Adding or Dropping a Course

University Policy

College of General Studies Policy

To drop a class, students must talk with their advisor and fill out a drop/add (course adjustment) form. It must be signed by the class professor (CGS classes only) and the student’s advisor. Drop/add forms are available in the Student Services office in CGS Room 211. They should be submitted with signatures to Room 211.

Important Considerations about Dropping Courses

• Withdrawing from a course renders the student ineligible for the Dean’s List for that semester, and for CGS merit scholarships.
• When a student withdraws from a class, he or she must discuss with an academic advisor how it affects the student’s eligibility to continue into the junior year from CGS and graduation from BU.
• CGS students who withdraw from a course are required to make up the course before continuing into their junior year (in most instances).
• Dropped courses may be made up either by overloading or by attending summer school at Boston University or elsewhere—depending on the course. Courses taken outside of BU can satisfy requirements and add to a student’s credits toward graduation (if approved), but they do not contribute to the BU GPA.
• Depending on when in the semester a student withdraws, a permanent “W” grade may be issued on the student’s academic record. This is a matter of little or no consequence. The student is charged full tuition for a dropped course regardless of whether “W” appears on the academic record.