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Suggested First Year Courses for all Communication and Culture Students

First year students in Communication and Culture programs, whether or not they have decided on a Major, are encouraged to explore courses in a variety of areas from within and outside the Faculty. It is recommended that a first year program include:

• General Studies 201 (strongly recommended)
• At least three of the following:
  • Canadian Studies 201
  • Communications Studies 201
  • Development Studies 201
  • Film 201
  • Latin American Studies 201 or 203
  • Law and Society 201
  • Museum and Heritage Studies 201
  • Science, Technology and Society 201
  • Women's Studies 201

If desired courses in the above list are unavailable or present timetable conflicts, other 200-level courses from any Faculty may be substituted.

• At least one full-course equivalent chosen from the Faculties of Fine Arts, Humanities, Science or Social Sciences.

Communication and Culture degree programs may include senior-level courses offered by other Faculties either as core requirements or as options. It is therefore useful to take first year courses from a variety of other areas. For example, students pursuing a degree in Law and Society might include a first year course from Political Science and History. Those interested in taking Development Studies might take a first year course in Geography and Economics.

Students seeking advice on first year course selection may contact the Undergraduate Programs Office.

Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet degree and program requirements. While the Undergraduate Programs Office (UPO) endeavours to assist all students as they proceed in the various programs, a final and thorough check is not done until the final year of the program, upon application for graduation. Students are cautioned, therefore, to check all regulations with respect to the degree requirements.

Academic advice can be obtained from the UPO or directly from the Assistant/Associate Deans or Division Heads. Consultation with the Undergraduate Programs Office is recommended to ensure that all graduation requirements are met. Any departure from standard program requirements must receive prior written authorization by the Assistant Dean (Student Affairs) or designate.

Students may formally declare Minor Fields and have these officially recorded on their transcripts. This declaration may be made not later than the time of the last registration. Students should keep in mind that courses taken to fulfill Major Field requirements may not be used in fulfillment of Minor Field requirements. Students are advised that course work in addition to the normal 20 full-course equivalents may be required if a formal Minor program is declared. Minor Fields may be taken from Continuing Education and the Faculties of Communication and Culture, Education, Fine Arts, Haskayne School of Business, Humanities, Medicine, Science and Social Sciences.

The equivalent of five full courses in the Fall/Winter Sessions represents a normal full load. Students who have completed such a course load in the previous session with a grade point average of at least 3.20 will normally be permitted to register for one additional course. Students who do not meet this criterion may register for a six-course load only with the special permission of the Assistant Dean (Student Affairs). It should be pointed out that extra courses represent substantial burdens and may damage overall performance. Opportunities for accelerated progress also exist through credit courses in the Spring and Summer Sessions and credits obtained "by special assessment."

Unless their program requires it, students may not register for senior courses (300 and above) until they have successfully completed at least three full-course equivalents at the junior (200) level.

Students will not be permitted to withdraw more than once from a particular course. Students will be required to withdraw from the Faculty if they have accumulated a total of more than five full-course equivalent withdrawals while in attendance at the University of Calgary. Subject to the regulations specified above, students may withdraw from courses by using the online Student Centre. The withdrawal must be processed prior to the deadline specified in the Academic Schedule in this Calendar. Before deciding to withdraw from a course, students should seek advice on the implications of this action with their Division Head or from the Assistant Dean (Student Affairs) in the Undergraduate Programs Office.

Students wishing to withdraw completely from the University should refer to B.14 of the Academic Regulations section of this Calendar.

Students may obtain credit in certain courses without completing the requirements in the normal way through an academic session. Application should be made on the appropriate form headed "Permission to Take Courses by Special Assessment" and should be presented to the Assistant Dean (Student Affairs). Forms are available in the Undergraduate Programs Office and U of C Service Stop.

Not more than five full-course equivalents completed "by special assessment" may be counted towards a degree.

Students may be authorized to take some program course work at another university if registration as a visiting student is acceptable to that university. Students with poor academic performance, such as being on probation or having a large number of withdrawals, will not be allowed such privileges.

Students may apply online for such authorization by requesting a Letter of Permission through the Student Centre and must provide to the Undergraduate Programs Office full details of the proposed courses and the total hours of instruction (machine copies of actual calendar descriptions are preferred). The student will be advised officially by letter of the acceptability of the proposed courses for transfer credit in the program and an appropriate letter will be sent to the Registrar of the other university.

It will be the responsibility of the student to ensure that an official transcript of grades is forwarded directly to the Registrar of this University in order that appropriate credit may be officially recorded.