Extra Course during an Academic Term
Degree requirements can be satisfied without taking any extra courses. You may want to take extra courses during an academic term or during a work term to clear failures, take required option or minor courses, or to take a course out of interest. The following guidelines apply when enrolling in extra courses during an academic term:
- You must have a 75% overall average* in order to take an extra course during a regular academic term
- Taking an extra does not mean that you can reduce your core course load during another regular academic term, although you may wish to use it to reduce your elective course load in a future term.
- You are not charged extra for an extra course during a regular academic term - it is part of your tuition
- You cannot register on Quest to take an extra course. A Course Override Form must be completed and submitted to the Undergraduate Coordinator. If any instructor overrides are required they must be obtained prior to submitting the form.
- The extra course must be coded so that it doesn't count in your average.
*Exceptions may be considered depending on the circumstances - contact the undergraduate coordinator for more information
Extra Course during a Work Term
You may want to take extra courses during a work term to clear failures, take required option or minor courses, or to take a course out of interest. If you wish to take an extra course during your work term, and are not in the area, you could either take an online course from UW or take a course at another University. To take a course at another University a Letter of Permission Form must be completed and submitted to the Undergraduate Coordinator. Ensure to include the detailed course outline of the course you wish to be enrolled in so that the Associate Undergraduate Chair can assign an equivalent UW course. The following guidelines apply when enrolling in extra courses during a work term:
- You must have a 75% overall average* in order to take an extra course during a work term
- Taking an extra does not mean that you can reduce your core course load during another regular academic term, although you may wish to use it to reduce your elective course load in a future term.
- You will be charged for an extra course taking during a work term
- You cannot register on Quest to take a course during your work term. A Course Override Form must be completed and submitted to the Undergraduate Coordinator. If any instructor overrides are required they must be obtained prior to submitting the form.
- The extra course must be coded so that it doesn't count in your average
Note: Your first priority is to your job. Remember that you are representing the University of Waterloo on your work term and proper consideration should be given if you are deciding to take a course. If it is through the day, you should check with your employer first to be sure that it is ok. If it is distance ed or in the evening, there are usually no direct conflicts.
*Exceptions may be considered depending on the circumstances - contact the undergraduate coordinator for more information
Coding Extra Courses
If you are taking courses above the required number of courses for an academic term or during a work term you must designate them appropriately. The extra course must be coded so that it doesn't count in your average.
There are two designations:
- DRNA: Degree Requirement, Not in Average will be used for courses that will count towards your degree e.g. complementary or technical elective; course taken to clear a failure; course taken for an option
- NRNA: Not a Degree Requirement, Not in Average will be used for courses that you are taking for interest
NOTE: Coding must be assigned one month before the examination period starts. If a student hasn't assigned a course to be coded before this date, the department will use their policy to assign a course to be coded out.