To be added to Part C Grading Regulations
C1. Course Outlines
It should replace section C1-1. Definitions relevant to various courses
Then the original Section C1-1 becomes section C1-2.
C1-2. Course Definitions
A: Courses identified by degree plans.
1. Required Course
A compulsory course identified in the programme of a degree plan and which is required for
graduation. Required courses can be at all levels of a degree including University, college,
department, major, specialization and minor.
2. Elective Course.
A course that can be selected from a list of alternatives as described in the degree plan and
which is required to complete the credit requirement of the programme. This can be at the
level of University, College, Department, Major, Minor or Specialization.
B: Courses with attributes independent of a degree plan
These attributes determine the sequence in which courses are taken and their contribution
towards calculation of the GPA. They are purely course attributes decided by the course
owner as detailed on the Course Data Collection Form.
1. Prerequisite Course
A course that must be passed before a more advanced course is taken. The prerequisite
course usually has a lower numeric designation than the more advanced one. (e.g.
MATH2108 ‘Calculus II is the prerequisite for MATH3109 Calculus III).
Under certain circumstances Instructors can opt to waive a prerequisite for a particular
student.
This is usually when a student has taken another course which covers similar topics
to the missing prerequisite or when degree progression would be considerably
delayed. Allowing concurrent registration in a course and its prerequisite is not
advised as there is often either a clash in lectures or final examination schedules.
2. Co-requisite Courses
These are usually two courses identified in a degree work plan that are scheduled to be
taken simultaneously during the same semester. If one of the courses is failed however, it
may be repeated by itself in a following semester.
Definitions of courses update
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3. Equivalent Course
An equivalent course is identified on the Course Data Collection Form of the course for
which it is equivalent.
(e.g. In the course Data Collection Form of Course A (identified by a unique
alphanumeric code ABCD1234), Course B(CDEF5678) is identified as an equivalent).
Taking the equivalent course will replace the credit and grade value of the other course.
For GPA calculations, the grade of the last course replaces that of the earlier course.
There are two forms of equivalence:
a. Two way equivalence
Course A can replace Course B or Course B can replace Course A depending on the semester
sequence in which they are taken. The later course always replaces the earlier course
irrespective of the grade value.
b. One way equivalence
Course B can replace Course A, but Course A cannot replace Course B. This is usually applied
in cases where Course B is four credits and Course A is three credits, but may also apply in
cases where the credit values are equal.
4. Incompatible Course
An Incompatible course is one that cannot be taken by a student because the student has
already taken and passed another course with similar course content or learning outcomes.
5. Substitute Course
See Section D3
6. Transfer Credit
See Section A5
Definitions of courses update
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