Dec 03, 2024  
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2024-2025 Academic Calendar Mount Royal University

First-Year Advising Guide - Open Studies

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Welcome to Open Studies at Mount Royal University!

As a student at Mount Royal, you will be able to open doors to a wide range of learning and career opportunities.

The information in this guide is a useful resource as you learn about your Mount Royal program. During your time in Open Studies, you will be able to work with your Academic Advisor to discuss your plan for admission to your desired program. Please see the Academic advising section of this guide for information on how to contact your Academic Advisor.

Planning for a future program

Successful admission to Mount Royal programs involves meeting the general and specific minimum admission requirements and presenting a competitive average for admission to that program.

Meet Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Every MRU program has general and specific minimum admission requirements. The requirements for each program can be found on the Mount Royal website.

  • If you are missing a minimum admission requirement, meeting it is a top priority. You have until June 30, 2025, to complete any necessary upgrading courses for admission to a program for Fall 2025. We recommend completing any necessary upgrading courses in the winter and/or spring semesters so you can focus on achieving the highest possible competitive average in the fall semester.

Meet Competitive Average

  • The number of credit courses you complete by December 31, 2024, and June 30, 2025, will determine your admission category into a program for Fall 2025. Your admission category determines whether your high school or post-secondary grades are used to calculate your competitive average.

The following tables explain how we determine your admission category and competitive average.

Admission Categories
High School Mature Post-Secondary

Completes three or fewer 3-credit courses by December 31, 2024 (including transfer credit)

AND/OR

Completes seven or fewer 3-credit courses by June 30, 2025 (including transfer credit)

 

Completes three or fewer 3-credit courses by December 31, 2024 (including transfer credit)

AND/OR

Completes seven or fewer 3-credit courses by June 30, 2025 (including transfer credit)

AND

Is 21 years of age or older by September 1, 2025

AND

Does not meet the High School applicant general admission requirements

Completes four or more 3-credit courses by December 31, 2024 (including transfer credit)

AND

Completes eight or more 3-credit courses by June 30, 2024 (including transfer credit)

 

Competitive Average Calculation
High School Mature Post-Secondary

Competitive average will be based on your top two Group A high school courses (or equivalent1) completed by December 31, 2024

Competitive average will be based on your top two Group A high school courses (or equivalent1) completed by December 31, 2024

Competitive average will be based on your four most recently completed and transferable 3-credit courses completed by December 31, 2024

 

Final Average Calculation
High School Mature Post-Secondary

Final average will be based on your grades in the following courses2 completed by June 30, 2025:

  1. English 30-13

  2. Group A high school course4 (or equivalent1)

  3. Group A high school course4 (or equivalent​1)

  4. Group A or B high school course (or equivalent1)

  5. Group A, B, or C high school course (or equivalent​1)

Final average will be based on your grades in the following courses2 completed by June 30, 2025:

  1. English 30-13

  2. Group A high school course4 (or equivalent1)

Final average will be based on your eight most recently completed and transferable 3-credit courses completed by June 30, 2025

1Equivalents may be specified post-secondary courses, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses, high school courses completed outside of Alberta or Canada, and/or high school upgrading courses completed at another post-secondary institution. Mount Royal will determine which, if any, Group A, B, or C high school courses you have equivalents for based on the transcripts provided with your application.

2For admission to diploma programs, final average will be based on your grades in the following courses completed by June 30, 2025:

  1. English 30-1

  2. Group A high school course4 (or equivalent1)

  3. Group A, B, or C high school course (or equivalent​1)

  4. Group A, B, or C high school course (or equivalent​1)

  5. Group A, B, or C high school course (or equivalent​1)

​3For admission to University Entrance Option, English 30-1 may be replaced with another Group A course.

4The specific courses required for your program’s minimum admission requirements will be used to meet this requirement.

Apply for your New Program

To be eligible for admission to a new program for Fall 2025 at Mount Royal, we strongly recommend that you apply during Early Admission (October 1, 2024 - February 1, 2025). Some programs at Mount Royal have a firm application deadline of February 1, 2025, so please ensure that you are aware of any relevant deadlines for your program.

Applicants may apply to up to two programs with the same application fee. You are strongly encouraged to apply to a backup program. If you are unsure of the best backup program, please connect with your Academic Advisor.

Choosing courses strategically

  • You can take a maximum of 30 credits (generally ten 3-credit courses) in Open Studies1. Credit courses are university-level courses. Using your 30 credits wisely involves purposeful planning to increase your chances of future admission to a program.

  • Full-time student status requires you to be registered in a minimum of three courses or 9 credits per fall and winter semester.

  • If you meet minimum admission requirements but your competitive average is not high enough, consider upgrading your best Group A high school course(s) or post-secondary course(s) (based on your admission category) in the fall semester.

  • If you are missing minimum or general admission requirements, register for those upgrading or post-secondary equivalent courses in your winter and/or spring semesters so you can focus on achieving the highest possible competitive average in the fall semester.

  • Upgrading courses are non-credit and can be taken in addition to any credit courses. They do not count toward the 30-credit maximum.

1This limit is shared between Open Studies and University Entrance Option.

Choosing your courses

As an Open Studies student, you should take relevant post-secondary or upgrading courses, based on your admission category, in the fall semester that will help you achieve a competitive average for your desired program. You should take the courses in the fall semester that you feel you can do well in so you can achieve the highest possible competitive average for your goal program.

You may find it helpful to take an Undergraduate Studies (UGST) course in your first year, particularly your first semester. UGST 1001 - Effective Learning in the Undergraduate Context  and UGST 1002 - Change, Challenge and Choice: The University Context and Beyond  are courses designed to build skills that will be useful in university and can be used as an elective for most programs.

Every degree at Mount Royal includes General Education (Gen Ed) courses. As an Open Studies student, you may wish to take foundation and/or tier 2 (if applicable) General Education courses that will count towards your degree.

You may also be able to take core courses that will count towards your degree. You may wish to take a look at the program advising guide for your desired program. These guides include a list of courses that a first-year student in that program would take.

In the winter semester, it is recommended that you take any upgrading or post-secondary equivalent courses you require to meet the minimum requirements for your desired program. Additionally, you can take credit courses that will count towards your intended program, such as remaining foundation General Education courses, tier 2 General Education courses, electives, or core courses from your desired program (if available).

For course descriptions, please review the Academic Calendar.

General Education courses

What are General Education courses?

A great education doesn’t just make you an expert in one area - it gives you a well-rounded knowledge base in a variety of areas. This is why all of Mount Royal’s baccalaureate degree and diploma programs include General Education, a collection of courses in various subjects that will complement studies in your chosen field.

Use the list of approved General Education courses in the General Education section of the Academic Calendar to assist with course selection for the tiers and clusters outlined below. Be sure to follow the suggested pattern for your General Education requirements as outlined in your desired program.

It is your responsibility to register for your courses and ensure that the courses you select meet your desired program and graduation requirements.

Foundation

Throughout your degree, you’ll take a total of four General Education foundation courses. Most students complete these four courses within their first 45 credits. Choose one from each cluster.

Cluster 1: Numeracy and Scientific Literacy

Take one of GNED 1101 - Scientific and Mathematical Literacy for the Modern World , GNED 1102 - Controversies in Science , or GNED 1103 - Innovation  

Cluster 2: Values, Beliefs and Identity

Take one of GNED 1201 - Aesthetic Experience and Ideas , GNED 1202 - Texts and Ideas , or GNED 1203 - Nature and Ideas  

Cluster 3: Community and Society

Take one of GNED 1301 - Citizenship Without Borders , GNED 1303 - Conflict and the Social Context , or GNED 1304 - Communities and Societies  

Cluster 4: Communication

Take one of GNED 1401 - Writing for Academic Success , GNED 1403 - Writing in a Digital Context: Language, Media, Culture , or GNED 1404 - Writing about Images  

Tier 2

As you progress through your degree, depending on your desired program, you may need to take tier 2 courses. 

Tier 3

As you progress through your degree, depending on your desired program, you may need to take tier 3 courses.

Registering for courses

It is your responsibility to register for your courses and ensure that the courses you select meet your desired program and graduation requirements.

Use the Academic Calendar to explore possible courses of interest and to check that you meet prerequisites. You will register for courses using the registration system found in the MyMRU Register & Pay tab.

Visit our Tutorials page for useful videos to guide you on using MyMRU, using our degree audit system (mruGradU8), and how to register for your courses.

We also have an online tool to help you plan your courses for the year: My Schedule Builder. View schedule options and create a timetable that works best for you. Access My Schedule Builder through your MyMRU account under the Register & Pay in the My Schedule Builder section.

Academic advising

New Student Registration

Your Advisors have carefully prepared your advising information and are eager to begin working with you on your Mount Royal experience. After reading through this information carefully, you should have the information required to register for both your fall and winter semesters. Should you have questions, you may contact the Open Studies Academic Advisors by email at advising@mtroyal.ca or by phone at 403.440.6222. Please ensure you include your name, MRU ID number, and any relevant program goals with your email.

You can also read through your Welcome Guide which contains great information about transitioning to MRU and the available support services.

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