Courses
General Information
A course is a unit of teaching that focuses on a specific discipline area (e.g. English or Mathematics), and takes place within a specific timeframe. It will be led by an instructor (or instructors), and have a fixed roster of students, who may receive a grade and academic credit upon its completion. Some courses may also involved tutorials and/or practicals.
Students are cautioned that some university programs and courses require the completion of certain high school prerequisites or their equivalents. Information about prerequisites is found in the descriptions of programs and courses in this Calendar.
Students select courses through ACORN, and are responsible for the accuracy of their transactions. When selecting, adding and dropping courses in ACORN, students should always list their courses upon completing the transaction. Registration consists of two basic steps:
- Course selection
- Fees payment (or an arrangement of a fee payment deferment)
Both must be completed by the appropriate deadlines to be considered a "registered" student and to retain a place in any courses selected.
For additional information on registering in courses, as well as deadlines, see the Registrar's Guide or the Office of the Registrar website.
Visit the Course Regulations section to read about regulations concerning course selection, course load, course changes, and about taking courses at other UofT divisions or at other universities.
Understanding Course Descriptions
Course descriptions in this Calendar contain the following elements:
| Element | What it Means | Example: See PSYC09H3 |
|---|---|---|
| Course code | The unique 8-character alpha-numeric code for the course. | PSYC09H3 |
| Course title | The title of the course. | Applied Multiple Regression in Psychology |
| Course content | A description of what the course covers. | An introduction to multiple regression and its applications in psychological research […] |
| Prerequisites | Courses students must already have passed before taking the described course | Prerequisite: [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3 or STAB23H3] and PSYB70H3 |
| Corequisites | Courses students must take in the same semester as, or already have passed before taking the described course. | This course does not have any corequisites. |
| Exclusions | Students who have already passed a course listed as an exclusion, or received transfer credit for a course listed as an exclusion, cannot take the described course for credit. | Exclusion: MGEC11H3 |
| Recommended Preparation | Background material or courses that enhance a student's understanding of a course. | This course does not have any recommended preparation. |
| Breadth Requirement | Indicates the category of breadth requirement the described course fills. | Breadth Requirements: Quantitative Reasoning |
| Course Experience | Indicates the main type of experiential learning experienced by students at the undergraduate level. | Course Experience: University-Based Experience |
| Note | Any additional non-curricular information about the course. | Note: Priority will be given to students in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op and Major programs […] |
Interpreting Course Codes
All course codes are unique 8-character alpha-numeric codes.
| Element | What it means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| The first three characters | Identifies the discipline area that the course belongs to. | ANTA01H3 is an Anthropology course. BIOB50H3 is a Biology course. ENGC09H3 is an English course. |
| The fourth character | Identifies the level of the course:
| ANTA01H3 is a first-year course. BIOB50H3 is a second-year course. ENGC09H3 is a third-year course. |
| The fifth and sixth characters | The number assigned to the course in sequence, or as assigned, for example: 01, 50, 37. | ANTA01H3 is assigned 01. BIOB50H3 is assigned 50. ENGC09H3 is assigned 09. |
| The seventh character | Identifies the credit value of the course:
| ANTA01H3 is a 0.5 credit course. PSYD98Y3 is a 1.0 credit course. |
| The eighth character | Identifies the campus on which the course is offered:
| ANTA01H3 is a UTSC course. CHM135H1 is a St. George course PSY100H5 is a UTM course. |
| The ninth character (This appears in the timetable only) | Identifies the session in which the course will be taught:
| ANTA01H3F is a Fall course (or the first semester of the Summer session) LINA02H3S is a Winter course (or the second semester of the Summer session) PSYD98Y3Y is Fall and Winter course (or both semesters of the Summer) |
Common Notations in Calendar Descriptions
Prerequisites in Square Brackets [ ]
Square Brackets are used in prerequisites to indicate aggregate or alternate choices. For example:
[MGEB01H3 or MGEB02H3] and [MGEB05H3 or MGEB06H3]
indicates that students must take two courses as follows:
one of MGEB01H3 or MGEB02H3,
AND
one of MGEB05H3 or MGEB06H3;
but
[MGEB01H3 and MGEB02H3] or [MGEB05H3 and MGEB06H3]
indicates students must take two courses as follows:
both of MGEB01H3 and MGEB02H3,
OR
both of MGEB05H3 and MGEB06H3.
Prerequisites, Corequisites and Exclusions in Round Brackets ( )
Courses enclosed in round brackets; e.g., (POLB50H3) have been retired, and are no longer offered.
Students who have completed, in a previous session, a prerequisite or corequisite course that is no longer being offered (i.e. appears in round brackets) may make use of the course to meet the requirements of the course being described.
Students may not register for credit in any course, which lists as an exclusion, a course they are currently taking or have already passed, even if the excluded course is no longer offered (i.e. appears in round brackets). Such courses will count as “extra” (EXT).