丁香园AV

The following are the most commonly used terms that new students may find confusing.

Students

丁香园AV does not classify students as either full time or part time although there are varying course load requirements for many types of financial aid.

Continuing Students

Students who enrolled for one or more of the last three terms and who are eligible to continue will be advised of enrolment procedures and deadlines well in advance of each term.

Former Students

Under certain conditions, former students submit formal application for readmission in order to continue academic studies at the University (see Reactivation and Readmission).

New Students

After the application for admission has been assessed, the applicant will be advised of admission. If admitted, the student receives instruction on the procedure to enrol in courses.

Qualifying Student

Applies to students enrolling in graduate studies. See 1.3.6 丁香园AV as a Qualifying Student.

Regular Student

A regular student is one proceeding to a degree, diploma or certificate in any faculty. A regular student may already hold one or more bachelor鈥檚 degrees.

Special Audit Student

Students who do not apply for University admission under the general admission regulations but who wish to audit credit courses may be given entry as special audit students. Special application procedures apply; see .

Special Student

A student already holding a first degree may, as a special student, enrol in undergraduate courses only. Credit for these courses may not be applied toward completion of any certificate, diploma, undergraduate or graduate credential at 丁香园AV.

Visiting and Exchange Students

A visiting student is a bona fide student of another accredited institution who is permitted to complete credit courses only toward a degree, certificate or diploma at the home institution. Applicants who wish to become visiting students must meet all admission requirements and must submit a letter of permission from the home institution鈥檚 registrar. A visiting student wishing to become a regular 丁香园AV student must reapply and meet admission requirements in effect at that time.

Academic Year

Term

The calendar year is divided into three academic terms (formerly called semesters) of 16 weeks each. Each term has its own enrolment and final examinations. All academic courses are one term long, or a shorter session such as intersession or summer session. Students may enter at the beginning of any term and attend one, two or three terms in a year. By attending continuously, a student who entered from BC high school grade 12 (or equivalent) in the fall 2009 term could graduate with a bachelor鈥檚 degree at the end of the spring 2012 term. The following illustrates an academic year.

• fall term: September 鈥� December
• spring term: January 鈥� April
• summer term: May 鈥� August
• intersession: May 鈥� June
• summer session: July 鈥� August

To increase the accessibility of the summer program (May-August) to teachers and others, the summer term is enriched by two, two-month sessions called intersession (May-June) and summer session (July-August). These programs are offered in addition to the regular four month summer term.

Term Codes

The University鈥檚 student information system uses numeric codes for terms. Students will often encounter these codes when using , the on-line student services portal. Here are the term codes for the upcoming year:

• 1127 = fall 2012
• 1131 = spring 2013
• 1134 = summer 2013

The codes can be interpreted as follows:

• 1 represents the 21st century
• 12 = year (e.g. 2012)
  
• the final digit is the term: 1 for spring, 4 for summer and 7 for fall.

Levels

Undergraduates in Canada are traditionally classified as first year (freshman), second year (sophomore), third year (junior), or fourth year (senior) students. Since 鈥榶ear鈥� does not apply to the trimester system, the student鈥檚 progression is expressed in levels. 鈥楲evel鈥� refers to the status of a student鈥檚 program. Each level normally equals one term鈥檚 work with a full course load; a typical four year bachelor鈥檚 degree program consists of eight levels. The first four (i.e., the first 60 units) are lower divisions. Levels 5 and above are upper divisions. The term 鈥榣evel鈥� is not used for graduate programs. Usually students in levels 1 and 2 complete 100 series courses; those in levels 3 and 4 complete 200 series courses; those beyond level 4 complete 300 and 400 series courses.

Courses

Subject

A subject (or 鈥榙iscipline鈥�) is a body of knowledge with arbitrary boundary lines, e.g. philosophy, chemistry or psychology. For convenience, professors of a subject are usually grouped together in a department.

Prerequisite

A prerequisite, also called a requisite, is a requirement needed to enrol in a course.

Corequisite

A corequisite is a course to be completed at the same time as another course.

Division

Division relates to undergraduate courses: those numbered 001 to 299 inclusive are lower division courses; those numbered 300 to 499 are upper division courses. Graduate courses are numbered in the 500 to 999 series. In certain instances, upper division courses may be completed in the lower levels and lower division courses in the upper levels. Refer to specific regulations pertaining to requirements for degrees, certificates or diplomas.

Course Numbering

Each subject is divided into courses usually offered in term length units. Each course is identified by a subject name followed by a course number, the number of units, and course title, e.g. ENGL 103-3 Introduction to Drama. The first course number digit represents the division of the course; the fourth digit indicates the units. For example, ENGL 103-3 is a first division course offering three units.

Lectures, Tutorials and Laboratories

Although there are variations among departments, instruction in lower division courses combines a large lecture section with small tutorial groups. The large lecture enables as many students as possible to hear the very best teachers. The small tutorial groups provide more personal instruction and an opportunity for discussion of readings and lecture material. A typical course consists of two lectures and one tutorial a week. Notable exceptions are the sciences and languages, where a laboratory may be involved.

Credit Courses

These courses carry units and count toward the total required for a degree, certificate or diploma, subject to the regulations governing the credential.

Credit Hours

See 鈥淯nits鈥� below.

Units

Units, formerly known as credits, are assigned to each course; most have three units. A normal course load for full attendance in a term is 15 units. Requirements for credentials (e.g., degrees, diplomas and certificates) are partially expressed as units.
The unit weight is shown for each course as follows.
subject: Mathematics (MATH)
course number: 232

units: 3

Credit-Free Courses

These courses carry no credit and do not count toward a degree, certificate or diploma. At times, they are termed 鈥榥on-credit courses.鈥�

Additive Credit

In courses deemed to have additive credit, the units do not count towards the total units required for a degree. Co-operative Education practicum courses typically have additive credit.

Distance Education Courses

Many courses are available as distance education courses. The majority of these are print-based. Some may also have audio and/or video support. Increasingly, educational technologies (e.g. computer conferencing) are being incorporated as courses are developed and revised. The program parallels the campus term system of the University, with the same 16 week period for course completion. For more information, see Centre for Online and Distance Education.

Obligation to Declare Majors, Minors or Other Areas of Specialization

Students are expected to obtain formal approval to enter an area of specialization by the time they have earned 60 units. 鈥楽pecialization鈥� is a term used to cover programs such as majors, minors, double majors, honours, extended minors, etc. 鈥楧epartment鈥� refers to the faculty, department, school or unit responsible for a program. There are some other programs (e.g., post baccalaureate diplomas, certificates) which may have additional instruction regarding procedure since the students in these programs fall outside the usual flow of units.

Undeclared

This category will be used for any student who, prior to the successful completion of the 61st unit, has not recorded an intended specialization. Academic advising for undeclared students is available from Academic Advising and Student Success.

Approved

This category identifies the specialization of a student who is formally approved by the department or signing authority for that specialization and may be granted at the department鈥檚 discretion or signing authority. This must be done by the 61st unit. Advising for approved students is the responsibility of the department offering the approved specialization(s).

Course Loads

The following maximum course loads apply to all students, but certain students may be granted permission by their respective faculties to enrol in course overloads (see below).

Regular Session

The maximum course load for all students who are not enrolled for summer session courses only, or intersession courses only and who are not entering their graduating term is as follows:

• Applied Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Business Administration or Science 鈥� 18 units
• Communication, Art and Technology 鈥� 18 units
• Education 鈥� 20 units
• Engineering Science 鈥� 22 units (permission of the director is required for course loads below 12 units).
• Environment 鈥� 18 units
• Health Science 鈥� 18 units

Intersession or Summer Session Only

Students enrolling for the intersession or summer session only may not enrol in programs having a total value in excess of nine units, except where course combinations may require enrolment in a program of 10 units; however, no student will be permitted to undertake a program of more than 10 units of work.

Summer Term, Intersession, Summer Session Combinations

Normal course load limits apply to students who enrol in combinations of the above. For course load values only, in the regular summer term the course load value corresponds to the course鈥檚 units. In the intersession or summer session, the course load value is twice the units because, in the shorter session, classes must meet twice as often or for longer periods to equal the regular term. Therefore, when calculating course load value, note the following example. This does not apply to the regulations for assessment of financial aid and awards.