Plan & Register for Classes

We don’t have firm definitions of what it means to be a first, second, third, fourth, fifth (and so on) year student. The focus is instead on earning credits for your degree. Some are specific to your program, some will ensure you meet the University’s degree requirements, and some will be electives. As long as you have the prerequisites (if there are any) for any given class, you may register for it, regardless of the level (1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000).  

It makes sense to focus on the lower-level credits you need first, so start there.   

Students are responsible for reviewing and understanding program and degree requirements, and planning and registering for courses.

Most programs have a mix of specific classes you’ll need to take, and some classes that you can choose within certain parameters. There is often a fair bit of choice which can be both interesting and challenging.

You can find your degree and program requirements in the Academic Calendar. A new calendar is published each year, but you follow the requirements of the calendar published the year you started, or any subsequent calendar. Learn more here. 

The Academic Calendar contains information about academic programs and requirements, course descriptions, University policies and procedures, and important dates. It is the responsibility of all students to familiarize themselves with the specific requirements for the degree or diploma that they seek.
The Academic Calendar is effective on May 1 of the year in which it is published. All policies, course information, and degree regulations apply to the Summer session unless otherwise indicated.
 

The below video explains how to navigate the current year's Academic Calendar.

Electives are any courses that aren’t required for your program. There is no list of electives; students may choose from any class offered, as long as they have the prerequisites.  

To determine how many electives you can take, start with the total credits needed for your degree (20.0 for Honours, 15.0 for General), then subtract the number of credits required for your program. Whatever is left is the room you have for electives. 

For example, the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Honours program has 12.0 required credits. 

20 credits required for an Honours degree - 12.0 program requirements = 8.0. This program allows for 8.0 elective credits.

Make sure you check the University Degree Requirements in the Academic Calendar to ensure you are meeting the requirements beyond what is outlined for your program. Academic Advisors are here to help navigate your program and degree requirements. 

In most cases, your transfer credits can be applied to program or elective requirements, or both. 

Check out these examples of how transfer credits can fit into a student's program and degree requirements, and how they determine what is left to take:

• Social Work example
• Business Administration example
• Environmental Science example

Follow these step by step instructions on how to use Self Service to add course sections to your plan, and register for the sections. Note that registration times vary for summer or the regular Academic Year (Sept-April). Summer registration usually opens in early March, and registration for the Academic Year opens in June.

You can view the Priority Registration Schedule to see when registration for the Academic Year opens for you, depending on how many credits you have.

A major is a requirement for any undergraduate degree at Trent. Once you have completed 3.0 credits at Trent, you will be required to declare your major (if you haven't already) before you can register for courses.

Aside from a major, students have the choice to pursue any of the following (where applicable): 

• A joint major: At Trent, you have the flexibility to combine nearly any two programs of your choice. More details here.
• A minor: Many programs offer a minor which you can complete in addition to your major(s). A minor is a prescribed set of at least 5.0 credits providing a secondary area of focus different from a student’s major. A minor may only be completed as part of an Honours degree. Minor options can be found here.
• A specialization: Specializations provide additional focus within individual programs. To be eligible, students must successfully complete the requirements of both the Specialization and the Honours or General program in which they are enrolled. The transcripts of students who have done so will contain the notation “with a Specialization in [the appropriate Specialization].” Specializations can be found here.
• An option: Consisting of groups of courses with a particular focus, Options are available as a complement to regular programs. To be eligible, students must successfully complete the requirements of both the option and the Honours or General program in which they are enrolled. An option appears on the academic transcript but does not appear on the degree parchment. Options can be found here.
• A stream (Admissions Requirements Apply):  
  • The Medical Professional Stream (MPS) is a unique four-year support program designed for students seeking to pursue a professional medical program and career after graduating from Trent University.
  • The Teacher Education Stream is designed for students planning to teach at the elementary or secondary level. The program will provide students with academic and non-academic foundations for entrance into a Consecutive Teacher Education program and, ultimately, the teaching profession.