Course Registration Information
using the "MY SCHEDULE BUILDER" tool
The University of Alberta's new My Schedule Builder tool in Bear Tracks is a new and exciting way to build course schedules that work best for you. We now recommend using this tool for creating your course schedule.
- SELECT YOUR COURSES
- Pick up to 5 courses to build a schedule that aligns with your academic goals.
- Please confirm that you are eligible to enrol in all of your selected courses (e.g. check prerequisites, program restrictions, etc.)
- ADJUST YOUR SCHEDULE
- You can view different schedule options based on your course selections to find one that works best for you.
- If a course is full but works perfectly with your schedule, you can add it to your watch list and be notified when spots become available.
- VALIDATE YOUR SCHEDULE (only needed before enrolment date)
- Validating your schedule ensures that you can successfully enrol in all of your selected courses, this is usually only necessary when you’re building a schedule before your official enrolment date arrives.
- ENROL IN YOUR COURSES
- To enrol in your selected and validated courses, press the "Get This Schedule" button.
- You will be informed immediately if courses have been added to your official course schedule when they have the status of "Added" in the Result column. If your courses have a "Failed" status in the Result column, you must resolve the issues listed or choose a different course/section.
For detailed step-by-step instructions on using My Schedule Builder, head here and watch the video embedded below.
When Can I Register for Courses?
You can begin registering for courses on or after your enrolment appointment date arrives This can be found in Bear Tracks under Manage Classes -> My Enrolment Date. You can build a schedule before this time, but you can only register for courses once your Enrolment Date arrives.
- Registration for Spring and Summer courses usually begins mid-February.
- For students continuing their degrees, Fall/Winter Term registrations usually begin in mid-March, with upper-year students typically getting their Enrolment Date first.
- For students beginning their UAlberta studies for the first time, Fall/Winter Term registrations usually begin in April.
Course registration faq
There are specific reasons why you might want to use the My Schedule Builder and Manage Classes tools in Bear Tracks during your degree.
*Shopping Cart and Watch List will no longer appear in Bear Tracks.
** Students can swap classes using My Schedule Builder, but it is not recommended.
You can register for up to 15 credits (5 courses) in each Fall and Winter Term and 6 credits (2 courses) in each Spring and Summer Term. To register for more courses, you must request a course overload.
Yes! As a matter of fact, most degrees offered by the Faculty of Arts require you to complete 2 non-Arts courses. Some programs have very specific course requirements that may determine which courses you need to take during your studies (i.e. BFA Art & Design) though, so make sure you have room in your total degree credits to branch out before enrolling in non-Arts options.
Although we always recommend this no matter which Faculty is offering a course, checking course restrictions is especially important when registering for non-Arts courses as an Arts student.
Your Bear Tracks page has a super useful Academic Requirements tool that you can use to figure out what you need as part of your degree program. Make sure to check back on this tool each year/Term to keep track of the kind of courses you need.
All of your academic requirements listed need to be completed before you can apply for convocation (graduation), so this is pretty important!
Make sure to add the course to your watchlist! If any other student drops that course prior to the Add/Delete deadline for the term you'll be notified and have the chance to register for the course.
If you're nearing the end of your program and absolutely need a course to meet a specific degree requirement, you can reach out to your Department Advisors in extreme circumstances.
If not getting into a course that is required for your degree would delay your graduation please come and speak to a Faculty of Arts advisor as soon as possible to discuss your options!
You can find text and video guides, as well as tech support contact information, using the Bear Tracks Help website!
If you're looking for additional support, please contact the Student Service Centre.
If you have any outstanding financial holds on your account you will be unable to register for any more classes until they are paid in full. You can find more details here.
Please note that depending on a department's resources, the hold may not clear off your record for one to two business days. Keep this in mind when Add/Delete deadlines are approaching; you may wish to inform the department that you need to register, so that department staff can clear the fine off your record as soon as possible.
In some cases, there will be a contact email address listed in the class notes (clipboard symbol) in Bear Tracks. If not, you must contact the department or teaching area that teaches the course for assistance. This is especially common with Art & Design courses, or those from other specialized programs.
You can find our list of department advisors, and their contact information, here.
In practice, many of people take longer than 4 years to complete their degree but the university still needs a way to standardize their progress, so we break years into your credits taken. 0-29 credits is "first year", 30 - 59 credits is "second year", 60 -89 credits is "third year" and 90 - 120 credits is "fourth (final)" year for students in undergraduate programs.
Some courses have special registration dates for groups of students based on program and/or Faculty. Registration is set up this way so that students in a specific program/Faculty have priority when it comes to registering in these courses.
To be totally sure that you're registering for courses that you can get credit for, make sure to check the class notes (clipboard symbol) in Bear Tracks to see if the course has special registration dates.
If you have questions about a specific course, or are having trouble registering for a course using Bear Tracks, please contact the specific Arts department which offers the course.
If you're having difficulty putting together your Term schedule and want some help before officially registering for any courses, we invite you to speak to a Faculty of Arts Undergraduate Student Services (USS) advisor in a way that works for you. You can send an email (please include your 7-digit student number and use your @ualberta email to contact us), make a phone call, book a 1-on-1 appointment, or come to our HC 1-17 office for a walk-in appointment during regular business hours.
Registration in 100-Level (Junior) English Courses
As a requirement of most Arts degrees students will need to complete a 100-level (junior) English or Writing Studies course (e.g. ENGL 102/WRS 101) as part of their degree requirements, although often slots in these courses can be extremely limited as many students are competing for them at the same time.
Please note that you can complete your junior English requirement at any point during your degree, so it is perfectly normal for students to put 100-level ENGL/WRS courses on their Bear Tracks watch list or wait until a later academic Term to take these courses if no options are available. You do not need to complete this course credit requirement right away, and as you progress into further years of study you will receive increasingly earlier enrollment dates to ensure that you are able to register for the courses you need to complete your degree.
Remember that some 100-level ENGL courses are restricted to certain students! ENGL 199 - English for Engineering Students is a course specifically offered to those currently enrolled in Engineering programs, you can find course restrictions like this in the course description or by hovering over the clipboard icon within the course's Bear Tracks page.
Registration in 300/400-Level Psychology Courses
Are you having problems registering for 300 or 400-level Psychology courses (e.g. PSYCH 323)? Registration in these courses is restricted to students in specific programs (Psychology Majors/Minors and Neuroscience Honors) who have completed 60-90 credits toward their degree program. If you cannot register, it’s likely that you don’t meet the restrictions outlined below.
Psychology majors/minors and Neuroscience Honors students having completed 90 credits are given priority until April 3 in 300-level and 400-level PSYCH courses. Psychology majors/minors and Neuroscience Honors students having completed 60 credits may begin registering in 300-level and 400-level PSYCH courses April 4 (around 10am). All other students may begin registering April 22 (around 10am).