College Requirements

• CALS Student Center Room Reservations
• Concurrent Enrollment
• Credit Overload
• Double Major/Double Degree Application and Supplemental Grid for Triple Majors
• Honors in Major – Honors Optional Form
• Incomplete Grade Instructor/Student Agreement Template
• Information for Re-entry While on Dropped Status
• Scholastic Policies and Actions Committee (SPAC) Appeal Form
• Study Abroad and CALS International Studies
• Template Plan of Study-Independent Study or Research

To declare or change a major within CALS, you first need to meet with an advisor for the intended major. Once you and the advisor discuss your interest and they confirm that you meet any admissions criteria, they will submit a declaration form for you. You will also need permission from a CALS Dean on Call if you 1) have above 85 credits, or 2) are not in Good Academic Standing (probation, warning, etc.). If changing your major will significantly delay your graduation, you should talk with a CALS Dean on Call about your options.

If you think that a major in CALS is the right fit but you are not sure which major to choose yet, you can meet with a CALS college advisor.

You will need to make an appointment with your intended CALS major advisor. They can help you with the transfer process and declare you in your new major. Guide has major advisor information. If you would like to transfer to CALS as an undecided student, you should meet with one of our CALS college advisors.

For more information, review the CALS transfer policy and process. You will also need permission from a CALS Dean on Call if you 1) have above 85 credits, or 2) are not in Good Academic Standing (probation, warning, etc.). If changing your major will significantly delay your graduation, you should talk with a CALS Dean on Call about your options.

CALS has a specific policy for additional majors and degrees. You need to apply for double majors and degrees. The application process is straightforward and requires you to demonstrate that the two majors represent different fields of study. Before filling out the application, you must talk to the advisors for those majors.

Check your DARS to confirm that your have met all requirements for graduation. You will graduate when all your requirements show as “Complete” in DARS for at least one degree and major and all your temporary grades, such as I or NR, are resolved. Read the CALS Graduation policy for more information.

The Office of the Registrar has a list of academic dates and deadlines. You should review this information regularly and add these key dates and deadlines to your calendar or planner so you can plan accordingly.

Independent research is considered an independent study course and must follow the requirements for academic credit. In order to add an independent study course to your schedule, first talk with the faculty member in charge of your lab to make sure your work will meet the academic requirements for credit. You and your mentor (and the faculty member, if different) should complete a Plan of Study form for the semester.

Once you have all agreed on the plan, make sure you have gotten permission to enroll from the department and add the course. Different conditions will apply depending on when you are trying to add the class. The Office of the Registrar has helpful information on adding a course and a full list of academic dates and deadlines. The CALS KnowledgeBase has more information on independent study.

Adding more than 18 credits in a semester, or credit overload, requires permission from your academic advisor and the Office of Academic Affairs by completing the credit overload request form. Additional tuition and fees apply. The Office of the Registrar has more information on maximum credit load.

You can drop a course any time before the drop deadline through Course Search & Enroll. It can be difficult to decide whether you should drop a course, but there are situations in which it may be the right decision, even after the initial drop deadline. Dropping a course may be a good decision if it is covering different information than expected or is more difficult than expected, and in some situations, dropping one course can provide you with more time to study in your other courses. It is important to note that dropping a course can affect your full-time status as a student, so you should think about factors such as visa status, scholarships and financial aid, and athletic eligibility. If any of those considerations are relevant to you, you should talk to advisors and staff in those offices before you make a decision when dropping a course would drop you below full-time status.

Dropping a course after the drop deadline is granted only for serious reasons such as illness, death, or family emergencies. If you would like to submit an appeal to request a late drop, you should talk with your advisor and then you can submit an appeal to the Scholastic Policies and Actions Committee (SPAC). You should continue to attend the course, take exams, and submit work while you are waiting for the results of your appeal.

You can request a withdrawal from the current term in your Student Center based on the academic deadlines. If your withdrawal qualifies as a medical withdrawal, you will be asked to submit documentation signed by your medical provider as evidence. The Office of the Registrar has detailed information about withdrawals. If you have any questions about how to start this process, please meet with a CALS Dean on Call.

After the withdrawal deadline, you can appeal for a late or retroactive withdrawal by submitting an appeal to the Scholastic Policies and Actions Committee (SPAC). You should talk with your advisor prior to submitting an appeal and continue to attend your courses, take exams, and submit work while you are waiting for the results of your appeal.

Before the variable credit deadline, you can change credits in Course Search & Enroll. After that, you will need to complete a request in your Student Center. You will need to have the request printed and signed by the instructor. Changes for a previous semester will need an appeal, which is done through a Scholastic Policies and Actions Committee (SPAC) appeal form.

Pass/fail grading is only allowed for electives and must be requested in the Student Center by the 4th week deadline. Because pass/fail grading can only be approved for true elective courses, you should consider carefully whether you need the course to meet a requirement. We strongly recommend you consult with your advisor prior to changing a course to pass/fail. The CALS KnowledgeBase has additional information on pass/fail grading.