other specified options; please refer to the Program Details. 

Open Options for students in other programs:

  • CORE 205*, CORE 207*, CORE 209
  • HSOC 201

*Students must adhere to the Cumming School of Medicine Immunization and Police Information check requirements.

This list of courses can be used to fulfill a first-year open option.

This list of courses can be used to fulfill a first-year open option.

Please note: 

These options do not apply to the Bachelor of Design in City Innovation program. For further information please see connect with the SAPL Undergraduate Advising team for support. 

This list of courses can be used to fulfill a first-year open option.

  • University 201
  • University 203
  • University 205

Please note: These courses are not attached to a particular faculty.