Adding Courses

Beginning with registration and through the second week of the semester, students can add courses to their program using the online registration system. In the event that a course requires the permission of the instructor, the student would request permission to register during the registration process. Students who wish to overload by carrying more than 19 credit hours at any time during the semester, are required to meet the specific criteria established by the faculty.

Most regular courses can be added during the third week of the semester and up until the end of the fourth week of the semester as long as faculty permission has been granted. However, faculty members may choose to deny permission to students who request to add a course after the second week of the semester. The following types of courses have special earlier deadlines:

  • WRTG 105/105E and WRTG 27x courses must be added by the end of the second week of the semester
  • One- and two-credit courses that meet for the whole semester must be added by the end of the third week of the semester
  • One- and two-credit courses that meet for the part of the semester must be added no later than the end of the second week of classes
  • ASL language courses

See the academic calendar for exact dates.

In general, it is not a good idea to add a course as late as the fourth week of the semester unless the student has been attending it. Students should decide their courses as early as possible in the semester and discuss their selections with their advisors.

Drop/Add Form Instructions

The Drop/Add Form is a fillable PDF that works best with Adobe Reader. To submit the form you should:

  1. Complete each section of the PDF form
  2. Save the form to your desktop
  3. Email completed form as an attachment to registrar@rochester.edu (with instructor permission if needed)

Adding a Course after Online Registration Ends

To add a course after the second week of the semester, students must complete an online Drop/Add Form.

Signatures

If a course is being added after the second week of the semester, the signature or authorization of the instructor is required.

First-year students and sophomores who are not yet official majors should communicate with their College Advisor about any proposed changes to their schedule, but no approval is required for the drop/add form.

Students in the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences will need an email from their Undergraduate Coordinator, submitted along with the drop/add form, indicating approval for the schedule change.  

Adding a Course after the Deadline

To add a course after the deadline, students must submit a petition with the reasons for requesting a late change to the College Center for Advising Services (CCAS). This petition will be reviewed by (and requires the approval of) the Administrative Committee. Approval is not automatic.