FAQs - Registration

Where can I find the schedule of courses offered each semester?

It’s on the web at http://www.lclark. edu/dept/reg/.

Can I get into a course if I haven't met the prerequisite(s)?

You will not be registered for a course if you haven't met the prerequisite. However, if the instructor thinks the circumstances warrant your enrollment in the course, he or she may sign the permission box on the registration form, and you will be registered in the course.

Can I get into a course that has a prerequisite by simultaneously taking the prerequisite course?

You will not be registered for a course if you haven't met the prerequisite prior to taking the course. However, if the instructor signs the permission box on the registration form, you will be registered for the course.

As a first year student, am I restricted in the courses I can take?

Yes, you are limited to 100 level courses or 200 level courses that have a F1 designation under the section number. For example, Religious Studies 222 is listed as F1.

As a first year student, am I ever allowed into upper level courses without the F1 designation?

Yes. Some departments have policies which allow students with AP or IB credit to place into higher level courses. This information is in the College Catalog under Advanced Placement. In addition, you will be registered in upper level courses if you have the instructor’s signature on the registration form.

Are there other registration restrictions based on a student’s class standing?

Yes. The prerequisite for many 300 and 400 level courses is designated as junior standing. If a course has this prerequisite, a first-year or sophomore student must have the instructor’s signature on the registration form to register for it.

What if the prerequisite reads “consent of instructor”?

You must have the instructor’s signature on the registration form to register for it.

Are there limits on the number of credits I can register for during the registration period?

Yes. A normal semester load is 4 4-credit courses with one or two 1-credit activity courses. You may register during the registration period for a total of 19 credits.

Can I take more than 19 credits during a semester?

Yes. You can register for 21 credits if you have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and obtain written approval on the overload form available at the Registrar’s Office. You should carefully review this decision with your advisor, keeping your schedule for the semester in mind. Registration for these courses is during the Add/Drop period.

What is the policy on adding or dropping courses?

Course additions or deletions during the scheduled change-of-registration (Add/Drop) period can be made during the first two weeks of each semester. The instructor's signature is required for all added courses and if you are a first year student. "Drops" during this period are not noted in the transcript. You cannot drop Inventing America.

Can I take fewer than 12 credits during a semester?

If you take fewer than 12 credits, you are considered a part-time student. This could lead to the loss of financial aid and being put on either academic warning or probation. You should consult with Student Support Services or Academic Advising before dropping below 12 credits. If the conditions warrant, You can file an underload card, which might help to mitigate the negative consequences.

When do I sign up for Independent Studies or Practica?

You must submit an independent study/practicum card to the Registrar’s Office by the end of the Add/Drop period of the semester you will be registered for the course.

Can I get credit by challenging a course?

Yes. Forms and information about the procedure and the fee may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office.

As an undergraduate, can I take courses in L&C’s Graduate School of Professional Studies?

You can if you have met the following criteria: 1) Completed 93 undergraduate semester credits; 2) Obtained the consent of the graduate course instructor and graduate registrar. Advance approval of the department chair is needed to apply a graduate-level credit course to a major.

What is the process if I want to take a leave of absence?

You may apply for a one-year leave-of-absence at any time up through the first day of classes. You can pick up a leave of absence form from the Registrar's Office. Filing a leave of absence form allows you to return without having to apply for readmission. In addition, you will be sent pre-registration materials prior to the semester of re-entry and retain the right to graduate under the general requirements listed as current in the Catalog when you initially entered LC. Major requirements are also protected, provided that you have declared the major prior to the leave.

How is withdrawing from a course different from dropping it?

Withdrawal from a course occurs after the Add/Drop period (first two weeks of the semester) and is recorded on the transcript with a grade of "W." You may withdraw from a course without a professor’s signature until the end of the tenth week of the semester. You may withdraw from a course after the end of the tenth week only if the professor signs the add/drop card. In addition, if you are a first year student, you must have your advisors sign the add/drop card if you are adding or dropping a course. Upperclass students do not need their advisors' signature. You cannot withdraw from Inventing America.

What can I do if I want to take a course that LC doesn’t offer or if there is a scheduling conflict that could affect my graduation?

Lewis & Clark belongs to the Oregon Independent Colleges Association (OICA). If you are a full-time student, you may enroll in one undergraduate course per semester at another OICS institution without paying extra tuition. This requires the approval of the registrars at both LC and the host institution. Further details and a list of the participating institutions are available from the Registrar’s Office.