Frequently asked questions

Course enrolment is the process of making course requests for a future term using Quest, completed in a block of time (approximately one week in length) before open class enrolment begins for that future term. Faculties will make teaching plans using this course demand data. Visit the course selection offerings list for undergraduate students to view the available future term courses.

Remember to:

1. Refer to your Undergraduate Calendar (Health Sciences or Public Health) or your individual course sequence to determine required and/or restricted elective courses for the specific term.
2. Check the course descriptions to ensure you meet the prerequisites for the course.
3. Check the Schedule of Classes to ensure you meet the reserves for the course.
4. Set the appropriate priority level to each course selected.
5. Submit a SPHS Department Consent Form for courses that requires department consent.

If you are unable to enrol in a course using Quest, there are a few things you should consider.

• Do you have the necessary pre-requisites? Check course descriptions.
• Is the class full? Check the Schedule of Classes.
• Are there reserves (seats held for specific groups of students)? Check the Schedule of Classes.
• Do you have a “Hold” on your Quest account?
• Are you scheduled for an academic term or co-op term?
• Did you set the appropriate priority level for the course(s)?

In some conditions, you may contact the instructor after the first week of add/drop period to request permission to enrol. If they approve, you need to complete a Course Override Form for the instructor to sign and send to the Registrar's Office for processing.

Note: If the instructor does not agree to allow an override, you can watch enrolment numbers on Quest during the first week of classes. If a seat suddenly becomes available, you should be able to grab it.

Please contact a SPHS undergraduate academic advisor for advice on your academic course sequence.

Please refer to academic standing for minimum academic averages for each program. Check your unofficial transcripts at the beginning of each term for transcript text and your overall academic standing. This standing will be based on your cumulative average and your major average of all of the courses (passed or failed) that you have taken at Waterloo while enrolled as an undergraduate.

Students who receive a Conditional standing in their first term are strongly advised to meet their academic advisor for plan-specific advice. Please see program requirements for more details.

For SPHS students, 100% course load usually means 5 coures per term. To have full-time status, you must be enrolled in at least 1.5 units in a term. Please contact Student Awards & Financial Aid for implications on OSAP & government aid if you take less than the minimum 1.5 units.

Consult with your SPHS academic advisor if you require changes to your course sequence. Reducing course load or withdrawing from required/restricted elective courses may affect your academic term/level of study, your ability to get into upper courses and your degree progression.

Students can take a maximum of three units (six courses) per term. Students who are taking a course load over three units should be mindful of WD dates found on the Calendar of Events and Academic Deadlines.

To declare a minor, option and/or specialization submit a completed Plan Modification Form and have the appropriate department approve your request. Read and follow the instructions on the form, then submit it to The Centre for processing.

Check the faculty/department in the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar for the minors and options that are available to you which include requirements and when to declare them. Below is a list offered by SPHS (for the following, please submit Plan Modification Form to sphs-undergrad@uwaterloo.ca)

• Gerontology Minor
• Gerontology Diploma 
• Addictions, Mental Health and Policy Minor
• Aging Studies Option
• Health Informatics Option
• Health Research Specialization – must declare by the beginning of the 3B term.
• Pre-Clinical Specialization – must declare by the beginning of the 3A term.

Note: Be aware of the double counting of courses.

Courses may only be counted once in your major/degree. Bachelor of Science, Honours Health Studies and Bachelor of Public Health Honours require successful completion of 20 units (40 credits). Review the curriculum for specific required and restricted courses. Double counting of courses applies to two different plans, however, when a course is listed as a requirement in both the major and its associated specialization, it is considered a single use of the course. So you can double count a course towards the following, but not triple count.

• Degree (major and/or specialization) and minor or option
• Minor and option (cannot declare Gerontology Minor and Aging Studies Option)
• Between two minors

Change from Co-op to Regular

You will need to submit a completed Plan Modification Form and a proposed course sequence/plan to complete your degree to SPHS department. The SPHS advising team will review and approve or decline with recommendations regarding your request.

Note: Normal processing time is two weeks, but may be subject to a review of your academic performance in the current term. Allow for processing time during course selection or add/drop dates.

Co-op fee inquiries can be addressed with co-op advisors.

Students are permitted to transfer from Co-op to Regular provided they have not committed themselves to a job.

Change from Regular to Co-op

You will need to complete the SPHS Co-op Application form, an updated résumé, and a proposed course sequence/plan to complete your degree to SPHS department by the end of your first year, on April 30.

Students who have accepted an offer of transfer into our SPHS programs from another post-secondary institution and have received 4 credit courses or more are not eligible for co-op. We encourage these transfer students to explore The EDGE certificate to enhance their academic experience and acquire new skills.

Please refer to SPHS co-op procedures for more information.

The course load page states that co-op students on work terms are limited to one course (0.5 unit), unless they have written support from their employer to take two courses (1.0 unit). You will need to provide the employer’s written support via email to sphs-undergrad@uwaterloo.ca in order to request a unit load approval from SPHS academic advisor. The email should come from the company's email address, clearly stating your name, your student number, your UWaterloo email address, and the employer's permission for you to take a second course. 

Based on SPHS practice, all course override shall not be provided until one week after the add/drop period. Therefore, upon receiving confirmation from your employer, the SPHS advisors will contact the Registrar's Office after the first week of the add/drop period of each term and process the request. Once processed, you will receive an email from the Registrar's Office confirming your increased unit load, and then you will be able to enroll in a maximum of two courses (1.0 unit) yourself, subject to course availability and pre-requisites.

For career advising, visit Centre for Career Development for information about:

• One-on-one appointments
• Drop-ins and co-op consults
• Workshops and events

Visit CareerHub to explore our online resources and schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor, Undergraduate.