- This information is for graduate students (master's and PhD) only.
- Terms are sometimes listed under the second word of the phrase you're looking for.
- Also see Schedule of Classes definitions.
A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| A | Back to top |
| Academic career | Graduate (GRAD) |
| Academic level | M for Masters or D for Doctorate (PhD) |
| Academic plan | A set of courses, a number of which may be mandatory and of a specialized nature, leading toward a particular degree |
| Academic program | See academic plan |
| ACC | Accepted (thesis) |
| Add status |
This term refers to the result of your attempt to add a class to your schedule. After you click on FINISH ENROLLING, either a checkmark for success or a red X for error will appear. You should also look for any messages that appear in the Message column to the left of the Status column. |
| AEG | Aegrotat, credit granted due to illness or extenuating circumstances |
| Antirequisites | 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. |
| Appointment | Not applicable |
| Associated class (Assoc. Class) |
The number assigned to each component (i.e., Primary Component/Meet, Related 1, and/or Related 2) that links the components together for selection purposes. For example, if you select a primary component/meet with an associated class number of 1, the related 1 and/or related 2 components must be chosen from those with the same class association number. This number appears in the associated class category of the schedule of classes. Note: An associated class number of 99 means that any time slot within each related component may be chosen. |
| AUD | Audit only, no credit granted |
| Audit | A graduate student is permitted to enrol for a course as an audit providing it has been approved by their supervisor, graduate officer, or Associate Dean. Pick up drop/add form from your academic department. |
| Auto enrol | Auto enrolment takes place when you do not have a choice of related meets. Related 1 and/or Related 2 components/meets are automatically assigned when you add the primary component for the course |
| B | Back to top |
| Blended class | A class in which instruction or activity is distributed between scheduled in-person and required online activities, resulting in fewer scheduled in-class hours. |
| Building/room (Bldg/Room) | The building and room where the individual meet will be held |
| C | Back to top |
| Campus (Camp Loc) | The campus indicates which institution offers the course. Most courses are offered through the main University of Waterloo campus, but some are offered through a university college such as Renison, or in cooperation with another university, such as Laurier (Wilfrid Laurier University). |
| Catalog number (Catalog #) | The 3- or 4-digit number that identifies a particular course (e.g., ACC 121). It sometimes has one or more letters as a suffix (e.g., FR 252A). |
| Class enrolment | The process of selecting courses prior to final date for fee arrangement, having them approved and recorded with Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA). |
| Class notes | Not Applicable |
| Class number (Class) | A 4-digit number that identifies a particular course component/meet and class section (e.g., 1597 LEC 001; 1879 LAB 101) |
| Class permission nbr | See permission nbr |
| Class section nbr (Sec) | See section |
| Clinic (CLN) | Teaching is devoted to the analysis, treatment and management of direct care for clinical cases. Students operate in various specialty fields typically in a clinical setting. |
| 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 see held with. Choose from the section that is suited to you. |
| Community and Industry Research Projects (CIR) | This is a secondary or tertiary component that involves student engagement in research that occurs primarily in or with external organizations (including consulting projects, design projects, program evaluations). This component is only used at the graduate-level. |
| Component (Comp Sect) |
The term used to refer to the various parts of courses (e.g., lectures, labs, tutorials, etc.). Also see course components |
| Corequisite | A course that must be taken concurrently, if it hasn't been taken in a prior term. |
| Course | A unit of study relating to a specific academic discipline, and identified by a course name and number |
| Course abbreviations | Graduate course abbreviations are listed in each of the Faculty/program sections of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar |
| Course catalog | The listing of courses which includes the description, requisites, terms offered, and special notes |
| Course components |
Course component is 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) |
| Course ID (Number) | The 6-digit number identifying the course; leading 0s 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 values | Most courses cover one academic term and carry the weight of 0.5 units. On occasion, a course covering one term may have a unit weight of 1.0 and will meet during that term for more hours per week than does a 0.5 unit course. In some instances, a course may have a 0.25 unit weight. |
| CR | Credit granted |
| Credential | A degree, diploma, or certificate |
| Credit | See unit |
| Cross-listed courses | Courses which are listed under two departments and which can be taken for credit from either department, but not both |
| D | Back to top |
| Definitions |
The definitions listed below apply to the schedule of classes' abbreviations. Click on the link beside the definition for the description. Catalog# (catalog number) |
| Department | A department is a smaller subset within a faculty, such as the Mechanical Engineering, in the Faculty of Engineering. |
| Discussion (DIS) | Teaching is based primarily on engaging the students in instructor-guided group discussions. |
| DNW | Did not write examination, no credit granted (value 0) |
| Drop | Drops the course from your schedule. If you drop a course after lectures have begun, consequences may apply. Each term there are deadlines after which you may not drop courses from your schedule without penalties. For more important date information, visit the graduate studies calendar of events & academic deadlines for important dates information. |
| E | Back to top |
| Enrolment capacity (Enrol Cap) | The maximum number of students allowed to enrol in each section |
| Enrolment requirement group | A group of requisites for the course that restricts the course to certain students |
| Enrolment total (Enrol Tot) | The number of students currently enrolled in each section |
| Ensemble (ENS) | Teaching is conducted by means of evaluating musical performance amongst a group of supporting players. |
| Error messages | See error messages |
| Essay (ESS) | 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. |
| F | Back to top |
| Faculty | One of Mathematics, Engineering, Arts, Applied Health Sciences, Environment, and Science. |
| 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 Finance website. |
| Field studies (FLD) | Teaching is conducted outside the classroom. Work is with the primary materials in their original setting. |
| Flight (FLT) | The flight component is held off campus at the Region of Waterloo International Airport, and is the practical application of flight material learned in the course. |
| FTC | Failure to complete course requirements in a course with a grade of INC (incomplete), no credit granted (value 0) |
| Full-time student | For a definition of a full-time graduate student, see regular full-time graduate students in the graduate calendar |
| G | Back to top |
| GDIP | Graduate diploma |
| GPA (Grade Point Average) | Your Grade Point Average 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: Non-graded component: |
| 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. |
| Graduate | GRD – as in "graduate students" or "graduate studies" - refers to students who are pursuing a master's or doctoral degree |
| H | Back to top |
| 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. |
| Holds | See service holds/indicators |
| I | Back to top |
| INC | Incomplete course work, no credit granted |
| In-person class | A class with scheduled instruction or activity occurring in-person. |
| Instructor | The name of the instructor for the individual component/meet |
| L | Back to top |
| Laboratory (LAB) | Teaching takes place in a room containing special purpose equipment required for student observation, participation, experimentation, or practice. |
| Lecture (LEC) | Teaching is usually in the form of a series of lectures. 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 fewer than three students in either one of the class sections. |
| Location (Camp Loc) | The location indicates where the actual course takes place. Most locations are Canada; however, some programs allow you to study abroad. Department consent is usually required. If the course is offered online, through the Centre for Extended Learning (CEL), the location code is ONLINE (ONLN). |
| M | Back to top |
| Meet | See component |
| Milestones | See non-course milestones |
| MPHL | Master of Philosophy degree requirement |
| MSTR | Master's degree requirement |
| N | Back to top |
| NAC | Not accepted (thesis) |
| NCR | No credit granted |
| NMR | No mark reported, no credit granted (value 0) |
| Non-course milestones | Milestones are non-course degree requirements (e.g., thesis, comprehensives, master's research paper) that a student must complete toward degree progress in order to graduate. |
| Non-graded standings | |
| 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 the transcript legend for grades prior to 2001 and a key to grades prior to Fall 1971. |
| O | Back to top |
| 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 Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. Note: If you were a former University of Waterloo undergraduate student, your transcript will reflect your entire University of Waterloo academic record - graduate and undergraduate. |
| Online activities (OLN) | Teaching and learning occur online for a fully online course or as part of a blended course. This component indicates that a range of instructional approaches are used online such as lectures, readings, discussions, and assessments. For blended courses, usually there are weekly online activities that help students prepare for or otherwise complement the in-person learning component of the course. |
| Online class | A class scheduled to be fully online that requires no in-person instruction or activity (may require in-person exam(s)); may be exclusively asynchronous (no scheduled meets), synchronous (scheduled meets), or a combination of the two |
| Open classes only | This searching option will list only classes with spaces available to enrol in; that is, they aren't full. |
| Open enrolment | During this period, enrolment is open to all students. |
| 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. |
| P | Back to top |
| Part-time student | For a definition of a part-time graduate student, see regular part-time graduate students in the graduate calendar. |
| Permission nbr (Number) | A special number required to authorize enrolment in some courses or to override class size limits. See the instructions from the "How do I add classes?" page on permission numbers. |
| PHD | Doctor of Philosophy degree requirement |
| Plan | See academic plan |
| Teaching involves supervised placement time in a work setting exercising practical routines and techniques related to a particular academic plan. Research and analytical skills are demonstrated based on the practical application of material learned as part of the academic program. Usually, a formal report summarizing the skills learned is required. Faculty requirements will vary by discipline. In some disciplines the course may need a specially equipped room and may meet off campus. For graduate courses: To meet criteria for a PRA component, there must be an identified external partner that students engage with; courses identified with PRA must always offer a practicum experience, even if delivered with other course components. |
|
| 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. |
| Primary component/meet | The main component/meet for the course. It's the first component listed for every course, and the class section number beings with a "0" (e.g., LEC 001). |
| Program | See academic plan |
| 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. |
| Q | Back to top |
| Quest | The University of Waterloo's student information system |
| R | Back to top |
| Reading (RDG) | Learning takes place as a result of student independent study under the supervision of an instructor. |
| Registered status |
Under student finances, the status of their arrangement with the University of Waterloo for payment is shown here. Check finance for more information on student fees, including fee payment instructions and deadlines. Enrol request: Fees arranged: Student is on coop term. |
| Related component 1 (Rel 1) | The second component/meet of the course. It begins with a "1" in the leading position of the class section number (e.g., LAB 101). |
| Related Component 2 (Rel 2) | The third component/meet of the course. It begins with a "2" in the leading position of the class section number (e.g., TUT 201). |
| Requirement designations | Detailed information is available from the transcript legend. |
| Reserve capacity |
The portion of a class enrolment capacity that is reserved for a particular group of students. This designation appears on the schedule of classes, directly beneath each section that has a reserve capacity assigned. Schedule of classes example: KIN 100 (offered in the winter term 2014) Reserve: KIN students |
| S | Back to top |
| Schedule of classes |
The online list of classes offered for a particular term, with details such as times, locations, and instructors. Link to Schedule of Classes for graduate students Link to Schedule of Classes definitions |
| Section (sec) | The 3-digit number that identifies a particular section of a course component/meet (e.g., LEC 001). |
| Seminar (SEM) | Teaching involves students collectively exploring a topic or field of study. May be led all or in part by the students. |
| Service holds/indicators |
A Hold is a notice that may affect your use of Quest, or your interaction with the University of Waterloo. For instance, if you owe fees or other goods, or have committed an academic offence, you may find a Hold placed on your account. Holds may prevent you from receiving transcripts, or enrolling yourself using Quest. See the instructions on the "How do I remove a hold (service indicator) from my account?" Quest help page. |
| Status |
The status of a class may be open for enrolment if spaces are available; otherwise, it is closed. This term also refers to the result of your attempt to drop/update a class to your schedule. After you click on FINISH ENROLLING, either a checkmark for success or a red X for error will appear. You should also look for any messages that appear in the Message column to the left of the Status column. |
| Student ID | A unique 8-digit number assigned to every student when they apply to the University of Waterloo. |
| Studio (STU) | 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. |
| Subject | The subject is the area of study. To look up a subject code (e.g., Computer Science is CS) while you're in Quest, click the icon. |
| Subject abbreviations | Graduate subject/course abbreviations are listed in each of the Faculty/program sections of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar |
| Swap status | This term refers to the result of your attempt to swap a class. After you click FINISH ENROLLING, either a checkmark for success or a red X for error will appear. You should also look for any messages that appear in the Message column to the left of the Status column. |
| T | Back to top |
| T | Transfer Credit granted |
| TBA | To Be Announced; check back at a later date. |
| Term |
A particular four-month period within which sessions are defined and fees are arranged. Also used with reference to work terms for students in the co-operative system of study.
The breakdown of the 4-digit number for terms is as follows:
|
| Term activation | Term activation enables graduate students to select courses that are approved by their academic department and make the appropriate fee arrangement with the University for the specified term of enrolment. |
| Test slot (TST) | Used only to designate a time slot for holding mid-term exams. A specific calendar date for each test slot must be included with each TST component section. |
| Transcript | See unofficial transcript or official transcript |
| Tutorial (TUT) | Teaching provides students with additional information, assistance, and practice applying the course material. The format is typically in the for of an open discussion or problem-solving session. |
| U | Back to top |
| 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, but some have weights such as 0.25, 1.0, 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. |
| UR | Under review, decision pending, no credit granted |
| UW, UWaterloo, University of Waterloo | University of Waterloo |
| W | Back to top |
| WD | Withdrew, no credit granted |
| Week days |
The following list of the abbreviations are used for the days of the week. M (Monday) |
| Work term (WRK) | This component is only used on a co-operative education course to represent an official work-term placement. |
| Workshop (WSP) | 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 such as a flexible or active learning classroom to support groupwork. |
| X | Back to top |
| XTRA | Extra to degree |