What is the difference between course selection period and drop/add period?
What is the difference between course selection period and drop/add period?
The course selection period is early in a term and is for requesting a course(s) you would like to be enrolled in, but no enrolment takes place at this time. The information from this period is used to create schedules for the next term. The drop/add period comes later, after schedules are created for the next term, and you can directly enrol in a course if eligible.
Check the important dates for exact dates.
Course Selection
Course selection begins the first month of a term for the following term, i.e. select courses in September for the winter term. During course selection, you can pick the courses you would like to be enrolled in for the upcoming term. This allows the University to assess course demand and make provisions for high-demand courses. This results in reduced scheduling conflicts and fewer students being excluded from classes. While course selection period does not guarantee that you will get all your desired courses, it does help to ensure as few conflicts as possible.
Next term schedule
Schedules will be published approximately 2 months before the start of term, i.e. sometime in November for the winter term.
You can log into Quest to view your timetable and see if you were enrolled in the course(s) requested. You will be enrolled in your required courses first, and if your selected elective(s) would create a time conflict, or fills up before the system processes your request, you will not be enrolled in your requested course.
If you do not get into your requested course, missed requesting one, or want to change it for a different course, you still have lots of time during the drop/add period to add/change it.
Drop/add period
The drop/add period begins the week after schedules are published. There are two days when you have an assigned appointment time, which you can look up in Quest. After that, no appointment is needed and it is open to all active students. Read more about registering for courses as well as courses and exams.
Undergraduate Class Registration
- Incoming 1A students will be enrolled in all their courses and do not select any courses.
- You only need to select a course if you have transfer credits or are repeating the term and exempt from repeating a course.
- Stream 4 students currently enrolled in 1A, or stream 8 students that passed 1A and are currently on co-op, will automatically be registered for their 1B core courses.
- Students who must choose an elective for 1B can select one during course selection, or wait until drop/add to add one.
- When picking an elective to enrol in:
- View course descriptions in the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar.
- Check class time and seat availability on Schedule of Classes.
- Talk to an academic advisor if you have any questions.
What course should I choose?
You should select a course from one of the Complementary Studies Elective List that interests you.
What is the Complementary Studies Course Requirement?
A current complementary studies course list is maintained as courses are approved at committee levels. Program specific information is also available in the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar. To summarize, the Complementary Studies component of the student's program must satisfy the following:
- At least one course must be taken that deals with the Impact of Technology on Society. Courses which satisfy this requirement appear in List A-Impact Courses.
- At least one course must be taken in Engineering Economics. Courses which satisfy this requirement appear in List B-Engineering Economics Courses. These are all scheduled or built into each program, and there is no need to select one.
- The majority of majors require 1-2 courses that deal with the central issues, methodologies, and thought processes of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Courses that satisfy this requirement appear in List C-Humanities and Social Sciences Courses.
- A minimum number of courses must be taken as required by a plan (e.g., Geological Engineering). The exact requirements vary according to program; for details, see individual program regulations. Courses which appear in Lists A, C, and D may be used to meet these requirements.
- Provision must be made to develop the student's ability to communicate adequately both orally and in writing. The exact manner in which this requirement is satisfied varies according to plan (e.g., Computer Engineering); for details, see individual plan regulations.
Options in Engineering
Use this resource if you are interested in obtaining information on the various available options in Engineering and their requirements. Students should wait until at least 2A, when they have a better idea of workload expectations, before looking to add an option.