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Limits?

edited December 2008 in General
Are there limits or minimum amounts to how much 100, 200, 300 and 400 levels you can take?

Besides from the obvious "some courses require prerequisites" and those 400 level graduating seminars.

Thanks =]
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Comments

  • edited December 2008
    summerheaven;41984 said:
    Are there limits or minimum amounts to how much 100, 200, 300 and 400 levels you can take?
    Other than retakes, I don't think there really is a limit to the amount of course you can take in SFU. I mean, why would SFU limit the amount $$$ they can juice out of you? I have heard people graduating with 150+ credits because they switched program 3/4 through their degree and having to start from the bottom.

    However, I have heard that some departments (ex: CS [I think]) limit the amount of upper level courses their majors can take because demand outweighted supply.
  • edited December 2008
    Student0667;41986 said:
    However, I have heard that some departments (ex: CS [I think]) limit the amount of upper level courses their majors can take because demand outweighted supply.
    I have not heard this in my department.
  • edited December 2008
    The reason I'm asking is because my friend told me that there's a limit to the amount of 100 level courses you can take before they start not counting in your degree. Is that true? I'm looking over the list of courses I want to take (I know it may change in the future, but I like to plan plan plan) and it looks like I'll be taking a heck of a lot of 100 level courses.
  • edited December 2008
    Student0667;41986 said:


    However, I have heard that some departments (ex: CS [I think]) limit the amount of upper level courses their majors can take because demand outweighted supply.
    If you are not in CS and plan on taking 300 or 400 courses, they won't let you enroll until several weeks later. The seats are reserved and you'll have to be on the wait list even if there are tons of spots left. Although that could apply to any departments.
  • edited December 2008
    I thought you can't take more than 18 credits or so?
    I know you can't take more than four 300/400 level courses, at least in the CMNS department. Boo.
  • edited December 2008
    18 credits??? That's only like... 6 courses.... I thought you can take at least 10 courses/30 credits for each level...
  • edited December 2008
    no, 6 courses max (total) except for very few departments
  • edited December 2008
    I think what summerheaven is trying to get at is overall degree requirements.

    Your degree will specific how many upper division and lower division classes you can take. Check your departments listing on their section of the SFU website.

    A lot of degrees are 60 lower division, 60 upper division. So if you take 100 low division credits, forty of those will count for nothing.
  • edited December 2008
    I have taken more than 18 credits in a semester. I just needed permission from an advisor.
  • edited December 2008
    summerheaven;41997 said:
    18 credits??? That's only like... 6 courses.... I thought you can take at least 10 courses/30 credits for each level...
    Assuming 4 credits for 300/400 level courses would be 20 credits for five courses..over the limit.
  • edited December 2008
    nicole;41995 said:
    I thought you can't take more than 18 credits or so?
    Well, you normally can't take over 18 credits PER SEMESTER. Going over that 18 credits limit would be a course overload and you need your Faculty Dean's permission.
    Agentbob;41991 said:
    If you are not in CS and plan on taking 300 or 400 courses, they won't let you enroll until several weeks later.
    This would be "seat reservation." However, I swear to god that I have heard or read something about CS not letting their guys take more than the set amount of courses because there are simply too much guys in CS.
    iVamp;42000 said:
    A lot of degrees are 60 lower division, 60 upper division. So if you take 100 low division credits, forty of those will count for nothing.
    They will be meet the breadth requirements, that is IF you didn't manage to nail all the breadth courses in your 120 lower and upper division courses.
  • edited December 2008
    I'm really confused now, hahhaa. I'm looking at all the courses I want to take in the future and it looks like this:
    # of 100 levels = 19
    # of 200 levels = 10
    # of 300 levels = 11
    # of 400 levels = 2

    I'm doing a major in Humanities and it says that I need 18 units of lower level courses and 30 units of upper level courses. But these are all for my Humanities classes... I obviously need more courses to complete by Bachelor's, haha.

    Basically, I'm scared that 19 100-level courses are too much and I'm scared some of they won't count towards my degree.

    EDIT Oh hey guys, I'm not taking about courses PER semester... I mean... in total for my whole degree... hahha.
    iVamp;42000 said:
    I think what summerheaven is trying to get at is overall degree requirements.

    Your degree will specific how many upper division and lower division classes you can take. Check your departments listing on their section of the SFU website.

    A lot of degrees are 60 lower division, 60 upper division. So if you take 100 low division credits, forty of those will count for nothing.
    Yeah, that's what I mean. So I can take 60 credits of 100 level and then not take any 200 level or 300 level and take 60 credits of 400 level? I'm not doing this, just asking if it's possible, hahahhaa.
  • edited December 2008
    There shouldn't be any confusion, your degree specifies which courses they want you to take, and how many of upper division, and lower division it requires.

    Unfortunately, with the amount of required classes you'll have to take I extremely doubt youll be taking 19 lower division classes of your choosing.

    By the looks of it you will have credits not used for your degree, you can really plan this all out yourself before you start.
  • edited December 2008
    you're not limited in the number of courses you take, but you don't need to take more than 120 credits to get a degree.
  • edited December 2008
    primexx is an idiot








    that is all
  • edited December 2008
    Okay it says here:
    http://www.sfu.ca/arts/undergraduate/BAOptions.html#Major

    At least 120 units are required, which include:

    -at least 65 units in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences subjects
    -at least 45 upper division units, including at least 30 upper division units in a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences major program; no more than 15 upper division units transferred from another institution may be used toward the requirements for a major
    -lower division requirements for at least one Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences major
    -satisfaction of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements (WQB Requirements)

    So I guess there's really no limit then? Haha.
  • IVTIVT
    edited December 2008
    primexx;42009 said:
    you're not limited in the number of courses you take, but you don't need to take more than 120 credits to get a degree.
    captain_obvious.jpg
  • edited December 2008
    Why would there be an upper limit? Seriously.
  • edited December 2008
    summerheaven;42012 said:
    Okay it says here:
    http://www.sfu.ca/arts/undergraduate/BAOptions.html#Major

    At least 120 units are required, which include:

    -at least 65 units in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences subjects
    -at least 45 upper division units, including at least 30 upper division units in a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences major program; no more than 15 upper division units transferred from another institution may be used toward the requirements for a major
    -lower division requirements for at least one Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences major
    -satisfaction of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements (WQB Requirements)

    So I guess there's really no limit then? Haha.


    NOTE:

    For changes to Major/Joint Major effective 1 September 08 refer to the SFU 08/09 calendar and contact the Advisor:

    Admission to Humanities Programs
    Please apply to:
    Christine Prisland,
    Manager, Academic and Administrative Services
    Department of Humanities and Asia-Canada Program
    AQ5114
    Ph: 778-782-4094 Fax: 778-782-4504


    MAJOR PROGRAM (Requirements prior to 31 August 08)

    For current requirements refer to the SFU 08/09 calendar and contact the Advisor.

    Offers a strong interdisciplinary area of study for students.

    Lower Division Requirements
    18 lower division credits, including:
    HUM 101-3 Introduction to Humanities
    plus one of:
    HUM 105-3 Western Civilization from the Ancient World to the Reformation Era
    HIST 106-3 Western Civilization from the Reformation Era to the 20th Century
    plus one of:
    PHIL 150-3 History of Philosophy I
    PHIL 151-3 History of Philosophy II
    plus one of:
    HUM 201-3 Great Texts in the Humanities I
    HUM 202-3 Great Texts in the Humanities II
    HUM 203-3 Great Texts in the Humanities III
    plus two further lower division humanities courses.

    Upper Division Requirements
    30 credits in humanities courses which must include HUM 495-2 Humanities Graduating Seminar. Students may, with prior approval of the humanities advisor, substitute one humanities related upper division course from other academic units towards this requirement.

    + You need to satisfy breadth, and WQB requirements...there is a limit once you take all your required classes...and by limit I mean count towards your degree...you can take extra classes if you want to but there wont be much use
  • edited December 2008
    ^The quote I posted before is for Bachelor of Arts, what you are posting is from the Humanities Major. Where did you get that information from? It's different form the Calendar for 08/09
    http://students.sfu.ca/calendar/humanities.htm

    Major Program

    Lower Division Requirements

    Students complete 18 lower division units including

    HUM 101W-3 Introduction to the Humanities

    and two of

    HUM 102W-3 Classical Mythology

    HUM 105-3 Western Civilization from the Ancient World to the Reformation Era

    HUM 130-3 Introduction to Religious Studies

    and one of

    HUM 201-3 Great Texts in the Humanities I

    HUM 202-3 Great Texts in the Humanities II

    HUM 203-3 Great Texts in the Humanities III

    and two further lower division humanities courses.

    Upper Division Requirements

    Thirty units in upper division humanities* courses which must include

    HUM 495-2 Humanities Graduating Seminar

    Students are expected to include a breadth of humanities courses in fulfilling the upper division requirement. Therefore, they must consult the student advisor to plan their upper division course selection.

    *In support of the humanities interdisciplinary approach, with humanities advisor prior approval, students may substitute one humanities-related upper division course from another academic unit towards the upper division humanities requirement. The same course may not be used toward more than one program (honors, joint honors, major, joint major, minor or extended minor). See the first paragraph for a definition of humanities related subjects.


    I think yours is from the year before, because they took out the PHIL classes this year.
    ...there is a limit once you take all your required classes...and by limit I mean count towards your degree...you can take extra classes if you want to but there wont be much use
    What do you mean by that exactly? If there is a limit, what is the limit? Can you give me the number?

    What I'm asking is, is there a maximum amount of first year courses you can take before they don't count for my degree?
    From the Bachelor of Arts FAQ, it looks like there isn't because it says you must complete a MINIMUM of 120 credits, andat least 45 must be upper division, meaning at least 75 must be lower division. So if I take, say, 80 lower division, it'll still count towards my degree (meaning, it still goes into my CGPA and I'll graduate with 125 credits.)
  • edited December 2008
    I think you're a bit confused...I think you're looking at a general guideline.

    To get a bachelor of arts you need a major...unless youre doing general studies I think? Without declaring a major or minor or something you can't even enroll in some courses sometimes.

    Which is why I posted the Humanities Major, I think mine even said it might be a year off.

    Anyway, to graduate you need to satisfy the WQB requirements, you need to take xxxx amount of classes as specified. You also need to satisify breadth requirements, xxxx amount of classes as specified. Some of the classes you want to take might satisfy these, some won't, and you'll have to compensate accordingly.

    There isn't a limit in the sense that they will stop you from taking courses. To answer your question You need to satisfy the requirements of your major, WQB requirements, and Breadth requirements to graduate There is a limit implied in your majors outline (because after you take all the courses SFU *forces* you to take, you may have eaten up a lot of your elective courses (the ones you get to freely choose). I say implied, because you have to take required courses...your electives are entirely up to you.

    To answer your question "So if I take, say, 80 lower division, it'll still count towards my degree (meaning, it still goes into my CGPA and I'll graduate with 125 credits.)" -- it depends on your major's requirements. Some majors make you take 60 credits of upper division, some less, it really depends. You still get credit for any classes you take over 120 credits...as for the CGPA thing I dont know, because I dont know many people who take too many classes. I think if you have over 120 credits, you might have to specify which ones you are not using to graduate...(which might mean only the GPA of the 120 classes would be your graduation GPA0?) I'm not sure.

    Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

    Students completing degree programs must fulfil writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of their program. See “Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements” on page 7 for information. For the faculty’s requirements, see “Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements” on page 134.

    Major Program

    Lower Division Requirements

    Students complete 18 lower division units including

    HUM 101W-3 Introduction to the Humanities

    and two of

    HUM 102W-3 Classical Mythology

    HUM 105-3 Western Civilization from the Ancient World to the Reformation Era

    HUM 130-3 Introduction to Religious Studies

    and one of

    HUM 201-3 Great Texts in the Humanities I

    HUM 202-3 Great Texts in the Humanities II

    HUM 203-3 Great Texts in the Humanities III

    and two further lower division humanities courses.

    Upper Division Requirements

    Thirty units in upper division humanities* courses which must include

    HUM 495-2 Humanities Graduating Seminar

    Students are expected to include a breadth of humanities courses in fulfilling the upper division requirement. Therefore, they must consult the student advisor to plan their upper division course selection.

    *In support of the humanities interdisciplinary approach, with humanities advisor prior approval, students may substitute one humanities-related upper division course from another academic unit towards the upper division humanities requirement. The same course may not be used toward more than one program (honors, joint honors, major, joint major, minor or extended minor). See the first paragraph for a definition of humanities related subjects.
  • edited December 2008
    summerheaven;42058 said:
    What I'm asking is, is there a maximum amount of first year courses you can take before they don't count for my degree?
    I do not believe there is such a limit. All the course you take will all be counted toward your degree.

    However, I don't understand why you would want to take over 120 credits.
  • edited December 2008
    There is a implied limit student0667, because each degree specifies how many lower division you can take (due to the amount of upper division you have to take). Whether it be 100 or 200 is up to the students choice, as long as they satisfy their required courses.

    It is only a limit in the sense that any excess won't count towards your degree, but will still count for credit and CGPA
  • edited December 2008
    Because there are a lot of interesting classes that you wish to do?
  • edited December 2008
    iVamp;42064 said:
    There is a implied limit student0667, because each degree specifies how many lower division you can take (due to the amount of upper division you have to take). Whether it be 100 or 200 is up to the students choice, as long as they satisfy their required courses.
    My impression is that as long as you fulfill your program requirement and take 120 credits, you can take as much courses as you want. Besides, like I always say, why would SFU limit the amount of courses their student can take. The more courses students take, the more $$$ SFU make.

    Besides, there are students out there (ex: cowmilk 11) that change program half way through their degree and they have to start fresh. Therefore, they pretty much has to take more lower level courses then they need.
    It is only a limit in the sense that any excess won't count towards your degree, but will still count for credit and CGPA
    Yes, that's it. The rest will be GPA booster or killer.
    JayDub said:
    Because there are a lot of interesting classes that you wish to do?
    *Sarcasm* Yeah, I always wanted to take a Women Studies course and found out just how much women can hate men.
  • edited December 2008
    I have a list of classes I want to take but I will already have over 120 credits. Classes such as

    PHYS 192 - Logarithm and Blues
    PHYS 190 - Astronomy
    HSCI 120 - Intro to Human Sexuality
    CRIM 241 - Intro to Corrections (field trip to jails!)
    CNS 390 - Hockey in Canadian Pop Culture
    EASC 310 - Paleontology
    ARCH 226 - The Shamans ones
    ARCH 252 - Egypyt and Africa
    ARCH 131 - Human Orgins
    ARCH 373 - Human Osteology
    ARCH 4xx - Forensic Anthropology
    COGS 100 - Intro to Cogs
    REM 100 - Global Change.

    Just to name a few.
  • edited December 2008
    JayDub;42068 said:
    I have a list of classes I want to take but I will already have over 120 credits. Classes such as

    PHYS 192 - Logarithm and Blues
    PHYS 190 - Astronomy
    HSCI 120 - Intro to Human Sexuality
    CRIM 241 - Intro to Corrections (field trip to jails!)
    CNS 390 - Hockey in Canadian Pop Culture
    EASC 310 - Paleontology
    ARCH 226 - The Shamans ones
    ARCH 252 - Egypyt and Africa
    ARCH 131 - Human Orgins
    ARCH 373 - Human Osteology
    ARCH 4xx - Forensic Anthropology
    COGS 100 - Intro to Cogs
    REM 100 - Global Change.

    Just to name a few.
    Well, not all of us have a ROTP scholarship curtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces. So, we'll rather leave the moment we get 120 credits. However, if money is no option, then I am interested in trying a Triple Major in History/ Humanities/ Asian Studies.
  • edited December 2008
    What's your major Jay? CS? That's a pretty good list. I would definitely recommend REM100, good course. I still need a couple more credits for lower division, so I'm planning on taking Greek mythology and religion studies.
  • edited December 2008
    I am major in CS, minor in Crim and certificate in lib arts and innovative leadership.

    Classes I have already taken... I am going to have to remember this:

    Fall '06
    CMPT 126
    MACM 101
    MATH 151
    PHIL 100
    EASC 103 (Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs)

    Spring '07
    CMPT 150, 165, 225
    GERM 104
    PHYS 101
    MATH 152

    Fall 07
    ENSC 250
    HIST 101
    STAT 270
    CRIM 135
    MATH 232

    SPRING 08
    CMPT 275
    CMPT 300
    CRIM 101
    CRIM 135
    MACM 201

    Summer 08
    CMPT 363

    Fall 08
    CMPT 310, 320, 371
    MACM 316
    CRIM 355

    Spring 09
    CMPT 307, 376
    ARCH 200
    HUM 130
    CRIM 356, 402
  • edited December 2008
    iVamp;42062 said:
    I think you're a bit confused...I think you're looking at a general guideline.
    Yes, I am looking at my general guidelines, and that's what I am asking. For Humanities, you need 18 lower division credits and you obviously don't stop there, at 18 credits. That's why not only am I looking at my Humanities Major requirement, I am also looking at my Bachelor of Arts requirement as well.

    There isn't a limit in the sense that they will stop you from taking courses.
    I know that, my questions is, is there a point where you take so many first year courses that they don't count for your CGPA anymore?



    I honestly do not understand why you keep copying and pasting the Humanities major requirements and talking about WQB, I'm already clear about this and it does not relate to my question in any way.
    JayDub;42071 said:
    I am major in CS, minor in Crim and certificate in lib arts and innovative leadership.
    I'm hoping to do a certificate in Liberal Arts as well! That's why I seem to have an overload of first level courses....

    I think I've pretty much figured out the answer to my own question, thanks to everyone who gave me a clear answer.
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