Missing a Prerequisite for Your College Program? How to Build Your Academic Upgrading Course Plan

If you know which college program you want to take, the next step is figuring out what you still need to qualify.

Your program may require a specific English, math or science course, a minimum grade, or several prerequisites you have not completed yet. By comparing those requirements with your transcript, you can identify the gaps and build an Academic Upgrading plan around the courses you actually need.

How do I know which Academic Upgrading courses I need?

Start with the admission requirements for the exact college program you want to enter.

Do not begin by choosing from a list of Academic Upgrading courses. First, find out what your college program requires. Then compare those requirements with the courses and grades you already have.

Your course plan should be based on the gap between the two.

Step 1: Find the admission requirements for your college program

Go to the webpage for the college program you want to attend and find the admission requirements.

Look for:

●       required high school subjects

●       specific course codes

●       required grade levels

●       minimum grades

●       other requirements, such as tests, questionnaires or portfolios

At Durham College, meeting the general requirements for college does not automatically mean you meet the requirements for every program. Some programs have additional academic prerequisites and other admission criteria.

Check the exact program, not just the college

Two programs at the same college can have very different requirements.

A business program may require Grade 12 English and math. A health program may require biology or chemistry.

Always work from the requirements listed for the specific program you plan to enter.

Look for course codes and minimum grades

Pay attention to the letters and numbers beside each required subject. For example:

●       ENG4C means Grade 12 College English

●       SBI3C means Grade 11 College Biology

●       SCH4C means Grade 12 College Chemistry Also look for a minimum grade.

If the requirement says ENG4C with a minimum grade of 60%, having the course on your transcript is only part of the requirement. Your grade also needs to meet the stated minimum. If there is no minimum listed, in most cases applicants will be ranked by GPA.

Step 2: Compare the requirements with your transcript

Once you know what the program requires, compare the list with your high school transcript. Go through each prerequisite and put it into one of four categories:

●       Met: You have the correct course and meet the grade requirement

●       Missing: You did not take the required course

●       Grade too low: You have the right course, but your grade may not meet the requirement

●       Unsure: You have a similar course but do not know whether it will be accepted This turns a long list of admission requirements into a much simpler course plan.

For example:

If you are unsure whether an existing course or grade meets a program requirement, confirm it with the admissions office at the college you plan to attend.

If your issue is simply that you are missing a college prerequisite, the next step may be as simple as completing the corresponding upgrading course.

Step 3: Is meeting the minimum college admission requirement enough?

No. Meeting the minimum college admission requirements does not always guarantee that you will receive an offer.

Meeting the stated prerequisites can make you eligible for admission, but it does not guarantee that you will receive an offer. Durham College notes that applicants who meet the minimum admission requirements are not automatically guaranteed entry into a program.

This becomes especially important for highly competitive programs.

A program is considered highly competitive when there are more qualified applicants than available seats. At Durham College, applicants to these programs are ranked, and the most qualified applicants are offered seats or placed on a waiting list.

For Durham’s highly competitive programs, the current selection process uses an average based on four senior-level prerequisite subjects.

That means there are two questions to ask:

1.     What grades do I need to meet the minimum admission requirements?

2.     Is the program competitive enough that stronger grades may improve my chances?

If you are applying somewhere other than Durham College, check that college’s selection process. Competitive admission rules can vary.

Step 4: Match your missing prerequisites with Durham’s Academic Upgrading courses

Once you know what is missing, you can compare those requirements with Durham College’s Academic Upgrading courses.

Durham currently lists these high school course equivalents:

For example, if your target program requires ENG4C and you do not have it, ACE Communications may fill that gap.

If you already meet the English requirement but are missing SBI3C, ACE Biology may be the course to add to your plan.

The important part is the match: each upgrading course in your plan should connect to a requirement you are trying to meet.

If you are unsure whether you need individual courses or the full ACE Certificate, review the requirements for your next step before deciding.

Can I take more than one Academic Upgrading course at a time?

You may be able to take more than one Academic Upgrading course at the same time.

At Durham College students can take multiple courses at once depending on their goals and schedule.

How many you should take depends on your situation. Consider your available study time, other responsibilities and how quickly you need to complete your requirements.

You do not need to choose the heaviest possible course load. Choose one you can realistically complete.

Step 5: Work backwards from when you want to start college

Your course plan also needs a timeline.

Start with the college intake you want to enter. Then work backwards and ask:

●       When is the college application due?

●       When must my prerequisite courses be completed?

●       When are final or midterm grades required?

●       When can I start Academic Upgrading?

●       How many courses do I need?

●       Can I reasonably complete them in one semester?

Durham College’s main in-person Academic Upgrading classes currently start three times per year: January, May and September.

For example, if you want to start college next September and need two prerequisites, do not wait until the summer to start planning. Check when the courses are offered and when your college needs your grades.

For more detail on planning your timeline, see how long Academic Upgrading takes.

Some colleges may consider applicants who are still completing a prerequisite. The rules and document deadlines can vary, so check the admission process for your target program.

Step 6: Confirm your course plan before you register

Before registering for upgrading courses, make sure your plan matches the requirements you are trying to meet.

There are two different sources of help.

The admissions office at the college you want to attend can confirm:

●       which prerequisites the program requires

●       whether an existing course is accepted

●       minimum grade requirements

●       admission and document deadlines

●       how its competitive selection process works

Durham College Academic Upgrading can help with:

●       course selection

●       assessing your current academic level

●       placing you in an appropriate course

●       the Academic Upgrading application process

●       support while you complete your upgrading

Durham College’s Academic Upgrading staff are available to help students with course selection, applications and support services.

Confirming the plan before you begin can save you from spending a semester on a course that does not move you closer to your goal.

What does an Academic Upgrading course plan look like?

A simple plan can help you keep track of what you need and when you need it.

Use these questions:

●       Which college and program am I targeting?

●       When do I want to start?

●       What prerequisites are required?

●       What minimum grades are required?

●       Which requirements have I already met?

●       Which courses am I missing?

●       Which Durham Academic Upgrading courses match those gaps?

●       What still needs to be confirmed?

●       Which Academic Upgrading intake should I target?

Once you can answer these questions you should have a much clearer picture of your next steps.

If you discover that you need only one course, your plan may be simple. If you are missing several prerequisites, the same process helps you decide what needs to happen first and how much time to allow.