Undergraduate Information

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the academic policies?

Refer to the on-line catalog or talk to your advisor.

http://catalog.arizona.edu/

What are my degree requirements and which classes meet those requirements?

See your Academic Program Requirement Report (APRR) or talk to your major advisor.

http://www.arizona.edu/academic/oncourse/data/interface/

How do I know if seats are available for a specific course?

Refer to the on-line schedule of classes

http://garnet.ccit.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/schedule/schedule.cgi

Is it possible to add a course that is full?

Sometimes. Contact the offering department and/or instructor for the course. They may be able to add you to the course or put you on a waiting list. If you get the instructor's signature on a drop/add form you will be allowed to add the course even though it is full. You must take the signed drop/add form to the Registrar's office in the Administration Building, room 210 to have the course added to your schedule. Drop/add forms are available in the Science Advising Office, The Registrar's Office, and most departmental offices.

How do I change my major?

Meet with the major advisor for the new major of your choice.

What is a SAPR?

A "SAPR" is a "Student Academic Progress Report." It lists the classes you have taken that meet your degree requirements, and the classes you have yet to complete. The SAPR was designed to serve as an advising tool and to allow students to self-audit their progress through a degree program. You can generate your personal SAPR through Student Link. Before you schedule an advising appointment, get on the Web and request a SAPR. It takes about 5-10 minutes to produce the document. You can request a SAPR and print it out from any computer.

http://www.arizona.edu/student_link

If I don't like one of my classes, is it okay to just stop going to class?

No, it's not okay. It is your responsibility to drop a class if you are not attending it. If you just stop going to class without dropping or withdrawing, you will almost certainly get an "E" in the class. You can drop the class through the end of the 4th week of classes online using WebReg via Student Link. After the 4th week of classes, your instructor must sign a drop form for you to withdraw from a class. If you are failing a course at the time that you withdraw, your instructor may award you an "E" instead of a "W". After the 8th week of classes, the only way to withdraw from a course is to file a late change petition. You must be able to document circumstances beyond your control for the petition to be considered. You can pick up a late change petition in the CoS Advising Office located in Gould-Simpson, room 1017. Talk to your advisor if have any questions about dropping or withdrawing from a class.

How can I find the deadlines for dropping and adding classes?

Dates and deadlines are provided online in the General Catalog and in the Schedule of Classes. See the answer to the previous FAQ for details on dropping classes. In order to add classes once school has begun, you must get an add/drop form signed by the instructor of the course you wish to add. After the first eight weeks of class, you must file a late change petition in order to add a class. There is no specific deadline for adding classes, but instructors don't usually let students add after the first 2 weeks of the semester because the students would have a hard time catching up on what they had missed and therefore could be setting themselves up for failure in the class. Please remember that any increase in the number of units you are enrolled in after the 21st day of classes will result in a $250 late fee.

I dropped one class and added another class using a drop/add form. How can I check to make sure that these changes in my class schedule were processed correctly?

Every semester you should check your class schedule in Student Link to confirm your registered classes. If you drop and quit attending a class, you must check to verify that it was dropped from your schedule; otherwise, you might receive an "E" grade for the class. And if you are attending a class that was not added to your class schedule, you will not receive a grade for the class even if you completed all the assignments. Keep a copy of the drop/add form and all other UA forms.

The University of Arizona seems so big and unfamiliar where can I go when I have questions or need some help?

The College of Science Advising Office located in Gould-Simpson, room 1017, provides a friendly and comfortable environment where science students can find the following services:

1. Information and referral for all science undergraduate students
2. Other programs designed to promote student success and help students as they transition from their previous school to the University of Arizona

Additionally, the following services are available to ALL students:

1. Tutoring in ILC Classroom 119, Sunday-Thursday 5:30-9:30pm
2. Assistance with major exploration at the Advising Center for Exploratory Students (ACES) in the Integrated Learning Center.
3. Free programs and events to help students explore majors; for example, the Meet Your Major Fair fall semester and the Pizza With a Professional lunchtime sessions to explore majors and career paths.

I feel overwhelmed! I'm having a hard time coping! Is help available?

Campus Health Counseling and Psychological Services offers crisis intervention and brief therapy for students to help them cope with personal and family problems and to achieve their educational goals. The first visit is free and all visits are confidential. If you need help, please call 621-3344 or visit the following Website for more information:

http://www.health.arizona.edu/webfiles/caps.htm

I have a lot of questions what classes should I take, what math class do I need, how can I change my major? and some other questions that aren't answered here in the FAQs. Who can help me?

Your advisor can help you answer all those questions and more! Advisors can also refer you to the right source at UA if you have questions or problems not related to academic advising. Don't wait until it's too late! See your advisor right away if you have questions or problems. Advisors are here to help you!

How is my grade point average (GPA) calculated? How can I figure out what grades I need to get to bring up my GPA?

Each letter grade is worth grade points: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, E=0. For each course you have taken, multiply the number of units (credits) for each course by the number of points for the grade you received. For example:

Course	Units	Grade	Units x Grade = Grade Points
ENGL 102	3	A (4)	3 x 4 = 12
SPAN 201	4	B (3)	4 x 3 = 12
MATH 129	3	C (2)	3 x 2 = 6
TRAD 104	43	B (3)	3 x 3 = 9
Total	13		39 Grade Points

Now, divide the number of grade points by the number of units to get your semester GPA. 39 divided by 13 = 3.0 GPA. To figure out what grades you need to get to attain a target GPA, go to the University Learning Center web site and click on The A/B Deficit Calculator. Remember that your transfer units are not figured into your UA GPA.

1. Cumulative GPA: includes all University of Arizona coursework to date.
2. Semester GPA: includes all University of Arizona coursework in a single semester.
3. Major GPA: includes all University of Arizona coursework in your major.
4. Cumulative and Major GPA information can also be found on your SAPR.

My roommate said he was going to GRO a course. What is that?

GRO stands for Grade Replacement Opportunity. If you earn a C, D or E in a course, you can GRO the class. Register for the identical course a second time. File a GRO form at the Registrar's Office by the deadline. The first grade is taken out of your grade point average. It will, however, stay on your transcript. The grade you earn in the class the second time will be the grade calculated into your GPA, even if the grade is lower. You don't necessarily have to GRO the course the next semester. You can GRO a course any time during your career at UA as long as it is the identical course number and title. You can GRO a total of 3 classes or 10 units, whichever comes first.

I didn't do very well my first semester. Can I take classes at Pima Community College or another community college to raise my GPA?

No, the grades from courses you take at other institutions do not affect your UA grade point average. The units will transfer to the UA as long as you earn at least a "C" in the course and it is transferable credit. The grades, however, will not transfer. It's very important that you see an advisor before taking a class at another institution. You may need to provide a course description for pre-transfer approval.

I'm not doing very well in my classes this semester. What will happen if I get low grades?

If your cumulative GPA is below a 2.00 (that's a C average), you will be put on academic probation. You need to meet with your advisor to discuss your academic progress. Determining the reasons why you were not successful academically will be important in making the necessary changes to improve your GPA. Students on academic probation risk the possibility of disqualification.