How Do I…?
Majors
Declare a Major
CC and SEAS students declare their majors online during the major declaration period in their sophomore year. SEAS students declare in October; CC students declare in February. Look for an email from your Advising Dean or Advising Counselor 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. Download the CC Major Declaration Signature Form if your major is housed within the following departments: Architecture, Comparative Literature & Society, Creative Writing, Earth & Environmental Sciences, East Asian Languages & Cultures, Film Studies, Italian, Physics, Spanish & Portuguese, Sustainable Development, Urban Studies. Bring the completed form to 403 Lerner.
Change a Major or Concentration
CC: Fill out the CC Change Major/Concentration Form and bring it to your adviser in CSA.
SEAS Fill out the SEAS Change Major/Minor Form, get a departmental signature, and bring the completed form to your adviser in CSA.
Get Information about Combined Plans
Find out more information about a department or program
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.
Time Away
Take a Leave of Absence
Talk to your Advising Dean/Counselor. Voluntary Leaves are taken for a variety of reasons; CC students can take them for as little as one semester and as long as two years. SEAS students must take voluntary leaves of exactly one year.
Medical Leaves are for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years.
Study Abroad
Read our fact sheet Planning to Study Abroad for advice, and make an appointment to meet with your adviser.
Columbia College:
The minimum requirements to be permitted to study abroad are:
- GPA above 3.0
- Sufficient progress on Core requirements
- At least 4 semesters of language study (or the equivalent) in the language of the country in which you wish to study abroad
- One course about the country or region in which you wish to study abroad
CC students should see Scott Carpenter, the Assistant Dean of Study Abroad, in 105 Carman, and look through the website.
SEAS:
- GPA above 3.0
- Sufficient progress on First Year Sophomore requirements
- At least 4 semesters of language study (or the equivalent) in the language of the country in which you wish to study abroad
SEAS students should see Regine Lambrecht, Director of Global Initiatives and Education, in 510 Mudd, and look through the website.
Take a Summer Class/Take a Class Outside Columbia
CC: 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 fact sheet to learn about summer study at Columbia and at other institutions: Summer Study - Columbia College.
To receive credit for summer study outside of Columbia, complete and submit this form: Summer Study Approval Form for CC to your adviser, outlining your reasons for taking summer courses and listing the specific course(s) in which you wish to enroll.
SEAS: Read our fact sheet to learn about options: Summer Study - SEAS
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 Outside/Summer Course Credit Approval Form for SEAS to your adviser for approval of credit.
Get Credit for Internships
Columbia University does not offer academic credit or academic course points for internships. However, if an internship requires students to obtain credit in lieu of financial compensation, something called Registration (R ) credit can be applied to your transcript, noting your internship participation. For more information, read our fact sheet about Columbia’s policy: Internship Credit
To receive R credit for an internship, fill out and submit this form to your adviser.
In order to volunteer at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, your adviser must fill out this form.
For full internship listings from a variety of employers, consult LionShare and the Center for Career Education.
Graduation and beyond
Get a Recommendation Letter
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.
Prepare for Graduation
Seniors should review the graduation checklist and read the fact sheet for information about checking your progress toward graduation, applying for the degree, graduation clearance, diplomas, Latin and departmental honors, and other frequently asked questions.
The Gradzone website is the central source for information about May graduation ceremonies and events.
Plan for Graduate School
Read the following fact sheet for more information about the graduate school application process:
Planning for Graduate School
Classes
Add a Class
- During the Change-of-Program period (the first 10 days of a semester, aka Add-Drop), use normal web registration procedures.
- After the Change-of-Program deadline, you must petition the Committee on Academic Standing (CAS). Fill out a Petition for Action and a Registration and Add/Drop form, and have the instructor complete the Add a Class after the Change of Program Period form. Submit all three forms to your adviser in CSA.
Drop a Class
- During the Change-of-Program period (aka 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 (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. (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/registrar/docs/students/academic-calendar/index.html )
- After the drop deadline, you must petition the Committee on Academic Standing (CAS). Fill out the Committee on Academic Standing Petition for Action Form and a Registration and Add/Drop form, and have your instructor complete the Drop a Class after the Drop Deadline form. Submit all three forms to your adviser in CSA.
Pass/D/Fail a Class
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.
The Pass/D/Fail option is not available to SEAS students except in very rare circumstances; any class with a Pass/D/Fail grade will not count toward any requirements or toward the 128 credits you need to graduate. SEAS students must consult with their adviser and get his or her signature.
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.
Get a course approved for the Science or Global Core Requirements
Columbia College students who wish to request an exception to the Science Requirement should complete and submit this form: Science Requirement Course Approval Petition Form for CC to the Dean's Office in 208 Hamilton Hall. Students who wish to request an exception to the Global Core or Major Cultures Requirement should visit the Dean's Office in 208 Hamilton Hall.
Go over Points
To take more than 22 (CC) or 21 (SEAS) credits during one semester, submit the Committee on Academic Standing Petition for Action form to your adviser in CSA, along with a Registration and Add/Drop form indicating which course you wish to add.
Take Classes that Overlap
- 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.
- SEAS students who wish to register for courses that overlap must submit this Overlap Approval form to their adviser 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.
Audit a Class (For CC Seniors only)
The mark of "R" or registration credit is equivalent to auditing a course (please note: no point/credits are received). The "R" credit option is available only to Columbia College seniors through a petition process and will only be authorized if the courses are in excess of the 124 points required for the B.A. degree, the courses are not used to fulfill a requirement for the B.A. degree, and the student has the permission of the course instructor.
For more information regarding the "R" Credit option or to pick up an "R" credit petition form, please see your Advising Dean/Counselor.
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