How to read a course description
Customize your education—we’ll help!
Many students are nervous about picking the wrong classes. But really, it's difficult to make a wrong decision in your first semester. You may be looking ahead to many years of education, but you only need to register one semester at a time.
Start by asking yourself these questions (even if you don't know the answers yet!)
- What subjects interest me?
- What are the educational requirements for the career(s) I would enjoy?
- What kind of degree do I want to pursue, and which courses are required to achieve it?
- Which courses will transfer to the university I want to attend later?
Find out what's available by reading through the course descriptions.
Don't panic when you see that Camosun offers 1500 courses! To help you out, we've created a shorter list (about 300) of the courses that will transfer to at least one BC university.
As you go through the list, pay attention to the prerequisites listed. This will help identify which courses you might take in your first semester. For instance, English 150 is the prerequisite for many other courses, making it a logical first-semester choice. Another thing to look for is when the courses are offered: F (Fall), W (Winter), P (Spring) or S (Summer).
Think ahead to where you'll go next
If you have a particular university in mind, you also want to look for the courses that transfer seamlessly into that university. If you're undecided, look for courses with many transfer options. If you're planning to stay in BC, there's an easy-to-use online transfer guide to help you. If you're thinking of a university outside of BC, talk to an academic advisor.
Once you've done some preliminary research, your next step is to meet with an academic advisor. These professionals will use their extensive knowledge to answer your questions about course selection and how to reach your education and career goals. The academic advising web pages are another good source of information:
- Contact us lists when and where you can drop in to talk to an advisor
- Tips for students
- Course selection and planning outlines
