NOTE: While Student Services is always available to give advice, THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH THE STUDENT for completeness and correctness of course selection, for compliance with exclusions, prerequisite and co-requisite requirements, for completion of Program details, for proper completion of the Distribution Requirement, and for observance of regulations, deadlines, etc. Students are responsible for seeking guidance from a responsible officer if they are in any doubt; misunderstanding, misapprehension or advice received from another student will not be accepted as cause for dispensation from any regulation, deadline, or Degree requirement.

Definitions and Codes Used

Courses

​The word “course” is used in reference to a single course (such as “standing in a course” etc.) Course refers equally to a half course. A half course is 0.5 FCE. To “pass a course” or “obtain standing in a course” normally means to obtain a mark of 50 or more in that course.

​Codes used in the Program of Study Listings and Course Description​

• An oblique stroke (“/”) means “or”. A comma and a semi-colon both mean “and”.
• In describing the level of a course, the word "series" is used interchangeably with the word "level". e.g. 300-series is the same as 300-level 
• 300+series or 300+ level = courses numbered in the 300’s or 400’s
• Approved = approved by the Faculty sponsoring the program
• Group = a group of related courses; Groups are at the end of the relevant program listings
• The code H1 in a course code in this Calendar indicates the credit value:
  • H1 = a half course (0.5 FCE), for which one-half credit is given (e.g. INF301H1)

A course is an academic activity which is recorded with a result on the academic history. A passed course normally gives academic credit towards completing a degree and may help complete a program of study. There are “full” (Y) and “half” (H) courses each with a different credit weight.

Please Note:

1. The Faculty of Information reserves the right to change the content of, or to withdraw, any course. In such cases every effort is made to provide equivalent alternative instruction, but this cannot be guaranteed.
2. ​The Faculty reserves the right to limit the number of students in any course or any section of a course if the number wishing to take the course should exceed the resources available. Notwithstanding this, every effort is made to accommodate students in all program requirements.

​Key to Course Descriptions

Course descriptions are listed on the Faculty of Information website. The description will state anything special about the course, from special aspects of the class experience (for example, language of study or field work), to the intended audience of the course (for example, a science course intended for non-science students as an elective), to any special ancillary fees (for example, lab material). For an explanation of terms and abbreviations used in these descriptions, including prerequisites, co-requisites, exclusions, etc., see below. Students may choose from among these courses, subject to the following rules:

• Students must satisfy the degree and program requirements and other regulations set out in the Calendar.
• Students must meet all prerequisite, co-requisite, and exclusion requirements.
• Students must complete a minimum of 10.0 credits at the 300+ level

Course Title
Indicates the topic and theme of the course. Some courses may have a general title of a “special topics course” in the Academic Calendar but the actual course content varies year by year; in such a case, seek out the department or program’s website, or the Timetable offerings, to learn more about what will be offered. On the transcript, course titles are abbreviated.

Number of Courses Taken (“Course Load”)

The University of Toronto uses the following to define the year equivalency and therefore the academic status of a student:

• 3rd year Faculty of Information students will typically complete 5.0 full course equivalents
• During the summer after the first year in the BI program, students will typically complete 1.0 full course equivalents
• 4th year Faculty of Information students will typically complete 5.0 full course equivalents
• The recommended course load for full-time students in good standing in each of the Fall and Winter term is no more than 2.5 credits. The maximum course load in each term is 3.0 credits.
• Students “On Academic Probation” may take no more than 2.5 credits in each of the Fall and Winter Sessions except as provided under “students restricted to a reduced course load” (see 5. below).
• To calculate course loads, students should consult this Calendar together with the Timetable. The codes “Y1” or “H1” in a course code in the Calendar indicate the credit value.
• In each of the Fall and Winter terms students who are in good standing may request to add additional courses beyond 6.0 credits through the Office of the Registrar and Student Services. In the Summer Session, students who are in good standing may request to add additional courses beyond 2.0 credits through the Office of the Registrar and Student Services. The Registrar, following Faculty guidelines, has the discretion to approve or deny such requests. Students will not receive special consideration of any kind on account of a course overload. Examination schedules may be affected by a course overload.
  Students are not allowed course overload in any session until they have completed 4.0 credits in the Faculty

Full/Part-Time Status

​Full-time status

• A student enrolled in 3.0 FCE or more in the Fall/Winter Session is full-time.
• ​A student enrolled in 1.5 FCE or more in the Summer Session is full-time.

Part-time status

• A student enrolled in 2.5 FCE or fewer in the Fall/Winter Session is part-time.
• ​A student enrolled in 1.0 FCE or fewer in the Summer Session is part-time.

​Elements of a Course Description

​Course Number

​The course number generally indicates the level of difficulty, e.g., a 100-series course normally indicates an introductory course, a 400-series course is an intensive course at the senior level. 

Course Suffixes

​The code “H1”  and "Y1" in a course code in the Calendar indicates the credit value:

• H1 = a half-course (0.5 credit), for which one-half credit is given, e.g., INF301H1.
• Y1 = a full course (1.0 credit), for which one credit is given, e.g., INF401Y1

Types and Duration of Instruction

• L= Lectures
• ​S= Seminars
• P= Practical work in laboratories or studios
• T= Tutorials

In the Fall-Winter Sessions the normal period of instruction is 24 weeks; the Fall Term lasts 12 weeks, and the Winter Term lasts 12 weeks. The number preceding the instruction codes opposite the course number and title indicates the total number of hours of instruction given in the course. The number of hours listed is approximate only; the actual contact hours of a course, or of different sections of a course, may vary from the number indicated in the Calendar, due to the size of the class or section, and the use being made of the tutorial or practical components of the class. This variation is at the discretion of the Faculty of Information; any questions concerning the allotment of hours in a course should be addressed to the BI Program Coordinator.

​Prerequisites, Co-requisites, etc.

​Students are responsible for fulfilling prerequisites and co-requisites; students enroled in courses for which they do not have the published prerequisites may have their registration in those courses cancelled at any time without warning. Students must also observe exclusions. Failure to meet these requirements may result in academic difficulties. If students withdraw from a course they must also withdraw from any course for which it is a co-requisite unless the Faculty agrees to waive the co-requisite.

​Exclusions

​Students may not enrol in a course if that course lists as an exclusion a course they are currently taking or a course they have already passed. If allowed by special permission to enrol in an excluded course, the second course taken will be listed as an “Extra” course. Students will be required to withdraw from the course if discovered during the session of enrolment and will be refused degree credit in the excluded course if discovered at any time in a subsequent session.

​Prerequisite

​A course (or other qualification) required as preparation for entry to another course. If students consider that they have equivalent preparation, they may ask the Faculty concerned to waive the stated prerequisite. Requests regarding the waiver of prerequisites should be directed to Student Services. 

​Co-requisite

​A requirement to be undertaken concurrently with another course. The co-requisite will be waived if a student has previously obtained standing in it, or if the Faculty consents.

​Recommended Preparation

​Background material or courses that may enhance a student’s understanding of a course. This image shows a course description in diagram form, with explanations of all the various symbols.

​Section Code

​Section codes do not appear in the Calendar. In the Timetable, a section code is associated with a course code to indicate when the course is offered:

• F = “First Term”; i.e. first term of the Fall/Winter Session (September – December) or first term of the Summer Session (May-June)
• ​S = “Second Term”; i.e. second term of the Fall/Winter Session (January – April) or second term of the Summer Session (July – August)