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A
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| Academic level |
One of 1A, 1B, ... , 4A, or 4B. For some plans, advancement of level depends on the successful completion of the previous term whereas others depend on successful completion of a specified number of units. See Determination of Level and Term of Study in this Calendar for more details. |
| Academic plan |
A defined set of requirements that leads to a particular credential. |
| Academic program |
A defined set of requirements (honours or general, regular or co-operative) common to a particular degree. |
| Academic standing |
An academic indicator of your overall progress towards earning a degree.
Examples of positive standings are excellent, good, and satisfactory. Many other standings may be conditional, i.e., you need to pass the stated condition to remain in your program.
If you have concerns or questions regarding your standing, contact your advisor. Advisor contact information can be accessed through the academic advisors web page or find the corresponding department in the Department Telephone Directory.
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| Antirequisite |
A condition preventing enrolment in a course. The most common antirequisites are courses that have significant overlap. Degree credit will not be granted for both the antirequisite course and a course naming it as such. |
| Assignment |
Assessment that is intended to provide opportunities for students to implement or apply concepts, skills, and/or judgments taught in a course over an extended period of time usually outside of the class meeting times. |
| Audit |
If a student audits a course, the student is allowed to participate in the course without being examined on its content. The student must see the instructor at the beginning of a course to establish the conditions that will need to be satisfied to receive AUD for the course. A Course Override Form is also required. |
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| Certificate |
A defined set of requirements (which may include any combination of non-academic experiential components and academic courses), that allows a student to acquire skills or experience in a specific area.
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| Clinic (CLN) |
This is a primary meet where teaching is devoted to the analysis and treatment of cases in various special fields normally in a specially equipped clinic setting. There may be a high student/instructor ratio. The frequency of meetings can be as many as five per week for a total contact time of 45 hours. |
| Combined sections |
Two or more sections may be combined if class size permits. Classes will be taught as a single class with one instructor, one location, same time (e.g., AMATH 332/PMATH 332). Also referred to as held with. Choose from the section that is suited to you. |
| Corequisite |
A course that must be taken concurrently, if it has not been taken in a prior term. |
| Course |
A unit of study relating to a specific academic discipline and identified by a course/subject name and number. All course names have abbreviations (e.g., Psychology 101 is abbreviated to PSYCH 101). See the course abbreviations in the Undergraduate Course Description Index of this Calendar. |
| Course abbreviations |
A maximum of six letters is used to identify course subjects. See the course abbreviations in the Undergraduate Course Description Index of this Calendar. |
| Course catalog |
The listing of courses which includes the description, requisites, and special notes. |
| Course components |
A term used to refer to the various types of course meets.
Listed below are the available course components used in the Schedule of Classes. Click on the link beside the course component for the description.
CLN (clinic)
DIS (discussion)
ENS (ensemble)
ESS (essay)
FLD (field studies)
FLT (flight)
LAB (laboratory)
LEC (lecture)
OLN (online)
ORL (oral conversation)
PRA (practicum)
PRJ (project)
RDG (reading)
SEM (seminar)
STU (studio)
TLC (test slot - lecture)
TST (test slot)
TUT (tutorial)
WRK (work term)
WSP (workshop)
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| Course ID (number) |
The six-digit number identifying the course; leading zeros are ignored. |
| Course title |
The title of the course. When searching for courses in Quest, you may specify the course title or the course title keyword in the description field. |
| Course value |
See unit |
| Course Selection Period |
The process of making course requests for a future term using Quest and completed in a block of time (approximately one week in length) before the Drop/Add Period begins for that future term. Visit the Course Selection Offerings list for undergraduate students to view the available future term courses. |
| Credential |
An earned degree, major, specialization, minor, option, diploma, or certificate appearing on a student's transcript. |
| Credit |
See unit |
| Cross-listed courses |
Courses which are listed under two academic units and which can be taken for credit from either academic unit, but not both. |
| Cross-registration |
An arrangement between the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University which enables students of either university to take courses at the other institution; the purpose is to provide access to courses which are not offered at a student's home institution. Tuition and related fees, including fees for cross-registered courses, are payable at Waterloo. Students are responsible for additional costs to Laurier specific to course(s), such as costs for online courses. See Cross-Registration with Wilfrid Laurier University in this Calendar for more information. |
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| Degree |
A qualification awarded to a student by the post-secondary educational institution. Types of degrees available: Bachelor's/Baccalaureate, Professional Doctoral, Master's/Magisteriate, Doctoral.
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| Diploma |
A defined set of academic courses that allows a student to acquire skills or knowledge in a specific area.
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| Discussion (DIS) |
Teaching is based primarily on engaging the students in instructor-guided group discussions. The student/instructor ratio is similar to a seminar. The course is usually held in a smaller teaching or seminar room to facilitate more group involvement. Usually there is one meeting per week for a total contact time of one to three hours. |
Drop/Add Period
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This period begins with enrolment appointments. Afterwards, enrolment is open to all students during this period. |
| E |
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| Elective |
A course not specifically required for a degree but counting towards it, to be chosen freely by the student either from within a specified group of courses or more broadly from courses offered anywhere across the University of Waterloo. |
| Ensemble (ENS) |
A primary meet where instruction is conducted by means of evaluating musical performance amongst a group of supporting players. Usually these meets are held in a specially equipped room with one to two meetings per week for a total contact time of three to four hours. |
Entry program
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An admission point of entry. Students may apply directly into an academic program from which they will graduate, or they may apply into an academic program where they will be required to select a major.
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| Essay (ESS) |
A primary meet where evaluation is normally based on a formal written piece of work that contains a thesis, substantiated by an argument that is properly referenced. Students work independently in consultation with an instructor. Contact is usually three hours per week. |
| Examination |
Test that is scheduled during the University's Final Examination Period. |
| F |
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| Fee arrangement |
The process of paying tuition, housing, and other applicable fees to the University of Waterloo for a specified four-month term. If a student anticipates that these fees, or a portion thereof, will be covered through an approved source of financial aid, the student must provide proof of this amount, along with a signed Promissory Note (and payment of the balance, if applicable) by the deadline indicated for that term. Detailed information and forms are available through the Student Financial Services website. |
| Field studies (FLD) |
A primary meet where teaching is conducted outside the classroom. Work is with the primary materials in their original setting. Meetings are usually one to three per week for a total contact time of one to three hours. |
| Flight (FLT) |
The flight component is held off campus at the Region of Waterloo International Airport. The practical application of flight material learned in the primary meet section. Student to instructor ratio is very low. Flights are usually two to four times per week for a total contact time of three to six hours. |
| Full-time student |
A student is considered a full-time student when their course load reaches or exceeds 1.5 units in a four-month term. Full-time students are assessed applicable co-operative and incidental fees if their on-campus course load reaches or exceeds 1.5 units in a four-month term. Note: Students need to be aware that fewer than 1.5 on-campus credits will generate only part-time incidentals and may require students to self-enrol in supplementary health and dental coverage and other student services. |
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| GPA (grade point average) |
Your GPA in Quest is a direct calculation of your unit-weighted average using your numeric grades and the weight/value of each grade in units. |
| Grading options |
Numeric grading basis:
All faculties use numeric grades on a scale from 0 to 100. Any grade between 0 and 32 is treated as having a value of 32 when averages for promotions and awards are calculated.
Non-graded component:
For class components that are not graded or for classes where the grade is included in the primary component, e.g., a quiz may be written during a tutorial (TUT) session but the grade is included in the lecture component.
See non-numeric grades/grade status, transcript legend for details of grades other than 0-100. |
| Grading system |
See grades for current grading system.
See the transcript legend for the conversion scale for courses taken from fall 1971 to spring 2001 and the key to grades for courses taken prior to fall 1971.
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| H |
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| Held with |
Two or more sections may be combined if class size permits. Classes will be taught as a single class with one instructor, one location, same time, e.g., AMATH 332/PMATH 332. Also see combined sections. Choose from the section that is suited to you. |
| Honours |
A term sometimes used to refer to a recognition of excellence that you have received. If you graduate with honours such as the "Dean's Honours," you will have this notation appear on official University transcripts and diplomas.
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| Laboratory (LAB) |
Teaching takes place in a room containing special purpose equipment required for student observation, participation, experimentation, or practice. Usually, but not always, a LAB is attached to a regular Lecture (LEC), and frequently the instructors for both lecture and lab are the same. There may be a high student/instructor ratio. Normally there are one to three meetings per week for a total contact time of one to three hours. |
| Lecture (LEC) |
Teaching normally takes place in a classroom setting. Instruction is usually in the form of a series of lectures that meet one to four times per week for a total contact time of two to four hours. Typically, there is a large student/instructor ratio. The total class size should be normally more than three students; therefore, when a lecture section is combined with another lecture section (undergraduate or graduate), enrolment may be limited to less than three students in either one of the class sections. |
| Letter of Permission |
A document permitting a student to take specified courses at another university to be considered for credit toward a particular University of Waterloo degree. |
| M |
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| Major |
An academic plan that is the primary area of study in a student's baccalaureate degree.
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| Milestones |
See non-course milestones |
| Minor |
An academic plan that is a secondary area of study and that provides breadth to a student's baccalaureate degree. Minors offered by faculties are normally available to all students.
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| New Waterloo students |
New students enrolled in their first term of study at the University of Waterloo. This includes transfer students from another university enrolled in their first term of study at the University of Waterloo. This does not include Waterloo students transferring from one faculty to another faculty at Waterloo. |
| Non-course milestones |
Milestones are required components that must be passed to satisfy degree requirements or be promoted to the next academic level. |
| Non-graded standings |
See non-numeric grades/grade status, transcript legend |
| Non-numeric grades |
The list of acronyms on the transcript legend may be assigned to your grade for a course on your transcript instead of a percentage value. See Grades for a list of non-numeric grades and their definitions. See the transcript legend for grades prior to 2001 and a key to grades prior to fall 1971. |
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| Official transcript |
A record of your courses, grades earned, units obtained towards degree, and more. If graduate schools or employers require your transcript, an official transcript is usually ordered through The Centre. |
| Option |
An academic plan that provides depth to a student's baccalaureate degree and typically requires fewer courses than a minor. Options are only available to students within their home faculty.
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| Oral conversation (ORL) |
Teaching is based primarily on engaging the students in instructor-guided group discussions and verbal interaction, usually in a language other than English. The student/instructor ratio is similar to a seminar. The course is usually held in a smaller teaching or seminar room to facilitate more group involvement. Usually there is one meeting per week for a total contact time of one hour. |
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| Part-time student |
A student is considered a part-time student when their course load is less than 1.5 units in a four-month term. |
| Plan |
See academic plan |
| Practicum (PRA) |
Supervised placement time in a work setting exercising practical routines and techniques related to a particular academic plan. This is a secondary or tertiary meet where research and analytical skills are demonstrated based on the practical application of material learned in the primary meet. Usually a formal report summarizing the skills learned is required. Facility requirements will vary by discipline. In some disciplines the course may need a specially equipped room and may meet off campus. Meetings are usually one to three per week for a total contact time of three to 10 hours. |
| Prerequisite |
The requirement(s) that must be met in order to be eligible to enrol in a course. Prerequisites may include passed courses, registration in a specific program or plan, and an academic level or academic standing. |
| Program |
See academic program |
| Project (PRJ) |
Similar to the reading component, learning usually takes place as a result of independent study/research. However, in this case it makes use of special purpose equipment for student observation, participation, experimentation, or practice. This component is used at the undergraduate level only. There is usually a smaller student/instructor ratio. |
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| Quest |
The University of Waterloo's student information system. |
| R |
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| Reading (RDG) |
Learning takes place as a result of student independent study under the supervision of an instructor. Normally there is a one to one student/instructor ratio, although, there may be several students studying the same topic with the same instructor. Typically, there is no defined time/room booking and usually the student(s) meet with the instructor on an informal basis. |
| Requirement designations |
Detailed information is available on the transcript legend. |
| Returning Waterloo Students |
Returning Waterloo students who have completed at least one term of study at the University of Waterloo and are enrolled in a subsequent term. This includes Waterloo students transferring from one faculty to another faculty at Waterloo. |
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| Schedule of Classes |
The online list of classes offered for a particular term, with details such as times, locations, and instructors.
See Schedule of Classes for Undergraduate Students.
See Understanding the Schedule of Classes for definitions. |
| Seminar (SEM) |
Teaching normally takes place in a less formal teaching atmosphere than a lecture. There is typically a smaller student/instructor ratio than with a lecture. The course is usually held in a smaller teaching or seminar room to facilitate more group interaction than occurs in a lecture course. Usually there is one meeting per week for a total contact time of one to three hours. |
| Session |
A term is normally divided into two (2) sessions: one for regular on-campus courses, the other for online course offerings. In the fall and winter terms, both sessions are around 13 weeks long. During the spring term, there may be other sessions, such as "First Three Weeks" (of July), "Second Three Weeks" (the following three weeks), and "Summer Session" (all six weeks together). |
| Specialization |
An academic plan that offers an area of concentration and provides depth to a student's primary area of study. Specializations are only available to students within their primary area of study.
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| Studio (STU) |
This is a primary meet where teaching consists of instructor coaching focused on practical skills execution, normally in a room with special purpose equipment, such as, audio visual recording equipment, theatre technical equipment, etc. There are strict limit capacities on enrolment. Meetings are at least two times per week for a total contact time of four or more hours. |
| Subject |
The subject is the area of study. See the course abbreviations list. |
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| Term |
A term is a particular four-month period within which sessions are defined and fees are arranged. It is also used with reference to work terms for students in the co-operative system of study. An academic year is usually two academic terms if you are in the regular system of study in which full-time students take five courses per term.
- Fall term: may show as fall or F; runs from September to December
- Winter term: may show as winter or W; runs from January to April
- Spring term: may show as spring or S; runs from May to August
The breakdown of the four-digit number for terms is as follows:
- 1215 represents the spring (May) 2021 term.
- The first digit is the century; that is, "1" means the 21st century.
- The middle 2 digits represent the year; that is, "21" represents the year 2021.
- The last digit represents the first month of the term; that is, "5" represents May.
For example, if you wish to find the fall 2020 term, the first digit should be "1" since 2020 is in the 21st century. The next two digits should be the "20" in 2020. The last digit should be "9" since the fall term begins in September. Therefore, winter 2021 is represented by 1211 and spring 2021 is represented by 1215. |
| Test |
Assessment of knowledge, skills, and/or judgment in a controlled environment. |
| Test slot (TST) |
Used only to designate a time slot for holding mid-term exams. Tests are conducted in lecture-type seating equipped with tables and chairs. Tests for a course are usually held once or twice per term for a period of two to three hours each time. A specific calendar date for each test slot must be included with each TST component section. |
| Test slot - lecture (TLC) |
This component is used in situations where the course has multiple lecture sections and reserve caps and the department does not care how many reserved students go into each section, but they want an overall number of reserved students in the entire course. This means that the course is setup with one TLC primary component and LEC (lecture) is the secondary component. |
| Transcript |
See unofficial transcript or official transcript |
| Tutorial (TUT) |
Often optional, a tutorial is a meeting designed to provide the student with additional information and assistance with the course material that is presented in the primary meet. The format is typically in the form of an open discussion or problem solving session. There may be a high student/instructor ratio. Lecture or seminar type seating may be utilized. Usually there is one meeting per week for a total contact time of one to three hours. |
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| Undergraduate (UG) |
As in "undergraduate students" or "undergraduate studies" refers to students who are pursuing a bachelor's/baccalaureate degree. |
| Unit |
The credit value associated with a course. Unit weights are used in the calculation of averages for academic standing. Most courses have unit weights of 0.5 and are of one-term duration. Some courses have other weights such as 0.25, 1.0, and 2.0. |
| Unofficial transcript |
A record of your courses, grades earned, units obtained towards your degree, and more. Unofficial transcripts are for viewing purposes only and can be obtained through University of Waterloo's online student information system: Quest. If graduate schools or employers require your transcript, they usually need an official transcript. |
| UW, UWaterloo |
University of Waterloo |
| W |
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| Work term (WRK) |
This is a primary meet component that is only used on a co-operative education course to represent an official work-term placement. |
| Workshop (WSP) |
This is a primary meet where teaching includes intensive instructor/student contact as well as independent project work. It may be held in a theatre, studio, or a specially equipped room. Projects may include such topics as audio-visual recording, theatrical scenic painting, puppet construction, costume construction. There are strict limit capacities on enrolment. The duration of a workshop is four hours or more at least twice per week. |