June 7, 2007
Dear MFS students,
I would like to remind you that you are eligible to register for courses at UBC now. It is important that all MFS students get on the UBC system by registering in at least one course. You can do this online at the Student Service Centre (SSC), https://ssc.adm.ubc.ca/sscportal/servlets/SRVSSCFramework
Before Friday, June 15th, you should register for the following: (1) FOOD 528 section 001 (2007 Winter session, Term 1); and (2) Any undergraduate courses that you are interested in taking in either Term 1 or Term 2.
MFS Graduate courses:
You are guaranteed a place in all MFS graduate courses, so you don’t have to worry about them filling up.
A schedule of all MFS courses will be sent out in a separate e-mail. They will be available to register by Monday, June 11. In the meantime, we suggest you register for FOOD 528 which will definitely be offered in Term 1. You can register for the other MFS graduate courses in July or August before you come to UBC, or you can wait until you arrive at UBC and have had a chance to discuss your course program with me. You can also register now, discuss with me later, and change your registration accordingly.
During Terms 1 and 2, you should take at least 4 courses and at most 5 courses each Term. During Term 3, most students will take only the Practicum course, FOOD 531.
Elective Undergraduate courses:
As you know, you are allowed to count two undergraduate courses (number 300 level or above) in your MFS program. Some of you who are not from a food science background will want to take food science undergraduate courses to fill any gaps.
If you have a gap in Biochemistry, you should register for BIOC 300 in Term 1 and BIOC 302 in Term 2.
If you have a gap in Microbiology, you should register for MICB 202. Because it is only a 200 level course you will not be able to count it for credit in your MFS degree.
If you want some exposure to business, you can consider one of the Food and Resource Economics (FRE) courses. FRE 302 is an introduction to small business management, FRE 306 is a global food marketing course, FRE 340 is an international agriculture development course, and FRE 385 focuses on using spreadsheets to solve problems. You can do FRE 302 and 385 without any economics background, but you should have had a course in Economics for FRE 306 and 340.
Many of you may experience a ‘block’ when registering for undergraduate courses. This is very normal. If you have difficulties registering for undergraduate courses, please let me know the course that you want to take and the reason provided by the registration system. I will then investigate the situation and would probably be able to ‘remove the block’ for you.
*** Many of you are not familiar with the registration system at UBC, so first I would like to mention a few things that will help you.
a. When you register, you register for courses you will be taking in Term 1 and in Term 2. At this point, you don’t need to register for Term 3 as most students will only take the Practicum in Term 3.
b. If you register for a course and decide later that you don’t want to take it, it is very easy to drop it (i.e. de-register).
c. It is also easy to add (i.e. register) for a course that you decide to take, provided that the course is not full (i.e. reached its maximum number of students).
d. Both b. and c. can be done up until about two weeks after classes have begun in September.
Again, please be reminded that you should register in FOOD 528 and undergraduate courses that you need. You are guaranteed a space in all MFS required courses, don’t worry if you cannot register them now. You can register later. If you experienced difficulties in registering in any undergraduate courses, please let me know.
Regards,
Judy