Wondering how to drop or add a class? Need to know how to add a minor? Not sure if you can retake a course? The academic policies and procedures below will help point you to needed resources. The College of Arts and Sciences Academic Bulletin also has information about these policies and many more.
You have plenty of options when it comes to choosing or adding a major or certificate in the College.
Not sure what you want to do? The College offers an Exploratory option that allows you to fulfill general requirements while taking courses in your potential major areas.
Have questions? Talk to an academic advisor in the department in which you’re interested.
You can graduate with up to three minors on your record. You can apply online for some minors, including:
For all other minors, you must meet with an academic advisor for the department(s) in which you wish to minor, and he or she will process the minor application on your behalf.
The College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin provides the information you need to make the most of your undergraduate education and graduate on time. It’s your official source for degree requirements, programs of study, policies and procedures, and opportunities within the College and individual departments and programs.
A bulletin describes the requirements in place at a particular time. You will likely be required to use the bulletin that was in effect when you enrolled at Indiana University as a degree-seeking student. For example, if you entered the university in fall 2022, you will fulfill the requirements listed in the updated College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin for that year.
Bulletins are published online annually, usually in May or June.
Have any questions about the bulletin? Contact the College Recorder’s Office at 812-855-1821 or coasrecd@indiana.edu.
View current and past Bulletins
There are two types of second degrees: concurrent (earned simultaneously with a first degree), and sequential (earned subsequent to a first degree earned at IU Bloomington or elsewhere.) The procedure you should follow depends on whether you are interested in pursuing a concurrent second degree or a sequential second degree in the College of Arts and Sciences*.
Pursue a concurrent second degree
If your first degree is in the College, you do not need to complete an application form. You must meet with your academic advisor for your intended second degree to discuss your eligibility. If you are eligible, the advisor will initiate the process of adding the second degree to your record.
If you are currently pursuing a degree outside the College, you must meet with the academic advisor for your intended second degree to discuss your eligibility and degree requirements. You must complete the second bachelor’s degree application and take it with you to your meeting. Concurrent second degree applications are accepted on rolling basis.
Pursue a second sequential degree
If you currently hold a bachelor’s degree and have determined that earning a second bachelor’s degree is necessary to fulfill your career and personal goals, contact colldeg2@indiana.edu to request application information. The deadline for a fall start is April 1 and for a spring start it is November 1.
*The College includes the departments and programs that span the Arts and Humanities, Natural and Mathematical Sciences, and Social and Historical Studies, as well as our three schools: the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and The Media School.
You can drop a second major or any minor online.
When signing up for classes, there are many components that go into creating the perfect schedule. Below are some tips that will make the scheduling process easy and stress free.
Account holds
A hold may be placed on your account for many reasons and can prevent you from registering for classes. You can view any holds on your account in the Student Center. Go to one.iu.edu, search “holds,” and launch the Record Holds tile.
Avoid scheduling conflicts
Avoid scheduling conflicts by reading the class notes on the registration screen carefully. Some classes, like BIOL-L 112, require students to take exams in the evening (outside of the regular class time). If outside time requirements are listed in the class notes, you will need to leave that time open in your class schedule.
Avoid final exam conflicts
While scheduling your classes, you should check final exam dates to ensure that none of the exams in your chosen classes will conflict. You can see final exam schedules here for select semesters, or go to one.iu.edu, search “final exams,” and launch the Final Exams tile.
Waitlisting a closed class
Some classes fill up quickly and you may have to join a waitlist; openings in the class are filled from there. To join a waitlist, you can get the help of a registration consultant or you can follow the registrar’s instructions. Waitlists remain active through the end of the day on Thursday of the first week of classes. If you change your mind about a waitlisted class, be sure to remove yourself from the waitlist.
Your specific CASE (College of Arts and Sciences Education) requirements will depend on your degree program. You can find more information about each of the CASE requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin.
See Student Central for information about how to drop or add a class.
If you need to drop a class after the automatic W deadline, talk to your advisor first. Petitions for withdrawals after the automatic W deadline will not be authorized by the Dean except for urgent reasons beyond your control (such as illness or equivalent distress). The desire to avoid a low grade is not an acceptable reason for withdrawal from a course.
If you want to take a class as Pass/Fail, you must complete the College's Pass/Fail form after consulting with your academic advisor. Make sure you pay attention to the Pass/Fail deadlines.
Contact your academic advisor before retaking a course. Complete and submit the Extended-X petition prior to graduation, during the semester in which you retake the course, or after you have taken the course the second time.
If your Fall or Spring semester College GPA, major GPA, or cumulative GPA falls below 2.000, you will be placed on academic probation and a letter will be sent to you regarding your academic situation. If you are experiencing academic difficulties, please speak with an academic advisor in your major department right away. Continued poor performance may result in academic dismissal from the College.
If you’ve received a dismissal letter, you may have questions. We’ve compiled an extensive list that addresses:
To petition for readmission, you must first hold a conference with the College’s assistant dean for undergraduate retention and achievement by one of the following deadlines:
To schedule an appointment, call 812-855-1647 or 812-855-8245.
If you struggled academically before becoming a B.L.S. Student and meet certain criteria now, you may petition to have qualified courses removed from your B.L.S. GPA. Talk with your academic advisor to learn more.
See Student Central for information about getting a copy of your transcript.
Looking for sources for campus or university-wide policies? Here are a few to get you started.
