Undergraduate Academic Advising

All College of Arts & Sciences students are assigned an academic advisor. Advisors guide students in a multitude of ways throughout their college experience. Advisors can help students:

• identify their academic, professional, and personal goals
• understand degree requirements (Hub, CAS BA requirements, Major requirements, etc.) and how to keep track of them on Degree Progress on MyBU
• interpret BU and CAS policies, practices and standards
• choose a course schedule each semester
• be aware of other academic opportunities, such as study abroad, other majors & minors, research opportunities, language learning, tutoring, internships, etc.

As an undeclared student at Boston University, you have yet to decide on a major to pursue – and that’s great! Boston University’s College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) offers many undergraduate major options, so we applaud your wisdom and thoughtfulness in taking the time to explore different academic pathways.  You’ll be assigned an academic advisor who specializes in undeclared students who will help you make an informed decision while fulfilling requirements along the way.

Graduation advising begins once a student submits the Intent to Graduate Form (also found on the CAS Forms and Procedures page). Ideally, a student is able to submit this form one calendar year before their intended graduation date. Once CAS Advising receives this form, the student is assigned a graduation advisor from CAS Advising, who will continue to work with the student in their final year as a BU undergraduate student to ensure that all degree requirements are met, and a feasible degree completion plan is in place. Boston University has three graduation cycles in which University degrees are conferred: May, August, and January. Students must have all course and credit requirements complete prior to each graduation cycle in order to officially graduate. Students graduating in January and August are eligible to participate in the May graduation ceremony of the same calendar year as their official graduation date.

Drop-in advising is available during the fall and spring semesters on weekdays when classes are in session. Drop-in advising is not held during the summer or over winter break. You do not need an appointment to visit drop-in advising.

Drop-in advising is available:

Monday – Friday

1:00pm – 3:00pm

at 100 Bay Sate Rd. Room 401

Drop-in advising is available to any CAS undergraduate student. You will have approximately 10 minutes to meet with an an on-call CAS advisor. If you think you may need more than 10 minutes to discuss your questions, please schedule an advising appointment with your academic advisor.

Drop-in Advising is NOT for:

• Long-term Hub or major planning
• Planning for adding a second major, a minor, or the Dual Degree Program
• Study Abroad inquiries

If you are not sure if your inquiry would be appropriate for drop-in advising, please contact casadv@bu.edu and we will guide you on the best action to take and with whom you should speak regarding your question(s).

**Please note: CAS students are no longer required to meet with an advisor or attend a Pass/Fail information session prior to designating a course as P/F.**

CAS students interested in designating a course as Pass/Fail should submit the CAS Interest in Pass/Fail Designation form. This is not the Pass/Fail form; rather it is a review and acknowledgment of the Pass/Fail policy, which you must complete prior to submitting the Pass/Fail form. You will receive the Pass/Fail form via email only after you submit the CAS Interest in Pass/Fail Designation form. You must submit the Pass/Fail form no later than 5pm EST on Friday, November 7th, 2025.

Please note: if you designate a class as Pass/Fail, it cannot fulfill major, minor, or CAS requirements (including the CAS language requirement or the CAS natural science w/ lab requirement). Courses designated P/F can count as elective credit and will fulfill Hub requirements. You may designate only one class Pass/Fail per semester, and a total of two courses for the entirety of your undergraduate career at BU. The official pass/fail policy can be found here.

If you have further questions about designating a course Pass/Fail, please visit CAS Advising’s drop-in hours: Monday through Friday, 1-3pm, at 100 Bay State Rd., Room 401.