Academic Calendar – A publication that provides information on Redeemer’s programs, policies, regulations, courses, and degree requirements. View the Academic Calendar.
Academic Year – Each academic year runs from September to April and consists of two terms.
Admissions Counsellor – Employee of the Admissions Department who assists prospective students, applicants, parents and high school guidance counsellors through the admission process.
Antirequisite – An antirequisite is a course that overlaps with the material of another class, meaning that a student cannot take both classes for credit, because they are too similar. For example, a Psychology major has MAT-201 and PSY-201 as antirequisites.
Automatic Entrance Award – A merit-based scholarship awarded to secondary school and transfer applicants based on their admission average.
Bursary – Monetary awards based on financial need. Learn more.
Capstone – A course that integrates the major themes of the discipline as well as foundational philosophical and historical issues, typically taken in the student’s fourth year. Each major program has a capstone course included in its requirements. Students with multiple majors are required to take the capstone course for each major.
Core – These foundational courses – which are the heart of Redeemer’s liberal arts and sciences program – provide a background and context for everything else you will be learning. Within the Core, you will learn how to Discover Your World, Transform Your Mind, Deepen Your Faith, and Find Your Calling.
Cognates – A cognate is a course that is required to complete a major but is not part of the department. For example, a Business major has Economics 121 and 122 as cognate requirements.
Concentration – In addition to the liberal arts and sciences core program, you will choose a number of courses in your field of interest. Also known as your major and minor, concentration courses explore specific disciplines in depth.
Corequisites – A corequisite is a course which must be taken in the same term as another course. For example, Art 110 has a corequisite of Art 103.
Course Load – The number of courses taken per term, normally 5 courses. Students are considered full time if they take four or more courses (12 or more credits) per term.
Credit – University courses are measured in credits. At Redeemer, a full course is equal to 3.0 credits, a half course is 1.5 credits, and a quarter course is 0.75 credits. For most degree programs, you will need to complete 120 credits – or 40 courses – to graduate.
Degree Programs – Redeemer offers 13 honours majors, 38 majors, and 30 minors leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Redeemer also offers a Bachelor of Education degree. Redeemer’s B.A. and B.Sc. programs are four years in length; and the B.Ed. Teacher Education program is two years in length. View our degree programs.
Electives – These are courses that fall outside your core and concentration requirements. Electives will allow you to study topics you have a great interest in or are passionate about. They give you the opportunity to round out your studies.
Financial Aid – Money given or loaned to students to help pay educational costs. Financial aid can come from federal and provincial governments, Redeemer, donors, and/or private sources. Learn more.
Four-Year Major – A more in-depth study of a subject area, consisting of 14-18 courses in a specific area (concentration). View our degree programs.
Full-time Student – A student who is taking four or five courses of three credits each in a term.
General Major – 10 to 12 courses in a specialized area (concentration). View our degree programs.
GPA – This stands for Grade Point Average, for which Redeemer uses a 12-point scale found on page 45 of the Academic Calendar.
High School Average – Students applying to Redeemer directly from high school are assessed for admission on their high school transcript. When a student applies before they have graduated from high school, their high school average is calculated from Grade 12U English (if completed) and the best five Grade 12 U or M courses, for a total of six courses. Learn more about calculating high school averages on page 9 of the Academic Calendar.
Honours Major – The most intensive study of a specific subject area, consisting of 16-20 courses. An honours major is recommended for students considering graduate studies or professional programs. View our degree programs.
Liberal Arts and Sciences – A degree built on an interdisciplinary core of courses in addition to your specific major and minor concentration.
Meal Plan – Students in residence shop at on-campus grocery store, The Market, and prepare food with their dorm mates, as part of their meal plan. Students also use their meal plan to purchase food at on-campus restaurants ReFresh and Williams Fresh Café. Students enjoy a weekly Communal Meal–an all-you-can-eat dinner served buffet-style–included in their food plan. Students select a meal plan based on their appetite from three food plan levels: bronze, silver and gold.
Minor – A concentration of 6-7 courses in a specific area which complements your major concentration of study. View our degree programs.
On-campus Employment – A form of financial aid through which students can work part-time to earn money to assist with university costs. Learn more.
Part-time Student – A student who is taking less than four courses in a term.
Prerequisites – Some courses can only be taken after another course has been completed. For example, Chemistry 122 has a prerequisite of Chemistry 121.
Professional Preparation Programs – Redeemer’s reputation, intimate class sizes and research opportunities provide a strong foundation as you prepare for your career. These defined areas of study, called professional preparation programs, allow you to complete your undergraduate degree at Redeemer and then continue your education at another university or to complete the requirements of a professional organization. Find out more information from the Academic Calendar.
Scholarships – Monetary awards based on merit, accomplishments or ability. They are awarded to recognize a student’s achievement in areas such as academics, athletics, leadership or service. Learn more.
Student Loans – A form of funding through which students borrow money to assist them in meeting the costs of their year of study at Redeemer University College.
Term – An academic period of 16 weeks. There are two full terms at Redeemer: Fall (September through December) and Winter (January through April). There are also two condensed terms: Spring (May through June) and Summer (July through August). The Spring and Summer terms do not offer a full course load for undergraduate students. Courses last for the duration of a term and require 3 hours of class per week.
Transcript – The official record of your course work and grades from your high school(s) or post-secondary institution(s), typically provided by your guidance department or the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office can provide transcripts for a student’s academic record at Redeemer.
Transfer Student – A student who was enrolled in a college or university prior to attending Redeemer. Transfer credit can be awarded for previously completed courses. For more information, please see the Registrar’s Office.
Tuition – Fee charged for the instruction you receive for the courses you are enrolled in. Learn more.
Undergraduate – A university student who is working toward a bachelor’s degree.
University College – A name for an undergraduate university that grants accredited bachelor’s degrees.
Viewbook – A publication that provides a comprehensive overview of Redeemer University College from an undergraduate perspective.
