Student Records & Registration

Registration information

  • Registration Dates
  • Academic Calendar
  • Transcript Requests
  • Final Exam Schedules
  • Summer Registration

Transfer Credits

Students who wish to complete liberal arts coursework outside of Boston University must obtain approval from the appropriate academic department in order to transfer the credits. Approval should be requested at least three weeks to prior to registering for the transfer course.

Transfer courses related to the student’s academic discipline must receive approval from the appropriate school within CFA.

  • The CFA Petition Form may be submitted online or picked up in the CFA Dean’s Office.

Advanced Credit

Students who have taken Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations may be eligible to receive advanced credit. Test scores should be sent directly to Boston University from the testing center.

Graduation Information

Students will be contacted by an academic administrator in the semester prior to graduation to schedule a Degree Progress Meeting. This meeting serves as an indicator of the student’s remaining requirements. Students must also complete a graduation application, which may be downloaded or picked up in the CFA Dean’s Office.

University Commencement information and procedures are available at the BU Commencement website.

Information pertaining to caps and gowns can be accessed at the BU Barnes & Noble Bookstore.

Leaves of Absence and Withdrawal

  • Undergraduate students wishing to take a leave of absence or to withdraw from BU must contact the University Service Center
  • Graduate students should contact the Student Records Manager in the CFA Dean’s Office in order to arrange for a leave of absence or withdrawal.
  • International students must contact ISSO prior to taking any other action.
  • Leaves of absence may be granted for a maximum of two semesters.

Incomplete Grades

An incomplete grade (“I”) is used only when the student has conferred with the instructor prior to the submission of grades and there are mutually acceptable reasons for the incomplete work. The instructor and student must sign a joint statement indicating the nature of the work and the date by which the work must be completed. If the work is not completed within 12 months of the last day of instruction in the semester in which the “I” grade is given, then the grade is permanently changed to an F grade.

The policy pertains to all classes offered in Fall 2007 and beyond.

Course Overload Authorization

Undergraduate students wishing to take more than the expected number of credits may fill out a form (available in the Dean’s Office) to request overload authorization. Authorization is granted by the student’s adviser based on academic standing and course content and processed in the Dean’s Office.

  • Freshmen may take up to 18 credits. Freshmen who earn above a 3.3 or higher GPA in the fall semester may take up to 20 credits in the spring with adviser’s approval and overload approval form.
  • Sophomores may take up to 18 credits without authorization. Sophomores with a 3.0 or higher GPA may fill out an overload approval form with adviser’s signature to take beyond 18 credits.
  • Juniors may take up to 18 credits without authorization. Juniors with a 3.0 or higher GPA may fill out an overload approval form with adviser’s signature to take beyond 18 credits.
  • Seniors may take up to 20 credits without authorization. Seniors with a 3.0 or higher GPA may fill out an overload approval form with adviser’s signature in order to take beyond 20 credits. Decisions to grant overload approval for seniors is on a case by case basis to be discussed with adviser and school’s director.

BU Dual Degree Programs

Sophomores who have achieved a 3.0 or higher may be eligible to complete the Dual Degree Program between CFA and another college at BU. Students must meet with the dual degree adviser in the CFA Dean’s Office as well as an academic representative of the secondary college in order to plan an appropriate schedule. The Dual Degree Program is an intensive and rigorous course of study, necessitating that students have superior time-management skills. The program of study typically requires five years to complete, however students may potentially shorten this time through the use of transfer credits, AP and IB scores, and semester course overloads.

Freshmen applicants beginning in Fall 2011 have the opportunity to apply to a Dual Degree Program with the College of Arts & Sciences.

Minors

CFA students may declare a minor in a variety of subject offered throughout the University. Students must meet with the minor advisor in the intended course of study and return a signed copy of the Minor Declaration Form to the CFA Dean’s Office.