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FAQ

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Questions

  1. How do I enrol in a PD course?
  2. Why are the elective PD courses not Engineering specific?
  3. When do I choose the PD course I want to take?
  4. What if a PD course fills up before I’ve selected my choice?
  5. Can I enrol in a PD course if I don't have a job yet?
  6. Can I skip a PD course this term?
  7. Can I take more than one PD course during a single work term?
  8. I’m not going to have access to high speed internet on my work term; who do I talk to?
  9. Do I have to write 3 or 4 work term reports?
  10. How are PD courses represented on my transcript?
  11. Do failed PD courses affect student standing?
  12. Can I still take PDEng courses?
  13. How is WatPD-Engineering different from PDEng?

Click here for further FAQ on the Waterloo Professional Development program (WatPD).

Answers

1. How do I enrol in a PD course?

First-year students are automatically enrolled by the Undergraduate Engineering Office into PD 20 for their first work term and PD 21 for their second work term. Once core PD courses are complete, students select one elective PD course during each remaining work term until five PD courses have been completed. Students re-enrolling in a core course or enrolling in an elective PD course are responsible for adding their PD course in Quest in the term prior to your work term.

Note that if you failed to get a credit in PD 20 during your first work term, it is recommended that you repeat PD 20 during your second work term instead of pushing ahead into PD 21. In this case, use Quest during the open enrolment period prior to your second work term to drop PD 21 and enrol in PD 20. (Back to Top)

2. Why are the elective PD courses not Engineering specific?

The current elective PD courses were developed for co-op students in all faculties and are relevant to a variety of workplace environments. In the coming terms, WatPD-Engineering plans to develop additional elective PD courses on topics of special interest to Engineering students, with the first such course expected to be offered in Fall 2012. (Back to Top)

3. When do I choose the PD course I want to take?

You will be able to enrol on your next PD course during your termly enrolment appointment or during the open enrolment period in the term preceding your next work term. It is recommended that you enrol at the earliest opportunity to secure your choice of course. (Back to Top)

4. What if a PD course fills up before I’ve selected my choice?

There will always be space available in the core engineering courses PD 20 & PD 21. If an elective course (PD 3 - PD 7) is full, you will need to choose an alternative elective PD course. It is advisable to enrol early to secure your preferred choice of course. (Back to Top)

5. Can I enrol in a PD course if I don't have a job yet?

You will be expected to complete a PD course during each work term, whether or not you are employed, until your WatPD-Engineering requirements have been fulfilled. All PD courses, including PD 20 & PD 21, have been designed such that they do not require you to be actively employed. Therefore, if you are not employed during a co-op work term, you are still expected to complete a PD course. (Back to Top)

6. Can I skip a PD course this term?

It is expected that you will complete a PD course during each work term, whether or not you are employed, until your WatPD-Engineering requirements have been fulfilled. See question 5 above. In exceptional circumstances, permission to defer a course may be granted by a student's Undergraduate Academic Advisor. If you feel that you need to defer your PD course, you must speak directly with your Undergraduate Academic Advisor at the earliest opportunity to discuss your individual circumstances. (Back to Top)

7. Can I take more than one PD course during a single work term?

Students may enrol in only one PD course per work term. Exceptions may be permitted in special circumstances, such as where a student has failed a PD course. Exceptions are considered when the number of remaining work terms is less than the number of remaining PD courses required to satisfy degree requirements. If you feel that you need to enrol in two PD courses in a given work term, please contact your Undergraduate Academic Advisor. (Back to Top)

8. I’m not going to have access to high speed internet on my work term; who do I talk to?

If you are unable to access the internet while on a work term, you can make alternative arrangements for getting course content and submitting assignments by contacting PD staff prior to leaving campus for your work term. (Back to Top)

9. Do I have to write 3 or 4 work term reports?

Students completing core and elective courses through WatPD-Engineering are required to complete three satisfactory work reports (WKRPT 200/1,300/1,400/1). Students who completed one or more PDENG courses (i.e. prior to Fall 2011) are required to complete four satisfactory work reports (WKRPT 100/1, 200/1, 300/1, 400/1). If you are uncertain about your work term reports requirement, please consult with your Undergraduate Academic Advisor. (Back to Top)

10. How are PD courses represented on my transcript?

When you have successfully completed a PD course, it will appear on your transcript with a grade of "CR" indicating that you achieved the credit. PD credits earned count toward WatPD-Engineering Program Requirements. Failed PD courses are indicated on transcripts as NCR, or “No credit granted, failure recorded.” If "CR" is listed under the "Grade" heading, you have passed the PD course. (Back to Top)

11. Do failed PD courses affect student standing?

For students entering engineering in Fall 2011 or later, PD courses are considered to be of type DRNA, which means that failed PD courses contribute to the accumulated failed count. See Rule 6 in the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar for more information. For students entering engineering prior to Fall 2011, failed PD courses are considered to be of type DRNC, and do not contribute to the accumulated failed count. (Back to Top)

12. Can I still take PDEng courses?

Due to insufficient demand, PDEng courses were retired in August, 2011. (Back to Top)

13. How is WatPD-Engineering different from PDEng?

As a second generation online professional skills development program, WatPD-Engineering has grown from the experiences of PDEng. PDEng was a pioneering program that used a mentoring teaching model to guide students as they demonstrated competency in professional skills. WatPD-Engineering uses a more traditional teaching model to provide students with relevant theory coupled with the opportunity to apply the theory to their workplace experiences. Both programs were founded on a common objective: to support Waterloo Engineering students in developing professional skills which, when combined with technical excellence, will ensure workplace success. (Back to Top)