Course Registration

We recognize that many of our courses tend to fill up right away. In response, we have developed registration procedures to give us some flexibility in accommodating students in their course requests.

The process for registration on Bear Tracks is the same for both on-campus and online students. Registration for many courses is contingent upon completion of prerequisites or corequisites (please see the University Calendar). Need help? Visit uab.ca/reg for more information.

Before you register

As per the Graduate Student Manual Section 6.1: “students are ultimately responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their own registration” with assistance from the department and your academic advisor.

The following information is intended to help you navigate the registration process as easily and smoothly as possible.

  1. Review your program planner and consider your maximum course load.
  2. Consult course listings in the academic calendar for course pre- and corequisites.
  3. Contact your academic advisor if you have questions about completing required courses, pre- and corequisites.
  4. International Students Only: please confirm that you are meeting the requirements of the Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies' Tuition Framework and the University of Alberta International's Postgraduate Work Permit. Please make an appointment with an advisor at University of Alberta International if you have questions about study permits, immigration, tuition, housing, etc.
  5. Our pilot project creates two sections for most elective courses. One section is for students in the online learning stream, and the other section is for students in the on-campus learning stream.

IMPORTANT:  Please ensure that you register in the correct section. If you are in the online learning stream, register in the online section. If you are in the on-campus learning stream, register in the on-campus section. Details and examples follow:

  • Online sections are numbered 7XX
  • On-campus sections are numbered 8XX, AXX, or BXX

Planning your Course Load

For on-campus learning stream students:

  • On-campus students normally take up to 3 courses (9* credits) per term.
  • On-campus students can take up to 4 courses (12* credits) for one term over the course of the program, but only with their advisor’s approval.

For online learning stream students:

  • Online students normally take up to 2 courses (6* credits) per term.
  • Online students can take up to 3 courses (9* credits) for one term over the course of the program, but only with their advisor's approval.

External courses:

  • All students can take up to 3 elective graduate-level courses (9* credits) that are external to SLIS.
  • If you want to transfer a graduate-level course from outside the University of Alberta into your MLIS program, please complete the SLIS External Course Form. If applicable, you must also complete the appropriate agreement form, such as the Western Dean’s Agreement Form or the Canadian University Graduate Transfer Agreement form (usually available on the host institution’s website).
  • All external courses must be approved by your advisor before you take them.

IMPORTANT:  For all courses external to the University of Alberta, check which agreement (if any) applies between the University of Alberta and the institution where the course is offered so that you complete the correct form.  If you have questions about external courses, contact slis@ualberta.ca

Registration Procedures

Instructions for Online Learning Stream Students

  • Required course and elective course sections for students in the online learning stream are numbered 7XX. That means if you are in the online learning stream, you must register in sections numbered 7XX.

Examples

  • Required courses:
    • LIS 501 (section 700) - Online learning stream students register in this section
    • LIS 501 (section 701) - Online learning stream students register in this section
    • LIS 501 (section A01) - Online learning stream students DO NOT register in this section
  • Elective courses:
    • LIS 510 (section 700) - Online learning stream students register in this section
    • LIS 510 (section 800) - Online learning stream students DO NOT register in this section

Instructions for On-Campus Learning Stream Students

  • Required course sections for students in the on-campus learning stream are numbered LEC AXX (Fall semester) and LEC BXX (Winter semester). That means if you are in the on-campus learning stream, you must register for required courses numbered AXX and BXX .
  • Elective course sections for students in the on-campus learning stream are numbered 8XX. That means if you are in the on-campus learning stream, you must register in elective course sections numbered 8XX.

Examples

  • Required courses:
    • LIS 501 (section A01) - On-campus learning stream students register in this section
    • LIS 501 (section 700) - On-campus learning stream students DO NOT register in this section
    • LIS 501 (section 701) - On-campus learning stream students DO NOT register in this section
    • LIS 502 (section B01) - On-campus learning stream students register in this section
    • LIS 502 (section 700) - On-campus learning stream students DO NOT register in this section
  • Elective courses:
    • LIS 510 (section 800) - On-campus learning stream students register in this section
    • LIS 510 (section 700) - On-campus learning stream students DO NOT register in this section

What to Do When a Course Is Full

Please note: The BearTracks watchlist is unavailable until further notice.

  • Add your name to the SLIS Spring 2024 watchlist (wait list) by filling out this Google Form  
    • IMPORTANT: This Google Form will close the first day of the Spring term (May 6, 2024)
  • Add your name to the SLIS Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 watchlist (wait list) by filling out this Google Form
    • IMPORTANT: This Google Form form will close on the first day of the Fall term (September 3, 2024)
Instructions: These forms are for MLIS, MA(DH)/MLIS, and MBA/MLIS students ONLY. Use these forms to add yourself to the watchlist for LIS courses that are full. The School uses the watchlist to adjust the number of seats in courses and to make decisions about adding sections.
Per the Graduate Student Manual Section 6.1, “students are ultimately responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their own registration,” with assistance from the department and your academic advisor.
 
MLIS students are also permitted to take up to nine elective credits (three courses) outside the School. Consult your academic advisor for more information.

IMPORTANT: 
  • The Fall 2024/Winter 2025 form will close on the first day of the Fall term (September 3, 2024)
  • If you are no longer interested in taking a course you have placed on your watchlist, please remove yourself from the SLIS watchlist before the withdrawal date. To remove yourself from this watchlist, please edit your response, blank out your course choices, and leave a note in the "special considerations" field at the end of the form. 
  • Please be mindful that registering for more than the maximum number of courses during a term is taking a seat from another student.

Impacts of Add/Delete and Withdrawal Actions

The table below provides a basic overview of the financial implications of add/delete, withdrawal, and refund dates and deadlines. Please refer to the Registrar's page on Registration Dates and Deadlines and the University Calendar's Academic Schedule to confirm the specific deadlines .

Timeline Action Tuition

Before add/delete date (See Note 1 below)

Add / Delete: You can manually add or drop courses in Bear Tracks

Full tuition reimbursement

After add/delete date and before refund date (See Note 2 below)

Withdrawal: You cannot manually add or drop courses and must submit a withdrawal request

 50% reimbursement

After refund date and before withdrawal date (See Note 2 below)

Withdrawal: You cannot manually add or drop courses and must submit a withdrawal request

 No tuition reimbursement
After withdrawal date If you do not withdraw before the withdrawal deadline, you will be assigned a grade for the course that will appear on your transcript No tuition reimbursement

 
Notes:

  1. Dropping a course before the add/delete deadline means no academic record will be added to your transcript.
  2. Dropping a course anytime after the add/delete deadline means withdrawal is the only possible action if you are no longer going to finish a course. A withdrawal will be recorded as a “W” on your transcript in most cases.