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Frequently Asked Questions


Enrollment Process

General Education Requirements

Grades

Academic Standing

Transferring

Choosing a Major


Can I add a CLAS course at any point in the semester?

No. For Spring 2008, the last day for a student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to add or petition for late enrollment for an 8-week course is Thursday, February 14, 2008. For courses of shorter duration, the deadline is the last day of the second withdrawal period for your course. Please see the University Registrar’s website for the final deadline: http://www.registrar.ku.edu/calendar/082event.shtml.

Things to consider:
• Some classes have certain permission requirements that may prevent you from enrolling without having a permission number. You can get the permission number from the instructor or the department that offers the class.
• After the open add period is over (usually after the first five instructional days of the semester) you will no longer be able to add online. You must obtain instructor permission to enroll in the class and approval from the College Student Academic Services office. Some departments may request that you get instructor permission earlier than the end of open adding.
• Students are responsible for any work previously assigned in the class before they added. Therefore, please consider if you can handle the work before adding a class late.
• Many instructors will not allow a student to add a course that has progressed to a point where adding the course late would be detrimental to the student due the amount of make-up work that would be required. Don't delay when trying to add courses after the semester has started.

Can I drop a CLAS course at any point in the semester?

No. For Spring 2008, the last day for a College of Liberal Arts and Science student to drop, change/swap individual courses or withdraw from all classes for 8-week courses is Monday, April 17, 2008. For courses of shorter duration, please see the University Registrar’s website for the final deadline: http://www.registrar.ku.edu/calendar/082event.shtml.


Note: There may be consequences with health insurance, financial aid, international student status, full time status, fulfilling requirements, etc. Please check with the respective office to find out if you may be adversely affected by dropping a course.

See the Timetable for policies governing withdrawing from non-CLAS courses (e.g., Business, Education, etc.).

In which math class should I enroll?

Students are placed in math classes based on their ACT or SAT scores. If students are not happy with their math placement, then they can contact the math department about taking KU's Math Placement Exam, which can override their previous math placement. Students cannot enroll in a higher math class than where they placed.

Students will be administratively dropped if they enroll and cannot provide documentation proving their eligibility.

If I am planning to transfer to one of KU's other schools, do I need to worry about the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences regulations?

If you are admitted into CLAS while you are preparing to enter a professional school (most pre-professional students fall into this category) you need to be aware of certain College regulations concerning add/drop, continuous enrollment, and GPA standards.

How do I change from another school at KU to Liberal Arts?

Fill out an application for change of school at the College Student Academic Services office in 109 Strong Hall. If your KU GPA is less than 2.0 you may be admitted on probation. Depending on your KU GPA, you may not be admissible. Please see our probation page to see the requirements you will need to meet.

How do I get back into KU if I've been gone for a semester?

If you are not enrolled at KU for a semester, you need to apply for readmission for the next semester you plan to attend. Contact the Office of Admissions (785-864-3911) for an application for readmission or you can fill out the application online. There is an application deadline so please apply once you plan on attending. If you were dismissed from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or you left KU with a KU cumulative GPA below 2.0 and were previously in another professional school you may need to meet requriements for readmission. You can review those requirements on our readmission page.

My grade report says I was placed on probation. What exactly does that mean, and what do I need to do to be in good standing again?

Probation means that your KU cumulative GPA is below the 2.0 required for graduation from CLAS. Once you fall below a KU cumulative GPA of 2.0 then you are placed on probation. You will continue on probation each term as long as you meet your probation requirements. If you raise your KU cumulative GPA up to a 2.0 then you return to good standing at the end of the semester you are currently enrolled in. Failure to meet probation requirements will result in a dismissal from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and that means that you will not be allowed to continue at KU unless another professional school allows you to continue. Please review the probation site to see the requirements for probation.

I have been dismissed. What does that mean?

A student that has been dismissed from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must sit out at least one full Fall or Spring semester and complete readmission after dismissal requirements at another academic institution. You can review this on the academic standing page. If you are recently dismissed then you should review your academic semester closely and evaluate why you didn’t meet your probation requirements. If you feel that there is an error you should contact CLAS SAS in 109 Strong immediately. If you feel that there were circumstances that were beyond your control that should be taken into consideration then you can fill out a readmission petition.

What is credit/no credit and how do I sign up for this option?

Students may take one course per semester credit/no credit as long as that class is not in their major. Also, students have only a limited time to sign up for this option. The Academic Calendar in the Timetable of Classes lists the exact dates that this option is available. This opportunity is available during the 21st through the 30th instructional days of the semester. Retroactive application of the Credit/No Credit option after this deadline is not allowed. In all eight-week courses, including summer session, students must choose credit/no credit during the 11th through the 15th instructional day. In courses of other duration, students must choose credit/no credit during the week that 40 percent of the class sessions have been completed. In courses shorter than one week, students must choose credit/no credit before the first class session. Students can sign up for credit/no credit at the College Student Academic Services office, 109 Strong Hall. You may do this for one course each semester as long as the course is not in your major. You must get a "C" or better to receive credit. Please see our Credit/No Credit Information handout if you have questions.

What is the course repeat policy and how do I apply for it?

The course repeat policy is open and automatic to students who meet the requirements set forth by the University. Those requirements can be found on the University Senate Rules and Regulations' web site (Article 11, Sections 2.2.9 and 2.2.10).

What is an Incomplete or grade of 'I'?

The letter I should not be used when a definite grade can be assigned for the work done. It shall not be given for the work of a student in any course except to indicate that some part of the work has, for good reason, not been done, while the rest has been satisfactorily completed.

An I must be made up in the next semester of enrollment, except when the removal of the I involves the repetition of a portion of the classroom work, in which case it shall be removed in the first semester of residence in which the course is offered. An I not removed according to this rule shall be regarded as a grade of F, U, or NC on request of the student's dean, with the consent of the instructor, if possible, or the department chairperson if the instructor is not available, and so indicated on the permanent record.

Click this link for more information on Incomplete Grades.

Will my courses taken at another institution transfer for credit? How will I know what requirements they fulfill?

If you are currently a KU CLAS student, the best way to find out is to check online at the CredTran web site. If you can't find it online then you need to fill out a Tentative Evaluation Form (TEF) at the College Student Academic Services before you actually take the courses. You may attach a self-addressed stamped envelope when you drop off your TEF, or you can stop by or call the Student Academic Services office in 109 Strong Hall, 864-3500, to find out the results. Processing can take a while if the class has not been evaluated.

Who decides how courses from other institutions transfer to KU?

The Office of Admissions has Credentials Evaluators who do the evaluation of course work taken at other institutions to courses at KU. If you want to have a course fulfill a CLAS graduation requirement and it does not do so through standard evaluation, it may be possible to petition to make an exception. Contact the College Student Academic Services office, 109 Strong Hall, for a petition form.

What are CLAS residency requirements?

During your last 30 hours, you may take up to 6 hours per semester through KU correspondence or at another institution (up to 12 hours total), as long as the course is not in your major and your KU GPA is 2.0 or better. It is possible to petition to take a course in your major at another institution or through KU correspondence. A minimum of thirty hours total must be taken in residence at KU. It's best to check and make sure you are satisfying all the requirements for graduation by scheduling an appointment with you major advisor.

Can I enroll at a time other than the one to which I was assigned?

You may enroll anytime during Main Enrollment after your appointment time. Enroll & Pay is available online so you can enroll whenever you choose after your appointment time during main enrollment. If you have problems online the Student Records Center will be able to help navigate the system. Their hours are from 8:00am to 5:00pm weekdays.

Why was I assigned this enrollment time?

Enrollment times are assigned to students by the number of credit hours a student has. Therefore, seniors who have 120 credit hours will be able to enroll before seniors who have 95 credit hours. The actual enrollment time is assigned by the Office of the University Registrar.

Do I need to declare a major?

Yes, students that have 90 credit hours or will have 90 credit hours after the end of the current semester and have yet to declare a major or have not been admitted into a professional school will not be allowed to enroll for the next semester. Senior status starts at 90 credit hours. Students who are not declared will have a hold stating that they cannot enroll until they are declared or admitted into a professional school. Make sure you are working closely with your department and school in order to avoid this hold.

How many credit hours is considered full-time?

It depends on the purpose for which you need to be enrolled full-time. For most financial aid, greek houses, insurance, and other purposes, the minimum number of credit hours for full-time enrollment is 12 hours. Check with the agency or office which has the requirement to be sure.

How do I declare a major?

You may indicate your intention to pursue a major by filling out a major declaration form at the department in which you have decided to major. Some departments have admission requirements--check with individual departments to see if you qualify. We encourage students to declare their major by the beginning of their junior year. You may also indicate an interest in a major by completing a Change of Interest Code slip in the the College Student Academic Services office. This means that you have a particular interest in that area, but have not yet declared it as a major (or have not yet been admitted to the major).

Is it ok for me to be classified as "undecided?"

Yes, especially if you are a freshman or sophomore. The first two years of the undergraduate curriculum are designed for a great amount of flexibility and experimentation. Most students change their major at least twice during the course of their studies, so even if you have a major declared, it doesn't necessarily mean you have decided on an unchangeable course.
However, students that have 90 credit hours (senior status) or will have 90 credit hours after the end of the current semester and have yet to declare a major or have not been admitted into a professional school will not be allowed to enroll for the next semester. So during your junior year you need to be thinking about what you plan to major in and working with the department or school to become officially declared.

How can I tell which classes fulfill the principal course and non-Western culture course requirements?

The list of approved principal and Non-Western culture courses offered during any given semester are listed in the Appendix of the Timetable of Classes, divided according to area and topical group. The Undergraduate Catalog lists all the approved principal and NWC courses at the time the Catalog was printed. Of course, only a limited number of those courses are offered during any given semester. The PC code for each course in the Timetable of Classes indicates principal course status. The codes translate as follows:

  • CW - Social Sciences, Culture and Society, Non-Western Culture
  • HL - Humanities, Literature and the Arts
  • HR - Humanities, Philosophy and Religion
  • HT - Humanities, Historical Studies
  • LW - Humanities, Literature and the Arts, Non-Western Culture
  • NB - Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Biological Science
  • NE - Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Earth Science
  • NM - Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Mathematical Science
  • NP - Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Physical Science
  • NW - Non-Western Culture
  • RW - Humanities, Philosophy and Religion, Non-Western Culture
  • SC - Social Sciences, Culture and Society
  • SF - Social Sciences, Public Affairs
  • SI - Social Sciences, Individual Behavior
  • TW - Humanities, Historical Studies, Non- Western Culture

What is the difference between B.A., B.G.S., and B.S. degrees?

Why are there 3 different bachelors degree options in Liberal Arts & Sciences? Probably because the College has such a wide variety of majors and programs. Obviously, the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is more suited to the natural science fields such as Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. It allows students to concentrate more heavily on courses in their major and to take more supporting science and mathematics courses.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is the traditional Liberal Arts degree with its broad foundation of general education requirements including foreign language proficiency. This degree works well with most Humanities and Social Science majors such as English, History, and Sociology.

The Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) is a fairly new degree, historically speaking. It was created in the 1970's when student activists campaigned for a degree with a more flexible curriculum. It has been modified somewhat over the past 25 years, but still remains as the CLAS Bachelor's degree option that includes the most elective hours. It is often well-suited for transfer or non-traditional students, students who have changed degree programs or students completing double majors or dual degrees.

Every CLAS department offers the B.A. degree option, but all departments do not offer the B.G.S. and/or B.S. option. Be sure to check the Undergraduate Catalog to see if the major you want offers the degree you want.

How can I get my schedule?

You can view your schedule on through the Kyou Portal. If you need something official from the university you can get a letter from the Student Records Center in 151 Strong Hall or you can call them at (785) 864-4423.

Can I withdraw from a course after the last drop day has passed?

The process to withdraw from a course or semester after the last drop day is called a retroactive withdrawal. Documentation and valid reasons are needed to begin this petition process. The first step is to pick up a petition in 109 Strong Hall or call us at (785) 864-3500 and we will mail you a petition. This process can take up to 3 months once it reaches our office depending on the length of time the semester or course in question occurred. You will not need to meet with an advisor. The petition depends upon the material you gather and on your typed statement. If you have more questions on what a valid reason would be then please review the retroactive withdrawal policy.

Can I petition a course to fulfill a certain requirement?

Students can file a petition to have a transfer or KU course fulfill a certain requirement. The petition can be picked up in 109 Strong Hall. The student needs to state the request on the form. The petition needs to be endorsed by the chairperson or undergraduate representative in the KU department that offers a similar course. Any supporting documentation (course syllabus, reading list) should be attached to the petition. After this, the student should submit the petition to 109 Strong Hall. From there, the petition will go to a committee for action. The student will be notified of the results by mail.

How can I get a copy of my ARTS form?

Current students can get their ARTS form online at www.artsform.ku.edu.

Otherwise, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences undergraduate students can obtain a copy of their ARTS form with a photo in 109 Strong Hall. Students may also fax or mail a request for their ARTS form. The request should include the student's name, signature, 7-digit KUID number, and return fax number or mailing address. The request will be processed as soon as possible.

Fax Number:
(785) 864-5806
Address:
College Student Academic Services
Strong Hall
1450 Jayhawk Blvd Room 109
Lawrence, KS 66045-7535

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