During the Change-of-Program period (the first 10 days of the semester, also known as Add-Drop): Use normal web registration procedures.
After the Change-of-Program deadline: You must petition the Committee on Academic Standing. Fill out a Petition for Action and a Registration and Add/Drop form. Ask the instructor to complete the Instructor Approval form. Submit all three forms to your adviser in CSA.
The mark of "R" or registration credit is equivalent to auditing a course. Please note that no points/credits are earned. The "R" credit option is available only to Columbia College seniors who submit a completed petition.
"R" credit petitions will only be authorized if:
For more information regarding the "R" Credit option, please see your Advising Dean.
During the Change-of-Program period (also known as Add/Drop): You can use normal web registration procedures.
After the Change-of-Program period and before the drop deadline: Go in person to the Registrar's Office in 205 Kent with a Registration and Add/Drop Form. SEAS students need their CSA adviser’s signature on the form. The drop deadline for CC students is normally the 5th week of classes; for SEAS students, it is the 10th week. Refer to the academic calendar for specific dates.
After the drop deadline: You must petition the Committee on Academic Standing for a W (approved withdrawal). Fill out the Petition for Action form and a Registration and Add/Drop form. Ask the instructor to complete the Instructor form for Drop or W. Submit all three forms to your adviser in CSA.
Science Requirement: Columbia College students who wish to request an exception to the Science Requirement should go to the Dean's Office in 208 Hamilton Hall.
Global Core/Major Cultures: Students who wish to request an exception to the Global Core or Major Cultures Requirement should meet with Senior Assistant Dean Scott Carpenter in 606 Kent Hall.
To take more than 22 (CC) or 21 (SEAS) credits during one semester, submit the Over Points Petition form to your adviser in CSA, along with a Registration and Add/Drop form indicating which course you wish to add.
CC Students: CC students can designate one class per term to take Pass/D/Fail (not including PE courses and other courses that only allow the Pass/Fail grading option). You cannot take any Core classes Pass/D/Fail, nor any language courses. Some majors allow you to elect Pass/D/Fail for the first course you take in the department, but it is your responsibility to confirm that with the department before choosing the Pass/D/Fail option.
Beginning with courses taken in the Fall 2007 semester, students are allowed to uncover a grade of Pass within two weeks of the start of the semester immediately following that in which the grade of Pass was received. Students have until two weeks into the start of the spring semester to uncover the grade of a fall course and two weeks into the start of the fall semester to uncover the grade of a spring or summer term course. The grade of Pass will not be used in calculating grade point average; the grades of D and Fail will be so used.
SEAS Students: The Pass/Fail option is not available to SEAS students except in very rare circumstances; any class with a Pass/Fail grade will not count toward any requirements or toward the 128 credits SEAS students need to graduate. SEAS students must consult with their adviser before opting to take a class Pass/Fail.
Deadline: The Pass/D/Fail deadline is usually the 10th week of classes. Go in person to the Registrar (205 Kent) with a completed Registration and Add/Drop Form.
For more detailed information, consult our Fact Sheet.
CC Students: Columbia College students who wish to register for courses that overlap must visit the Dean's Office in 208 Hamilton Hall, before the last day of registration, to petition for approval. Click here for the form.
SEAS Students: Columbia Engineering students who wish to register for courses that overlap must submit the Overlap Approval form to their Advising Dean before the last day of registration. You should also fill out a Registration and Add/Drop form indicating which class you would like to add.
If you are struggling in a course, you should always first contact your professor or teaching assistant to discuss expectations, go over previous exams and papers, and clarify concepts and the material. It's also a good idea to contact your advising dean, who can help you review your study habits and create a plan.
For more assistance, you can look for a tutor or visit a help room. Help rooms are sponsored by the academic departments and are staffed by graduate students. They are open at various times for students to drop by and ask questions about homework and material. There are also a variety of tutors available. Academic Success Programs offers a free group tutoring service in a variety of subjects. Here is a list of department-sponsored private tutors and help room information.
Columbia College: Complete the CC Change Major/Concentration Form and bring it to the CSA in 403 Lerner.
Columbia Engineering: Complete the SEAS Change Major/Minor Form, get departmental approval and a signature, and bring the form to the CSA in 403 Lerner.
Columbia College and Columbia Engineering students declare their majors online during the major declaration period in their sophomore year. Engineering students declare in October; CC students declare in March. Look for an email from your Advising Dean with a clickable link, or visit SEAS Major Declaration/CC Major Declaration to get started.
Some College majors require departmental signatures to finalize online major declaration. If your major is housed within one of the following departments, download the CC Major Declaration Form and bring it to 403 Lerner:
Each department and academic program in Columbia College has a Director of Undergraduate Studies, a faculty member who can answer your questions about requirements for the major or concentration, guide your choices about placement level, discuss opportunities to study abroad, and assist you in planning your program. A complete list of names and contact information is here.
If you are applying to graduate school and would like the CSA to gather and send out recommendation letters on your behalf, use the Dossier Service.
If you are applying to law school or health professional school, please contact the Office of Preprofessional Advising.
You can find information about the 3-2 Program in this brochure. Take a look and contact your CSA adviser if you have further questions.
You can find more information about the 4-1 Program in this brochure. Additionally, you can learn about the 4-1 Program in the Columbia College Bulletin and the SEAS Bulletin.
Read the CSA fact sheet regarding the SIPA 5-Year MIA/MPA Program. Contact your CSA adviser if you have further questions.
Read the CSA fact sheet regarding the graduate school application process.
Information about Columbia's internship/registration credit policy can be found here. To receive registration credit for an internship, fill out and submit this form to your adviser.
In order to volunteer at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, your Advising Dean must fill out this form.
For full internship listings from a variety of employers, consult LionShare and the Center for Career Education.
Columbia College:
The minimum requirements to be permitted to study abroad are:
CC students should meet with a study abroad adviser in the Office of Global Programs.
Columbia Engineering:
Engineering students should look through the Engineering Global Initiatives website and plan to meet with Dean Leora Brovman.
Talk to your Advising Dean.
Voluntary Leaves are taken for a variety of reasons. For more information, review our FAQs for Voluntary Leaves.
Medical Leaves are for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years. For more information, review our FAQs for Medical Leaves.
Columbia College: Please note that summer study outside Columbia is only approved for students who are behind in credits or who are studying a language. Read our CC Summer Study Fact Sheet to learn about summer study at Columbia and at other institutions.
If you have read over the criteria and procedures and are eligible to take summer courses outside Columbia, please fill out and submit this form to your Advising Dean.
Columbia Engineering: Read our SEAS Summer Study Fact Sheet to learn about the options available to you.
If you wish to receive credit for courses taken outside of Columbia and have read over the criteria and procedures, fill out and submit this form to your Advising Dean.
Visit
403 Lerner Hall
2920 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
Call: (212) 854-6378
Fax: (212) 854-2562
E-mail: csa@columbia.edu
Office Hours
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Walk-In Hours
Monday - Thursday: 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
