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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I successfully complete my first year in my programme?

Students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits or ten 3-credit Level I course, depending on the choice of degree as follows:

  1. Three (3) University foundation courses.
  2. Pre-requisites for Level II/III courses and/or free electives.
  3. Any other courses designated by the departments which are not included in the above.
What are the Degree Categories?
  1. Major - a Major is made up of a minimum of thirty (30) credits in the subject area at Levels II and III.
  2. Double Major - a double Major is made up of a minimum of thirty (30) credits each in two (2) subject areas at Levels II and III.
  3. Major and Minor - a Major/Minor is comprised of a minimum of thirty (30) Levels II and III credits in the subject area of the Major and fifteen (15) Levels II and III credits in the subject area of the Minor.
  4. Special/Option - a Special/Option is comprised of a minimum of forty-five (45) credits in the subject area at Levels II and III.
  5. Minor - a Minor is comprised of a minimum of fifteen (15) credits in the subject area at Levels II and III
Am I only allowed to do a mix of level I, II, III courses in a single semester?

Students are required to satisfy pre-requisites (where applicable) for Levels II and III courses. Students, however, do not have to complete all courses at one level before taking a course at another level as long as the pre-requisites for the course(s) have been met

What are Foundation courses?

In academic year 1998-1999 the UWI instituted a minimum of nine credits of Foundation Courses. These Level I courses are designed to promote sensitivity to and awareness of distinctive features of Caribbean cosmologies, identities and culture.

The Foundation courses are:

  1. FOUN1013: Critical Reading and Writing in the Social Sciences
  2. FOUN1019*: Critical Reading and Writing in the Disciplines
  3. FOUN1101: Caribbean Civilization
  4. FOUN1201: Science, Medicine & Technology in Society

* FOUN1019 is a year-long course to be completed in lieu of FOUN1013 by students who did not meet the English Language requirement [ See handbook] AND failed to obtain a pass in the ELPT.

* A student may be allowed to substitute one of the non-language Foundation Courses with a foreign language course at the level of their competence.

What is the English Language Requirement [ELPT]?

English Language is compulsory for admission to all programmes. The English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) is used to assess whether persons applying to pursue undergraduate degree programmes at the UWI, Mona Campus possess a satisfactory level of writing and reading proficiency in English for university academic purposes. The results of applicants who pass the test will remain valid for a period of five (5) years.

For information on test registration procedures and test format, kindly contact the Admissions Section of the Registry on the Mona Campus.

*See your handbook for exceptions from sitting.

How many courses should I register for each semester?

Full-time students are required to register for a minimum of twenty-four (24) and a maximum of thirty (30) credits in any one academic year.

  • A full-time student may be allowed three (3) additional credits for a total of thirty-three (33) if he/she has a degree GPA ≥ 3.3 after three (3) semesters and/or in their final year if they have not failed a course in the previous semester.

Part-time students are expected to register for a maximum of eighteen (18) credits in any one year.

  • A part-time student may be allowed to register for twenty-one (21) credits if he/she has maintained a minimum GPA of 3.3. Finalizing part-time students may also be allowed to register for 21 credits.
How do I move from Part/time to Full/time?

All students are initially registered as full-time or part-time students but >may apply to the Faculty Office via the online student portal, SAS, to change their enrolment status.

Part-time in the Faculty is defined by a student’s work load per semester and does not mean evening studies. While Level I courses are offered throughout the day and evening, the majority of the courses at Levels II and III are taught during the day only. Thus, students registered part-time must be prepared to attend classes at times between 8am and 5pm.

Students accepted with lower level matriculation into the Faculty as part- time students must complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) credits and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 to be eligible for transfer to full-time.

Does the FSS offer Summer School?
  1. Summer School in the Faculty is OPTIONAL. Credits for courses passed will be granted to registered students of the University.
  2. All Faculty of Social Sciences students should register for no more than two (2) courses in the summer programme
How do I apply for a leave of absence?
  1. A student who, for good reason, wishes to be absent from an academic programme for a semester or more must apply for formal leave of absence using the Automated Student Request System (ASRS)
  2. Leave of absence may be granted for one semester or for an academic year in the first instance however, leave will not be granted for more than two academic years or four semesters over the life of a student’s programme.
Why was I placed on warning by the FSS after my first semester?

Except where otherwise prescribed in the Faculty’s regulations, a student whose GPA for a given semester is less than 2.0 shall be deemed to be performing unsatisfactorily, and shall automatically be placed on warning. A student on warning whose GPA for the subsequent semester is less than 2.0 shall be automatically required to withdraw.

Timetables & Schedule

Undergraduate

  • Sem. I Timetable
  • Sem. II Timetable

Postgraduate

Department of Government

The University of the West Indies,
Mona, Jamaica
Tel: (876)977-5935
Fax: (876)977-1809
govt@uwimona.edu.jm
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