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Course Information

When attempting to register for a MATH course I receive the following error message(s): reserved closed/course full

  • Please send an email to the ugrad.mathstat [at] mcgill.ca (Math and Stats Department) (only). Students must use their McGill email address, include their McGill ID number, Program(Major/Minor), Term of course(s) and the CRNs of the lecture/lab/tutorial they are trying to register for.
  • Kindly do not send multiple emails as this slows down the process; response time is a minimum of 2-3 business days.

I’m trying to register for a non-MATH course, who do I contact?

  • Please contact the Department that is offering the course.

I am trying to register for a non-MATH course but am receiving an error message.

  • You must contact the Department administering the course. Spaces often open in courses during the add/drop period, so if you really want to get into a course, just keep checking on Minerva to see if any seats have become available.

I am on the waitlist for a course. What do I do?

  • If you are on the waitlist for a course, do NOT drop the course if you see that places have become available in that course. If you do this, you will lose your place on the waitlist. Any seats that do open in waitlisted courses will be filled by students who are next on the waitlist. When it is your turn to register for the course, you will receive an email (at your McGill email address) telling you how much time you have to register. During this time, only you will be able to see available places in the course (other students will not be allowed to register for these open seats).

Am I allowed to register for courses that conflict?

  • It is each student’s responsibility to create a conflict-free schedule. Conflicts can exist between lectures, between tutorials (or labs), or between lectures and tutorials (or labs). If two lectures conflict and there is only one lecture section for each course, you will have to decide which course is more important to you. If one of these courses has more than one lecture section, it may be possible to switch sections if there is space available. It is a university rule that students are not allowed to register in courses that conflict.
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  • The MINERVA registration system will not stop or prevent you from registering for two courses/sections at the same time. However, ultimately, it is your decision to do so and at your own risk; but if you do, you will be in violation of this rule and not eligible for any accommodations that might be required to complete both courses (e.g., re-scheduling in-class midterms, final exams, if they conflict). Consequently, if midterm exams, other course activities, or final exams for these courses are scheduled at the same time, professors and/or the Exams Office will not accommodate your conflict request.

What is the difference between required, complementary, and elective courses?

  • Required courses must be taken to complete specific program requirements.
  • Complementary courses also count towards your program requirements; however, you do not have to take all of the complementary courses listed for a specific program. Instead, you must choose a specific number of credits from a list of complementary courses in order to complete program requirements.
  • Elective courses are the courses that you take outside of your selected program or programs, in order to reach the 120 credits necessary for obtaining your degree. To know which courses can be used as an elective, please contact your Student Affairs Office - OASIS or SOUSA.

Can I take a course marked under the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option?

  • Where permitted by Faculty and program regulations, you may take one elective course per term to be graded under the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) option, to a maximum of 10% of your credits taken at McGill to fulfil the degree requirements. For more information, see Course Information and Regulations in the eCalendar (scroll down to the section on S/U).
  • Please note that the Department of Mathematics & Statistics does not allow any courses towards any program requirement to be taken under the S/U option.

I do not have the pre-requisites for a course that I wish to take, is this OK?

  • Students should complete the pre-requisite and if they move forward without it, they do so at their own risk (ie. we will not make accommodations if class test/mid-terms/final exams are scheduled at the same time). Please do not contact us requesting permission to do so.

What are the requirements for MATH 410/MATH 470?

  • Find a supervisor and discuss the topic you wish to pursue in the course. Once this is finalized complete the form (see below).
  • Deadline: This form must be submitted at least 5 business days (M-F) before the add-drop deadline of the semester. Instructions will then be sent on how to register for the course.
  • Registration: To request permission for MATH 410/470 students will need to complete the form (see below); kindly read the regulations on page 2 of the form. To ensure that everyone can sign the form, a Digital ID will be required (MAC users will have to print/save to pdf in order for the signature to remain visible) from the student, the supervisor(s), and then the course coordinator (among other things). Once all signatures have been obtained, send the form (both pages) to the djivede.kelome [at] mcgill.ca (Chief Advisor) for his review. Incomplete forms will not be accepted. If approved, he will send the completed form to Lori Hurdle for processing.Ìý She will in turn send you an email with the registration instructions.
  • Form:Ìý Please email lori.hurdle [at] mcgill.ca (Lori Hurdle) to obtain the form.ÌýÌý
  • Students can only count MATH 410/MATH 470 once for program requirements. Additional registration will result in e-flagging.
  • The course is open to students majoring in Mathematics, or in one of the Joint Major or Liberal programs in mathematics or statistics. It is normally taken by students who have completed two years in their program. In all cases, the topic would be within the grasp of the student. At the end of the semester, the student will be required to write a report, either in the form of a survey article or a research report, and pass a short oral examination on the project. Original research would not be expected.
  • The student is first responsible for finding a project supervisor. It is strongly advised to do this well in advance, at the latest during the semester before they intend to take Math 410/MATH 470. The project is then developed in collaboration between the student and the project supervisor who will help identify a co-supervisor. The co-supervisor will read the report, attend the oral presentation, and help the project supervisor determine the final grade. The co-supervisor could be involved in the project as well but this is not required.
  • The project supervisor must be a faculty member of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics (tenured professors, tenure-track professors, faculty lecturers) or an Associate member of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. The co-supervisor could be a post-doc, a visitor, a member of another department of the University, or an Associate member of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
  • In situations where the report is not submitted before the end of the semester, a grade of incomplete will be given and be subject to the usual faculty regulations regarding deadlines for clearing the incomplete grade. This grade would be cleared on submission of the report and following the oral examination.
  • The project will require substantial independent work by the student. The tasks of assimilating the necessary material, the detailed writing of the report, and the literature searches are the responsibility of the student. The supervisor would meet with the student at intervals during the semester to discuss the progress the student had made. The supervisor will be responsible for having regular meetings with the student and reading preliminary drafts of the report and offering constructive criticism.
  • It is not expected that this course will entail any issues relating to ethics, safety, or security that are not of a routine nature.

What are the requirements for MATH 420/MATH 480?

  • Find a supervisor and discuss the topic you wish to pursue in the course. Once this is finalized complete the form (see below).
  • Deadline: This form must be submitted at least 5 business days (M-F) before the add-drop deadline of the semester. Instructions will then be sent on how to register for the course.
  • Registration: To request permission for MATH 420/480 students will need to complete the form (see below); kindly read the regulations on page 2 of the form. To ensure that everyone can sign the form, a Digital ID will be required (MAC users will have to print/save to pdf in order for the signature to remain visible) from the student, the supervisor(s), and then the course coordinator (among other things). Once all signatures have been obtained, send the form (both pages) to the djivede.kelome [at] mcgill.ca (Chief Advisor) for his review. Incomplete forms will not be accepted. If approved, he will send the completed form to Lori Hurdle for processing. She will in turn send you an email with the registration instructions.
  • Form: Please email lori.hurdle [at] mcgill.ca (Lori Hurdle) to obtain the form.Ìý
  • Students can only count MATH 420/MATH 480 once for program requirements. Additional registration will result in e-flagging.
  • Available to all students in Honours programs in Mathematics and Statistics.
  • It is expected that the student will find a professor willing to supervise (which has to be a member of our department) the course, subject to the approval of the course coordinator. The supervisor and student must agree on a method of evaluation which could involve written assignments and/or an oral exam.
  • The course will require substantial independent work appropriate for an honours level student. The supervisor would meet with the student at intervals during the semester to discuss the progress the student had made. The supervisor will be responsible for having regular meetings with the student and will offer constructive criticism.
  • It is not expected that this course will entail any issues relating to ethics, safety or security that are not of a routine nature.

I took ECON 227D1/D2; do I need to take MATH 203/MATH 204?

  • If you took ECON 227D1/D2 Economic Stats you must not take MATH 203/MATH 204, as you will not receive credit for these courses. Please contact an advisor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics if MATH 203 and or MATH 204 are required for your program.

I took MATH 324 but did not take MATH 203 or MATH 204.

  • A student can take MATH 204 and MATH 324 in the same term and receive credits for both.
  • If a student has completed MATH 324, they cannot go back and take MATH 204.

I’m in the BA Psychology program and have already completed PSYC 204/PSYC 305.

  • You can no longer take the sequence MATH 203/MATH 204 but may proceed in taking MATH 323/MATH 324.
  • Please contact an advisor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics if MATH 203 and or MATH 204 are required for your program.

I’ve completed PSYC 204, do I need to take MATH 203?

  • No, students can no longer take MATH 203.

What is the difference between MATH 140/141/222 and MATH 150/151?

  • The sequence of MATH 150/151 is an attempt to complete MATH 140/141/222 in two semesters.
  • Please contact your Academic Advisor; Arts (OASIS) or Science (SOUSA), to see how MATH 150/151 can be used towards your Foundation Year requirements.

I do not have a pre-calculus background, do I take MATH 139 or MATH 140?

  • Students who did not take a pre-calculus course in high school should register for MATH 139.

I am in Arts and/or Science, can I take MATH 122 or MATH 123?

  • No, these courses are for Management students only.

I am in Management and I took MATH 122 and/or MATH 123; am I required to take any of MATH 140/141/133?

  • Yes, you will be required to complete if they are a pre-requisite for a science based program in the Faculty of Management.

I took MATH 123 in Management, but now wish to transfer to Arts or Science, do I need permission to take MATH 133?

  • Students do not require permission from the Department of Math and Stats and can register for the course if there is space.

I took MATH 123 in Management, and would now like to complete a minor, do I need to take MATH 133?

  • Yes, students will be required to complete MATH 133.

Who can take MATH 240?

I registered for both MATH 235 and MATH 240. Can I use MATH 240 as an elective?

  • You must drop or withdraw from the course as it cannot be used as an elective.

I have completed MATH 240 and switched into a program where MATH 235 or MATH 245 are required.

  • MATH 240 will become an elective and students will be required to take either MATH 235 or MATH 245.

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