A category of the type of programs and courses. Each career has its own transcript and program and course grading structure.
Codes and Values:
UGRD - Undergraduate
EXST - Continuing Education
Students working toward a credential or taking ministry approved credit programs and their corresponding courses are assigned to an academic career of undergraduate.
Students taking courses for professional accreditation, professional development, institutional credential or personal enrichment are assigned to an academic career of Continuing Education.
A categorization within the program of study available to a program for a particular requirement term. It defines the academic requirements within the program of study which a student is required to complete.
If a program has the option of majors and/or minors, they use numerical and alphabetical codes to define the majors and minors. The primary major uses a 6-digit number while the secondary majors and minors use an alpha code.
For government reporting, academic plans are referred to as specializations with unique codes linking to the Alberta program registry system.
Categorization of a combination of admission requirements, courses, regulations, and learning outcomes as determined by the university. The structure of an academic program includes one or more academic plans and is defined by a title and academic program code.
Ministry-approved Program
A credential or non-credential academic program that has been approved by the Alberta government and is listed in the Ministry's program registry system.
University-approved Program
A credential or non-credential academic program approved by the School or Faculty Council, such as certificates of achievement, micro-credentials, and professional development certificates.
Programs belong to either the Undergraduate or Continuing Education career.
A list of undergraduate programs: MacEwan.ca/programs
A list of continuing education programs: MacEwan.ca/sceprograms
See Policies:
Credentials
Curriculum
A three- or four-character identifier, with the first character representing the course's relative level and place in the program, as normalized against a standard four-year undergraduate degree program. For example PSYC 104 and MATH 499.
Catalog numbers that start with zero cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of a ministry-approved credential. For example, MATH 099 and ENGL 030-1.
A single offering of a course; a course may have multiple class offerings within a term. Outlines the specific delivery, times, days and room associated with each unique class.
Classes are identified by the course code followed by a class section code unique to schedule of classes i.e. PSYC 104 AS01.
A course that requires concurrent enrolment in another course.
A learning experience consisting of one or more components. Courses may focus on a single topic or a number of related topics as described in the course description and syllabus.
Each course has a unique system-generated ID number, however, courses are generally identified by the course code which is a combination of the subject code and catalog number such as PSYC 104 (course ID 006926).
The instructional format of a course. Courses are made up of single or multiple components which are scheduled as classes.
Codes and values:
- CLN - Clinical
- COOP - Coop Placement
- FPL - Field Placement
- INT - Internet
- LAB - Laboratory
- LEC - Lecture
- PRC - Practicum
- PRN - Print Base
- RSC - Research
- SEM - Seminar
- TEL - Teleconferencing
- VID - Video
A short description that conveys a general overview of the course topic(s).
Examples:
- Practical Tax Applications
- Adolescent Development
- Introductory Sociology
In PeopleSoft, Course Name is referred to as Catalog Description.
Credit courses which are curriculum components of a Program of Study intended to supplement, not replace, any part of the program core. They present students with the choice and opportunity to vary their curriculum according to individual interests. Electives may specify discipline and or level of study conditions, but do not restrict students to a prescribed list of specific courses.
The Program of Study requirements will dictate what is acceptable for the type of elective:
Elective Within the Discipline: the course must be within the student's discipline.
Elective Outside the Discipline: the course must be from outside the student's discipline or Faculty/School.
Open Elective: the course can be from any discipline or Faculty/School.
Definition as per the Program of Study Information found in the MacEwan Academic Calendar.
Two-way recognition of internal or external credit that applies to all students regardless of their program. In cases of course evolution, the new and old versions must be reviewed to determine if it should still be considered equivalent.
The Office of the University Registrar is responsible for the coordination, information dissemination, administration and maintenance of equivalent course information.
Policies:
Inter-Institutional Transferability
Internal Recognition of Credit Courses
The standard measure of enrolment used in the Alberta post-secondary system which allows for comparison of enrolments across the system.
It is calculated by dividing the student's total credits taken by the program load associated with the student's academic plan and year of study.
For example, Bachelor of Arts student taking 12 credits in a year would have 0.40 FLEs which is calculated as follows:
Credits/Program Load = FLE
12 / 30 = 0.40
The GPA is a weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all grade points by the sum of all credits attempted. It is calculated to two decimal points and is truncated.
Non-credit courses and courses with the grade value of W (Withdrawal), TR (Transfer Credit), CR/NCR (Credit/No Credit), or AU (Audit) are not included in any GPA calculations.
Academic Standing GPA (ASGPA)
Calculated by dividing the sum of total grade points achieved by the sum of all credits attempted during the academic standing year where a minimum of 18 credits has been attempted.
Cumulative GPA (CGPA)
Calculated by dividing the sum of total grade points achieved by the sum of all credits attempted. The cumulative GPA shows on the transcript.
Fall/Winter GPA (FWGP)
Calculated by dividing the sum of total grade points achieved in the Fall/Winter terms by the sum of all credits attempted during the Fall/Winter terms. Used for GPA calculation of some scholarships, awards, and bursaries.
Graduation GPA (GGPA)
Calculated by dividing the sum of total grade points achieved and counted towards a program credential by the sum of all those credits. The value is not included on the transcript.
Merit GPA (MGPA)
Calculated when a student has 12 or more credits in two consecutive terms. Awarded to students who achieve First Class Standing or Dean's List for their Academic Standing GPA. A merit GPA does not show on the transcript.
Term GPA (TGPA)
Calculated by dividing the sum of grade points achieved in a term by the sum of all credits attempted in that term. A term GPA shows on the transcript.
See Policy:
Grading Policy
Identifies how a class section is delivered.
Codes and values:
P - In-Person: Taught face-to-face during regularly scheduled class times. Classes can have a maximum of 30% of content taught online.
OA - Online–Asynchronous: Online learning does not require real-time interaction; instead, content is available online for students to access when it best suits their schedules. Classes have 100% of content taught online and assignments are completed to deadlines.
OS - Online–Synchronous: Online learning happens in real time during a scheduled class time. Online activities vary depending on the course and the instructor. Examples of synchronous activities might include online lectures, class discussions (optional or mandatory), office hours, and exam reviews. Classes have 100% of content taught online.
HY - Hybrid: Incorporates both an in-person and online component. Classes have between 30-70% of content in-person.
IL - Independent Learning: Instructional activities that allow students to pursue a specific topic of interest. Students work independently with a professor who acts as a research, field-specific, or performance supervisor. There are no formal class meetings, lectures, or readings other than what is agreed to with the supervisor. (This can include research courses, private lessons, or other one-on-one instruction).
HF - HyFlex: Combines “hybrid” and “flexible.” Each scheduled class is offered in-person, and synchronously online. HyFlex represents a small proportion of the classes offered.
Historic codes and values:
- CC - Contracted Course
- OL - Online
- WL - Workplace Learning
A course that must be successfully completed before another course can be taken.
An approved pattern of coursework that provides the program structure for a credential.
The POS may change over time. The authoritative source for course descriptions, rules and regulations that apply to students is the Academic Calendar.
The POS that applies to students is determined by the academic calendar and the requirement term associated with their admission and/or academic plan.
The Academic Calendar can be found at:
Identifies the academic year which governs the program of study and institutional regulations required for graduation from a Ministry-approved academic program.
The initial requirement term is applied at the time of application and matches the admit term. In baccalaureate programs with majors and minors, the requirement term is governed by the date on which a student declares or changes a major or minor.
See Policy:
Graduation
A way to subdivide a term into multiple time periods in which to offer classes. Numbers are used during the scheduling process to identify which session is being used.
The following sessions are offered at the University:
Undergraduate:
Fall term
1 = regular 13-week session
2 = variable session
Winter term
1 = regular 13-week session
2 = variable session
Spring/Summer Term
1 = regular 13-week session
2 = variable session
3 = spring session (May/June)
4 = summer session (July/August)
5 = May session
6 = June session
7 = July session
8 = August session
School of Continuing Education (SCE)
9 = Open Entry Exit (OEE)
Regular and variable sessions are most common in fall/winter.
A 4-digit alphabetic code that represents the subject area or discipline of a course which is determined by the department.
Examples include:
ANTH - Anthropology
ECON - Economics
NURS - Nursing
THPR - Theatre Production
Policy:
Course Approvals and Changes Procedures
The periods of instruction into which the academic year is usually divided: Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer. The term dates are published in the Academic Schedule.
See Policy:
Academic Schedule
The official and certified statement of a student’s academic record. It is a subset of the official student record and includes the legal name, birth date, academic program, courses, grades, academic standing, the program of graduation, graduation date as well as other transcript notations as approved in policy.
See Policies:
Continuing Education, C2015
Grading, C2020
Management of Student Records and Information, E1050
List of students requesting enrolment for a class already at the enrolment capacity. Those who meet the enrolment requirement(s) will be systematically enrolled in the class if space becomes available.
Information regarding specific dates for waitlist closures and when students are removed from the list is in the Academic Calendar under academic schedule.
The Academic Calendar is located at: