Course Selection FAQ - Winter 2021 | Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics

Course Selection FAQ - Winter 2021

Where do I find a list of courses that I am supposed to take?

Please do not use Google to find your required courses, it will take you to the wrong calendar!

The list of courses you must take is called your Schedule of Studies and it is based upon your Calendar Year. It is therefore important to confirm your Calendar Year so that you follow the correct Schedule of Studies. If you follow the incorrect Calendar, you could be taking the wrong courses and delaying your graduation. 

Follow the steps below to find your calendar year. You will be using the Academic Evaluation* tool to find this information.

  1. Login to WebAdvisor and select the ‘Program/Academic Evaluation’ menu item.
  2. Run your evaluation. On the top left of your Evaluation you will see ‘Calendar’. The year listed indicates your Calendar Year, e.g., 2018 means that you will follow the 2018-2019 Academic Calendar.
  3. Once you know your Calendar Year, select it from the following list (this link will take you to the Undergraduate Calendar): 
  4. Select your Major from the list on the right (if you are in Co-op, be sure to select the Co-op major). Here you will find all of the courses required for your degree program in semester order. Note that this page also lists minors, so be sure that you are reviewing the courses for your Major.

A reminder -- all B.Comm majors are progressive, i.e. fourth year courses build on third year courses and so on. Taking required courses out of sequence (as outlined in your Schedule of Studies) will lead to time tabling difficulties later on. It is also difficult to monitor class sizes if second year students take third year courses, and third year students jump to fourth year courses, etc.  Although you may have the prerequisites for a core course, it does not necessarily mean that now is the appropriate time for you to take it. Conversely, delaying taking core courses can have serious scheduling consequences and may delay your graduation.

*Your Academic Evaluation is a useful tool as it lists all of your completed, in progress and remaining core courses. Use it in conjunction with your Schedule of Studies to plan your course schedule.

When can I add my courses?

Important information about Winter 2021 course offerings

With a few exceptions, all business courses for Winter 2021 will continue to be offered in an online format. For details on these formats please visit, Winter 2021 Course Delivery.

Further information about Winter 2021 course selection can be found via Enrollment Services at Course Selection Windows and Course Selection Helpful Hints and FAQs.

Course selection windows will open beginning on Monday, November 16, 2020 based on credits completed and in progress, from highest to lowest. You will add courses according to your course selection window on the specific day assigned to you or on any day after that. You can find the number of courses completed and in progress by running your Unofficial Transcript or your Program/Academic Evaluation on WebAdvisor.

Course selection will remain open until Friday, January 15, 2021. It is however very important to complete your course selection on your designated day as course sections can fill up quickly.  By delaying, you risk not being able to register for courses you have planned on taking.

Note: to ensure that 1st year students have access to 1st year classes, Enrolment Services will be limiting access to most 1st year courses until noon, November 30. After that time, upper year students (second year and above) should have access to most 1st year classes.

WebAdvisor is available on a daily basis, including weekends. *Interruptions in service may occur daily 2:00 am – 4:30 am. WebAdvisor will also be unavailable from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, November 30 and 8 a.m. on Tuesday, December 15 through to 8 a.m. on Wednesday, December 16.

Additional details on winter course selection can be found via the Enrolment Services Course Selection Webpage.

Course selection windows

Monday, November 16 at 8 a.m.

17.75+ completed and in-progress credits, and students approved for priority access. Please note that varsity athletes are not eligible for priority access this winter because they do not require the coordination of classes with practices and competitions.

Tuesday, November 17 at 8 a.m.

15.25+ completed and in-progress credits

Wednesday, November 18 at 8 a.m.

12.75+ completed and in-progress credits

Thursday, November 19 at 8 a.m.

10.25+ completed and in-progress credits

Friday, November 20 at 8 a.m.

7.75+ completed and in-progress credits

Monday, November 23 at 8 a.m.

5.25+ completed and in-progress credits

Tuesday, November 24 at 8 a.m.

2.75+ completed and in-progress credits

 

WebAdvisor Help is accessible anytime by clicking on Help in the orange menu bar at the top of the page. There is also a video tutorial for step-by-step instructions on selecting courses on WebAdvisor. For additional assistance, questions can be submitted in the Ask Gryph question field. WebAdvisor support is also available via Enrolment Services at es@uoguelph.ca from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday.

A course I want to get into is full. How can I add this course?

Note: the B.Comm Program Counselling office does not have the authority to waive you into full courses.

Some Departments add additional spaces as new windows are opened, so continue to monitor WebAdvisor throughout all course selection windows.

If the course you need is still full after all windows are open (November 24), email the Department that offers the course as soon as possible, and ask if they can override the course capacity. A list of Departmental Contacts is available at the bottom of this page. WebAdvisor does not have a ‘waiting list’, so the only way for a Department to know that there is additional demand is by contacting them directly. This is especially important if this is a required core course.  

If the Department approves your request, you will need their signature on a Course Waiver Request form. Submit the signed form by scanning and emailing the form to Enrollment Services, es@uoguelph.ca. This must happen prior to the end of the course selection period on Friday, January 15, 2021.

Remember: these waivers do not require a Program Counsellor’s Signature.

WebAdvisor won’t let me add a course. What should I do?

Check that you have all the correct prerequisites, including earned credits---WebAdvisor will not let you add a course if you are missing any of the required courses or credits. Check the most up to date prerequisites by clicking on the course name in WebAdvisor (will open as new window).

Note: The B.Comm Program Counselling office does not have the authority to waive course prerequisites.

If you have had a substitution approved for a course that is a prerequisite, or you feel you have the appropriate background, email the Department that offers the course and ask if they can allow you to take the course. A list of Departmental Contacts is available at the bottom of this page. Waivers are signed at the discretion of the Department. A reminder that for MGMT*4000 all prerequisites must be successfully completed prior to the beginning of this course. You will not be waived into this course if you are missing prerequisites or attempting to take any of the prerequisites concurrently

If the Department approves your request, you will need their signature on a Course Waiver Request form. Submit the signed form by scanning and emailing the form to Enrollment Services, es@uoguelph.ca. This must happen prior to the end of the course selection period on Friday, January 15, 2021.

Remember: these waivers do not require a Program Counsellor’s Signature.

A reminder about 1st year classes: to ensure that 1st year students have access to 1st year classes, Enrolment Services will be limiting access to most these courses until noon on November 30. After that time, upper year students (second year students with greater than 4.5 credits) should have access to most 1st year classes.

NOTE: If you fail a course in Fall 2020 and it is a prerequisite for another course you have registered to take in Winter of 2021, you may no longer be eligible to take the later course. Please contact the Department offering the course and ask if you will be deregistered from the course(s) requiring the prerequisite. A list of Departmental Contacts is available at the bottom of this page.

How do I submit a waiver?

Should you require a waiver to add a course, you must use the Course Waiver Request form. These forms must be submitted directly to Enrolment Services, as you cannot add these courses via WebAdvisor.

If the Department has approved your waiver, you will need to email the completed form to Enrolment Services at es@uoguelph.ca. Remember, you must use your @uoguelph.ca account.

I can’t find a course in WebAdvisor that is listed on my Schedule of Studies

It may be that the name of the course or the course code has changed. This is especially important this year as many ECON courses are now using the new FIN prefix. For a list of all changes, visit Course Changes. Please note that some changes will not show up in your Academic Evaluation. Provided you complete the course from the list above, it will be used to fulfill your degree requirements.

Departments may also change the name, course number or semester offering of some of your courses. Refer to the Course Descriptions section of the current (2020-2021) Undergraduate Calendar for the most up to date information.

If you encounter a required course that is not listed in WebAdvisor or the Undergraduate Calendar, please contact either your Faculty Advisor or the B.Comm Program Counselling Office as soon as possible.

I am on a Co-op Work Term.
What is my Credit Level? How do I submit a Waiver?

Important reminder: If you started your co-op major in Fall 2018 or earlier, Co-operative Education & Career Services has changed the credit weight for co-op work term courses. Please refer to Co-op Credit Weight Change Updates. If you started your co-op major in Fall 2019 or later, your Schedule of Studies already reflects these changes.

Co-op work term courses (COOP*1000 through COOP*5000) earned Summer 2019 and later will have 0.50 credit weight attached. This means you will graduate with additional credits over and above your 20.0 academic degree requirements. Co-op work term credits do not count towards academic degree program requirements, i.e. core, restricted, free or liberal education electives. Depending upon where you are in your studies, your credit level may have changed. Your Program/Academic Evaluation will indicate your current credit level. 

If for any reason you require a Course Waiver to add a course, e.g. you are missing prerequisites, requesting an overload, etc., please refer to the FAQ’s, ‘WebAdvisor won’t let me add a course’ or ‘A course I want to get into is full’.

How do I get Permission to take a 6th Course (3.00 credits)?

Taking 6 courses (or 3.0 credits) per semester is not recommended. The additional course load frequently leads to a lower final semester average. If you are thinking of this as an option, we encourage you to discuss the pros and cons with a Program Counsellor or your Faculty Advisor.

To take 3.00 credits you must obtain permission from the B.Comm Program Counselling Office on a Course Waiver Request Form.  Students wishing to add up to 3.00 credits must meet the following criteria:

  1. have attained a 70% cumulative average OR
  2. be in the final semester of their degree program AND
  3. must NOT be registered in HTM*3090 Restaurant Operations Management  

If you meet the above criteria, the earliest date you may request permission is Monday, December 7, 2020. Note: if Winter 2021 is your last semester and you require 6 core courses to graduate, you may contact our office before this date.

If you do not meet these requirements you have the option of adding the additional 0.5 credit without permission on the last day of the Add period, Friday, January 15, 2021, however, you are strongly discouraged from doing so for the reasons outlined above.

When do I take MGMT*1100 - Business Career Preparation?

You will take this course in your second year, in either the fall or winter semester, depending on your major. Refer to your Schedule of Studies to determine which semester. Note, MGMT*1100 is not offered in the summer.

While you will be taking this course over and above your regularly scheduled courses, remember it is a non-credit degree requirement, so it is not like taking a ‘6th course’. The content is focused on providing you with practical knowledge and tools to prepare you for your career search. The course is comprised of CourseLink modules, assessed on a Pass/Fail basis, and includes assignments, quizzes, and discussion posts.

If you are in a co-op program and have completed COOP*1100, you do not need to complete MGMT*1100. For non-co-op students, this course is a mandatory degree requirement

How do I know in what semester a course is offered?

Go the Course Descriptions section of the current (2020-2021) Undergraduate Calendar. After selecting a subject from the list on the right you will see a list of all courses from that subject area. In the course title, e.g. “ECON*1050 Introductory Microeconomics S,F,W”, the S,F,W refers to the semester offering; S = summer (May to August), F = fall  and W = winter. If a ‘U’ is listed, the offering of the course is Undetermined. Contact the Department for details.

Occasionally, departments may offer additional course sections in semesters over and above those listed, so it is best to check WebAdvisor for the most up to date information.

Can I choose fewer than five courses?

The normal full-time course load is 2.5 credits (usually 5 courses) per semester. 2.0 credits (usually 4 courses) is still considered full-time. Part-time is 1.5 credits or less in a semester (3 or fewer courses). While you have the option to study part-time (except Co-op students), we suggest that you speak with a Program Counsellor to decide if this is an appropriate option for you. Note: there are tuition and fee differences between full-time and part-time studies. Visit Student Financial Services for details.

I am interested in adding a Minor or Certificate.

There are a number of specific requirements so please carefully read the information found at Adding a Minor or Certificate.

Is there a limit to the number of 1000 level (1st Year) courses I can take?

While students in other programs may have a maximum, as a B.Comm student you may take as many first year courses as you wish towards your Liberal Education and Free Elective requirements.

What Electives should I take?

While our office cannot recommend an elective, the Elective Courses website does have some helpful tips. You will also find information on the 1.5 Liberal Education credit requirement.

Where can I find a list of Special Topics courses?

The Special Topics Courses page contains descriptions of unique courses offered by the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics. They include courses that cover a current or specialized topic, that are in a "trial" phase before being offered on an ongoing basis, or they are one-time offerings. These courses can vary from term to term and may not be offered each semester. They are normally offered at the 3000 or 4000 level and may require instructor consent to register.

I just transferred into B.Comm from a different program.

If you have not yet met with a Program Counsellor, we would strongly encourage you to do so. Given the similarities of some courses, e.g. mathematics, it is important to confirm that you are taking the correct courses to meet your degree requirements. 

I am on Probation. Will my winter courses have an effect on my status?

Yes. As a Probationary student, you must obtain a semester average of 60% or higher in order to be eligible to continue your studies at the University of Guelph. Remember that regardless of the number of courses you take this winter (be it one or five), your semester average is based upon all courses taken between January and April. If you are on Probation at the beginning of the winter semester, you should be extremely cautious. A Winter 2021 semester average of less than 60% will result in you being Required to Withdraw from the University of Guelph. 

If you have not already done so, you are strongly encouraged to meet with a Program Counsellor to discuss the implications of being on Probation. We can also go over the University resources available to you to improve your academic performance.

Reminder: all B.Comm students must have achieved a cumulative university average (GPA) of 60% or higher to graduate.  

I still have questions. Who should I ask?

B.Comm Program Counsellors are available throughout the Course Selection period for scheduled telephone appointments. To view the current schedule, please visit our Office Schedule.

We can be reached, by e-mail bcomm@uoguelph.ca or by phone, ext. 56757.   

Alternatively, Faculty Advisors for each major are also available to assist you with course selection and other questions.  If you do not know who your Faculty Advisor is, a list of names and contact information is posted on the UAIC website.

If you experience problems with your course selection please notify the B.Comm Program Counselling Office or your Faculty Advisor for your major immediately. Problems cannot be resolved if we do not know about them.

Departmental Contacts for B.Comm Courses

If a signature is required on the Course Waiver Form, please contact the following:

Please note: office hours are not currently available. Please contact the appropriate person via email.

Course Name Email Office location Ext
ACCT Prof. Connie Zavitz czavitz@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Hall, Rm 213 54078
ECON Prof. Evie Adomait eadomait@uoguelph.ca MacKinnon, Rm 728 56343
FARE Kathryn Selves kselves@uoguelph.ca J.D. MacLachlan, Rm 311 52771
FIN Prof. Evie Adomait eadomait@uoguelph.ca MacKinnon, Rm 728 56343
HROB Prof. Connie Zavitz czavitz@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Hall, Rm 213 54078
HTM Alison Crerar hftmadv@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Stewart, Rm 206 58710
MCS Rita Raso mkmnadv@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Institute, Rm 205 56126
MGMT*1000 Alison Crerar hftmadv@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Stewart, Rm 206 58710
MGMT*1100 Brittany Dubbeldam mgmt1100@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Hall, Rm 111 54937
MGMT*1200 Prof. Connie Zavitz czavitz@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Hall, Rm 213 54078
MGMT*2150 Alison Crerar hftmadv@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Stewart, Rm 206 58710
MGMT*2260, 2500, 3020 Prof. Connie Zavitz czavitz@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Hall, Rm 213 54078
MGMT*3030 Alison Crerar hftmadv@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Stewart, Rm 206 58710
MGMT*3140, 3200, 3300, 3320, 3340, 3500 Prof. Connie Zavitz czavitz@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Hall, Rm 213 54078
MGMT*4000 Alison Crerar hftmadv@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Stewart, Rm 206 58710
MGMT*4020 & 4030 Rita Raso rraso@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Institute, Rm 205 56126
MGMT*4050 & 4060 John F. Wood Centre woodcentre@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Hall, 3rd floor 53056
MGMT*4040, 4100, 4140, 4200, 4260, 4340, 4350, 4500 Prof. Connie Zavitz czavitz@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Hall, Rm 213 54078
REAL Rita Raso rraso@uoguelph.ca Macdonald Institute, Rm 205 56126

FOR ALL OTHER COURSES: Contact the department that is offering the course directly. To determine which department is offering the course, refer to the Course Descriptions section of the calendar.