Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 University Catalog 
    
2018-2019 University Catalog [Archived Catalogue]

Registration, Advising & Degree Planning


C O N T E N T S

Academic Accommodations

Students seeking accommodations and services through Office of Educational Accessibility are expected to self-advocate and disclose fully the nature of their disability. Federal regulations require that students provide appropriate documentation of a disability which substantially limits one or more major life activities to the Office of Educational Accessibility before accommodations can be made. Accommodations are tailored to the specific needs of each individual student in order to maximize their potential and will, therefore, differ from student to student. Such accommodations are not retroactive, and any work done prior to self-disclosure through Educational Accessibility, regardless of other avenues of disclosure, is to be evaluated without regard to accommodations which may be provided following self-disclosure. The failure to provide accommodations prior to self-disclosure shall not constitute grounds for a grade appeal based on a disability and will not be taken into consideration for any work done prior to faculty notification through the Office of Educational Accessibility..

While disclosure of a disability is voluntary, students are highly encouraged to meet with the Educational Accessibility  Advisor as early in their UArts career as possible to ensure the highest levels of success. The Educational Accessibility Advisor is available for regular appointments as well as drop in consultation on issues related to your experience at the University of the Arts.

Policy: Academic Accommodations Policy Administrator: The Office Educational Accessibility Policy Last Revised: N/A

Academic Advising & Registration Overview

Academic Advising

Academic advising at the University is a shared responsibility between a student, their advisor(s), and the University. Academic advising supports students by helping to ensure they achieve their academic goals and maintain positive degree progress.

Students may visit the Advising Center at any time for assistance. Academic advisors in the center can help students make a successful transition to college and explore academic options, including majors, minors, and internships.

Current Students

Current students are required to meet with an advisor prior to registering for an upcoming term to review their degree progress and course plan. These meetings typically occur during two dedicated advising periods, prior to the start of registration, each fall and spring semester.

Students should immediately contact their advisor or the advising center to discuss academic concerns when and if they arise.

Advising & Registration Overview

  1. Review the academic plan for your program & catalogue year.
  2. Review your degree progress & course plan.
  3. Resolve any active registration or academic record holds , which may prevent you from being able to register.
  4. Plan your schedule for the upcoming term.
    Course section schedules are typically available the Friday before the start of the advising period.
  5. Schedule to meet with an advisor
  6. Review your degree progress and course plan with your advisor.
  7. Register for planned course sections on or after your registration appointment time.

New Students

Staff in the Office of the Registrar & the Advising Center are available year-round to assist incoming students with advising and registration. The Office of the Registrar will contact incoming students via email when it is their time to register.

First time students in the College of Performing Arts (CPA) and
First time students in Creative Writing, Writing for Film + Television, and Film Design

Incoming first time students will be administratively registered for the majority of their first semester’s coursework. All students will self-register online for their assigned composition course prior to the start of their first semester. Some students will register for additional coursework as documented on their academic plan.

Advising & Registration Overview

  1. Review the academic plan for your program & catalogue year.
  2. Resolve any active registration or academic record holds , which may prevent you from being able to register.
    Incoming students are required to add emergency contacts  prior to being able to register.
  3. Review your schedule for your first term against your Academic Plan.
  4. Plan your assigned composition course and any other recommended courses included on your academic plan for which you have not been administratively registered.
    Any changes to administratively registered courses should be made in consultation with your advisor.
    Students whose academic plans recommend enrollment in an elective course may self-enroll during the summer. See the elective section below for instructions on how to search for an elective course. The Advising Center can assist students with questions about selecting an elective. Advisors will also be available at New Student Orientation.
  5. Register for planned course sections.
  6. Meet with an advisor during New Student Orientation to review your schedule.

First time students in the College of Art, Media & Design (CAMD) Core Studies Program

All first time undergraduate students in CAMD Core Studies self register for all courses online prior to their first semester.

Advising & Registration Overview

  1. Review the CAMD Core Studies academic plan for your catalogue year.
  2. Resolve any active registration or academic record holds , which may prevent you from being able to register.
    Incoming students are required to add emergency contacts  prior to being able to register.
  3. Plan your schedule for your first term.
  4. Register for planned course sections.
  5. Obtain required CAMD Core supplies 
  6. Meet with an advisor during New Student Orientation to review your schedule.

Undergraduate transfer students

Following matriculation undergraduate transfer students will be contacted by the Office of the Registrar, who will connect them with their Program Director for an individualized advising session. Students will then self-register prior to their first semester.

Advising & Registration Overview

  1. Review the academic plan for your program & catalogue year during your advising session.
  2. Resolve any active registration or academic record holds , which may prevent you from being able to register.
    Incoming students are required to add emergency contacts  prior to being able to register.
  3. Plan your schedule for your first term.
  4. Register for planned course sections.

Graduate Students

Incoming graduate students self register for all courses online prior to their first semester.

Advising & Registration Overview

  1. Review the academic plan for your program & catalogue year.
  2. Resolve any active registration or academic record holds , which may prevent you from being able to register.
    Incoming students are required to add emergency contacts  prior to being able to register.
  3. Plan your schedule for your first term.
  4. Register for planned course sections.
  5. Meet with an advisor during New Student Orientation to review your schedule.
Policy: Academic Advising Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: June 2018

Planning Your Schedule

Students self-register for classes via the Student Planning Module in Student Self-Service.

  1. Log into student self service using your portal username and password. 
    For login issues contact the helpdesk at 215.717.6677 or via email at helpdesk@uarts.edu.
  2. Click Student Planning
  3. Check the top right corner for notifications, which will appear as yellow or red warnings. Red warnings must be resolved prior to registration.
  4. Click View Your Progress
    In this section you can view your degree requirements, add courses to your course plan, and track your progress.
  5. Access your academic plan for a list of recommended courses by term.
    A unique academic plan is prepared for each program by catalogue year. It is essential for you to review the plan that corresponds to your program and catalogue year. If you are unsure of your catalogue year it is listed on your progress page in the At A Glance section, toward the top of the page on the left.
  6. From your progress page, to add courses to your course plan:
    1. Select a course or click the search button
      Degree requirements are organized into a series of requirement blocks. If a list of courses is provided you may click a specific course or you may use the search button to return a list of all courses that will satisfy the requirement.
    2. From the page that loads, click Add Course to Plan and select a term.
  7. Once you have added all courses to your plan, select Plan & Schedule from the Student Planning menu to choose sections of planned courses.
    Course sections are instances of a course being offered during a given term. Each planned course will have one or more course sections if it is being offered during the selected term.
  8. If the desired term does not load, you may need to advance to a future term.
  9. To select sections of planned courses:
    1. Click the View Other Sections link below each planned course.
    2. Compare available course sections (days & times) on your schedule.
    3. Click the desired course section and select Add Section

NOTICE: Planned course sections do not constitute registration. Planned courses appear in yellow on your schedule.

Policy: Planning Your Schedule Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: June 2018

Registering for Planned Course Sections

  1. Log into student self service and click Student Planning
  2. Click Plan Your Degree and Register for Courses
  3. If the desired term does not load, you may need to advance to a future term.
  4. To register:
    1. for all planned course sections, click Register Now.
    2. for an individual course section, click the Register button from the list of planned course sections on the left.
  5. All successfully registered course sections will appear green on your schedule. If a course section remains yellow after attempting to register check the notification area in the top right corner. The notification will provide details for why the registration was unsuccessful. If you have questions contact the Advising Center or the Office of the Registrar. 
Policy: Registering for Planned Course Sections Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: June 2018

Academic Plans

Academic plans provide a semester by semester suggested course sequence. Plans can be customized through discussions with academic advisors. Academic plans are published for each academic program by catalogue year.

To access your academic plan

  1. Access the Academic Plan Archive (Google Drive).
     If you are unsure of your program or catalogue year, this information is listed in Student Self Service on the My Progress page in the At A Glance section at the top.
  2. Open the folder that corresponds to your catalouge year and then download the PDF for your program.
Policy: Academic Plans Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: June 2018

Auditing a Course

Auditing a course provides students the opportunity for self-enrichment and academic exploration, without the pressure of receiving an evaluation of academic performance.

The following policies apply to audited courses:

  • Audited courses do not carry credit and do not satisfy degree requirements.
  • Students may not audit a required course unless the requirement has already been satisfied.
  • An audited course may not be repeated for credit.
  • Regular tuition rates are charged for audited courses, and are included in the full-time tuition charge.
  • Audited courses will be indicated on the transcript with a grade of “AU”.
  • Once registration has closed no change can be made to the audit status of a course.
  • Audited courses do not factor into the enrollment status calculation.

To audit a course:

  1. Download the Pass/Fail or Audit form from the Forms & Requests page on the UArts Portal.
  2. Complete and return the form to the Office of the Registrar by the end of the registration period.
Policy: Auditing a Course Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: N/A

Credit Overloads

Students wishing to take more than a full-time credit load must obtain permission from the dean of their college. Factors such as grade point average and progress in meeting degree requirements will be considered in granting permission for an overload; students are expected to be in good standing and have a 3.0 GPA. Overload credits are subject to additional charges at the standard per credit tuition rate.

To enroll in more than a full-time credit load:

  1. Students should discuss credit overload requests with their program director or dean.
  2. An Exceptions and Overrides form is submitted via OnBase by the student’s program director or dean to the Office of the Registrar. Submissions received from program directors are forwarded to the student’s dean for review.
  3. If approved by the student’s dean, the registration is processed by the Office of the Registrar.
  4. Student Financial Services (SFS) will bill the student for the overload. If payment for additional credits is not received within the time indicated by Student Financial Services, the student will be removed from the course section.
Policy: Credit Overloads Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: N/A

Degree Progress Tracking

The My Progress feature in Student Self Service, provides students with up-to-date information about their progress toward completing their degree. Students can review credits completed and grades received, graduation requirements, cumulative and major GPAs, completed and outstanding courses, courses in progress, and more.

To access my progress

  1. Log into student self service using your portal username and password.
    For login issues contact the helpdesk at 215.717.6677 or via email at helpdesk@uarts.edu.
  2. Click Student Planning
  3. Click View Your Progress
Policy: Degree Progress Tracking Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: June 2018

Free Electives

Free Electives are required for each undergraduate degree program and some graduate degree programs. Students should review their academic plan, which lists the recommended terms in which students should enroll in an elective course to maintain progress in their major.

How to choose a Free Elective:

  1. From your progress page, click inside the ‘search for courses…’ search bar on the upper right of the page, and hit return. Your search results will be all active courses.
  2. On the left, you’ll see various ways to filter these results. Some useful ways to filter are:
  • by term to limit the results to courses with available sections in the upcoming term
  • by days of the week and/or time to find a course that fits your schedule
  • by subject to find a course in a subject of interest

Be mindful of course requisites when choosing electives. Any requisite will be listed in the course description.

Policy:  Free Electives Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: June 2018

Graduate Students Registering for Undergraduate Courses

This revised policy will be effective commencing with registration for the Spring 2019 Semester. The form referenced will be available prior to the start of academic advising for the Spring 2019 Semester.

For graduate credit

The following policies apply:

  • Only 300 and 400 level undergraduate courses qualify.
  • Courses are recorded on the graduate transcript.
  • Courses factor into the graduate GPA.
  • Courses factor into the graduate program enrollment status calculation (full time/part time)
  • Courses may satisfy graduate program degree requirements.
  • A maximum of 12.0 credits may be completed in this manner.
  • Students are expected to do supplementary work commensurate with graduate level study (additional reading, projects, papers, or contact hours with the instructor).
  • Undergraduate students have priority to undergraduate courses; Graduate students registrations will be processed the first business day following the end of priority registration.

To enroll:

  1. Complete the Undergraduate Course Authorization for Graduate Students form. The form can be accessed from the UArts portal; Click Student Forms and Requests located in the Useful Links section.
  2. The form will be reviewed by the faculty member, the Associate Dean of the college/division offering the course, and the Registrar.
  3. Forms should be submitted early during the first week of the advising period to allow for processing time.
  4. Students will be notified via email whether the request is approved or denied.

For undergraduate credit

To avoid unexpected charges, students should discuss financial aid implications with Student Financial Services. Full time graduate students can enroll in undergraduate courses for no additional charge up to 18.0 credits; to qualify it is necessary to maintain full time enrollment in graduate level coursework.

The following policies apply:

  • 100-400 level undergraduate courses qualify.
  • Courses are recorded on the undergraduate transcript
  • Courses factor into the undergraduate GPA.
  • Courses will not factor into the graduate program enrollment status calculation. (full time/part time)
  • Courses cannot satisfy graduate program degree requirements.
  • A maximum of 12.0 credits may be completed in this manner.
  • Undergraduate students have priority to undergraduate courses; Graduate students registrations will be processed the first business day following the end of priority registration.

To enroll:

  • Complete the Undergraduate Course Authorization for Graduate Students form. The form can be accessed from the UArts portal; Click Student Forms and Requests located in the Useful Links section.
  • The form will be reviewed by the Registrar and the offering Program Director (CAMD), School Director (CPA), or Dean’s Office (LA).
  • Forms should be submitted early during the first week of the advising period to allow for processing time.
  • Students will be notified via email whether the request is approved or denied.

For undergraduate credit, teacher certification preparation (MAT programs only)

Depending on educational background, it may be necessary for students enrolled in MAT programs to complete additional credits in art history, education, psychology, sociology, or in studio areas.

The following policies apply:

  • 100-400 level undergraduate courses qualify.
  • Courses are recorded on the graduate transcript
  • Courses are considered remedial and do not factor into the graduate GPA.
  • Courses will factor into the graduate program enrollment status calculation. (full time/part time)
  • Courses cannot satisfy graduate program degree requirements.
  • Graduate program director must certify that the course is required to fulfill teaching certification requirements.

To enroll:

  1. Complete the Undergraduate Course Authorization for Graduate Students form. The form can be accessed from the UArts portal; Click Student Forms and Requests located in the Useful Links section.
  2. The form will be reviewed by the student’s program director (CAMD) or school director (CPA); the Program Director (CAMD), School Director (CPA), or Dean’s Office (LA) of the college/division offering the course, and the Registrar.
  3. Forms should be submitted early during the first week of the advising period to allow for processing time.
  4. Students will be notified via email whether the request is approved or denied.
Policy: GR Students Registering for UG Courses Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: June 2018

Independent Study

An independent study offers the opportunity to initiate individual research or advanced projects that are beyond the offerings of the University. Students are responsible for documenting the content of the independent study to other institutions or outside agencies, should they require further information beyond the student’s transcript.

The following policies apply to independent study courses:

  • Available to matriculated junior and senior undergraduate students, with a 2.5 minimum GPA
  • ​Available to graduate students in good academic standing
  • An independent study may be pursued within the College of Art, Media, and Design for 1.5-6 credits, College of Performing Arts for 1-6 credits, and in the College of Critical and Professional Studies for 1-3 credits.
  • Independent study courses cannot be taken pass/fail
  • The approved number of credits for independent study cannot be changed after the student has registered for the course.
  • A maximum of 12.0 credits may be applied toward elective requirements (free electives or Critial Studies electives).

To enroll in an independent study:

  1. Download an independent study form from the Forms & Requests page on the UArts Portal.
  2. Identify a University of the Arts faculty member with expertise in the area of investigation, who is willing to serve as the course instructor.
  3. In consultation with the selected faculty member, develop a proposal and complete the independent study form, which must include a semester plan for the course of study, indicating the number of credits being taken and the evaluation criteria to be used by the faculty member in defining the course grade.
  4. Obtain permission from the program director.
  5. Submit the form to the Office of the Registrar for processing.  
  6. The Office of the Registrar will administratively register the student for the Independent Study.
Policy: Independent Study Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: N/A

Internships, Practicum & Fields Experiences

Courses are credit-bearing work experiences that are integrated with academic instruction and relate to an individual student’s occupational goal. Students concurrently apply learned concepts to practical situations within an occupational field. Experiences are coordinated by UArts faculty, who assist the student in planning the experience and assign the course grade to the student after consultation with the employer/supervisor. The student will complete pre-determined assignments.

The use of the terms “practicum,” “field experience,” or “internship” for the course title may be to accommodate differences in accreditation nomenclature.

The following policies apply to internships:

  • Available to matriculated junior and senior undergraduate students and graduate students.
  • A maximum of 6.0 credits (CAMD & CCPS) and 12.0 credits (CPA) may be applied toward degree requirements.
  • Internship grading varies by course, some are graded pass/fail others require a letter grade.
  • Special tuition & fees apply to internship enrollment, see Tuition & Fees .

To apply & enroll in an internship

  1. Applying for an intership requires the submission of internship proposal and placement forms via the UArtsCareers website, which must be approved by the faculty internship advisor and Career Services.
  2. After final approval is received students will be administratively registered for the internship.
Policy: Internships Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: June 2018

Off-Campus Study

Study abroad, domestic mobility, and exchange opportunities are available through programs hosted or coordinated through regionally accredited U.S. institutions, or through direct application to a foreign institution whose courses the University has agreed to accept for credit. The selection of a program should be made carefully, as it may have implications for cost, financial aid, transferability of credits, progress in the major, and progress toward completion of degree requirements. Students must meet with their program directors to review the program under consideration to ensure their academic progress towards fulfilling their UArts degree requirements.

Local Exchange Opportunities

Peirce College

The University of the Arts and Peirce College have established a cross-registration agreement to enrich the curriculums of both institutions. The agreement provides students access to broader range of subject areas not typically available from their home institution and is intended to promote collaboration among students and faculty members at the two institutions, leading to collaborative work and curriculum.

The following policies apply to students enrolling in coursework at Peirce College

  • Courses taken at Peirce College are included in enrollment load calculations (full time and part time status), tuition and fees, and financial aid packaging at the University of the Arts.
  • Students do not pay additional tuition unless they enroll in a course with an additional fee.
  • Students who receive a grade below 2.0 in a course taken at Peirce College will not be permitted to participate in the exchange in the future.
  • Students will be held to the rules and regulations for student conduct and disciplinary standards of both institutions. In the case of a violation, the deans of students will consult with each other, and if deemed appropriate, students may be sanctioned by both universities.
  • Any appeal of grades shall be handled according to the regulations and procedures at Peirce College.
  • Students may take one course per term for a maximum of 18 credits, which may be completed at Peirce College over six semesters.
  • Participants will have non-matriculated status at Peirce College, be provided with a student ID and be entitled to those privileges normally available to non-matriculated students.
  • Courses taken at the Peirce College receive letter grades and appear on a student’s transcript as though the course were taken at UArts.

To enroll in a course at Peirce College

  1. View the Peirce course section offerings for UArts students on the Partnership with Peirce College web page for the semester you are interested in attending.
  2. Fill out both the Peirce application and the Peirce registration form, found on the Office of the Registrar’s forms page.
  3. Submit these forms to the Office of the Registrar.
  4. After receiving approval from the Peirce Registrar, you will be administratively registered for your chosen course.
Policy: Peirce College Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: N/A

The University of the Sciences

The University of the Arts and University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USciences) have an exchange program allowing students from both universities to take advantage of both institutions’ courses. The agreement allows students to take one course per semester at USciences.

The available USciences courses cover a broad range of subjects and vary each semester – the sciences, foreign languages, the social sciences, history and political sciences, computer science and mathematics, and business and marketing. In addition, exchange students have full access to the library and athletic center.

The following policies apply to students enrolling in coursework at USciences

  • Courses taken at USciences are included in enrollment load calculations (full time and part time status), tuition and fees, and financial aid packaging at the University of the Arts.
  • Students do not pay additional tuition unless they enroll in a course with an additional fee.
  • Students who receive a grade below 2.0 in a course taken at USciences will not be permitted to participate in the exchange in the future.
  • Students will be held to the rules and regulations for student conduct and disciplinary standards of both institutions. In the case of a violation, the deans of students will consult with each other, and if deemed appropriate, students may be sanctioned by both universities.
  • Any appeal of grades shall be handled according to the regulations and procedures at USciences.
  • Students may take one course per term for a maximum of 18 credits, which may be completed at the University of the Sciences over six semesters.
  • Participants will have non-matriculated status at the away university, be provided with a student ID and be entitled to those privileges normally available to non-matriculated students.
  • Courses taken at the University of the Sciences receive letter grades and appear on a student’s transcript as though the course were taken at UArts.

To enroll in a course at the University of the Sciences

  1. Contact the Office of the Registrar. A staff member will put you in touch with a representative from USciences for advising.
  2. Once you are approved by USciences for your course, they will send the Office of the Registrar your approval paperwork.
  3. The Office of the Registrar (UArts) will complete a student’s registration in cooperation with the USciences Registrar. Students will receive email confirmation once the USciences course registration is complete.
Policy: The University of the Sciences Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: N/A

Study Abroad

Study abroad options include:

Direct Enrollment

The University of the Arts maintains agreements with partner institutions, particularly in the United Kingdom, that permit students to enroll directly for a semester or longer. There is normally an application process specific to the institution and space is not guaranteed. Students enrolling in these programs pay University of the Arts tuition and the University of the Arts pays the partner institution’s tuition on behalf of the student. For institutions with tuition that exceeds UArts tuition, students will be billed by UArts for the difference.

International Exchange Programs

University of the Arts students have the opportunity to be considered to study away from Philadelphia at one of the University’s partner institutions by participating in a student exchange. The International Exchange Program enables select UArts students to study at a variety of institutions while earning University of the Arts credit and being immersed in the culture of some of the world’s most exciting cities.

Many universities offer coursework in English, while others require advanced knowledge of a foreign language.

Students who are approved to enroll in the International Exchange Program pay UArts tuition which allows students to maintain their financial aid package, including grants and scholarships (unique partner fees may be required). Students may also apply for additional financial aid (in the form of loans) for study abroad through the Student Financial Services Office.

AICAD Exchange

The UArts College of Art, Media, and Design is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD). Students in good standing may spend a semester, usually in their junior year, as a guest at another participating member institution. Students remain matriculated at the University of the Arts and, with their advisor’s prior approval, will receive full credit for work done at participating AICAD institutions.

The following policies apply to students participating in an AICAD Exchange

  • Eligibility: The AICAD Exchange is open primarily to full‑time students who are in good standing and who otherwise meet eligibility requirements of their specific program. Students choose which school they wish to attend in the AICAD Exchange. However, the Host School retains sole discretion to accept or decline an application or selection of courses.
  • Tuition and Fees: Tuition is payable to the student’s Home School. The Host School agrees not to charge the student tuition. A voucher indicating that tuition has been paid is issued by the Home School to the student and must be presented to the Host School at registration. If a student has made the required payment to the Home School but has not received a voucher, she/he must contact the Home School Exchange Coordinator immediately. The student will receive the regular financial aid award, if any, to which they are entitled.
  • Laboratory fees: student service fees and other fees may be charged to the student by the Host School. These are billed by and payable directly to the Host School, and must be paid before registration. These fees vary by institution and program, so students should contact the Exchange Coordinator of the Host School to determine which fees will be required at registration.
  • Grades: Grades received from the Host School during Exchange study will become a part of the student’s official record at their Home School, in accordance with the Home School’s policies for such study. Host Schools should not count Exchange students in their registration statistics. While at the Host School, the student will be governed by the academic regulations of the Host School and will not be eligible for student aid or employment from the Host School. The Host School is responsible for notifying the Home School of any deficiencies during the semester.
  • Medical Insurance: Nearly every AICAD college requires students to obtain or furnish proof of medical insurance. Check with your Host School to determine its policies. If you have no insurance you will most likely be expected to purchase it from the Host School. If you have insurance, be sure to obtain proof of insurance from your Home School before you depart.
  • Housing: Housing is the responsibility of each student. Host Schools have no obligation to provide housing and their dorms are often full. A student wishing to live in a Host School’s dorm should make this known at the time of application. Fees for Room and Board are billed by and payable directly to the Host School. If dorms are full, off‑campus housing information may be obtained from the student services or housing office of the Host School. Students should plan ahead and investigate all housing options at the time of application.

To participate in the AICAD Exchange

  • Deadlines: Applications must be received by the host school no later than: April 10 (Fall Semester) and November 1 (Spring Semester)
  • Applications are submitted through slide room and have a nominal application fee.
  • Contact CAMD Dean’s Office for further information at 215-717-6024. The CAMD Dean’s office will assist in the application process of outgoing Exchange applicants from UArts.
Policy: AICAD Exchange Policy Administrator: College of Art, Media & Design    Policy Last Revised: June 2018

Affiliated Programs

The University maintains affiliation agreements with a select group of study abroad providers who welcome applications from UArts students. Applications for these programs are submitted through the University’s Study Abroad Office. Students enrolling in affiliate programs pay the University of the Arts tuition and the University pays the affiliate’s tuition on behalf of the student. For affiliates with tuition that exceeds that exceed UArts tuition, students will be billed by UArts for the difference.

Students should contact the Study Abroad Coordinator by telephone or e-mail (215-717-6389, studyabroad@uarts.edu) to learn more about these options, including application deadlines, procedures, and costs. Planning for study abroad should begin before the end of the first year of study at the University in order to maximize the possibility of defining appropriate options.

The following policies apply to students applying for off-campus study:

  • Students with cumulative grade point averages of less than 3.0 and those on any form of academic warning will not be permitted to study abroad.
  • Students on judicial or disciplinary probation will not be approved for study abroad.
  • Students must register for a minimum of twelve credits for each semester abroad.
  • Approval of an Off-Campus Study form is always contingent on acceptance by an affiliated program or a partner institution. The Study Abroad Coordinator has up-to-date information concerning deadlines for application and application procedures.
  • Students who normally receive Financial Aid remain eligible for federal, state, institutional, and merit-based aid while engaged in off-campus study and upon their return to UArts, presuming that the student continues to meet the academic requirements of their aid package. Please note that some named institutional scholarships may not be applied toward off-campus study.
  • The student will be billed for tuition and fees by UArts. UArts will then pay the student’s required tuition and fees at the institution where the student is accepted up to an amount equal to the University of the Arts tuition. Students will be responsible for tuition costs that exceed UArts tuition.
  • Depending on the agreement that the University has made with a partner institution, students may be billed by UArts for the costs of housing or travel, and those payments will then be made on behalf of the student. In all cases, students are responsible for the costs of travel and housing.
  • The Study Abroad Office always makes clear to students in advance what the full costs of any program will be, including broad advice about living and incidental costs, which can vary greatly by country. Students abroad are normally not permitted to work by the host country, and so need to plan on funding all of their expenses that semester without the benefit of a part-time job.
  • All off-campus study forms in fall and spring must be complete (with all relevant approvals) by April 10, 2014. This normally means that students should begin the petition as early as March 15. The Study Abroad Coordinator is available to assist with filling out the petition form correctly and will facilitate the process of gaining approvals.
  • Students who plan to study abroad should apply for financial aid adhering to normal deadlines and procedures. Additionally, such students will be asked to provide the University of the Arts Office of Student Financial Services with a duly executed power of attorney if documents will require their signature during the study abroad period. In the course of applying to study abroad, a student should meet with his or her assigned Financial Aid counselor to assure that aid is processed before he or she leaves the country. In addition, students studying off campus may not use the extended payment plan (TMS) to pay for tuition and other charges.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Optional Pass/Fail grading is available to encourage students to enrich their academic programs and explore more challenging courses outside their majors, without the pressures and demands of the regular grading system.

The following policies apply to courses optional pass/fail:

  • Available to undergraduate students only.
  • A maximum of nine credits may be completed optional pass/fail.
  • May only be used to satisfy elective requirements including both Critical Studies and free electives.
  • Once registration has closed no change can be made to the optional pass/fail status of a course.
  • Students are evaluated using grades of optional pass (OP) or optional fail (OF), which are not computed into the student’s GPA.
  • Course instructors are not to be informed of students taking a course pass/fail and will evaluate students by recording a standard letter grade, which will automatically be converted during grading to an OP or an OF. Grades of A to C are converted to OP and grades of C- to F are converted to OF.

To enroll in a course for an optional pass/fail grade:

  1. Download the Pass/Fail or Audit form from the Forms & Requests page on the UArts Portal.
  2. Complete and return the form to the Office of the Registrar by the end of the registration period.
Policy: Pass/Fail Option Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: June 2018

Private Music Lessons

Private music lessons are offered by the School of Music and are available to all students at the University.

There are two types of private music lessons:

  • Applied Major Instruction: These are a sequence of courses, which are required for students enrolled in performance-based programs offered by the School of Music. Applied major instruction courses have the subject code MULS. Registration for an applied major instruction course does not carry an additional fee.
  • Non-Major lessons: Non-major lessons are available to all students at the University, including students enrolled in performance-based programs offered by the School of Music, who want private instruction in an instrument other than their declared major instrument. These courses have the subject code MUNM. Non-major lessons carry an additional fee, refer to the Tuition & Fees page  for additional information.

Instruction is available in the following areas: Bass (Electric and/or Upright), Cello, Clarinet, Composition, Drums, Flute, Guitar, Hand Drums, Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Percussion, Piano, Vibes, Violin, Voice, Woodwinds

To register for a private music lesson:

  1. Select a course from the Private Music Lessons pdf, which is located in the Course Section Offerings folder in google drive.
  2. Register for the course online during the registration period.
  3. Students should contact the professor directly via email to arrange a meeting time immediately upon registering for a private music lesson. The meeting time and day will be listed on a student’s schedule as TBA.
Policy: Private Music Lessons Policy Administrators: The Office of the Registrar ​ & The School of Music   Policy Last Revised: N/A

Registration Appointment Times

Registration for each term occurs within designated registration periods. Students are assigned a registration appointment time for each term. Appointment times are assigned based on the number of completed credits at the start of the advising period for a given term, regardless of the number of semesters of enrollment or the student’s standing in their major program. The number of credits a student has completed can be viewed in Student Self Service, in the Progress area.

Appointment times are typically visible in Student Self Service on the first day of academic advising during the fall and spring semesters.

To view registration appointment times for a given term:

  1. Log into the student self service and click Student Planning
  2. Choose Plan & Schedule from the menu.
    Faculty & Staff using the Advising module, click on the Course Plan tab.
  3. Advance to upcoming term to view assigned appointment time

Registration Schedule

Registration for the fall, spring, and summer terms (excluding Continuing Studies terms) occurs during two registration periods annually. Registration periods are published in the academic calendar. Registration periods begin on Monday. During the first week of registration, appointment times are assigned as follows:

Graduate Students

Completed Credits Appointment Time During the First Week of Registration
18.0 or more credits Monday at 8.00 AM
0 - 17.5 credits Monday at 8.00 AM

Undergraduate Students

Completed Credits Appointment Time During the First Week of Registration
90 or more credits Monday at 8.00 AM
60 - 89.5 credits Tuesday at 8.00 AM
30 - 59.5 credits Wednesday at 8.00 AM
0.0 - 29.5 credits Thursday at 8.00 AM
Policy: Registration Appointment Times Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Added to Catalogue: June 2018

Repeating Courses

Certain courses are designated as repeatable; they may be taken more than once for credit. Students who repeat a course, regardless of the grade previously earned, will have both grades counted in their cumulative grade point average. An exception is the Grade Replacement Policy .

Policy: Repeating Courses Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: N/A

Undergraduate Students Registering for Graduate courses

For undergraduate credit

Undergraduate students may enroll in a graduate course for undergraduate credit, subject to the following conditions:

  • The student must be a senior at the beginning of the term during which the course is offered.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required.
  • Permission is granted by the Program Director and Dean of the College.

To enroll:

  1. Student should meet with the Program Director of the graduate course.
  2. If the Program Director grants permission for the student to enroll in the course they will submit an Exceptions & Overrides form to the Office of the Registrar, subject to approval by the Dean.
  3. Approved forms will be processed by the Office of the Registrar.

For graduate credit

Undergraduate students may enroll in a graduate course for graduate credit, subject to the following conditions:

  • The student must be a senior at the beginning of the term during which the course is offered.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required.
  • The course will not apply toward undergraduate degree requirements.
  • Permission is granted by the Program Director and Dean of the College.

To enroll:

  1. Student should meet with the Program Director of the graduate course.
  2. If the Program Director grants permission for the student to enroll in the course they will submit an Exceptions & Overrides form to the Office of the Registrar, subject to approval by the Dean.
  3. Approved forms will be processed by the Office of the Registrar.
Policy: UG Students Registering for GR Courses Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: N/A

Waitlisting Courses

If a course section reaches its maximum student capacity, a waitlist is automatically created by the registration system. Waitlists are an equitable method to control student enrollment in a course section that has reached capacity, if and when seats become available.

The registration system notifies students via email shortly after midnight each day if a seat becomes available in a waitlisted course section during the previous day. Seats are held for 24 hours, at which time permission to register for the available seat will pass to the next waitlisted student.

The following policies apply to waitlisted courses

  • Students cannot be registered for one section of a course and waitlisted for another.
  • Students cannot waitlist two or more sections of the same course.
  • Students are added to a course section waitlist in the order that they joined the waitlist.
  • Students with active financial holds will not be able to register for a waitlisted course if a seat becomes available and will consequently forfeit their priority.
  • Students who do not satisfy course prerequisites or registration restrictions will not be able to register for a waitlist course.
  • Students on a waitlist are not registered and are not permitted to attend the course until and unless they become officially registered.
  • If a seat opens in a course, a student will have 24 hours to register. Permission will expire at 11.59 PM at which time permission will be granted to the next student on the waitlist.

How to waitlist a course section

  1. When registering via student planning, if a course section has reached its maximum capacity the Register button associated with the course section will be replaced by a Waitlist button.
  2. To add yourself to a course waitlist, you must click the Waitlist button.
    The course section information displayed in the plan & schedule section of student planning includes the total number of students currently waitlisted for a course.
Policy: Waitlisting Courses Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Added to Catalogue: June 2018

Withdrawal from a Course

A student may withdraw from a course with a withdrawal (W) grade from the last day of the registration period through the last day of the tenth week of the semester. The withdrawal form must be signed by the student’s advisor and submitted to the Office of the Registrar prior to the deadline.

After the end of the tenth week a W grade is possible only under unusual circumstances such as an accident or severe illness, which must be documented. Permission to withdraw under such exceptional circumstances must be given by both the student’s advisor and college dean.

A student who wishes to withdraw from all classes must initiate an official withdrawal or leave of absence from the University as outlined in this catalogue.

If a student withdraws from all classes and does not officially withdraw from the University or take a leave of absence, he/she may be administratively withdrawn from the University or dismissed in accordance with Academic Standards policies.

To Withdraw from a Course

  1. Download the Withdrawal from a Course form from the Forms & Requests page on the UArts Portal.
  2. Complete the form, obtaining advisor approval, and return it to the Office of the Registrar.
Policy: Withdrawal from a Course Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar ​  Policy Last Revised: June 2018