Graduate Change of Schedule (Drop/ Add)

Students may drop and/or add courses by following instructions and adhering to deadlines set by the Registrar  each semester. Change of Schedule (drop/add) forms are available in departments and can also be printed in .pdf format on the Office of the Registrar's Web site.  To see when a Change of Schedule form is required, see Graduate Dates and Deadlines.

As of the first day of classes and through the last day of registration for credit, as stated in the Academic Calendar a student may not add a course with a Change of Schedule form without the permission and the signature of the course instructor.

Fall & Spring Semesters (16-week courses):

Graduate course withdrawals before the first deadline, at the end of the fourth week of classes (the twentieth day of regularly scheduled classes), result in cancellation of registration in the course.  The course enrollment is deleted from the student's permanent record.

For graduate course withdrawals filed between the first and second withdrawal deadlines--at the end of the tenth week of classes--a grade of W is awarded, regardless of whether the student is passing at the time of withdrawal.  No approval is needed.  The W will be displayed on the student's permanent record, but it does not affect the student's grade-point-average (GPA).

The second withdrawal deadline is normally the student's last opportunity to drop a course, except for an extraordinary reason approved by the course instructor and Graduate College Dean on a Change of Schedule Form.  With the Graduate College Dean's approval, graduate courses may be dropped from the eleventh week through the final day of regularly scheduled classes.  Any approved Change of Schedule Forms must be submitted to the Registrar prior to the final examination period.

Summer & Winter Session courses, and courses with non-standard start-and-end dates: 

The Registrar determines the first and second withdrawal deadlines for shorter terms and for graduate courses with non-standard start-and-end dates.  Those deadlines are based on the length of the session (or the course); see the Graduate Dates & Deadlines.

Graduate courses dropped before the first deadline result in cancellation of registration; the student's enrollment in the course is deleted from the permanent record.  Courses dropped between the first and second withdrawal deadlines result in a grade of W, regardless of whether the student is passing at the time of withdrawal.  No approval is needed to withdraw before the second deadline.  The W grade will be displayed on the student's permanent record, but it does not affect the student's GPA.  Specific withdrawal deadlines for shorter or non-standard terms are published in the Graduate Dates & Deadlines.

The two drop deadlines for graduate courses with extended terms (i.e., those extending 5 or more months) are proportional with those set for the Fall or Spring Semester. 

The second deadline to drop a graduate course is normally the student's last opportunity to withdraw, except for an extraordinary reason approved by the course instructor and Graduate College Dean via a Change of Schedule Form.  With the Graduate College Dean's approval, graduate students may drop a course with shorter or non-standard start-and-end dates--prior to the final examination period.  

Note:  No fee is charged to graduate and professional students for dropping or withdrawing from classes. There is no unit maximum on the number of course withdrawals for graduate and professional students. However, students should be aware that withdrawal from courses might adversely affect their financial aid and visa status as well as their eligibility for fellowships, awards, scholarships, and graduate assistantships.

For professional students in the colleges of Law and Medicine, course withdrawals are governed by regulations established by the respective college faculties.