Frequently Asked Questions - Undergraduates

A minor is a group of eight courses from a discipline other than your major. A specialization is a group of four courses within your major that concentrate in a certain area. If you want to customize your degree to gain strengths in certain areas within English, you should consider a specialization. If you have a strong interest in a discipline outside of English, you should consider adding a Minor.

Generally, you can double-count courses towards two different requirements, but you can’t triple-count. For example, two of your English courses can be double-counted to meet the Humanities Breadth requirement, but you can’t count those same courses towards a third requirement (such as a Specialization). You can also double count an ENGL Major requirement towards an ENGL Specialization. ENGL courses that are cross-listed with other Departments can also be double-counted towards English requirements and Arts Breadth or Minor requirements. For example, ENGL 362 is cross-listed with THPERF, so it can count towards both a Literature and Fine Arts Breadth requirement. ENGL 403 is cross-listed with DAC and can count towards an ENGL requirement and the DAC Minor.

You can’t double-count one ENGL course for two ENGL Major requirements. For example, you can count ENGL 485 towards the Romantic to Modern requirement OR the Special Topics requirement, but not both.

Check This Year’s Courses to see what is offered for the upcoming academic year. Try to complete required courses first, so that you don’t get stuck unable to meet a requirement in your last term. Have a few plan B courses in mind in case you are unable to get into your first choice of courses.

You should have a degree audit done by your academic advisor to make sure you are on track for completing your degree requirements. Early in your 4B term, you should apply to graduate.

Sometimes dropping a course is the best choice, especially if you are falling behind and don’t think you can catch up. But there are a few factors that you should keep in mind: will dropping affect your status as a full-time student (you need to be in at least three courses to be considered full-time). Are you on OSAP? Has the WD deadline passed? Reach out to your Academic Advisor for guidance.

Course selection is when you get the chance to choose your courses for a later term. This means you don't have to wait until open enrollment starts, and you still have the option of changing your mind once enrollment opens. The scheduling system will try to create conflict free schedules depending on what students choose during course selection.

Course enrollment is when you can change your selection choices or enroll in courses if you haven't already. You will need to check that courses don't clash with one another and some courses may already be full.

The page This Year’s Courses lists all courses scheduled for the upcoming academic year. This list is subject to change, but is a great tool for planning ahead.

100-level courses are usually taken by first-year students, or students from Majors other than English. 200-level courses are introductory-level courses. 300-400 level courses are taught at an advanced level. The majority of 300-400 level courses have a pre-requisite of 2A. It is not necessary to wait until your fourth year to take 400-level courses and 400 level courses are not necessarily harder than 300-level.

Any student can request a course override when a course they want to enroll in is full or they don’t meet the pre-requisites. To request an override, add your name to the Course Waiting List. Spots in high-demand courses will be offered on a first come, first-served basis. In most cases, course caps will not be overridden, so you will only be offered a spot when and if a spot becomes open and if you are next in the waitlist queue. Requests to override pre-requisites will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

If the course is ENGL 109 or ENGL 210F, I'm sorry to tell you that we cannot override the course limit for these courses. You can add yourself to the waitlist queue by adding your name to the Course Waiting List. If you require this course for an ELPE recovery, please check with your advisor which other courses may fulfill the requirement.

If the course ends with "R", you can sign up to the waiting list by filling out the form on the Renison University College website.

If the course location is listed as STJ, please contact the instructor directly.

For main campus (UW) or online courses, please use the Course Waiting List.

If you have further questions regarding a full course, please contact Jenny Conroy.

The reserves are monitored regularly and if seats in courses are not taken by students who fulfill the reserve requirement, we are able to offer the spots to students who do not meet the requirements. Please add yourself to our Course Waiting List and if we are able to override the reserve for you, you will be contacted by email.

In most cases we are unable to override pre-requisite requirements. The requirements are there to ensure you have the knowledge necessary for the course. Please contact Jenny Conroy in the Undergraduate Office for further information.

“Conditional” standing means that your GPA has fallen below the minimum threshold for your plan and you have to raise it. After three consecutive terms of conditional standing, you may be required to move to a different plan or, in rare cases, withdraw from the University. You are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with your Advisor to discuss possible next steps for success. This can mean a lighter course load, counselling, coaching from the Student Success Office, or even taking some time off.