Core Sciences First-Year Registration

The following information is part of Step 1: Program Requirements of the Course Registration Guide for Core Sciences students. To view the remaining steps, consult the Course Registration Guide.

On this page:

• Core Sciences information
• Selecting first-year courses
• Course offerings (with open registration and restrictions)
• Registration notes
• After registration

If you have further questions related to Core Science or course planning, contact the Faculty of Science Academic Advising Office.

Core Sciences Information

Core Sciences is a year 1 foundational pathway (not a program from which you can graduate) designed to help you prepare to transfer to an Honours program for Year 2. An honours program consists of a minimum of 20.0 credits and is normally taken over four academic years with an area of specialization.

Core Sciences students may explore disciplines of interest in the Faculty of Science during their first year.

There are no required courses for this foundational pathway. You will prepare a list of courses that you would like to register in which should include required courses in one or two programs of interest, plus general electives.

Selecting First-Year Courses

We recommend following these steps when selecting your first-year courses.

1. Review First-Year Program Requirements: Faculty of Science and create a list that narrows down programs that interest you.
2. Make a list of the required courses for your program(s) of interest. Note: Many Faculty of Science programs have common foundational courses.
3. Use Step 2: Choose Electives of the Course Registration Guide to select electives to complete your list of courses. 

Faculty of Science Course Offerings

Core Sciences courses are offered on both the Waterloo and Milton campuses. Where applicable, you may need to have the required high school prerequisite course(s). Make sure you check for any prerequisites or restrictions using Browse Classes prior to registration. 

With registration restrictions for some courses, you may not be able to complete your full registration, for both fall and winter terms, during your first attempt. However, you should aim to register for as many courses as possible, early in the registration period, for best selection.

Courses with Restrictions

To register in these course(s) you need permission from the department offering the course. Restrictions are in place for most MA (Mathematics) courses to ensure that the student has a strong mathematical foundation for success. To obtain permission, you must complete a Departmental Override Form. The Registration Tips for First-Year Mathematics Courses page has further details.

• CH130
• CH131
• MA100
• MA101
• MA102
• MA103
• MA104
• MA120
• MA121
• MA122
• MA123

If you are interested in registering for a first year calculus course (SC101, MA100, MA102, MA103):

1. Complete the Calculus Preparation Evaluation (CPE).
2. Then, complete the 100-Level Math Override Form.

Your CPE score, together with your Grade 12 Advanced Functions grade and completed 100-Level Math Override Form, will be taken into consideration in your request to register for MA course(s).

Registration Notes

SC100: Introduction to the Science of Everyday Life is a course intended for students outside of the Faculty of Science and is not intended for those who are looking to pursue a program in the Faculty of Science.

HE (Health Sciences) and KP (Kinesiology) courses are only available for Honours Health Sciences and Honours Kinesiology students to take respectively.

After Registration

After you've completed your registration, here are some additional steps you can take.

Have an Academic Advisor Check Your Registration

An academic advisor can review your course selections and provide recommendations based on your program(s) of interest for transfer after year 1.

To have an academic advisor review your courses, complete the course registration check form (available June 25 at 3 p.m.).

Program Transfer

In general, any student may elect to request a transfer to an open enrolment program upon completion of Year 1 of studies.

Most programs are open to internal transfer. To transfer to a program:

• You must meet the minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) progression/transfer requirements for the program of interest and have all high school pre-requisite courses (or equivalents) for admission.
• For the full transfer process, see the Making Changes to Your Program page.

Note: that the Honours Health Sciences program and Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology program are highly competitive, limited enrolment programs, for which internal transfer after Year 1 is rare.