Course Anatomy and Glossary of Terms

Course Anatomy

Course Description

Course Numbering

* courses numbered 2(alpha)90-2(alpha)99 may be used as either a year 2 credit or year 3 credit and courses numbered 3(alpha)90-3(alpha)99 may be used as either a year 3 credit or a year 4 credit.

Normally, Undergraduate (UG) Fall and Winter .50 credit courses are 12 weeks in length; Fall/Winter 1.00 credit courses are 24 weeks in length; Spring UG .50 credit courses are either 5 or 10 weeks in length; Spring UG 1.00 credit courses are 10 weeks in length; Summer UG .50 credit courses are 5.5 weeks in length.

• 1.50 credit = 9 sem. hrs.
• 1.00 credit = 6 sem. hrs.
• 0.50 credit = 3 sem. hrs
• 0.25 credit = 1.25 sem. hrs.

Category Definitions for Primary Course Component

Lecture

A large or small group educational talk delivered to students.

Seminar

A seminar is a small-group learning activity that allows for the discussion and application of course concepts.

Laboratory

Observe, test and apply course concepts in a controlled setting specialized for small-group learning (typically affiliated with specific technology and/or facilities).

Field Course

Exploring academic content in a purposeful way outside the classroom through field trips and/or field-work within Canada. An in-class component may be scheduled on campus in advance of, and/or following, the field experience.

International Field Experience

Exploring academic content in a purposeful way outside the classroom through short-term field trips and/or field -work outside of Canada. An in-class component may be scheduled on campus in advance of, and/or following, the field experience.

Internship

Participation in discipline-specific, supervised, full-time work during the study period. A set number of hours/days/weeks may be required to be completed by the student. An internship supervisor (within the student’s unit of study) as well as a workplace supervisor will typically be involved to lead the student through this learning experience.

Practicum (Clinic)

Supervised, practice-based experience in employment related to the field of study.

Project

Develop and complete a project as an independent study working individually or in small groups with a faculty member(s).

Asynchronous Online (No Time Slot Required)

Schedule: Fully Asynchronous | Location: Fully Online | Exam: Fully Online| ASY

A fully online asynchronous course is delivered to learners via the Internet and does not require real-time communications. Asynchronous online courses have no required on-campus components, including assessments. The course will have a set start and finish date and set due dates for assessments (possibly including a scheduled final exam delivered online).

Asynchronous Online with On-Campus Exams (No Time Slot Required)

Schedule: Fully Asynchronous | Location: Fully Online | Exam: On-Campus| ASO

An asynchronous online course with on-campus exams is delivered to learners via the Internet and does not require real-time communications. Asynchronous online courses with on-campus exams have no required on-campus components, with the exception of examinations. The course will have a set start and finish date and set due dates for assessments (possibly including scheduled midterm and final exams delivered on-campus).

Synchronous Online (Time Slot Required)

Schedule: Fully Synchronous | Location: Fully Online | Exam: Fully Online| SYN

A fully synchronous online course is delivered through web or video conferencing to facilitate real-time communications between the instructor at one site and students at a site of their choosing. These classes have regularly scheduled meeting times throughout the semester where students are expected to attend.

Synchronous Online with On-Campus Exams (Time Slot Required)

Schedule: Fully Synchronous | Location: Fully Online | Exam: On-Campus| SYO

A fully synchronous online course with on-campus exams is delivered through web or video conferencing to facilitate real-time communications between the instructor at one site and students at a site of their choosing, with the exception of scheduled midterm and final examinations delivered oncampus. These classes have regularly scheduled meeting times throughout the semester where students are expected to attend.

Blended - Online Mixed (Time Slot Required)

Schedule: Both Synchronous and Asynchronous | Exam: Fully Online

A blended online course includes both asynchronous and synchronous elements delivered fully in an online environment. This course has no required on-campus components. The synchronous of the course requires real-time interactions with the course instructor, teaching assistants or lab demonstrators (e.g., attending an online seminar group discussion) for some components and some material is covered asynchronously (e.g., viewing pre-recorded lecture videos).

Blended - Mixed Location (Online and on Campus)

Schedule: Both Synchronous and Asynchronous | Location: Online and On-Campus |Exam: Online or On-Campus

Blended location delivery courses are those courses that include both online and on- campus course components. Typically 50%-80% of the total course delivery occurs on-campus while the online components may be synchronous or asynchronous. (e.g., students watch asynchronous online pre-recorded lectures and attend an on campus synchronous seminar)

Hyflex

Schedule: Fully Synchronous | Location: Online or On-Campus | Exam: Online or On-Campus

Hyflex courses are offered simultaneously in on-campus and online environment. On-campus registration may be limited. On-campus and online students should be intentionally integrated through online interactions and engagement with synchronous learning opportunities. Online students will not be required to attend campus for any component of the course, including assessments.

Course Title Abbreviations

Glossary of Terms

NOTE: This is glossary of terms is for information purposes only. If there is an inconsistency between the Calendar and policies and programs approved by the University Senate, the terms of the policy or program approved by Senate will prevail. Every effort has been made to ensure the completeness and accuracy of this Calendar. However, the University reserves the right to update or correct any part of the Calendar without prior notice. If you have questions about the terms below, please connect with an Academic Advisor.

Academic Regulations and University Policies

These are the rules that Brock students, staff, and faculty are subject to which have been passed by the University’s Board of Trustees or Senate, or under their authority. Academic regulations are set out in the Faculty Handbook and include policies like the Academic Integrity Policy, the Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Policy, and all the policy provisions with the Faculty Handbook itself. University Policies includes administrative policies which can be found in the online policy library and includes policies like the IT Acceptable Use Policy, the Student Records Policy, and the Smoking and Vaping Policy.
For more information visit:
Undergraduate Calendar - Academic Regulations and University Policies: https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/undergrad/areg.html
Faculty Handbook: https://brocku.ca/university-secretariat/faculty-handbook/
University Policies: https://brocku.ca/policies/

Audit
Permission to audit a course entitles a student to attend class but not to hand in papers, take part in discussion, or receive evaluations. An auditor does not receive University credit for the course audited. For more information visit: https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/undergrad/areg.html#sec22

Academic Calendar
This Undergraduate Calendar sets out the regulations, programs and courses for each academic year including the Spring and Summer Semester sessions, the Fall session, and the Winter session for each given year. The course listings and academic programs outlined in the Calendar represent Senate-approved requirements and electives for completion of degree requirements. Not all courses listed may be offered every year. Students should follow the calendar for the academic year they start their studies.

Challenge for Credit
Challenge for Credit enables a student to gain undergraduate academic credit for their own learning and experience outside university. For more information visit: https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/undergrad/areg.html#sec26

Concentration
A concentration in an honours degree normally requires a minimum of six credits from a list of courses approved by the relevant academic unit(s). A concentration enables students to pursue studies with some approved focus within their major or combined major program. Not all honours degrees have concentration options.

Certificate
A certificate is a standalone credential which may be taken alongside a degree/diploma program, or independently, and requires a minimum of 4.0 credits. For more information visit: https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/undergrad/areg.html#sec42

Context Credit
All students must include one credit (or two half-credits) from each of the list of Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences courses to fulfill degree requirements. In some cases, a context credit may be part of the major program’s requirements. Students in four-year Honours professional programs must fulfill context requirements by the end of the third year of the program. All other students must have completed all three of the required context courses within the first 10 credits.
For a list of current approved context credits visit: Undergraduate Calendar - Academic Regulations and University Policies (brocku.ca)

Corequisite
A course required to be taken simultaneously with another. Both corequisite courses must be successfully completed in order to count toward the degree.

Course
An academic unit that may count for credit. Courses are taught over a series of weeks in a set format (i.e. lecture, seminar, lab, etc.) around a main theme and have a unique course code, title and description.

Credit
The academic value of a course (for example 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, etc.). For information on how to determine this in the course code (see above Course Anatomy)

Cross-listed courses
A single course offered by a different department or program under different subject codes. Often these courses are multi-disciplinary (i.e. course covers a topic that intersects with more than one discipline). It is not possible to receive credit in both listings of a cross-listed course (e.g. SOCI 1P90  is cross-listed with CRIM 1P90 , therefore a student cannot hold credit in both SOCI 1P90  and CRIM 1P90 ).
For more information visit: Undergraduate Calendar - Academic Regulations and University Policies https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/undergrad/areg.html

Cumulative Average
Cumulative average is used to determine academic standing and includes both successful and unsuccessful attempts. The formula used is: sum of (grades X credit weight) / Total number of credits attempted.
The same method is used to determine major and minor averages.
For information visit: Undergraduate Calendar - Academic Regulations and University Policies https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/undergrad/areg.html

Degree
A series of 15- or 20-credits following a prescribed pathway to completion that results in a Pass, General or Honours diploma.
Types of degrees:

• Pass
• 4-Year (e.g. non-honours BBA or BKIN)
• With Major
• Honours

For more information on the details of each degree type, visit: https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/undergrad/areg.html#sec37

Drop
Students are free to add or drop courses through the online registration system while the system is open (see the appropriate registration guide for details). Dropped courses do not appear on the student transcript. Financial penalties may apply.

Double-degree
Programs that allow students to earn a BBA degree from Brock alongside a second degree from a partner business school. All tuition is paid to Brock University and co-op is a mandatory component.
Double-degree or double major is not available in other disciplines. Instead, these are combined or major/minor.

Duration
The span of time across which a course is offered.

Elective
Credits of a student’s choice, given that they fulfil the prerequisites, co-requisites and/or restrictions of the course(s).

Full-Time Student
A full-time student at Brock is defined as one taking at least 60 percent of a normal credit load, as defined in FHB III A 6.2.2.

Letter of Permission
A student may request a Letter of Permission from the Office of the Registrar and Enrolment Services in order to take a course or courses at another university as a visiting student for transfer credit to Brock. For more information visit: https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/undergrad/areg.html#sec23

Major
A major allows a student to pursue studies in depth in a discipline (or two combined disciplines in the case of a combined major) providing all prerequisites and requirements are met.

Major Average
Students enrolled in a single major, combined major or Integrated Studies program are required to maintain an overall major average of 60 in order to continue in that major. Only courses taken at Brock will be used in determining a student’s major average. The major average will be calculated by taking the sum of the grades of the major courses divided by the total number of major credits. For combined majors, the major average will be calculated separately for each major; for

Integrated Studies and BSc Science students, the core courses in the areas of study will be used in the calculation of the major average. For BA General Humanities and BA Social Sciences students an overall average of all courses is calculated; there is no major average.

Minor
A minor is distinct from the student’s major, or combined major, and requires from four to six credits as designated by the relevant academic unit or units.

Micro-Certificate
Achievement of specific learning outcomes and skills may be recognized through a micro certificate, characterized as being shorter (minimum 2 courses,1.0 credit in length) than a certificate and providing distinctive relevance in a specific area of study/focus. Credits earned toward a micro-certificate may be counted toward the requirements of a certificate or degree program if applicable to that program. In recognition of specialized focus, admission requirements for micro-certificates may differ from certificate programs.

Override
If a student lacks the requirements for a course, or the course is full, they may inquire about an override into the course. Overrides are granted through and at the complete discretion of the Department/Centre offering the course. Inquiring about an override does not guarantee enrolment in the course.

Pathway
A defined route from one program or institution to another program or institution that specifies eligibility requirements and/or how transfer credits will be accepted and applied at the receiving institution.

Permission from instructor
Some courses require permission from the instructor to enrol. Some courses provide the option to contact the instructor to be granted permission into a course they would otherwise not meet the requirements for (i.e. an override).

Part-Time Student
A part-time student at Brock is defined as one taking less than 60 percent of a normal credit load, as defined in FHB III A 6.2.2. To be considered a student, one must be registered in at least 0.5 credits.

Pre-requisite
A course that must be successfully completed before registering in the course that requires that prerequisite.

Registration
The adding of courses to become officially enrolled at the University. Dates are available as to when the registration system opens for different groups of students, which allows courses to be added or removed in the allotted timeframe. Tuition and/or fees will apply.

Restriction
Some courses are restricted in various ways. Students wishing to take a course with a restriction may require a course override or permission of the instructor to be able to register.

Session
At Brock, our sessions are as follows:

• Fall/Winter - the period from the start of September through to the end of April and consists of both the Fall and Winter terms. D1 courses run in the Fall/Winter session.
• Spring - typically runs across May and/or June
• Summer typically runs across July and/or August

Academic adjudication for any courses completed will happen at the end of each session. In Spring/Summer the start and end times of courses within each session may vary.

Term
At Brock, Fall term runs from September to December and Winter term runs from January to April.

Transcript
A student’s official record of courses taken and level of academic success while at the University.

Withdrawal
After the posted drop date, students may withdraw from courses online via the student portal at my.brocku.ca. Withdrawn courses appear on the student transcript, along with the date of withdrawal. The final date to withdraw from courses without academic penalty is posted in the appropriate registration guide. Financial penalties may apply.