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Pre-University Courses

The University of Waterloo's Centre for Extended Learning offers non-credit pre-university courses. These courses are designed as refresher courses and cover the upper-level secondary school material considered essential for related first-year university courses. They are not intended to replace secondary school courses.

There are no admissions requirements for these courses; they are open to everyone. However, a certain level of knowledge is required. Please read the Course Descriptions for further information.

You may start the courses at anytime and proceed at your own pace. However, final examinations need to be completed within 8 months of your registration of the course. You are advised to check with the appropriate faculty admissions officer at the University of Waterloo or other institutions you are applying to, to determine if grades in these courses can be used for admissions purposes.

Course Details and Descriptions
Fees
Registration Information
Examinations
Withdrawal Policy & Tuition Refund Eligibility
Textbook Refund Policy

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Course Details and Descriptions

Pre-University courses consist of a complete learning package, including lecture notes, assignments, and assignment solutions. All packages, except for Physics, also contain audio lectures on a CD.

Algebra and Geometry (MATH 051)
Calculus (MATH 052)
Chemistry (CHEM 001)
Physics (PHYS 001)

Algebra and Geometry (MATH 051)

This course consists of audio lectures on CD with accompanying notes, solutions to selected exercises and problems, and a sample examination.

Topics include: operations with vectors, scalar multiplications, dot and cross products, projections, equations of lines and planes, systems of equations, Gaussian elimination, operations with matrices, determinants, binomial theorem, proof by mathematical induction, and complex numbers.

This course is designed to be completed in 6-8 weeks.

Text: Algebra and Geometry, Dunkley, Gilbert, Anderson, et. al., Publisher-Holt, Rinehart, and Winston of Canada, ISBN 9780176463793

Calculus (MATH 052)

This course consists of a textbook, audio lectures on CD, and course notes. The introduction and development of the concepts are covered using the textbook. The audio lectures will expand on these concepts. The notes will give brief explanations when necessary, but primarily provide examples with solutions as an application of the concepts.

Topics include: limits, derivatives, antiderivatives, and definite integrals. These concepts will be applied to solve problems of rates of change, maximum and minimum, curve sketching, and areas. The classes of functions used to develop these concepts and applications are: polynomial, rational, trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic.

This course is designed to be completed in 6-8 weeks.

Text: Calculus, Dunkley, Scoins, et. al., Publisher-Holt, Rinehart, and Winston of Canada, ISBN 0039220494

Chemistry (CHEM 001)

This course covers the essentials from the secondary school upper-level curricula and prepares students for first-year science programs. The course falls into two parts, with an examination at the end of each part. The final grade is an average of the grades obtained in the two parts.

Topics include: Part I includes matter and measurement, mass relations in chemistry, stoichiometry, oxidation-reduction reactions, reactions in aqueous solutions, properties of gases, atomic and molecular structure, the periodic table, thermochemistry, liquids, solids, and solutions. Part II includes organic chemistry, reaction rates, chemical equilibria, acids and bases, pH, precipitation, electrochemistry, and nuclear chemistry.

Thise course is designed to be completed in 4 months.

Text: Chemistry Principles and Reactions, 6th edition (includes study guide), Masterson & Hurley, ISBN 9780495753063

Physics (PHYS 001)

This online course uses lecture notes, sample problems and asignments to cover the essentials of a senior high school physics curriculum. There is a midterm and final examination.

Topics include: motion in 1 and 2 dimensions using verctors as appropriate; Newton's law of motion and including circular motion using free body diagrams; kinetic and potential energy; gravity; momentum and impulse; center of mass; rotational kinetics inlcuding torque and static equilibrium; simple harmonic motion and waves; intereference; geometric options; electric and magnetic effects; and circuit elements.

This course is designed to be completed in 4 months.

Text: Physics (with MasteringPhysics) 4th Edition; Walker, J.S. (2010) Pearson, ISBN 9780132496483.

The Physics textbook is only available at the UW Bookstore. To order your textbook package from the bookstore link above, click on "Books", then "BookLook" and select Department "PHYS", Course "001" and click "Search".

Note: Your textbook package includes an iClicker coupon. This is not required for this course but its inclusion provides a substantial discount on the textbook package.

Registration Information

To register, you can choose from one of the following registration options:

Complete and submit the Online Registration Form, or
Print the Pre-University Course Registration Form and mail it with a certified cheque (no personal cheques, please) or money order to*:

Pre-University Courses
Centre for Extended Learning
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1

*Note: If shipping fees apply, please see chart below.
Register over the phone by calling us at 519-888-4567, ext. 35797 and use American Express, MasterCard, or VISA as payment.
Register in person at the Centre for Extended Learning located at 335 Gage Avenue, Kitchener.

Fees

All fees are subject to change without notice. HST is applicable for Canadian orders only.

Course Fees

Course Name	Course Code	Tuition	Textbook
Algebra and Geometry	MATH 051	$195.00 + HST	$80.00 + HST
Calculus	MATH 052	$195.00 + HST	$100.00 + HST
Chemistry	CHEM 001	$295.00 + HST	$280.00 + HST
Physics	PHYS 001	$325.00 + HST	*Please see UW Bookstore

Note: While the textbook is necessary to complete the course, if you choose not to order the textbook, then you will only be charged the tuition for each course you select.

Shipping Fees

Shipping fees will be automatically charged to your credit card at time of processing.

Note: Shipping fees are only applicable to Algebra & Geometry, Calculus and Chemistry courses. For Physics, please visit UW Bookstore for shipping information.

Shipping Location	Fee
Pickup at 335 Gage Avenue, Kitchener, ON	Free
Within Canada	$20 + HST
Within United States of America	$30
Outside of Canada and the USA	$60

Additional Shipping Information

Canadian and U.S. orders will be shipped via Canada Post. If you provide an email address on your registration form, an email notification will be sent indicating the date your package was shipped and a tracking number that allows you to track your shipment.
Overseas orders will be shipped via an international courier service.
To ensure delivery takes place as expediently as possible, please provide complete shipping information on your registration form.
Please note that the University of Waterloo assumes no responsibility for Pre-University course packages once they are shipped from our premises.

Examinations

CHEM 001 and PHYS 001 each have two examinations: a mid-term and a final exam. MATH 051 and MATH 052 have only a final examination. You may request to write the exams when you are ready, and when it is convenient. However, final examinations must be written within 8 months of registering for the course.

Proctors

The examinations are written with a proctor. You are responsible for arranging for a proctor and ensuring that person is a professional in the community (e.g., teacher, minister). A proctor may not be a student. Local schools may sometimes assist in locating a person to provide this service. You are also responsible for any fees charged by the proctor.

To arrange for a proctor, complete the Pre-University Course Proctor Declaration Form and submit it to the Centre for Extended Learning. It is important that you notify the Centre for Extended Learning of your intention to write the final exam at least 4 weeks prior to the examination date so that arrangements can be made. Please allow 2 weeks from the examination date for processing examination marks.

Withdrawal Policy & Tuition Refund Eligibility

Algebra, Calculus and Chemistry

To receive a tuition refund (less a $30 administration fee), you must complete the Pre-University Course Withdrawal Form and return it with any course materials that you received, within 3 weeks of our ship date. Faxes are not accepted. Please allow 4-6 weeks to process a refund. Withdrawal Forms received more than 3 weeks after are not eligible for a refund.

Physics

All Physics course content can be downloaded online, therefore we are unable to withdraw and provide any refund for this course.

Textbook Refund Policy

Textbooks from Centre for Extended Learning

Students who withdraw within the 3 week withdrawal period, and return their unused text in mint condition (i.e., ready for resale), are eligible to have the text cost refunded. Texts returned to us after the 3 week withdrawal period, or damaged or marked in any way, will be returned to you at your expense.

Textbooks from UW Bookstore

Please refer to the Refunds and Returns policy on their website.