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First-Year Academic Advising

Welcome to MSVU!

You are at the beginning of an exciting educational journey. We are excited and proud that you have joined our community and look forward to supporting you throughout your program!

The information you will find on this page will help you make a smooth transition to the Mount. You’ll access the first-year course selection guide for your program, read about what to do after being accepted, learn about steps to take throughout your first year, discover how to use the academic calendar, and review some university terminology.

What To Do After Being Accepted

Confirm your attendance: Confirm your attendance by paying your confirmation deposit. Confirming your attendance will guarantee you a seat in your program and allow you to register for courses. Visit our Payment Centre and select the confirmation deposit that applies to you from the drop-down menu. Have any questions about the confirmation deposit? Contact our Financial Services office.

Review your First-Year Course Selection Guide: Every program has required courses as well as electives. Download your first-year course selection guide (below) to learn what courses you should take. You can view course descriptions and program information in the Academic Calendar.

Get to know myMount: myMount is the online student portal where you can register for courses, view financial information, access moodle courses and your student email account, and read about Mount news and events. You will receive a username and password for myMount after you have been accepted.

Plan your Ideal Schedule: Before registering for courses, you should create a draft schedule by searching for the courses you wish to take in myMount and adding them to your schedule in the Registration Centre. You can also use a blank schedule template to map out your ideal schedule for the upcoming year.

Seek Academic Advising: We encourage you to attend our Early Advising and Registration event in the Spring for assistance choosing your first-year courses and registering. If you are unable to attend or have additional questions, you can book an appointment with an academic advisor any time. An advisor can help you select and schedule courses, plan your program, refer you to other on-campus student support services, and more. Academic Advisors are here to support you at every stage of your program. Go to our booking page or email advising@msvu.ca to book an appointment.
Helpful Tip: Be sure to take your ideal schedule to your academic advising appointment to review with an advisor.

Register for your courses via myMount: All course registration is completed online via the Registration Centre in myMount. Check out our video on how to register for courses in the “How to Register for Courses” section of this webpage.

Check out our Next Steps Hub for new students. The Hub covers next steps for all aspects of university life.

Review Your First-Year Course Selection Guide (Listed by Program)

All programs have specific requirements. Use the course selection guide for your program to help you choose your first-year courses.

Bachelor of Science Applied Human Nutrition

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Arts or Science in Psychology

Bachelor of Arts Communications

Bachelor of Public Relations

Bachelor of Business Administration

Diploma in Business Administration

Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management

Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management

Bachelor of Arts Child and Youth Study

Beyond your first year, you can use your program checklist to determine your remaining requirements.

Explore Courses Open To First-Year Students

The courses listed below are open to first-year students.

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) have a prerequisite (either first semester or concurrent), or require permission of the instructor. Check the Undergraduate Academic Calendar for further information.

Coming soon!

How To Select and Schedule Your Courses

1. Select your courses: Use the first-year course selection guide above, along with the list of courses open to first-year students (also above) to select the courses you will take in your first year.

Helpful Tip: Select two or three back-up choices for each semester…sometimes, courses fill up quickly.

2. Schedule your courses: Use myMount to search for the courses you want to take. Some courses have required labs and they must be scheduled (and registered for) separately. Some courses and labs will have multiple sections. Choose the section at the time that works best for you.

Helpful Tip: When you select courses in the Registration Centre in myMount, you can view your schedule to ensure there are no conflicts before registering for courses. If you prefer, you can use a blank schedule template to map out your ideal schedule for the upcoming year.

More Helpful Information

Click on the courses you wish to take in myMount to read the course descriptions. You can also read the course descriptions in the Academic Calendar. This will help you decide which courses you wish to take.
Most courses are 0.5 unit. This means they run for one semester. Some courses are 1.0 unit. This means they run from September to April.
Most courses take place two times per week for one hour and fifteen minutes. Some courses only take place once per week for two and a half hours.
We offer a variety of online courses every semester. Typically, online courses are identified by their section numbers (ex. 18, 19, 20, etc.). Online courses may be offered in a variety of ways. Visit our online learning department to learn more about the different course delivery modes.
See the video below on how to use myMount to register for your courses.

How To Register for Courses

You can register for courses through the Registration Centre in your myMount account. Follow the steps in this video for assistance.

myMount Registration

Steps To Take Throughout Your First Year

Complete Mount 101: Mount 101 is a free, online program designed to help you learn more about the Mount and build on what you already know about being a student. Mount Mentors are students who can answer your questions about Mount 101 and other aspects of university life. Learn more about the Mount 101 and Mount Mentor program.

Learn your program requirements: Being aware of what your program entails in your first year will help you plan your program successfully. Knowing your requirements will ensure you take the appropriate prerequisites and give you the opportunity to take interesting electives. You can keep track of your progress using your program checklist. While you are responsible for keeping track of your degree requirements, an academic advisor will help you with the process. Go to our online booking page or email advising@msvu.ca to book an appointment. On-Campus, Online and Telephone appointments are available.

Ask for help: If you are having trouble adjusting to university course loads, are unsure about what courses to take, or have general questions about university, there are many people on campus you can ask for help, including academic advisors, professors, counsellors, tutors, etc. We are all here to support you throughout your time at the Mount.

Prepare for additional study time: For every hour you spend in class, expect to spend 2-3 additional hours working on homework.

Meet with an academic advisor: You should meet with an academic advisor before you register for your first-year courses and again when you are about to declare your major and/or select your second year courses. You can also meet with an advisor at any time throughout the year when you have questions or would like to talk about your program. While you are responsible for keeping track of your degree requirements, an academic advisor will help you with the process. Go to our online booking page or email advising@msvu.ca to book an appointment. On-Campus, Online and Telephone appointments are available.

Start thinking about your major: You will be required to declare your major before you begin your sixth unit of coursework. If you are unsure what to major in, book an appointment with an academic advisor to discuss it or check out our section on choosing a major.

Get to know the Mount community: Check out the services available to you such as the Learning Strategist, Career Planning Centre, Writing Centre.

Take time for yourself: It is important to stay balanced while at university. Extracurricular activities can help you relax after a day of studying. Find something that you enjoy, whether it be listening to or playing music, spending time with friends, joining a club or society on campus, or playing a sport or joining the gym, there is something for every student at the Mount. Try something new and have fun!