CHOOSING COURSES

NOTE: While Departmental counsellors and College Registrars are always available to give advice, THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH THE STUDENT for completeness and correctness of course selection, for compliance with exclusions, prerequisite and co-requisite requirements, for completion of Program details, for proper completion of the Distribution Requirement, and for observance of regulations, deadlines, etc. Students are responsible for seeking guidance from a responsible officer if they are in any doubt; misunderstanding, misapprehension or advice received from another student will not be accepted as cause for dispensation from any regulation, deadline, Program or Degree requirement.

1. The Council of the Faculty of Arts and Science reserves the right to change the content of, or to withdraw, any course. In such cases every effort is made to provide equivalent alternative instruction, but this cannot be guaranteed.
2. The Faculty reserves the right to limit the number of students in any course or any section of a course if the number wishing to take the course should exceed the resources available. Notwithstanding this, every effort is made to accommodate students in 100-series courses.

Definition of “Course”

In these two pages the word “course” is used in two senses:

1. In reference to a single course (such as “standing in a course” etc.) “course” refers equally to a full course or a half course.
2. In reference to a given number of courses (such as the requirement of obtaining standing in at least fifteen courses for a BA or BSc) “courses” refer to FULL courses OR the equivalent number in FULL AND HALF courses combined. To “pass a course” or “obtain standing in a course” normally means to obtain a mark of 50 or more in that course.

Key to Course Descriptions and Rules Governing Course Choice

Course descriptions, in alphabetical order by Department/College, are in Section V. For an explanation of terms and abbreviations used in these descriptions, including Prerequisites, Co-requisites, Exclusions, etc., see below. Students may choose from among these courses, subject to the following rules:

1. Students must satisfy the degree and program requirements and other regulations set out in the Calendar and its supplements.
2. Students must meet all prerequisite, co-requisite and exclusion requirements.
3. Students may take no more than six 100-series courses for degree credit.

Number of Courses Taken (“Course Load”)

Students may proceed towards the degree at a rate of their own choosing, except as provided below:

1. The recommended course load for full-time students in the Fall-Winter Sessions is no more than five courses.
2. The recommended course load during the Summer Session is a maximum of two courses.
3. Students “On Academic Probation” may take no more than five courses in the Fall-Winter Sessions except as provided under “students restricted to a reduced course load” (see 4. below).
4. Students restricted to a reduced course load on admission may not take more than 3.5 courses in the Fall-Winter Sessions and a maximum of 2.0 courses in the Summer Session. If these students wish to transfer to full-time studies, they may apply through their College Registrar after the session in which they pass at least 4 courses in the Faculty with a cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.50. (Transfer credits are not counted.)
5. Students should attempt to balance their course load between the Fall-Winter Sessions.
6. To calculate course loads, students should consult this Calendar together with the Timetable.
   • The letters “Y” or “H” in a course code in the Calendar indicate the credit value:
     Y = a full course, for which one credit is given, e.g., ANT 100Y1
     H = a half-course, for which one-half credit is given, e.g., HIS 332H1
7. In the Timetable a section code is associated with a course code to indicate when the course is offered:
   • F = first half of the Fall-Winter Sessions (Sept-Dec), or first half of the Summer Session (May-June), e.g., HIS 322H1 F
   • S = second half of the Fall-Winter Sessions (Jan-Apr), or second half of the Summer Session (July-Aug), e.g., HIS 322H1 S
   • Y = Fall and Winter sessions, or First and Second subsessions of the Summer Session, e.g., ANT 100Y1 Y
8. Students should note that courses designated as “...Y1 F” or “...Y1 S” in the Timetable are particularly demanding.
9. Full-time students (except those in 3. and 11.) may select a sixth course during the registration period.
10. Students are advised to use discretion in adding any more courses to their program than the number recommended in 1. and 2. Students will not receive special consideration of any kind on account of a course overload. Examination schedules may be affected by a course overload.
11. In the Fall-Winter Sessions, students may add additional courses, beyond six, through their College Registrar. In the Summer Session, students may add additional courses, beyond two, through their College Registrar. The Registrar, following Faculty guidelines, has the discretion to approve such requests.
12. Students are not allowed a sessional course overload until they have completed four full courses in the Faculty. This applies to First Year students and transfer students from other institutions.

“Credit” Courses, “Extra” Courses, and “Supplemental” Courses

Each course counts for credit towards a degree unless

1. the course is a 100-series course and the maximum of SIX 100-series courses allowable for degree credit has already been completed; it will then be designated as an “Extra”;
2. advance permission has been given by petition for a course to be taken as an “Extra” course. Completed courses may not be retroactively designated as “Extra”, nor will they be removed from the record.
3. more than the maximum number of courses allowed with the same designator have been passed. These “supplemental” courses will count in the grade point average, program and breadth requirements.

Course Designators

All courses are listed in the following pages under their respective program sponsor (the Department or College responsible for the course: for instance, “ANT” = Anthropology Department course, “INI” = Innis College course; see Table of Contents for complete listing.

Course Number

The course number generally indicates the level of difficulty, e.g., a 100-series course normally indicates an introductory course, a 400-series course is an intensive course at the senior level. In some departments several courses may have the same general title; in these cases, the numbers are listed together, separated by “/” which means “OR”; for instance, “ECO 350Y/351H/352H” = ECO 350Y OR ECO 351H OR ECO 352H, each one being a seminar on a selected subject.

“Y” and “H” Course Suffixes

The letters “Y” or “H” in a course code in the Calendar indicate the credit value:

• Y = a full course, for which one credit is given, e.g., ANT 100Y1
• H = a half-course, for which one-half credit is given, e.g., HIS 322 H1.

In the Timetable a section code is associated with a course code to indicate when the course is offered:

• F = first half of the Fall-Winter Sessions (Sept-Dec), or first half of the Summer Session (May-June), e.g., HIS 322H1 F
• S = second half of the Fall-Winter Sessions (Jan-Apr), or second half of the Summer Session (July-Aug), e.g., HIS 322H1 S
• Y = Fall and Winter sessions, or First and Second subsessions of the Summer Session, e.g., ANT 100Y1 Y

Types and Duration of Instruction

• “L” = Lectures
• “S”= Seminars
• “P”= Practical work in laboratories or studios
• “T”= Tutorials

In the Fall-Winter Sessions the normal period of instruction is 26 weeks; the Fall Session lasts 13 weeks, and the Winter Session lasts 13 weeks. The number preceding the instruction codes opposite the course number and title indicates the total number of hours of instruction given in the course. The number of hours listed is approximate only; the actual contact hours of a course, or of different sections of a course, may vary from the number indicated in the Calendar, due to the size of the class or section, and the use being made of the tutorial or practical components of the class. This variation is at the discretion of the “course sponsor” (the college or department sponsoring the course); any questions concerning the allotment of hours in a course should be addressed to the course sponsor.

Prerequisites, Co-requisites, etc.

Students are responsible for fulfilling prerequisites and co-requisites; students enroled in courses for which they do not have the published prerequisites may have their registration in those courses cancelled at any time without warning. Students must also observe exclusions. Failure to meet these requirements may result in academic difficulties. If students withdraw from a course they must also withdraw from any course for which it is a co-requisite unless the Department giving the latter course agrees to waive the co-requisite.

Explanation of Symbols:

• the comma (,) the semi-colon(;) the ampersand (&) and the plus sign (+) all mean “AND”. The solidus symbol (/) means “OR”.
• Exclusions: Students may not enrol in a course if that course lists as an exclusion a course they are currently taking or a a course they have already passed. If allowed by special permission to enrol in an excluded course, the second course taken will be listed as an “Extra” course. Students will be required to withdraw from the course if discovered during the session of enrolment and will be refused degree credit in the excluded course if discovered at any time in a subsequent session.
• Prerequisite: A course (or other qualification) required as preparation for entry to another course. If students consider that they have equivalent preparation, they may ask the Department concerned to waive the stated prerequisite.
  Co-requisite:A requirement to be undertaken concurrently with another course. The co-requisite will be waived if a student has previously obtained standing in it, or if the Department consents.
• Recommended Preparation: Background material or courses that may enhance a student’s understanding of a course.