Course Enrolment

In This Section:

 

Year of Study

A Faculty of Arts & Science student who has:

  • Completed fewer than 4.0 credits is in Year 1
  • Completed 4.0 to 8.5 credits is in Year 2
  • Completed 9.0 to 13.5 credits is in Year 3 
  • Completed 14.0 or more credits is in Year 4

 

Number of Courses Taken (“Course Load”)

Students may proceed towards the degree at a rate of their own choosing, within the following parameters:

  1. The recommended course load for full-time students who are in good standing in each of the Fall and Winter terms is no more than 2.5 credits; the maximum course load in each term is 3.0 credits. During the priority period of enrolment students’ maximum course load, included waitlisted courses, is 2.5 credits; once the priority period has ended, students may enrol in/waitlist for an additional 0.5 credit to the maximum of 3.0 credits. Special consideration will not be granted on the basis of enrolment in more than the recommended maximum.
  2. The maximum course load for students who are in good standing during the Summer Session is 1.0 credit per term.
  3. Students on Academic Probation may take no more than 2.5 credits in each of the Fall and Winter terms and no more than 1.0 credit in each of the Summer terms.
  4. Once students have completed 4.0 credits in the Faculty of Arts & Science, their College Registrar may consider a request for an exception to the above limits; the Rotman Commerce Program Office considers requests for an exception for Bachelor of Commerce students. The College Registrar or Rotman Commerce Program Office, following Faculty guidelines, has the discretion to approve or deny such requests. Special consideration will not be granted on the basis of, and final examination schedules may be affected by, a course overload.
  5. Students restricted to a reduced course load on admission may take no more than 1.5 credits in a Fall or Winter term unless approved by their College Registrar, and no more than 2.5 credits overall during the Fall/Winter Session. They may take a maximum of 1.0 credit in the Summer Session. Students restricted to part-time studies who wish to transfer to full-time studies should consult with their College Registrar. 
  6. To calculate course loads, students should consult this Calendar together with the Timetable. The codes “Y1” or “H1” in a course code in the Calendar indicate the credit value:

    Y1 = a full-credit course (1.0 credit), for which one credit is given (e.g., ANT100Y1)
    H1 = a half-credit course (0.5 credit), for which one half credit is given (e.g., HIS332H1)
     
  7. In the Timetable a section code is associated with a course code to indicate when the course is offered:

    F = “First Term;” the first term of the Fall/Winter Session (September – December) or the first term of the Summer Session (May-June)
    S = “Second Term;” the second term of the Fall/Winter Session (January – April) or the second term of the Summer Session (July – August)
    Y = full session; the entire Fall/Winter Session (September – April) or the entire Summer Session (May – August)
     
  8. Students should note that courses designated as “...Y1F” or “...Y1S” in the Timetable are particularly demanding.

 

Full-Time and Part-Time Status

Full-time Status

Part-time Status

 

Extra Courses

Extra courses appear on a student's academic record with a final course mark and are noted as "EXT". Extra courses do not count for degree credit and are not included in calculating a student's Grade Point Average. However, Extra courses may count in other respects, such as to satisfy program requirements or Breadth Requirements.

Each course with a mark of 50% or higher/P/CR counts for credit towards a degree unless:

  • the course has already been passed and is being repeated (see 1. below), or
  • the course lists as an exclusion another course that has already been completed (see 2. below)

1. Repeating Passed Courses

Students (both degree and non-degree) may not repeat any course in which they have already obtained credit (a mark of 50% or higher/P/CR) with two exceptions:

    i) When students need to achieve a minimum mark in a course for entry to a limited enrolment program or for meeting a prerequisite to take another course in their program, they may repeat such a course once. The second attempt at the course would normally be marked Extra, unless the mark obtained in the second attempt is higher, in which case the first attempt would be marked Extra to a maximum of 2.0 credits overall. If the second attempt must be marked Extra due to an exclusion, this status must remain (see Second Attempt for Credit, below). Extra courses do not contribute to grade point average calculations or to the overall number of degree credits.

    ii) Students may repeat up to 1.0 credit in courses which they have already obtained credit, for reasons other than to meet a minimum mark for entry to a limited enrolment program or for course prerequisite purposes. The repeated course will be designated Extra; extra courses do not contribute to grade point average calculations or to the overall number of degree credits. Students may not use this one-time-only allowance to subsequently repeat a passed course again after having repeated the same course for reasons noted in i) above, i.e., they may repeat a specific passed course only once.

Students requesting to repeat a course must do so at their College Registrar’s Office, where they will receive appropriate advising and will be enrolled in the course, provided there is space available, only after other degree students have had an opportunity to enrol.

Second Attempt for Credit

The second attempt at a previously passed course can be counted toward grade point average calculations and the overall number of degree credits, for up to a maximum of 2.0 credits overall. If, however, the second attempt would be marked Extra due to an exclusion, that Extra status must remain. The second attempt must be taken in September 2021 or later; this policy does not apply to courses taken as a second attempt prior to September 2021.

The second attempt at the course must have been undertaken for one of the following reasons (i, above):

  • achieving a minimum mark (whether set or variable) in a course for entry to a limited-enrolment program (Specialist, Major, Minor),
  • or meeting a prerequisite to take another course in their program (Specialist, Major, Minor)

The Second Attempt for Credit cannot be invoked for a second attempt at a previously passed course for reasons other than the two identified above; therefore it cannot be invoked for the 1.0 credit that may be repeated for other reasons (as describe in ii, above). This option also cannot be used to transfer an Extra status to a first attempt from a previous completed degree.

In the case where the mark in the second attempt is higher, the Extra designation will be added to the initial attempt to a maximum of 2.0 credits overall. Students do not need to submit a request to initiate this process. The initial attempt will therefore not be included in grade point average calculations or the overall number of degree credits. Academic standing from prior academic sessions will not be reassessed. Note, an initial attempt may include a direct-equivalent transfer credit.

The Extra designation will be applied to either the first attempt or the second attempt once the final mark in the second attempt of the course is posted. The Extra designation will only be applied to the first attempt to a maximum of 2.0 credits overall.

2. Exclusions

Students may not receive degree credit for a course that lists as an exclusion a course they are currently taking or a course they have already passed. If they enrol in such a course, they may be removed at any time during the enrolment period at the discretion of the department. If allowed to remain enrolled in an excluded course, the second course taken will be designated Extra.

 

Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR)

Degree students in the Faculty of Arts & Science may select up to 2.0 credits to be assessed on a Credit/ No Credit (CR/NCR) basis. This option is available for Arts & Science degree students taking courses offered by the Faculty of Arts & Science, the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design (Daniels), the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), or the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). Some courses may not be eligible for CR/NCR -- refer to the Academic Calendar of the relevant division. This option is not available to Arts & Science non-degree students.

Students taking a course on a CR/NCR basis will not be identified individually to the instructor teaching that course; they will be assessed in the same way as all other students in the course (will have the same assignments and tests and will be evaluated with the same expectations).

Deadline

Students can choose or remove this mode of assessment on ACORN no later than the last day of classes. Once the deadline has passed, students may not reverse this decision.

Eligibility for CR or NCR

To achieve a status of CR (Credit) in a course, a student must achieve a final mark of at least 50%. Courses with a final status of CR will count as degree credits but will have no effect on the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) calculation. They can also count toward the Breadth Requirements, but cannot normally be used to satisfy program completion requirements (Specialist, Major, Minor) or the 12.0 distinct credits between programs required for the degree. See the Calendar sections on Degree Requirements for details. 

A course with a final mark below 50% will be assessed as NCR (No Credit). Courses with a final status of NCR will not count as degree credits, and will also not be included in the GPA calculation.

Important Notes and Limitations of CR/NCR

The underlying mark of a course completed on a CR/NCR basis will not be released or reported in any way. However, the Faculty cannot determine how an external body may read or interpret the CR/NCR on a transcript. If a specific mark may be required in a course for professional or graduate school applications or for other reasons in the future, students should not choose the CR/NCR option. Students may wish to seek academic advising at their College Registrar's Office when considering the use of CR/NCR.

Students who transfer to the Faculty of Arts & Science from Daniels, UTM or UTSC will have all Daniels, UTM, and UTSC CR/NCR options (if any) included in their Arts & Science academic record. These CR/NCR options are counted towards the 2.0 credits maximum.

If a student has specified the CR/NCR option for a course in which an academic offence has been committed, the CR/NCR option will be revoked and the percentage mark will stand as the course mark.

Note to graduating students

The CR/NCR option is only open to degree students. Once students have graduated, they become non-degree students and they may not complete courses on a CR/NCR basis, even if they enrolled in the course before their graduation. For example, if a student is graduating in June and they select the CR/NCR option for a Summer course, or if a student is graduating in November and they select the CR/NCR option for a Fall or Winter course, the CR/NCR option will be removed upon graduation and a percentage mark will appear on the student’s record.

Courses that are not eligible to be taken as CR/NCR

The following courses are ineligible for CR/NCR: courses where an individual student works on independent study or individual research supervised by a professor; Research Opportunity Program (299s/ 399s)/ Research Excursions (398s); First-Year Foundations Seminars; First-Year Foundations Ones Program courses; Rotman Commerce (RSM) courses; field courses; courses evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis. Other approved exceptions will be noted in the course description in the Calendar.

 

Cancelling Courses or Registration

Cancelling Courses

Students who do not intend to complete a course or courses must cancel the course on ACORN before the final date to cancel courses without academic penalty (see Academic Dates and Deadlines). Students still enrolled in a course after the final date to cancel the course will receive a mark for that course (unless Late Withdrawal is requested). Not attending classes, ceasing to complete further course work, and/or not writing the examination do not constitute grounds for cancellation without academic penalty from a course after the cancellation deadline; the course remains on the record with the mark earned, including a zero for incomplete work.  

Students are not permitted to cancel or withdraw from a course in which an allegation of academic misconduct is pending from the time of the alleged offence until the final resolution of the allegation.

 

Late Withdrawal After the Drop Date (LWD)

The Faculty of Arts & Science has a mechanism to assist students, in conjunction with their College Registrars, to remedy situations, particularly in their early years at university, where personal or other circumstances mean they are irretrievably behind in a course. Students who have fallen behind with assignments or are not at all prepared to write exams in one or more of courses can contact their College Registrar’s Office to discuss a Late Withdrawal After the Drop Date (LWD) from the course.

Degree students in the Faculty of Arts & Science may request Late Withdrawal After the Drop Date (LWD) – to withdraw from a course without petition – from a total of 3.0 credits, provided such a request is made by the last day of classes in the relevant term. Non-degree students may also request LWD, provided they do not exceed the 3.0 credits maximum throughout their combined degree and non-degree studies.

Withdrawals approved under this procedure will be noted on the academic record by the course status LWD. This course status will have no effect on the Grade Point Average (GPA) or other elements of the academic record. 

Students seeking to avail themselves of this remedy will be expected to work with their College registrarial advisor to analyze what led to their situation, to discuss what steps they can take to prevent it from happening again, and to learn from their experiences. 

Students who transfer to the Faculty of Arts & Science from the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), or the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), or the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design (Daniels) will have all UTM/UTSC/Daniels LWD requests (if any) included in their Arts & Science academic record. These LWD requests are counted towards the 3.0 credits maximum.

Note that the option for Late Withdrawal is not available if an allegation of academic misconduct is under investigation. If LWD was previously granted in the course, it will be revoked and the percentage grade will stand as the course grade. 

Please note: Students who have not achieved final standing (a final passing mark/P/CR) in at least one course in the Faculty of Arts & Science who cancel their registration must re-apply for admission through the Ontario Universities Application Centre if they wish to return in the future. Late Withdrawal (LWD) does not constitute final standing in a course.

 

Prerequisites, Co-requisites, and Exclusions

Prerequisites and co-requisites are established by academic units to ensure that students enrolling in a course have the necessary academic preparation to be successful. Students are responsible for fulfilling prerequisites and co-requisites, and if they enroll in a course for which they do not have the published prerequisites or co-requisite, it is at the discretion of the academic unit to cancel their enrolment in the course at any time during the enrolment period. If students withdraw from a course, they must also withdraw from any course for which it is a co-requisite unless the academic unit offering the latter course agrees to waive the co-requisite.

An exclusion is a course that is deemed to have content that significantly overlaps with another course. Prerequisites, co-requisites, and exclusions will be listed below the course description.

Prerequisite

A course (or other qualification) required as preparation for enrolment in another course. Prerequisites must be completed in advance of enrolment in a course. If students consider that they have equivalent preparation, they may ask the academic unit to waive the stated prerequisite.

Co-requisite

A course to be undertaken concurrently with another course. If a student has previously passed the co-requisite course, the academic unit will waive the co-requisite. 

Recommended Preparation

Background material or courses that may enhance a student’s understanding of a course, but that are not required for enrolment in the course.

Exclusions

Students may not receive degree credit for a course that lists as an exclusion a course they are currently taking or a course they have already passed.  If they enrol in such a course, they may be removed at any time during the enrolment period at the discretion of the department. If allowed to remain enrolled in an excluded course, the second course taken will be designated Extra.

 

Taking Courses Outside the Faculty

Courses at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), and the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design (Daniels)

Students registered in the Faculty of Arts & Science may enrol in most courses offered by UTM, UTSC, and Daniels, provided that they meet the enrolment controls and prerequisites established by those divisions. While still considered an earned credit, any course from UTM/UTSC/Daniels taken in excess of 10.0 credits will not count toward the 20.0 credits required for a Faculty of Arts & Science degree; the course will be included in the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) calculation. These courses may also count towards Faculty of Arts & Science program requirements; students should check with the relevant academic unit before enrolling. Faculty of Arts & Science students enrolling in UTM, UTSC, and Daniels courses should also note that, although academic and course refund deadlines may be different for UTM/UTSC/Daniels students, as a Faculty of Arts & Science student they must adhere to all Faculty of Arts & Science deadlines (e.g. enrolment, cancellation, CR/NCR, refund, etc.), with the exception of the start and end of classes.

Non-degree students in the Faculty of Arts & Science may enrol in Arts & Science, UTM, UTSC, and Daniels courses, provided that they meet the enrolment controls and prerequisites established by those divisions.

Graduate Courses Sponsored by a Faculty of Arts & Science Academic Unit

In exceptional circumstances, undergraduate degree students in the Faculty of Arts & Science may be granted permission to count a graduate course sponsored by a Faculty of Arts & Science academic unit toward their undergraduate degree. Students are expected to have already exhausted all undergraduate courses available in the Faculty in the relevant subject area before requesting to enrol in a graduate course sponsored by a Faculty of Arts & Science academic unit. Note that not all Faculty of Arts & Science academic units will allow undergraduate enrolment in a graduate course, even in exceptional circumstances; others may require a minimum GPA and/or the instructor’s permission. Please contact the relevant Graduate Unit for details.

For degree requirement purposes, a graduate course will count as a 400-level course. Permission to count a graduate course toward a student’s program requirements is a separate matter and at the discretion of the relevant academic unit.

Courses of Other Divisions at the St. George Campus

Students should select their courses from those offered in the Faculty of Arts & Science. If, however, they identify a course(s) offered in a division, faculty or school of the University (other than the Faculty of Arts & Science, the University of Toronto Mississauga, the University of Toronto Scarborough, or the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, see above), including a graduate course sponsored by an academic unit outside of the Faculty of Arts & Science, that may be appropriate for inclusion in their program(s), they may request permission to enrol or remain enrolled  in the course for degree credit. A student will obtain permission from the division, faculty, or school offering the course, and obtain confirmation from the relevant undergraduate academic unit that the course may be used to fulfill the requirements of one of their programs.

Students should initiate the procedure well in advance of the beginning of classes, so that they may choose alternate courses if permission is not granted. If permission is granted, the academic unit that will count the course towards a program will arrange to enrol the student in the course (unless enrolment has already taken place.)

Non-degree students in the Faculty of Arts & Science may enrol only in Arts & Science, UTM, UTSC, and Daniels courses. They may not request permission from the Faculty to enrol in courses from other divisions.

Courses of Other Universities (Letters of Permission and Transfer Credit)

Degree students who have completed the first session (Fall/Winter or Summer) in the Faculty of Arts & Science with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 1.50 and are in good standing may be eligible for transfer credit for courses taken at another post-secondary institution. Students admitted with transfer credit may be limited in the number of post-admission and/or Letter of Permission transfer credits that they can use toward the 20.0 credits required for their degree, since students must complete at least 10.0 credits in the Faculty of Arts & Science toward their degree. Transfer credits received as a result of studies completed on an exchange program contribute toward this minimum 10.0 credit requirement. Review the Faculty of Arts & Science website to determine how many post-admission and/or Letter of Permission transfer credits can contribute toward the 20.0 credits required for your degree.

Prior to taking courses at a Canadian university, students are advised to request a Letter of Permission to confirm acceptability of those courses for transfer credit. For other universities, students may submit a request for transfer credit after completing courses elsewhere; note that there is no guarantee that transfer credit will be awarded. Permission obtained from an instructor or from an academic unit for program purposes does not obligate the Faculty to grant transfer credit. Assessments of transfer credit may take several weeks to process depending on the time of year and the nature of the request. Applicants are responsible for submitting requests well in advance of any deadlines they must meet and for obtaining advising as necessary concerning the Letter of Permission and Transfer Credit processes.

Note that only 1.0 credit in transfer credits at the 300+ level may be used to satisfy the degree requirement of a minimum of 6.0 credits at the 300+ level, except for 300+ level transfer credits received as a result of an exchange program. All 300+ level transfer credits received from studies completed on an exchange program can contribute toward the 300+ level degree requirement. Please refer to the Letters of Permission and Transfer Credit (Post-Admission) Guidelines on the Faculty of Arts & Science website.

Printer-friendly Version