1. education
2. graduate school
3. college

ADVISING GUIDE 2015/16
Bachelor of Computer Information Systems
congratulations and
Welcome to Mru!
Welcome to Mount Royal University! We are here to help you begin your
transition to becoming a Mount Royal Student. Within this document you
will find advising and registration information that will help guide you through
course selection and class registration.
YOU’RE ACCEPTED, NOW WHAT?
Step 1: Review your Offer of Admission letter and follow all directions
To maintain acceptance in your program, you must meet your conditions and final/official transcripts need
to be received at Mount Royal by Aug. 1, 2015.
Step 2: Pay your registration deposit
To reserve your spot at Mount Royal you need to accept your Offer of Admission and pay your nonrefundable Registration Deposit of $200. Visit mtroyal.ca, select Apply then Accept Offer/Pay Deposit.
Step 3: Activate your MyMRU account
MyMRU is your online registration, fee payment system and one-stop information site for all things Mount
Royal. Visit MyMRU.ca. See directions on how to activate your account below.
Step 4: Start using your MRU email
We will communicate important information to you through your MRU email account. Check your email
regularly.
Step 5: Be advised and register for classes
Your program-specific advising information is available in this guide. Here you will find details on how to get
advising information and register for courses. Course registration begins Apr. 13, 2015. If you have already
taken post-secondary or AP/IB courses, we will automatically access your transfer equivalences after we
have received your final/official transcripts. Once assessed, you will be able to view how the transfer equivalencies satisfy requirements for your program.
Step 6: Pay Fees
Tuition and fees are due Aug. 12, 2015. For more information on how to pay your fees visit
mtroyal.ca/moneymatters.
Step 7: Attend New Student Orientation
We’ll be keeping you up to date with important information on New Student Orientation (NSO),
Sept. 8 & 9, 2015, to help make your move to Mount Royal a smooth one.
ACTIVATE YOUR MYMRU ACCOUNT
» Visit MyMRU.ca
» Select Activate Your Account
» Read and accept the Acceptable Use Policy terms
» Complete the details using your name, date
of birth and Mount Royal Student ID number
found on your Offer of Admission letter
To activate your student gmail@mtroyal.ca account,
select the email link in the top right hand corner of
MyMRU.
If you get stuck, check out the Activating your
MyMRU Account tutorial found at mtroyal.ca/
beadvised/tutorials.
For further assistance, please call the Mount Royal
Technology Help Desk at 403.440.6000.
COURSE REGISTRATION GUIDE
It is your responsibility to register in your courses and ensure that the courses you select meet the program and
graduation requirements. Your first-year course requirements are outlined in this document.
Use the online Course Listings or the Academic Calendar to explore possible courses of interest and to check that
you meet prerequisites. Then use the registration system to find out when courses are offered and to create your
schedule.
REGISTER ONLINE
1.Log into MyMRU.ca
2.Select Student Resources tab
3.Select Registration under My Account
4.Register using the Look Up classes link
5.Select Term and choose the appropriate term (e.g. Fall 2015 credit)
REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE
Further information about registering for credit courses, waitlisting for a course, cancelling your registration, troubleshooting error messages and frequently asked questions is available online or consult the current Academic
Calendar.
For assistance in registering for courses contact Credit Registration:
»» 403.440.3303 or toll-free 1.877.676.0686 (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).
»» creditregistration@mtroyal.ca
TRANSFER EQUIVALENCIES
To be considered for transfer equivalency, each course must have been completed at a recognized accredited postsecondary institution with a minimum passing grade. Regardless of when a course was completed, normally it will
still be considered for a transfer equivalency. However, limitations do exist for time-sensitive courses, e.g. Computer
Science, Midwifery, Nursing, and Science. If the transfer equivalency assigned by Mount Royal is unspecified and
you think it might transfer as a direct equivalent, you need to provide the detailed course outline for assessment.
You can find more information online including timelines for transfer equivalency assessments and how to view your
transfer equivalencies. If you miss the time line, as specified for any given semester, the transfer equivalency may
not be established in time for course registration. This may affect whether a course prerequisite has been met.
COURSE PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
Prerequisites are listed in the course description section of the Academic Calendar and in the online Courses
Listings. It is your responsibility to ensure you have met the prerequisites for your registered courses. Failing to
meet course prerequisites will result in automatic de-registration.
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS WITH mruGradU8
mruGradU8 is a degree audit program that will guide you in your course selection as you move through
your program. You can access mruGradU8 through MyMRU.ca under the Student Resources tab. Your
mruGradU8 audit will show you a list of courses you have completed (included transfer credits) and current course registrations. In addition to the advice you receive from your academic advisor, mruGradU8
is a great way to stay on track!
mru
GradU8
GENERAL EDUCATION
General Education (known on campus as Gen Ed) is dedicated to creating intellectual habits and abilities that take
you across academic disciplines and beyond one specific job description.
At Mount Royal University, each Gen Ed course introduces you to thematic areas outside your major. Gen Ed invites
you to experience all that academic life has to offer by exploring courses from other faculties and fields.
A Gen Ed component is included in every bachelor’s degree, applied degree and diploma program at Mount Royal. The
exact number of Gen Ed courses (mtroyal.ca/gened/courses) you take depends on the credential you are pursuing,
but up to 30 per cent of your course load will be Gen Ed.
HOW DOES GEN ED WORK?
Mount Royal’s Gen Ed has been structured to complement your program of study. You can tailor your courses to fit
your interests and your schedule.
Gen Ed courses are divided into four thematic clusters, as shown in the chart. The chart also shows the three Gen
Ed tiers you will move through, depending on which program you are in. Gen Ed course requirements vary by program, so please check with your program advisor to confirm the courses needed for your degree, applied degree or
diploma.
For more detail, visit mtroyal.ca/gened.
Cluster 1:
Numeracy
and Scientific
Literacy
Cluster 2:
Values, Beliefs
and Identity
Cluster 3:
Community
and Society
Cluster 4:
Communication
Foundation:
As you start your studies, you take
a total of four Gen Ed foundation
courses. Choose one from each
cluster.
Take one of:
GNED 1101,
GNED 1102
or GNED 1103
within your first
10 courses.
Take one of:
GNED 1201,
GNED 1202
or GNED 1203
within your first
20 courses.
Take one of:
GNED 1301,
GNED 1303
or GNED 1304
within your first
20 courses.
Take one of:
GNED 1401,
GNED 1403
or GNED 1404
within your first
10 courses.
Tier 2:
As you progress through your
degree, choose four Gen Ed
courses from a wider variety
of courses.
You will take:
»»one Tier 2 course from each cluster (Total: 4).
Tier 3:
You must take four Tier 3 courses.
These four courses must be from
at least two different clusters.
You could take:
»»three Tier 3 courses from one cluster and
one Tier 3 course from a second cluster (Total: 4); or
»»one Tier 3 course from each cluster (Total: 4); or
»»two Tier 3 courses from two different clusters (Total: 4).
Degree —
up to 12 Gen Ed
courses required
Bachelor of Computer Information Systems
The Bachelor of Computer Information Systems (BCIS) degree is made up of 40 courses including major
courses, General Education requirements, electives and one non-credit work term. While completing the
course requirements for the BCIS you will also complete the requirements for a minor in business. In order
to complete the degree in four years, you would need to take 10 courses per academic year (five courses
per semester). If you decide to take fewer than five courses per semester your priority should be the core
courses outlined in the Academic Calendar.
To be a full-time student you must be in at least three courses (nine credits) to a maximum of five courses
(15 credits). Courses that are restricted to specific programs (e.g. Nursing, Interior Design, etc.) will not be
available to you. It is recommended that in your first year you take 1000–level courses and avoid courses at
the 3000–level or higher (unless you have previously completed 10 university–level courses).
Electives are unspecified course requirements for graduation. They are three-credit courses, at any level
from any subject area, as long as you meet the prerequisites. Since electives are open options of your
choice, consider creating a degree that is unique to you when selecting these courses.
You can register only in classes for the Fall semester at this time. The schedule of classes for the Winter
semester will be available beginning of October, and you can register for your second semester towards
the end of October. This is always a good time to check in with your academic advisor. It’s always best to
register as soon as possible, as some courses fill quickly.
Additional information regarding the work term and senior option courses is available from the BCIS advising
blog: blogs.mtroyal.ca/bcis. The blog also includes suggested schedules, a course prerequisite chart, a
course planning worksheet and a frequently asked questions list.
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
Gain the tools you need to get started on your path towards a successful experience at Mount Royal University. At New Student Orientation (NSO), you will receive helpful tips on becoming a successful student,
meet students and faculty members, learn about support services and familiarize yourself with the campus
through a guided tour. This is the best way to get your university career off to a great start and learn how to
take full advantage of your Mount Royal experience. Be sure to register for Orientation when you register for
your courses.
WHO IS MY ACADEMIC ADVISOR?
Your Academic Advisor is here to support you with the start of your BCIS degree. For any questions or
concerns regarding core courses, General Education or electives, please contact Al Fedoruk at
afedoruk@mtroyal.ca or 403.440.8840.
FIRST-YEAR COURSES
All core courses must be taken in the sequence shown. For information on how to choose your
Gen Ed courses, please see your advisor.
Year One, Semester 1 [Fall], Sept. – Dec.
»» COMP 1501 – Programming I: Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming
»» General Education Requirement Cluster 1, Foundation
»» General Education Requirement Cluster 2 or 3, Foundation
»» General Education Requirement Cluster 4, Foundation (GNED 1401 is recommended)
Choose one of the following three:
»» HRES 2170 – Introduction to Human Resources
»» MGMT 2130 – Management Principles and Practices
»» MTKG 2150 – Introduction to Marketing
Year One, Semester 2 [Winter], Jan. – Apr.
»» COMP 1502 – Programming II: Object Oriented Programming
»» COMP 2511 – Web I: Client Development
»» MATH 1505 – Puzzling Adventures in Mathematics
»» MGMT 3210 – Business Communications Theory and Practice
Choose one of the following three:
»» HRES 2170 – Introduction to Human Resources
»» MGMT 2130 – Management Principles and Practices
»» MTKG 2150 – Introduction to Marketing
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
NOW
Apply for residence
mtroyal.ca/residence
NOW
Apply for scholarships & bursaries
mtroyal.ca/moneymatters
Apr. 13, 2015
Course registration begins for
new students
Aug. 1, 2015
Final/official transcripts due
mtroyal.ca/admission
Aug. 12, 2015
Tuition and fees due
mtroyal.ca/moneymatters
Sept. 8 & 9, 2015
New Student Orientation
mtroyal.ca/orientation
Sept. 10, 2015
First day of classes
Students are expected to adhere to all critical dates and deadlines as outlined in the
Academic Schedule of the 2015/16 Academic
Calendar. For a complete list of dates and
deadlines applicable to new students, visit
mtroyal.ca/criticaldates.
Learn more about Academic Advising
Services or to find your advisor, visit
mtroyal.ca/beadvised.
YOUR STUDENT CHECKLIST
Now
Find out what courses I need
Check to see if all my transfer equivalencies have
been applied to my program
Register for courses
Check mruGradU8 in MyMRU
Register for New Student Orientation
July
Get my parking pass and locker
August
Pay tuition by Aug. 12 *Do not forget!
Get my campus card
Get my U-Pass (if I’m a full-time student)
Activate gym membership (if I’m a full-time student)
Buy text books
September
Visit Blackboard in MyMRU
Attend New Student Orientation on Sept. 8 & 9
Go to class starting Sept. 10
Activate or opt out of my student health benefits
October
Register for winter semester
(check MyMRU for your access date)
FOLLOW US
/MountRoyal4U
@mountroyal4u
/mrulife
/mountroyal4u
STUDENT RESOURCES
Have questions about course selection or program requirements?
Academic Advising Services - mtroyal.ca/beadvised
Looking for academic policies, definitions and deadlines?
Academic Calendar - mtroyal.ca/AcademicSupport/AcademicCalendar
Do you have special learning or mobility needs?
Accessibility Services - mtroyal.ca/accessibility
Need textbooks, MRU clothes and other school supplies?
BookStore - bookstore.mtroyal.ca
When and where can you get your campus ID card?
Campus Card - mtroyal.ca/campuscard
Looking for employment, co-op placement or help with your resume?
Career Services - mtroyal.ca/careerservices
Are you First Nations, Inuit or Métis? Are you interested in learning about these cultures?
Iniskim Centre - mtroyal.ca/iniskimcentre
Looking for tools to help you succeed as a new Mount Royal Student?
New Student Orientation - mtroyal.ca/orientation
Looking for transportation information or locker rentals?
Parking, Locker rental and U-Pass - mtroyal.ca/parking
Want to stay active while in school?
Recreation - mtroyal.ca/recreation
Having problems registering into courses online through MyMRU?
Registration Helpline - mtroyal.ca/CreditRegistration
Need somewhere to live?
Residence Services - mtroyal.ca/residence
Looking for student health & dental information?
Students’ Association of Mount Royal University (SAMRU) - samru.ca
Need help paying for your education?
Student Awards and Financial Aid - mtroyal.ca/moneymatters
Looking for personal, career and educational guidance?
Student Counselling - mtroyal.ca/counselling
Looking for tutoring, writing services or learning skills?
Student Learning Services - mtroyal.ca/studentlearningservices
Want to be a better academic writer?
Essay-Zone online writing tutorial. Login to MyMRU and go the homepage to find the access link and
registration instructions.
Need help getting started with technology?
START (Student Technicians and Resource Tutors) - mtroyal.ca/start
Need a doctor, chiropractor or other healthcare professional?
Wellness Services - mtroyal.ca/wellness