Undergraduate Program Counselling
Help with Fall 2024 Course Selection
Fall 2024 Restrictions on CIS courses until July 15
- CIS*1300 Computing students, BSc Physics (all), BMATH, MSCI, CIS minor, BDA minor, AG minor, MSCI minor
- CIS*1500 BENG.MECH, BENG.UND, BA.MAEC, BSCH.BIOS, BSCH.PHYS, MSCI, MCST minor, BDA minor, AG minor
- CIS*1910 Computing students, CIS minors
- CIS*3750 Honours Computing: CS or SENG, BENG.ESC, BENG.CENG
- CIS*3760 Honours Computing: CS or SENG, BENG.ESC, BENG.CENG
- CIS*4150 SENG*
- CIS*4300 SENG*
*Final year CS students can e-mail cscouns@uoguelph.ca for waitlist
When can I start registering for courses?
It depends on how many credits you have. Please see: Course Selection Dates
How do I register for courses?
Check the Registration Guide. WebAdvisor had an update so even returning students may need to skim the Tutorial. Add courses one at a time, starting with required CIS ones. You will need to be flexible with your section choices.
Can I add a CIS course without the pre-requisite?
CIS pre-requisites are mandatory for CIS courses, it’s not a decision on our part. It applies to all students. This rule was decided on by SoCS Faculty many years ago, and the goal is to support students. Before the rule, Computing students would sometimes continue into future courses they were not prepared for and struggle in those as well until they were required to withdraw.
Pre-requisites are important for:
- Academic success in the course. CIS courses are like building blocks on top of each other, and if the foundation is shaky the blocks will tumble down sooner or later.
- Avoiding student struggles and stress. Completing the CIS pre-requisites ensure the student is well prepared for the next course. The way to show mastery of a topic is by passing the required course.
- If you have learned the pre-requisite course material outside of university please connect with the professor and explain your experience and how that has prepared you for the course.
Why is a CIS course full? Why does a CIS course have so little space?
Space is gradually added to CIS courses as we go through the course selection windows. On June 18th and 19th fourth year CIS courses are getting opened around 8AM. Then we start opening third year courses, second year courses, and first year courses, etc. The space shows up on WebAdvisor on weekday mornings around 8:30AM. It's a manual process. A person in Registrarial Services has to update each course, so the courses might open at 8AM, 8:30AM, or even 9:30AM.
My required CIS course is still full and it is past noon. What should I do?
Email Sarah and Greg: cscouns@uoguelph.ca from your University email, with your student number, course, and specific details. Please note that most years have two days of course selection windows. For example, space in 4th year courses will open both on June 18 and June 19. Do not wait until late August about a required CIS course you need. By then it might be too late to register. Students who do not enrol by July 12 may find that their desired or required course sections are no longer available.
My elective CIS course is full. It's past noon. What should I do?
Add a different elective for now and check to see if more space opens tomorrow. For example, most 3rd year CIS electives will open when 3rd year students are course selecting. Feel free to check in with Sarah and Greg at cscouns but we might not be able to help you.
My non-CIS elective is full or has a restriction that prevents me from adding. What should I do?
Add a different elective for now and check back periodically to see whether the course has more space or the restriction was removed. For restricted courses you may need to declare a minor. Add a different elective for now, and check the Minor section below. You can also try emailing the course contact about details Course Contacts. Do add a different elective while you wait. If the other elective works out during course selection you can swap them.
Minor or Area of Application?
Bachelor of Computing students in CS or SENG need to take some electives outside of computing. There are two options.
Minors. Minors are 5.0 credits (usually 10 courses) you take over your 8 academic semesters. These give a good foundation and introduction to the subject. They also go on your transcript, and are an officially recognized credential.
The other option is an Area of Application. This is for students who find minors too restricted and want more flexibility in choosing electives. It requires 4.0 credits (normally 8 courses) in a subject other than CIS, of which 1.0 credits must be at the 3000 level or higher. It’s unofficial, and not recognized on the transcript. It does let students combine subjects into a custom learning plan, for example Math and Music. Again, spread over the eight academic semesters.
If you’re not sure what you like, try a variety of subjects in first year, then start focusing on one starting in second year.
Minors
The current list of minors can be seen here. They are subject to change. Minors are added, paused, or cancelled periodically.
I would like to declare or change a minor
There is an online form for this midway down this page, titled Undergraduate Schedule of Studies Change Request Form Please only use it to declare or change a minor. For everything else email cscouns@uoguelph.ca for details first.
The Calendar year is usually the same as the one for your major as shown on WebAdvisor. If the minor was not available then or has changed and you would like the new minor requirements you can declare the newer minor.
I have a completely different question. Who can I ask?
If your question is about the Bachelor of Computing degree or CIS courses email Sarah and Greg: cscouns@uoguelph.ca