Course Selection FAQ - Fall 2020

• Where do I find a list of courses that I am supposed to take?
• When can I add my courses?
• A course I want to get into is full. How can I add this course?
• WebAdvisor won’t let me add a course. What should I do?
• How do I submit a Waiver?
• I can’t find a course in WebAdvisor that is listed on my Schedule of Studies
• I am on a Co-op Work Term. What is my Credit Level? How do I submit a Waiver?
• How do I get Permission to take a 6th Course (3.00 credits)?
• What is MGMT*1100
• How do I know in what semester a course is offered?
• Can I choose fewer than five courses?
• I am interested in adding a Minor or Certificate
• Is there a limit to the number of 1000 level (1st Year) courses I can take?
• What electives should I take?
• I just transferred into B.Comm from a different program
• I am on probation. Will my summer courses have an effect on my status?
• I still have questions. Who should I ask?
• Departmental contacts for BComm courses

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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): 
   • 2020
   • 2019
   • 2018
   • 2017
   • 2016 
   • 2015 
   • 2014 
   • 2013 
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 the courses required for your degree program in semester order. 

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.

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When can I add my courses?

Important information about Fall 2020 course offerings.

With a few exceptions, all business courses for Fall 2020 will be offered in an online format. For details on these formats please visit, Fall 2020 Course Delivery

Further information about Fall 2020 course selection can be found via Enrollment Services at Course Selection Windows and Course Selection Helpful Hints and FAQs.

For current students, course enrolment windows will open beginning on Monday, July 14, 2020 based on credits completed and in progress, from highest to lowest. You will add courses according to your course enrollment 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.

New students from high school can begin enrolling in courses on July 23, 2020. New students with transfer credits may be able to enrol earlier depending on number of credits granted; see the course selection windows below.

Course selection will remain open until September 18, 2020. 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 newly admitted high school students have access to 1st year classes, Enrollment Services will be limiting access to most 1st year courses until noon on August 4. Beginning that date, upper year students (second year and above) will be able to select 1st year classes.

WebAdvisor is available on a daily basis, including weekends. *Interruptions in service may occur daily 2:00 am – 4:30 am.

Course Selection Windows

Tuesday, July 14 at 8:00 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 fall because they do not require the coordination of classes with practices and competitions.

Wednesday, July 15 at 8:00 a.m.

15.25+ completed and in-progress credits

Thursday, July 16 at 8:00 a.m.

12.75+ completed and in-progress credits

Friday, July 17 at 8:00 a.m.

10.25+ completed and in-progress credits

Monday, July 20 at 8:00 a.m.

7.75+ completed and in-progress credits

Tuesday, July 21 at 8:00 a.m.

5.25+ completed and in-progress credits

Wednesday, July 22 at 8:00 a.m.

2.75+ completed and in-progress credits

Thursday, July 23 at 8:00 a.m.

0.00+ completed and in-progress credits (new students)

 

WebAdvisor Help is accessible anytime by clicking on Help in the orange menu bar at the top of the page. WebAdvisor support is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. For additional assistance questions can be submitted in the Ask Gryph question field. You can also watch a video tutorial for step-by-step instructions on selecting courses on WebAdvisor.

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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.

If the course you need is still full after all windows are open, email the Department that offers the course as soon as possible and ask if they can override the course capacity. 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. Remember: these waivers do not require a Program Counsellor’s Signature.

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

Check that you have all the correct prerequisites---WebAdvisor will not let you add a course if you are missing any of the required courses. 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.

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

A reminder about 1st years classes: to ensure that newly admitted high school students have access to 1st year classes, Enrollment Services will be limiting access to these courses until noon on August 4. After that date, upper year students (second year and above) will be able to select 1st year classes.

NOTE: If you fail a course in Summer 2020 and it is a prerequisite for another course you have registered to take in Fall of 2020, 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.

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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, so you cannot add these courses via WebAdvisor.

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

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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 fulfil 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) 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.

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

Important reminder: Co-operative Education & Career Services has changed the credit weight for co-op work term courses (COOP*1000 through COOP*5000). Co-op work term courses earned beginning with S19 and later, now have a 0.50 credit weight. This means you will graduate with additional credits over and above your 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. Please refer to Co-op Credit Weight Change Updates.

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’.

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

Taking 6 courses (or 3.0 credits) per semester is typically 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 August 28, 2020. Note: if Fall 2020 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, September 18, however, you are strongly discouraged from doing so for the reasons outlined above.

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What is MGMT*1100?

MGMT*1100 Business Career Preparation has been designed to enhance your career readiness skills by emphasizing the knowledge, skills, behaviours, and activities required in order to identify appropriate, career-related opportunities. It is a mandatory non-credit, 12-week course, delivered in a blended learning format comprised of CourseLink modules and two (2) in-class seminars.  The course will be assessed on a Pass/Fail basis, and will include assignments, quizzes and discussion posts. It is important to note that while you will be taking this course over and above your regular scheduled courses it is not like taking a 6th course as the content is focused on providing you with practical knowledge and tools to prepare you for a career search. MGMT*1100 is offered in the Fall and Winter semesters only. Your Schedule of Students outlines which semester you should take this course.

If you are in a co-op program and have completed or will be taking COOP*1100, you will be exempt from MGMT*1100. If you are registered under the 2016 or earlier calendar you will also be exempt.

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

Go to 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 selections in semesters over and above those listed, so it is best to check Webadvisor for the most up to date information.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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I am on Probation. Will my summer 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 summer (be it one or five), your semester average is based upon all courses taken between May and August. If you are on Probation at the beginning of the summer semester, you should be extremely cautious. A summer 2019 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.  

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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 Course Waiver Form, please contact the following:

Please note: to maintain social distancing, office hours are not currently available. Please contact the appropriate person via email

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.