2012/2013W Registration FAQ

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE. YOUR QUESTION MAY WELL BE ANSWERED HERE.

  • Please note that registration is done centrally by the Department of Chemistry, please do not contact course instructors for registration assistance.
  • If your question remains unanswered please send an email including your legal name and student number to undergrad@chem.ubc.ca.

QUESTIONS

Transfer Credit
Repeating a Course

Course Registration

Course Prerequisites
Timetable Conflicts

ANSWERS 

TRANSFER CREDIT

Question: My transfer credits are shown as a generic credit such as "CHEM 1st" or "CHEM 2nd". How does this translate to UBC courses?

Answer: A transfer value of 3 - 4 credits of CHEM 1st is roughly equivalent to CHEM 121 and you may register for the waitlist for CHEM 123 (the Department will try to place you). A transfer value of 6 - 8 credits of CHEM 1st is roughly equivalent to the introductory two semesters of chemistry at UBC. If you wish to take additional chemistry courses, you may register on the waitlists for 2nd year UBC courses (the Department will try to place you), but at your own risk. CHEM 123 is particularly relevant as a prerequisite for CHEM 233 (and CHEM 203).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Transfer students with generic credit for Chem 1st who will be taking CHEM 203 or CHEM 233 are strongly advised to self-study the organic chemistry content of CHEM 123. This material will be assumed knowledge.

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REPEATING A COURSE

Question: I have to repeat a course. I previously passed the laboratory but not the lecture. Do I need to repeat the laboratory?

Answer: No, as long as you received a satisfactory mark (determined by the laboratory director) for the laboratory, you do not need to re-take the laboratory. Just register for a lecture section. A faculty member will review all registrations and will see that you have registered this way, and will register you in the XMT (exempt) laboratory section. The previous grade in the laboratory will be reused.

Question: I passed a course previously but want to take it again to get a higher grade. I previously passed the laboratory. Do I need to repeat the laboratory?

Answer: It is a Faculty of Science regulation that students may NOT repeat a course for higher standing. If you are registered in a chemistry course in order to obtain higher standing, YOU WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE COURSE WITHOUT NOTIFICATION.

It is generally not advantageous to repeat a course for higher standing in any case. Both marks would appear on your transcript (the average is not used; a higher mark does not override a lower one). It is recommended that students accept their existing grade and move on in their academic program.

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COURSE REGISTRATION

Question: A course is shown as “blocked”. What should I do?

Answer: This is the message that appears when a department has removed student access to the course since it has reached its initial registration limit. The message also appears for “reserve” sections which will only be opened if demand and departmental resourses allow. Register on the waitlist for the course. You may be assigned a seat in the course if one becomes available. Do NOT continuously contact members of the Department over this situation.

Question: A course is shown as “restricted”. What should I do?

Answer: This is the message that appears when a department has set aside a specific number of seats for students who have certain program or faculty restrictions (i.e. 3rd year standing; non-BA; chemistry majors, etc.). YOU SHOULD TRY TO REGISTER FOR THE SECTION – YOU MAY BE PERMITTED TO REGISTER. If you are denied access to this section, please accept that you do not meet the course restrictions. Register onto the waitlist for the course and you may be assigned a seat in the course if one becomes available. Do NOT continuously contact members of the Department over this situation.

Question: If I am on a waitlist, what is the likelihood that I will get into the course?

Answer: We can't give you a definitive answer to this question. Seats will be assigned to waitlisted students if/when seats become available. (Seats can become available through factors such as students dropping the course, failing prerequisite courses, etc.) You must be patient - do NOT continuously contact members of the Department over this situation.

Question: How will I know if I get into a course for which I am on the waitlist?

Answer: Check the Student Service Centre website. If you get a seat in the course, it will show up on your timetable. As is mentioned on the website, the Department is UNABLE to advise students who are eventually placed into a course from a waitlist. You must check yourself.

Question: How soon will seats be assigned from the waitlist?

Answer: PLEASE BE PATIENT! Remember that courses do not begin until September (January). If a seat becomes available for you, it will show up on your timetable on the Student Service Centre. You can check the website on a regular basis to see any changes to your situation. See the previous question.

Question: Why was I dropped from the waitlist for a course?

Answer:  There are two major reasons for being dropped from a waitlist. If you lack the prerequisites for the course, you will be dropped from the waitlist. If your timetable will not allow a complete registration in a course you will be dropped from the waitlist. For example, although your timetable may be compatible with a lecture section, you have other courses blocking every possible laboratory offering and thus cannot have a complete registration in the course.

Question: Why was I put back onto a waitlist after I added the lecture for a course?

Answer: This situation almost invariably happens for courses that have both a lecture and a laboratory component. Once waitlisting becomes common due to capacity issues in courses, there may be a mismatch between any remaining lecture sections and compatible laboratory sections. Students must add themselves to both a lecture and a laboratory to complete their registration in a course. If only the lecture is added and no compatible laboratory is available, registration is incomplete. The Department will not overbook laboratories and thus the student is moved to the waitlist.

Question: Why was I placed in the T2 section of CHEM 211 when I had waitlisted for the T1 offering of the course?

Answer: CHEM 211 is one of only two chemistry courses (CHEM 235 is the other) that are offered in both semesters of winter session. It is assumed that a waitlisted student’s priority is to get into the course. Whenever possible the requested term is provided. Once the course is full and placement depends on other students dropping their registration, we still will continue to try and get everyone into the course, but this may mean registration in the other term. An alternate term placement will only be done if it does not create a conflict nor exceed the number of permitted credits for that term. If you are registered in the alternate term and wish to only be considered for registration in the term indicated, drop your lecture and place yourself back on the appropriate waitlist. Contact the Department to confirm that you wish placement, should space become available, only in the term indicated. As with any waitlisted situation, placement is not guaranteed.

Question: I’m waitlisted for a Term 2 course (e.g. CHEM 123 or CHEM 213), but am fully registered in the Term 1 prerequisite course (e.g. CHEM 121 or CHEM 203). Do I have any priority to be placed into the Term 2 course?

Answer: All students who successfully complete a first-term course which is a prerequisite course for a second-term course in the same year level will eventually be moved from the waitlist for the second-term course. This change in registration will not normally happen until late in December when the results of the prerequisite course become available.

Question: Can I register for CHEM 203 if my major is not Chemistry or Biochemistry?

Answer: No, these courses are available exclusively to students in majors, honours and combined honours programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry. No exceptions are made.

Question: What are my chances of being moved from the waitlist for CHEM 203 or CHEM 213? I really want to take a Chemistry or Biochemistry program.

Answer: There is a very high demand for these key courses in both the Chemistry and Biochemistry programs. There is an absolute limit to the capacity of these courses which is laboratory related. We will place the maximum number of students that we possibly can.

Question: I am an Unclassified (UNCL) student and am waitlisting for a course. The term is about to begin. What are my chances of being placed in the course?

Answer: It is University policy that Unclassified students (i.e. those who already hold an undergraduate degree) may not displace an undergraduate student who is currently pursuing a degree.  Accordingly, UNCL students will be the last to be placed.  Historically virtually all such students are eventually placed into the courses for which they are waitlisting.  However, this placement often may not occur until even the first week of term. Do NOT continuously contact members of the Department over this situation.

Question: I’m a third-year student and am having difficulty registering on a second-year chemistry/biochemistry standard timetable.

Answer: Third-year students do not qualify for registration in the chemistry/biochemistry STTs. Third-year students wanting to take courses offered only in STTs must register in the individual courses or on their waitlists.

Question: I’m having trouble adding a standard timetable to my worklist.

Answer: Have you declared your program?  If not, this is likely the cause of the problem.  Students cannot add a chemistry/biochemistry STT to their worklist until they declare a program.  This may not be possible until your actual registration date.  However, since the schedules of the various STTs are listed you can still plan your registration.  Note that you are advised to have alternative plans since some of the STTs will fill faster than others.

Students in other programs wishing to be considered for a change to majors chemistry should contact the department for assistance.

Question: Can I request that a course in a standard timetable be dropped before I am registered in the STT?

Answer: No. Please register for the STT before you request that any course(s) be dropped.

Question: Once I request that a standard timetable course be dropped, how long might it take for the course to be removed from my timetable?

Answer: We will process STT course drops as quickly as possible. The drops are usually done within a day of the request being received (and often sooner).

Question: Can I have my courses moved in order to optimize my timetable?

Answer: In the early stages of registration there is considerable flexibility in building an “ideal” timetable.  However, once courses are at their maximum capacity it is difficult to accommodate non-essential changes.  Students may request a change of section (except for those who registered via Standard Timetables) but should be aware that such a request may not be acted upon.  Some sections of both lecture and laboratories are in high demand and not everyone who wishes to be in such sections can be placed.  Often such moves will only be done if they involve mutual requests (i.e. interchange of registration assignments) of two or more students.

Question: I have completed an organic chemistry laboratory. Can I be exempted from CHEM 235?

Answer: Students who have successfully completed the laboratory component of CHEM 203 or its equivalent will normally be exempted from having to take CHEM 235 if it is required in their specialization.  Such students should contact the CHEM 235 laboratory director, Dana Zendrowski chem235@chem.ubc.ca  for assistance.  Such exemptions are only granted in the first semester of the winter term.

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COURSE PREREQUISITES

Question: Do I really have to have taken a mathematics course to register in CHEM 205?

Answer: Yes, the official prerequisite to CHEM 205 is now both a course in differential calculus (e.g. MATH 100 or equivalent) and two semesters of general chemistry.  A course in integral calculus (e.g. MATH 101 or equivalent) is not required but is recommended.

Question: I haven’t taken Grade 11 chemistry. Can I still register in CHEM 111 without this prerequisite?

Answer: Yes, but at your own risk.

Question: I have taken Grade 12 chemistry but it was a few years ago. Can I register in CHEM 111 instead of taking CHEM 121?

Answer: In general, all students with Grade 12 chemistry must take CHEM 121 rather than CHEM 111.  If MORE than 4 years has lapsed since you took high school chemistry, you would be permitted to take CHEM 111.  You will need to contact the department for assistance with registration since CHEM 12 on your record will prevent you from accessing CHEM 111.

Question: I have only taken Grade 11 chemistry. Can I register in CHEM 121 instead of taking CHEM 111?

Answer: It is strongly recommended that students with Grade 11 chemistry take CHEM 111 rather than CHEM 121.  However, if you opt to take the higher-level course (CHEM 121) and are unsuccessful you must repeat this course rather than “dropping back” to CHEM 111.

Question: What is the difference between CHEM 201 and CHEM 205? Which one should I take?

Answer: 

CHEM 205 is a course specifically designed for students in life science programs and complements CHEM 233.  There is no laboratory component to CHEM 205.  There is material presented in CHEM 205 that is not found in CHEM 201 since it is presented in CHEM 203 (only available to chemistry/biochemistry students).  CHEM 201 is required by students in chemistry and biochemistry programs as well as a few other programs.  There is a laboratory in CHEM 201.  Students in Life Science are directed to CHEM 205.  NOTE: that credit may not be obtained for both CHEM 201 and CHEM 205 (See the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion List).  Do not register in or waitlist for both courses.

Students who have successfully completed the laboratory component of CHEM 203 or its equivalent will normally be exempted from having to take CHEM 235 if it is required in their specialization.  Such students should contact the CHEM 235 laboratory director, Dana Zendrowski chem235@chem.ubc.ca  for assistance.  Such exemptions are only granted in the first semester of the winter term. 

Question: Why can’t I take CHEM 235 in the same term as CHEM 233?  Shouldn’t I take the courses at the same time?

Answer: The lecture capacity of CHEM 233 is more than double that of the laboratory course CHEM 235.  It is thus necessary that approximately half of the students in CHEM 235 take this course after completion of CHEM 233.  There is absolutely no detriment to taking the laboratory course subsequent to the lecture course.  Indeed, it may be more suitable for many students to have been exposed to the lecture material beforehand.  They will thus have a better understanding of the theory that underlies the experiments being performed in CHEM 235.

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TIMETABLE CONFLICTS

Question: I have registered for a lecture but all the laboratories that fit my timetable are full. What should I do?

Answer: It is suggested that you try to rebuild your timetable to access the space that is available. If you are unable to find a laboratory section that fits your timetable, you must drop the lecture section and register on the waitlist for the course.

Question: I wish to register for a course, but it would create a conflict in my timetable. What should I do?

Answer: Conflicts are not permitted.  You must choose between the courses, or wait for space to open in a section which fits your timetable.  It is expected that students can generally resolve most potential timetable conflicts by moving the existing courses in their timetable.  If you are unsuccessful in doing so, you should contact one of the departments concerned for assistance.  This should be done well before the start of classes.  Do NOT contact both departments for assistance as this may lead to action from both departments resulting in an even more complex situation. To request a timetable change for a chemistry course, you must complete a Chemistry Department Lecture/Laboratory Change Form available on the Chemistry website.  Note:  the Department may rebuild timetables in order to complete your registration.  You may not get the specific lecture or laboratory that you requested – you will get a timetable with no clashes.  As is mentioned on the website, the Department will NOT advise students who are eventually placed into a course.  You must check yourself.

Question: Can you move a chemistry course so that I can add another course that would cause a timetable conflict?

Answer: Timetable conflicts will not be allowed.  If you have another course that you wish to add which will be in conflict with a course in which you are currently registered, you will have to drop your current registration and place yourself on the waitlist for the course.  Add the new course and wait for possible re-registration in the original course.  As with any waitlisted situation, placement is not guaranteed.

Question: Why can’t I register in CHEM 203 or CHEM 213? I could not get into these courses last year but I now have third-year standing and thus register before second-year students and yet I still can’t register even though there is lots of space in the course.

Answer: There is a very high demand for these key courses in both the Chemistry and Biochemistry programs. There is an absolute limit to the capacity of these courses which is laboratory related. We will place the maximum number of students that we possibly can. It is not appropriate that students whose average was non-competitive for placement in these courses last year may now do so simply because they are a year older. Other students must contact the department regarding a possible program change and will be considered for manual placement when their average matches that of the current group of incoming second-year students. If you are unable to obtain these critical courses after two registration cycles it is strongly advised that you discuss alternate programs with an advisor in the Science Student Centre.

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