PrintGetting Registered - Glossary
Academic Probation may be assigned to a student whose CA is at least 3.0 but less than 3.5. This will allow the student to continue at the University for one reviewing period.
Advanced Standing/Credit may be granted to an applicant who has completed work at another university or college, or who has completed a Certificate/Diploma program at McMaster. Approval is subject to the applicant having met the minimum requirements prescribed by the University.
Alternate Courses should be selected for limited enrollment courses when planning a course timetable.
Antirequisite is a course which cannot be taken for credit before, after, or at the same time as the course with which it is listed.
Bursaries are granted based upon demonstrated financial need, a minimum expectation of academic accomplishment and, in some cases, other forms of earned merit. They may vary in monetary value based upon the level of financial need demonstrated.
Capped courses are limited enrollment courses. Course enrollment is limited by room size, and seat authorizations can not be given.
Confirmation Packages are sent when registration is complete and Financial Approval has been issued. Confirmation Packages include a confirmation letter, validation sticker, and new student ID card.
Continuing Student is a university graduate who is not proceeding to an advanced degree, but who wishes to take one or more undergraduate courses.
Corequisite is a course which must be taken together with another course.
Course Numbers (e.g. 1A03) can be interpreted as follows: The initial digit indicates the level of the course; the letter(s) in the middle identifies the specific courses within the level; and the final digit(s) defines the number of course units.
Course Permission must be obtained for any course requiring Departmental permission before registering for the course.
Cross-listed Course is a course which is listed under two or more subjects.
Cumulative Average (CA) is a weighted average based on the grades obtained in all courses taken.
Degree is conferred when a student completes a program of study (e.g. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Kinesiology, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy).
Department is a subdivision of a Faculty responsible for a particular subject or group of subjects (e.g. Department of Chemistry, Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics).
Elective Courses are those courses taken by a student which are not specifically designated in a student's program, but which form part of the total number of units required to complete the program.
Extra Courses are those courses designated at the time of registration as "Extra", which are not included as units toward completion of a student's program. The grades obtained in such courses will not be included in the computation of the Cumulative Average. However, they will be included in the computation of the Sessional Average and the Full-load Average.
Faculty is a major administrative and teaching unit of the University responsible for programs and courses relating to common fields of study or academic disciplines (e.g. Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Engineering).
Full Load is the number of units specified in the Calendar for an individual level of a program (e.g. Astrophysics, Level II: 31 units). If the Calendar does not specify the program requirements by individual levels, divide the total units for all levels by the number of levels, discarding the remainder.
Full-time Students: Students registered in at least 24 units of courses are considered full-time students. Students registered in Medicine or Midwifery programs are also considered full-time students.
Full-load Average (FA) is the weighted average used for Undergraduate In-Course Academic Awards. It is based on the successful completion of a full load of course units (see Full Load definition), and includes only courses taken in the Fall/Winter session. Overload units (those above Full Load) and Extra Courses taken during the Fall/Winter session are included in the FA.
Full-time Student for academic purposes is an undergraduate student who is registered in at least 24 units in the Fall/Winter session, including Extra Courses. Full-time status for students in the Faculty of Science Co-op programs is granted to those students registered in at least 12 units in Term 1 or Term 2 of the Fall/Winter session.
Letter of Permission is a formal document which allows a McMaster student to take one or more courses at another university for credit towards a McMaster degree.
Level is used to describe a student's progression through a program.
Limited Enrolment Courses are designated in the timetable as Limited (*), Capped (&) and Restricted (#). Enrolment is on a first-come, first-served basis. If a limited course is full and it is required for your degree, contact the department offering the course for a possible seat authorization. Capped courses are limited by room size, and seat authorizations can not be given.
Loans are monetary advances granted to students currently registered. They are based upon a demonstrated means and promise of repayment.
Mature Student has not attended secondary school or college on a full-time basis for at least two years; and has not previously attended university.
Minor is an option available to students enrolled in four- or five-level programs. A Minor consists of at least 24 units - of which normally no more than six units may be from Level I - that meet the requirements set out in the program description of that Minor.
Offer of Admission is a letter offering a student admission to McMaster University. Offer of Admission must be accepted by the date included in the Offer of Admission and returned according to instructions in the letter.
Part-time Student is an undergraduate student who is registered in fewer than 24 units in the Fall/Winter session, including Extra Courses.
Payment Agreement is an online financial agreement with McMaster University to pay fees. The Payment Agreement must be submitted by undergraduate students to complete registration. The Payment Agreement includes the student’s fees, funding, payment plan and method of payment.
Payment Arrangement is a form for students not eligible to use the online registration form. Payment Arrangement is a financial agreement with McMaster University to pay fees. The Payment Arrangement must be submitted to complete registration. The Payment Arrangement includes the student’s fees, funding, payment plan and method of payment
Personal Timetable will tell students where and when their specific classes will be held. In large courses, and courses which have laboratories or tutorials, the timetable will tell students which lecture, laboratory or tutorial section they have been assigned. A personal timetable will not be produced for you if you are registered in Medicine or Midwifery.
Prerequisite is a requirement to be fulfilled before registration in a course is permitted. It is usually the successful completion of another course.
Program is a specific combination of courses that fulfils the requirements for a degree.
Program Probation may be assigned to students whose CA falls within the probationary band below the minimum CA required to remain in the program in good standing. It will allow a student to continue in his/her program for at least one reviewing period. (See the General Academic Regulations section in this Calendar.)
Registration is the process whereby a student enrolls in a program of study and/or courses and pays, or makes acceptable arrangements to pay, all fees.
Required Courses are those courses which are specifically designated for inclusion in a program.
Requisite is an academic requirement that must be met to register in a course. A course requisite may comprise prerequisites, corequisites and antirequisites.
Requisite Waiver must be obtained from the course department for courses for which a student does not have the required requisites. Waivers must be obtained before a student is able to register in the course.
Result of Session is the statement of the academic standing of a student at the end of a reviewing period. Three examples are May continue in program, May not continue and Clear to graduate.
Review is an assessment of a student's performance to determine eligibility to continue in a program or to graduate.
Reviewing Period is the time between two reviews of a student. Reviews will take place in May and August, provided the student has attempted 18 units of work since the last review, or is a potential graduand.
Section Assignments are for specific lecture, laboratory and tutorial sections and are assigned by the Office of the Registrar in late August. Personal timetables in MUGSI provide assigned section information.
Session is a period of study within the academic year. For example, the Fall/Winter session runs from September to April.
Sessional Average (SA) is a weighted average based on the grades attained in a session. Overload courses and Extra courses are included in the Sessional Average.
7-DAY Limit is a SOLAR registration access allotment assigned to Undergraduate students during June through August. The 7-DAY Limit begins when students select their courses in SOLAR. Each faculty and level has a start date for registration.
Term is a period of study within a session. The Fall/Winter session, for example, contains three terms: Term 1 runs from September to December; Term 2 runs from January to April; Term 3 runs from September to April.
Transcript is an official document summarizing the entire academic record of a student at a particular educational institution.
Tuition is fees paid in consideration for enrolment in a program of study and selected courses.
Undergraduate Student is a student enrolled in a program of study leading to a Bachelor's degree or to the degree Doctor of Medicine.
Undergraduate In-Course Academic Awards: To be eligible, full-time students must carry a full load of McMaster courses. A full load is not required to be eligible for graduand awards.
Units define the number of credits associated with a course. A unit is roughly equivalent to one lecture-hour per week for one term, or two hours of laboratories or seminars per week for one term. Three-unit courses are usually one term in length. Six-unit courses are usually two terms or one session.
Validation Sticker indicates a fully registered student and is normally included the confirmation packages when registration is complete. A new Validation Sticker is issued for each academic year and must be affixed to the Student ID card.
Weighted Average is calculated by multiplying the grade points achieved in each course by the number of units in each course, totaling these results, and then dividing this result by the total number of course units. (See example under Grading System in the General Academic Regulations section in this Calendar.)
Withdrawal is the formal process of discontinuing studies in a particular course or program.