Course Changes: Add, Drop, Withdrawal & Voucher Election
Listed below is a timeline and instructions for making course changes, including adds, drops, withdrawals and pass/no pass (P/NP) elections, as well as instructions for using vouchers to either drop a course or elect to take a course as pass/no pass after the deadlines.
It is expected that students who are full-time after the add period retain full-time status (36 units) unless there are extenuating circumstances. In order to drop below full-time, students should meet with their advisor and associate dean. Students are not allowed to use vouchers to drop below full-time status.
Add, drop, withdrawal and pass/no pass election deadlines may be found on the official Academic Calendar.
Add/Drop
DEADLINE: |
Fall & Spring Semesters: Monday after first two weeks of classes. |
PROCESS: |
Students can add and drop courses in Student Information Online (SIO) depending on course availability/space and pre- and co-requisite requirements. |
transcript impact: |
Courses dropped will not appear on the transcript. |
tuition impact: |
Tuition is adjusted if dropping below full time (less than 36 units). |
LATE ADD: |
Students who wish to add a course after two weeks must obtain academic advisor approval and fill out a Course Add, Switch Section or Change Units Request (pdf). The student should submit the form to their advisor or department administrator, and the department will submit the completed form to the University Registrar's Office. |
Drop
Deadline: |
Fall & Spring Semesters: Monday after six weeks of classes. Minis, Micros, Doctoral Course-Sections & Summer Sessions: View Academic Calendar for deadlines. |
Process: |
Students taking undergraduate and master's courses may drop a course in SIO up until the drop deadline; however, permission must be obtained from the academic advisor to drop below full time (36 units) during this period. |
Transcript impact: |
Courses dropped by the deadline do not appear on the transcript. |
Tuition impact: |
Tuition is not adjusted for courses dropped during this period. |
LATE DROP: |
Students who wish to drop a course after the drop deadline must consult with their academic advisor to use a voucher. |
Course Withdrawal
DEADLINE: |
Fall & Spring Semesters: Monday after 10 weeks of classes. Minis, Micros, Doctoral Course-Sections & Summer Sessions: View Academic Calendar for deadlines. |
PROCESS: |
Students may withdraw from a course during this period after consultation with their academic advisor. To request a course withdraw, the student must fill out a Course Withdrawal Request (pdf) form and submit it to their advisor or department administrator. The department will submit the completed form to the University Registrar's Office. |
TRANSCRIPT IMPACT: |
A "W" grade appears on the transcript. |
TUITION IMPACT: |
Tuition is not adjusted during this period. |
LATE WITHDRAWAL: |
Course withdrawals after the deadline are not permitted. Students should discuss options with their academic advisor. |
Pass/No Pass Election
Deadline: |
Fall & Spring Semesters: Monday after 10 weeks of classes. Minis, Micros, Doctoral Course-Sections & Summer Sessions: View Academic Calendar for deadlines. |
Process: |
Students may elect to take a course as pass/no pass (P/NP) during this period after consultation with their academic advisor. To take a course as P/NP, the student must fill out a Pass/No Pass Approval (pdf) form and submit it to their advisor or department administrator. The department will submit the completed form to the University Registrar's Office. Note: Any course switched to the P/NP grade option which counts toward a general education, major or degree requirement will need to be repeated. View a grade conversion process explanation. |
Transcript impact: |
Courses taken as P/NP appear as "P" on the transcript if passed and "N" if not passed. |
Tuition impact: |
Tuition is not adjusted for courses taken as P/NP. |
LATE DROP: |
Students who wish to elect to switch to P/NP for a course after the P/NP deadline must consult with their academic advisor to use a voucher. |
Voucher Process
The voucher process was implemented to permit a limited number of course drops and pass/no pass elections after the deadlines.
The policies for using vouchers are as follows:
- Vouchers may be used to either make pass/no pass elections after the Pass/Fail Grade Option Deadline has passed or to drop courses after the Course Drop Deadline has passed.
- Vouchers are not intended to be used for exceptional or extenuating circumstances; they cannot be used to drop below full-time status (36 units); and they cannot be used for courses from which a student has already withdrawn.
- Undergraduate students are permitted three vouchers over the course of their undergraduate career and may use only one voucher per semester (including summer).
- Master’s students are permitted one voucher per 12 months of study (beginning with the month they started) and may use only one voucher per semester (including summer).
- Doctoral students, visiting/non-degree students, and certificate students do not receive vouchers and do not participate in the voucher process.
- Eligible students may elect to use a voucher up to and including the last day of classes each semester.
- A voucher (either PNP or drop) may not be used once a course withdrawal (and W grade) has been assigned.
- Voucher elections, once confirmed by the student, are irreversible.