Course Numbering
In most faculties, the courses numbered 100 to 199 are primarily for first-year students. Similarly, courses numbered 200 to 299 are primarily for second-year students, courses numbered 300 to 399 are for third-year students, and courses numbered 400 to 499 are for fourth-year students. Courses numbered 500 and above are considered graduate-level and are only available to undergraduate students by permission of the department concerned. Where a faculty uses a different style of course classification, the level of study will be indicated in the study program description.
Credit
The credit value of a course, where given, is shown in parentheses following the course number. In general, one credit represents one hour of instruction or two to three hours of laboratory work per week throughout one term of a Winter Session (September to December or January to May). A credit is approximately one semester hour.
Courses with Variable Credits
Some courses are listed with a choice of credit value. As an example, the form (2-6) implies that the course may be taken for any number of credits from 2 to 6 inclusive. The maximum credit value is that which may be obtained by a student during the complete program of study (i.e., it is not the maximum for a given year).
The credit value for some variable credit courses is determined by the student in consultation with the department offering the course.
Prerequisites and Corequisites
If specific studies are required as background to a certain course, they are notated as such in the course description. A prerequisite is a course that the student must have completed prior to registering for the selected course. A corequisite is a course that the student must take prior to, or concurrently with, the selected course. In some instances, prerequisites and corequisites may be waived at the discretion of the instructor. General prerequisites that apply to all courses in a list are frequently given just before the list. In a dispute over the adequacy of prerequisites, the course instructor will make the decision. In all cases where prerequisites are indicated, the implication is "or the equivalent" and "or the consent of the instructor."
Equivalents
An equivalent course indicates that it is a duplicate of the course selected. UBC courses are deemed equivalent to each other if they can be used interchangeably for academic requirements, prerequisites or corequisites, and grade replacement.
Hours
The number of hours assigned each week to lectures (first digit) and to laboratories (second digit) are shown in square brackets at the end of a course description. Where a third digit appears, it refers to periods where discussions, tutorials, or assigned problems are done. An asterisk (*) indicates alternate weeks. The first set of digits refers to the first term (September to December) and the second set to the second term (January to May); when only one set is given it means either term. Graduate courses and courses in some faculties are not so designated.
Special Topics Courses
Some courses offered as special topics are on offer as pilot courses for material that is later incorporated into permanent courses. In such instances where a special topic and permanent course substantially duplicate material, only one of the special topic or permanent course may be taken for credit.
Courses Offered
Not all courses listed are offered each year. Most courses offered in a Winter Session, as well as places and times of class meeting and names of instructors, appear in the online Course Schedule. For those courses not so listed, contact the department concerned.