OUE Academic Advising

Academic Advising | FAME | Learning Programs | Majors & Minors Advising | Science Advising

Frequently Asked Questions

Registration & Choosing Classes

• How do I choose courses and plan my schedule?
• How do I register for courses?
• What do I do if I need to make changes to my schedule or was unable to register during pre-registration?
• How do I determine my class status for bidding purposes?
• What should I do if I’m having trouble registering on OPUS or making changes to my schedule?
• How many credit hours should I be taking? And what is the minimum and maximum course load allowed during a given semester?
• How do I overload my schedule in order to take more than 19 academic credit hours?
• How do I register for a course that is “permission only"?
• How do I enroll in a class that is full, especially if I need it for a General Education Requirement or for my major?
• How can I determine which General Education Requirements I need in order to graduate?
• Can I fulfill my General Education Requirements by taking similar corresponding courses at another academic institution?
• Can courses I have taken or AP credits I have received prior to my enrolling at Emory count toward GERs, my major and graduation?
• How do I declare a major and when should I do this?
• Can I use an Emory course that does not appear on the list of General Education Requirements to fulfill one of these requirements?
• How can I fulfill my writing requirements?
• Is it possible to fulfill two GERs at the same time by taking a course that falls under the listing for more than one general education category?
• Am I allowed to take classes pass/fail?
• Am I allowed to retake a course in which I did poorly?

Academic Concerns (Course Withdrawals, Help Resources, Absences, Probation)

• What happens if I want to withdraw from all of my classes after the deadline?
• What will happen to my financial aid/scholarships if I change my schedule or withdraw from a class?
• What is a WF or WU and how do I obtain one?
• Is it possible to withdraw from courses taken in previous semesters?
• What should I do if I am having difficulty in a course?
• What should I do if I’m too sick to go to class or have another conflict or emergency?  Can I get an absence excuse or a missed exam excuse?
• What should I do if my professor wants to see my medical documentation in order to decide whether to allow me to make up missed work?
• Does Emory have an attendance policy?
• My schedule on OPUS does not appear to be correct.  What should I do?
• My instructor said that he supports my withdrawing from his class or has told me that I should withdraw because I am not doing well and/or have missed too many classes.  Can I just assume that he will process a withdrawal for me or that a letter from him will allow me to withdraw?

Return to top

Registration & Choosing Classes

How do I choose courses and plan my schedule?

For freshmen, your FAME advisor will help you decide which classes to take and guide you through the online registration process.  In addition, registration for freshman seminars is done through the FAME Office.  Please see the FAME site for more information about freshman advising and registration issues.

Your FAME advisor is your official advisor until you declare a major and receive an advisor in that department.  During your sophomore year you will choose a major and will be assigned an advisor by your department.

For transfer students and Oxford continuees who have not yet declared their major, the academic advisors in our office will be your official advisors.  You should set up an appointment as soon as you arrive.  Academic procedures and policies will be discussed with you during your orientation.  You will also have the opportunity to meet with faculty members to learn more about majors.

All students are welcome to meet with an academic advisor in our office for general advising and to discuss academic concerns.

How do I register for courses?

For most of the classes you are taking during regular semesters or summer sessions at Emory you will register online through OPUS.

After your first semester you will be able to pre-register with your class, which will determine your priority during the bidding process.  Keep in mind that bidding for a class does not in itself ensure that you will be placed into it.  Once the pre-registration process has ended you will receive a schedule. 

What do I do if I need to make changes to my schedule or was unable to register during pre-registration?

After pre-registration the Registrar will re-open registration on OPUS during what is called the drop/add period.  This period at the beginning of the semester will allow you to make changes to your schedule, enroll in open courses, swap courses, or drop courses.  If you are attempting to switch from one class to another open class, it is better to use the “swap” command instead of dropping and adding so that you do not lose your first class before you are enrolled in the second one.  It is your responsibility to review and print a copy of your schedule on OPUS each time you make a change to confirm that your request was processed as you intended and keep a copy for your records.

How do I determine my class status for bidding purposes?

You are considered to fall into a class category if at the time of pre registration you have completed the hours listed below:

First year students:    0 hour(s) - 12
Rising Sophomores:  13 hours - 42
Rising Juniors:   43 hours - 75
Rising Seniors:  76 hours or more

Prior to pre-registration, time is reserved for academic advising.  Your faculty advisor will post a schedule on her or his door, and, as in the past, you will be able to sign up for a relatively convenient session.  Check this schedule early to find an appointment time in the appropriate week listed below or earlier, depending on the times your advisor has available.  Please use this time to discuss problems and concerns about your requirements, career goals, and other academic issues that concern you.  This is not merely a time for you to select courses but a time for serious consideration of your plans.

What should I do if I’m having trouble registering on OPUS or making changes to my schedule?

All students are given user names and passwords when they first arrive at Emory.  If you are having trouble using the system, you should contact University Technology Services Division (UTS) if you suspect that there is a technical problem.  If your issue is not technical in nature, you should go to White Hall 300 immediately or call 727-6048. 

How many credit hours should I be taking? And what is the minimum and maximum course load allowed during a given semester?

Students normally enroll for 16 academic credit hours (4 courses) and often take one credit academic electives such as music or dance courses.  Health/PE courses count as one credit non-academic credit courses.  Sometimes students in consultation with their advisors choose to enroll in fewer credit hours to balance their schedules or more credit hours to achieve a particular academic goal. 

Students may not enroll in fewer than 12 credit hours, as Emory does not permit part-time status.  However, students who will be graduating at the end of the subsequent semester may enroll in as few as one credit hour.  Tuition below 12 credit hours will be charged on a per credit hour basis.  In order to take fewer than 12 credit hours, students must complete an underload form in the Office for Undergraduate Education, 300 White Hall. 

If a student has an Emory grade point average (GPA) greater than 3.0 or will be graduating at the end of the subsequent semester, he or she may enroll in up to 22 total credit hours.  If the student has a GPA of less than 3.0 he or she may enroll in up to 19 academic credit hours plus up to three non-academic credit hours.  No exceptions will be made to this policy.

How do I overload my schedule in order to take more than 19 academic credit hours?

If you meet the criteria discussed above you may fill out an overload form and submit it to White Hall 300.  If you attempt to register on OPUS for greater than the number of credit hours permitted, classes will be dropped from your schedule by the Office for Undergraduate Education before the end of the withdrawal period so that you are not above the permitted limit.

How do I register for a course that is "permission only"?

If the class is designated “permission only,” you will need a permission number from the department, or the departmental secretary will need to register you for the course.  As an alternative, you may also bring a signed letter from the professor during drop/add period indicating the name of the course, the course number, and the grading basis.  If the course is a directed study, the number of credit hours should also be included.

How do I enroll in a class that is full, especially if I need it for a General Education Requirement or for my major?

In certain circumstances some departments and professors allow students to overload into a class even if it is full.  However, this is not guaranteed and students should make every effort possible to plan their schedules and gauge their academic progress to maximize their choices.  If the professor of the course that you want to overload into chooses to let you join the course, you will need to bring a signed letter from him or her indicating the name of the course, the course number, and the grading basis.  

How can I determine which General Education Requirements I need in order to graduate?

Currently, graduating seniors receive official degree audits emailed to them from the Office for Undergraduate Education.  Your departmental advisor can determine your status for your major and also help you read your degree audit if you are having difficulty.  If there is a discrepancy between what is indicated on your degree audit and what you believe to be accurate, see degree audit for more information. Also see the Academic Concerns section below. 

If you are not a graduating senior you may use the GER worksheet on this site to help you determine your status and may also bring your worksheet with you when you schedule an appointment with an academic advisor. 

Can I fulfill my General Education Requirements by taking similar corresponding courses at another academic institution?

It depends.  If the number of credit hours you will be receiving will not take you above 68 total credit hours, then courses taken at another institution may be able to count if you get permission. Please see the section on Transient Study for more information on these procedures.  In addition, some students are able to fulfill requirements through Emory-sponsored study-abroad programs.  Please contact CIPA for more information.  Regardless of eligibility for either option, all writing requirements must be taken at Emory.

Can courses I have taken or AP credits I have received prior to my enrolling at Emory count toward GERs, my major and graduation?

Again, it depends.  The Office of Admissions evaluates the credits you have received from another institution as well as Advanced Placement test scores to determine the type of credit, if any, you will receive toward Emory General Education Requirements and whether particular requirements may be waived.  Be sure to consult before December of the year you enter as credit will not transfer after this time.

For Oxford Continuees, Oxford College will determine how your Oxford credit hours will apply toward your Emory requirements.

It is up to your department to evaluate credit hours that may count toward your major or minor.

How do I declare a major and when should I do this?

You should declare your major during your sophomore year by going to the office of the department you wish to major in.  You will then be assigned to a faculty advisor who will help you plan courses for your major and discuss plans for completion. See Majors and Minors for more information.

Can I use an Emory course that does not appear on the list of General Education Requirements to fulfill one of these requirements?

You can only use approved courses, which are updated periodically (see current list).  Courses taken at Emory that appear to be similar to the ones that have been approved cannot be used to satisfy GERs. 

If you are doing transient study, there is a procedure for getting permission for classes taken elsewhere to count.  Also, CIPA approves courses taken during study abroad toward fulfillment of the GERs.   

How can I fulfill my writing requirements?

You must fulfill both a freshman writing requirement consisting of one course as well as a post-freshman writing requirement.  For the freshman writing requirement (which is different from the freshman seminar) you must take either ENG 101, ENG 181 or LIT 110 or receive AP English credit as determined by the Office of Admission.

For the post-freshman writing requirement, three WR’s must be taken AFTER you have already completed 30 credit hours.  At least one WR must be taken between 30 and 90 hours.  Be careful to plan ahead, so that you do not leave more than two writing requirements for your senior year.  The senior writing requirement must be taken AFTER you have completed 90 credit hours. 

Only courses with the WR designation on OPUS can be used to fulfill the post-freshman writing requirement (see Courses Eligible for Post-Freshman Writing Requirement).  This also means that courses taken at other institutions (i.e., through transient study or study abroad) cannot be used to fulfill a writing requirement even if they are writing intensive.  In addition, only ONE course may be applied from creative writing, journalism or taught in a foreign language.

Is it possible to fulfill two GERs at the same time by taking a course that falls under the listing for more than one general education category?

Yes.  There are several courses that fulfill two General Education Requirements at once.  For example, REL 150 / MES 160 (Introduction to Sacred Texts) fulfills both an area IVA requirement as well as an area VC requirement.  AMST 112WR fulfills the US History requirement in area VA as well as a writing requirement (the course would only fulfill the post-freshman writing requirement if you have at least 26 credit hours prior to taking it). 

Am I allowed to take classes pass/fail?

Emory College allows students to take up to 20 credit hours of academic credit satisfactory/unsatisfactory toward graduation during the course of their academic career with the following stipulations:

For any particular course, the student must indicate their grading basis on OPUS and may not change this grading basis after the deadline.  Courses that are being taken for general education requirements or toward a major or minor must be taken for a letter grade.  Physical Education requirements except for PE 101 may be taken s/u. 

Professors are not notified of a student’s grading basis unless the student chooses to share this information with the professor.  In addition, classes taken with this designation are not factored into the GPA.

Am I allowed to retake a course in which I did poorly?

Students may retake a course only with a dean’s permission.  However, students may not receive credit toward graduation twice (that is, if they received a passing grade on the first attempt as well as the second attempt).  If the student failed the class on the first attempt, he or she may receive credit upon receiving a passing grade on the second attempt. 

In this case, both courses along with the grades received will remain on the transcript.  For instance, if a student fails SOC 101 during fall semester and takes it again in the spring and receives an A, the transcript will show the F in SOC 101 under the fall semester and the A in SOC 101 under the spring semester.  Both grades will be factored into the corresponding semester GPA as well as the cumulative GPA.  

Return to top

Academic Concerns (Course Withdrawals, Help Resources, Absences, Probation)

What happens if I want to withdraw from all of my classes after the deadline?

You should schedule an appointment immediately with a dean or academic advisor in the Office for Undergraduate Education if you feel that you need to withdraw.  Please bring any relevant documentation pertaining to your need.  If a full withdrawal is granted, you will receive grades of W on your transcript for all courses in that semester.  Please see page 400 of the 2005-2007 Emory College Catalog for further details.

What will happen to my financial aid/scholarships if I change my schedule or withdraw from a class?

In most cases, as long as you are a full-time student enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, your aid will not be affected.  However, you should always check with the financial aid office and/or your source of financial support to be sure what their specific terms are.

What is a WF or WU and how do I obtain one?

A WF is a withdrawal from a course after the deadline.  It is essentially equivalent to an F in the sense that it counts as an F on the GPA but appears as a WF on the transcript.  You can take one up until the last day of classes by making an appointment with an academic advisor.  A WU is be granted under the same terms, but only applies to a class in which a student is currently enrolled on an S / U basis.  Like the WF, no academic credit is received, but unlike the WF, there is no effect on the GPA in the case of a WU.

Is it possible to withdraw from courses taken in previous semesters?

Page 402 of the College Course Catalog states under the category “Waivers of Academic Regulations:” Students may appeal to the Committee on Academic Standards for waivers of existing academic regulations and requirements in individual cases.”  This committee of faculty governance (which includes students) is appropriately the defender of the Academic Rules and Regulations of Emory College.  The Committee views total withdrawal (from all courses in a given semester) for medical or psychological reasons a valid reason for some flexibility in the rules.  For more information, see Committee on Academic Standards.

What should I do if I am having difficulty in a course?

We want to help you!  In our advising role, we seek to support students who find they are having difficulty in a course for any reason.  We encourage you to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor proactively to discuss strategies for doing well in your courses.  Just call 727-6048 or stop by White Hall 300.  We also encourage you to meet with your professor and teaching assistants and to take advantage of their office hours and mentoring sessions. 

There are several resources on campus that may be helpful to you:

EPASS—This is the place to go for academic support, consultations, study-skills sessions, workshops and to request a tutor.  The EPASS Office is located on the Clairmont Campus in the SAAC Building, Suite 310. You can call 727-5300 for more information or to set up an appointment.

University Counseling Center —Sometimes personal issues in your life or emotional issues can affect your coursework and your ability to focus on your classes.  The Counseling Center includes a team of professional psychologists and social workers and offers individual and group therapy to help you deal with these issues.  The Counseling Center also provides referrals to outside specialists.  Call 727-7450 to schedule an intake appointment so that they can assess your needs.

Peer Counselors—The peer counselors are located on the Clairmont Campus in the SAAC Building, Suite 310, and have open hours from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. every night.  They are a fabulous team of students trained and supervised by the Counseling Center who are there to talk about anything -- whether you are having trouble dealing with a roommate, want to figure out how to get more involved on campus, or just need someone to talk to and get some support.  Just show up.  It’s free and confidential. 

Office of Disability Services —If you have a disability, this is the place to register for accommodations.  If you break your arm and need someone to provide a note-taker for your classes, go to ODS.  If you are suffering from depression or another chronic illness or have a learning disability, this is the place to go to discuss options and solutions.  Call 727-6016 for questions and more information. 

You can contact these offices yourself, or we can make a referral and work with you in conjunction with these resources.

What should I do if I’m too sick to go to class or have another conflict or emergency?  Can I get an absence excuse or a missed exam excuse?

You should always try to notify your professor in advance if you know that you may be missing a class.  The College does not provide absence excuses or excuses for late work or other assignments.  It is still ultimately up to the faculty member to determine how to respond to missed classes and exams.  It is your responsibility to make a conscientious effort to communicate with the professor in a timely manner and work out arrangements.  

The College does provide missed exam excuses in accordance with documentation that you provide, if this is requested by an instructor.  Note that Honor Code provisions apply to your communications with faculty so this may not be requested or needed.  It is your responsibility to make arrangements with the faculty member for making up the exam.  In addition, the faculty member may decide to offer an alternate solution.

Students with designated Emory-sponsored activities may go to White Hall 300 to receive an absence excuse.  The College will check to make sure that your name appears on a corresponding list of approved events.  Again, you must notify your professor ahead of time and make arrangements for making up missed work.

What should I do if my professor wants to see my medical documentation in order to decide whether to allow me to make up missed work?

Medical information is confidential.  You are not required to show this information to a professor or any other person at Emory who is evaluating you academically.  You may choose to provide this, however.  At the request of the student we will verify the documentation that we receive and will always attempt to do so in a way that does not violate your privacy. 

Does Emory have an attendance policy?

Each professor creates and enforces his/her own attendance policy.  Emory does not have an official attendance policy.  Attendance may have academic consequences and limit your flexibility if you require faculty support.

In addition, many departments allow a given number of absences before a student’s grade is affected.  These absences are expected to be used for illness or crisis situations that arise. 

At your request we will verify the documentation that we receive to maintain confidentiality.  When you make this request, we will always attempt to convey the information in a way that does not violate your privacy.

My schedule on OPUS does not appear to be correct.  What should I do?

It is your responsibility to review, print and save a copy of your schedule on OPUS each time you make a change to confirm that your request was processed as you intended.  If you do find a course or grading basis error on your schedule, make an appointment with an academic advisor immediately so that he/she can assess your situation. 

My instructor said that he supports my withdrawing from his class or has told me that I should withdraw because I am not doing well and/or have missed too many classes.  Can I just assume that he will process a withdrawal for me or that a letter from him will allow me to withdraw?

No, faculty members are unable to remove students from class rosters. If you decide to withdraw from a class before the withdrawal without academic penalty deadline, you must complete the following tasks:

1. Go to the Office for Undergraduate Education in White Hall 300 to receive a Petition for Partial Withdrawal.
2. Complete petition and bring to course instructor AND advisor of record (FAME or within major department) for consultation and signature. The instuctor's and advisor's signatures indicate only that you have informed them of your decision to withdraw, not that they necessarily approve of your decision.
3. Students have the responsibility to return their petitions, completed and with all signatures, to 300 White Hall by 4:00 p.m. on the date of the withdrawal deadline.
4. The Office for Undergraduate Education will process the petitions. A course from which a student withdraws will appear on the Emory transcript with a grade of "W," but will not count toward the student's GPA.
5. Students should review their schedules on OPUS to confirm that the partial withdrawal appears correctly.

See the Course Withdrawal Policy for how to request a partial withdrawal without academic penalty AFTER the withdrawal without academic penalty deadline in accordance with the new policy. Please call 404-727-6069 to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor in the Office for Undergraduate Education.

*Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files.

Return to top