Advising FAQ's

Who is my Academic Advisor?
If you are completing the General Studies degree or have not yet chosen a major for your BA or BSc degree, the Student Academic Advisor can help you with your course selection and program planning.

If you have declared your major or are taking a Professional Studies degree, inform the chairperson of your department, who will ensure that you have an Academic Advisor in your chosen department.

Click on the "Finding Your Advisor" link above to figure out who your Advisor is and find their contact information.

When should I meet with an Academic Advisor?
You should meet with an Academic Advisor several times throughout the year. It is very important that you meet with an advisor before you register for all sessions, Fall, Winter and Summer Sessions, to ensure that you are on the right track with your course selection and program planning.

Do I need to choose a major?
If you choose not to declare a major, you can complete a General Studies degree if you are registered in the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The BA General Studies and BSc General Studies degree requires students to complete a concentration in a subject with an option to complete a minor.

How and when do I declare a major?
Students intending to complete their degree with a major must declare their major before they register for their sixth unit of coursework. You will need to fill out a "Declaration/Change of Program form" and have it signed by the chair of the department of your major. Once she/he has signed the form, you then submit the form to the Registrar's Office to have your major officially registered on your program.

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How do I declare a minor?
You can declare your minor at the same time as you declare your major. If you have already declared your major or if are completing a General Studies degree, you will need to fill out a "Declaration/Change of Program form," have it signed by your advisor and then submit it to the Registrar's Office to have your minor officially registered on your program.

How do I find out my degree requirements?
You can read your degree requirements in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar. It is important that you are familiar with your degree requirements. Academic Advisors are available to assist you with your course selection and program planning and to help ensure you are on the right path with your program requirements. However, it is your responsibility as a student to be aware of your own degree requirements.

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What courses fall under groups A, B and C?
Please note: Check your program requirements in the Academic Calendar to see if you are required to take courses from groups A, B and C.

Group A Science & Mathematics	Group B Social Sciences	Group C Humanities
Applied Human Nutrition (listed under the science minor in the Academic Calendar) Applied Statistics (listed under Math) Biology Chemistry Computer Science Mathematics Physics Psychology	Canadian Studies (CANA) Communications Economics Family Studies & Gerontology Political Studies Psychology Sociology/Anthropology Women's Studies (WOMS)	Cultural Studies English French History Library Linguistics Writing (WRIT) Philosophy Religious Studies Spanish

How do I drop a course?
If you wish to drop a course, you must be aware of the drop/withdraw dates to ensure that you will not receive an academic penalty and what the financial penalties will be at the time of your drop/withdraw. These dates can be found in the Academic Calendar. If you still want to drop the course, you must fill out a "change form" and submit it to the Registrar's Office. If you are on Academic Probation, you must have the form signed by the Deans' Office in Seton 302 before submitting it to the Registrar's Office.

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How do I get permission to take a course at another university and transfer the course back to my degree at the Mount?
You will need to fill out an "Authorized External Course form" and submit the completed form to the Registrar's Office along with a course description of the course you wish to take. You will be notified by the Registrar's Office of approval then can proceed to register at the host institution.

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When do I register for my Fall/Winter courses?
Registration for Fall/Winter courses can take place as early as the end of February, however this may change from year to year. Registration for Summer Session courses usually starts in late January/early February.

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Who will advise me on the Bachelor of Education admission requirements?
If you are interested in applying to the Bachelor of Education program you should meet with the Academic Advisor, Heather Graham to review the admission requirements. You can contact msvu.ca or 902-457-6400 to book an appointment.

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What is considered part-time and what is full-time status?
Students are considered part-time if they are taking 2.5 (five courses) or fewer units during the regular academic year. Students are full time when they are enrolled in 3.0 or more units (six to ten courses) during the regular academic year.

What is Academic Probation?
Academic Probation is the academic standing that students are given based on their GPA. Students who have attempted 3.0 units during the academic year and have achieved a cumulative GPA between 1.0 and 1.699 will be placed on Academic Probation for the next academic year. You can read the complete Academic Probation Policy in the Academic Calendar.

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What is Academic Dismissal?
Students will be academically dismissed from the Mount for one academic year (12 months) if they fall into one of the following categories:

Students who have attempted at least 3.0 units and have a cumulative GPA less than 1.0.

Students who are on Academic Probation and have achieved a Term GPA of less than 1.7.

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When will I know if I will be placed on Academic Probation or Dismissal?
Students' academic standing is assessed once per year when winter semester results become available. Those students who will be placed on Academic Probation or Dismissal will be notified by mail by the first week of June. Dismissal appeals can be made to the Dean's Office in early June.

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