Frequently Asked Questions

 

I'm taking an Honors Specialization in Geography.  Do all of my courses have to be at the Honors level?

Short Answer: It depends on if you are completing another program module.

You must take 6.0 courses in addition to the 9.0 courses required by the Geography Honors Specialization to complete graduation requirements. These 6.0 courses may be part of another module, such as a minor or non-geography major, or taken simply as elective (non-module) courses. Where courses are taken as part of another module, they must be selected so that they fulfill the requirements of that module.

Note: there are also university graduation regulations that you must meet for your degree through appropriate course selection.

I tried to add a course (on the first day that I was given from the Registrar) but the web site kept telling me that the course is full. How is that possible?

The comment that you received "This section is full" may not mean that there is no space left in the course. Many of our courses have constraints placed on them to give preferential access to students in particular modules or years of their program. If you do not have this status, you will have to wait until a later date when the constraints are lifted.

For example if the timetable constraint states, "Priority to Hons. Geography programs, major in Geography. Open in July 22 to all programs." then only students who are registered in an Honors Specialization or Major in Geography will be able to add the course until July 22nd. If you are, for example, registered in the Minor in Geography and you attempted to add this course you would receive the error message "This section is full" even though there still might be space in the class. The solution is to wait until after July 22nd when the constraint is lifted.

Can I get special permission to override those constraints?

No overrides will be given.

Why are so many courses not being offered?

We are not able to offer all of the courses that appear in the calendar in any one year. When a professor is on sabbatical leave, for example, the upper year courses that are taught by them are often not offered. Most times, the course will be offered the following year.

I want to take an extra course next year.

You will need the permission of your Dean's Office. If you are a Social Science student, please visit Social Science Academic Counselling Special Permissions website to find out if you qualify and how to get permission.

I need special permission to waive a course prerequisite.

Please see the Geography Undergraduate Advisor Angelica Lucaci in SSC 2322A, the geography main office, or the course instructor.

I tried to get into a course but it is full, now what do I do?

You will need to monitor course enrolments online and wait for a space to become available. We do NOT allow extra students into courses until the paper add/drop period in September, when you need to see Angelica Lucaci, the Geography Undergraduate Advisor (SSC 2322A). For some courses we will allow a small number of extra students in.