Academic Regulation 3: Number of Units in a Term and Academic Year
3.1 – External Agencies
The primary purpose of this
regulation is to define the number of units a student may register in during
any term. For this purpose, students
are designated as having either Full-Time or Part-Time Registration Status in the faculty.
Full-time or part-time registration status defines a student’s maximum allowed
course load and is based solely on academic criteria. Students should note that many external
bodies (e.g. OSAP, Revenue Canada, scholarship agencies, or other academic
institutions) may have different definitions of full-time or part-time course load for the purposes of grant
funding, scholarship eligibility or taxation status. If in doubt of your course load status in
regards to such agencies, please contact the Office of the University
Registrar, or the external agency directly, as appropriate, for advice.
3.2 – Full-Time Registration Status
3.2.1 – Normal Course Loads for Full-Time Students
Full-time students in most Arts and Science programs normally take a total of 15.0 units in each of the Fall and Winter Terms for a total of 30.0 units over the Fall-Winter period (September 1 to April 30). The normal load for students in B.Mus., B.A.(Hons.)/B.Ed. and B.Sc.(Hons.)/B.Ed. is greater than 30.0 units. Full-time students may choose, at any time, to register in fewer classes, or to drop classes (before the published deadlines), such that they fall below this course load and retain their right to full-time registration status in a future term
3.2.2 – Maximum Course Loads for Full-Time Students
In any Fall-Winter period, full-time students may be registered in no more than 36.0 units, and no more than 18.0 units in either of the Fall or Winter Terms. More than 30.0 units should not be sought for the purpose of making up a deficiency due to past failure, or if the student's cumulative GPA is less than 1.90. First-year students in most disciplines are not encouraged to attempt more than 30.0 units. Only 30.0 units may be requested during the summer class selection period. A student must obtain written permission from the Associate Dean (Studies) in order to take more than 36.0 units in the Fall-Winter period (or more than 18.0 units in any one term). Students who wish to appeal a negative decision to take more than 36.0 units (or 18.0 units in any one term) must appeal to the Board of Studies in writing (see Appeal of Academic Decisions, Section 3).
3.3 – Part-Time Registration Status
3.3.1 – Maximum Course Load for Part-Time Students
Part-time students in any Arts and Science program may take up to a total of 9.0 units per term.
3.3.2 – Transfer to Full-Time Registration Status
Part-time students on a degree program are eligible to register in a full-time course load in accordance with Academic Regulation 3.2 if:
(i) They
have completed a minimum of 24.0 Queen’s units, excluding repeated courses and courses for which credit or aegrotat standing were assigned,
from the time at which they were admitted part-time to a degree program or were
placed on part-time status; and
(ii) Achieved a
minimum cumulative GPA of 1.90;
OR
(i) They
have completed a minimum of 18.0 Queen’s units, excluding repeated courses and courses for which credit or aegrotat standing were assigned,
from the time at which they were admitted part-time to a degree program or were
placed on part-time status; and
(ii) Achieved a
minimum cumulative GPA of 2.90
3.3.3 – Maximum Course Load for Non-Degree Interest
Students without Documentation
Students admitted as Non-Degree Interest students without documentation may initially only enrol in one course at a time to a maximum of 6.0 units. In order to be able to register for further courses, such students must meet the criteria specified in Admission Regulation 11. This regulation may not be appealed.
3.4
– Courses
Spanning More Than One Term
Note that for the purposes of
determining a student’s course load, the total unit weighting of courses that
span more than one term shall be divided equally between the two terms in which
that course is operated (see Academic Regulation 4)
3.5 –
Summer Term
Students normally take no
more than two courses (regardless of unit value) at any time during the Summer
Term. This is considered equivalent to a normal course load for a full-time
student. Students on probation, with previous failures or with outstanding work
from a previous term should not exceed this course load. Students in good
standing taking more than two courses should closely monitor their ability to
keep up with assigned readings, complete assignments on time and achieve a
satisfactory academic standing in all work in each course. Students should be
aware of the established deadlines for dropping courses without academic
penalty and are expected to drop courses, if necessary, before these deadlines.
Taking on more than two courses at any time during the Summer Term does not
constitute sufficient grounds for an academic appeal to drop courses after the
deadline.
3.6
– Registration
in courses from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
The number of Engineering
and Applied Science courses which may be taken by Arts and Science students is
limited, and may not exceed the number of Arts and Science courses taken
in a given term.
Arts and Science students may, with permission of the instructor and the Associate Deans of both Engineering and Applied Science and Arts and Science, register for a maximum of two such courses in an academic term.
Students should note that, in accordance with the Degree Program Information section of this calendar, not all courses offered by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science may be eligible for credit towards an Arts and Science degree program, and that the unit weighting of such courses may not be deemed equivalent in the two faculties.
