Auditing a Course
If you intend to audit a course must first register using MyUW, and then go in person to the Office of the Registrar to elect the audit grade option. You may select the audit option through end of the second week of the quarter. Enrollment in courses as an auditor is by consent of the instructor involved and is conditioned on space availability. Permission to audit is ordinarily granted for lecture classes only.
As an auditor, you may not participate in class discussion or laboratory work and your registration may be canceled at the discretion of the instructor. Audited courses are not recorded on your permanent record. To receive credit for an audited course, you must register for the class for credit in a subsequent quarter. Courses audited may not be changed to credit registrations after the second week of the quarter.
Auditors, except ACCESS program students, pay standard tuition and fees and must be regularly admitted and registered in the course. Although credits for audited courses will not be listed on your transcript, they will be included in the billing on the fee statement. Such credits count in the calculation of fees.
Class Attendance
The University of Washington Tacoma reserves the right to drop students who have not attended class during the first week of the quarter allow space for other students waiting to enroll. However, do not assume that you will automatically be dropped from a course if you do not attend.
If you are not going to attend a class, it is your responsibility to drop the course on MyUW or you will be held responsible for the tuition and fees incurred. Students who are registered for a course section but do not attend will be assigned a failing grade by the instructor.
You may not attend a course in which you have not been officially registered after the first two weeks of the quarter. An instructor may allow you to attend his or her class only if your name appears on the official class list from the Office of the Registrar.
Restrictions on Attending Classes
No person, other than a faculty member attending informally with the approval of the instructor, may attend a University course in which that person has not been registered. An instructor may allow a student to attend his or her class only if the student's name is on the official class list from the Office of the Registrar. An unregistered student may attend through the fourteenth calendar day of the quarter, if the student is on an official wait list for the course.
Full-Time Requirements
Undergraduate students should register for 12 or more credits to be considered a full-time. Graduate students should register for 10 or more credits to be considered a full-time student. It is important to note that differing criteria and standards for full-time enrollment exist for eligibility in certain programs. Consult the Financial Aid Office for its requirements on satisfactory student progress. The tuition schedule does not reflect full-time credit requirements for loan deferments, teaching assistantships or other programs.
Course Enrollment Requests, Entry Codes, Faculty Codes
Add codes
Entry codes, also referred to as "add codes," are five-digit random numbers issued to you by an academic department as authorization to add a restricted course section. Entry codes are not transferable. Courses requiring entry codes are designated with a ">" next to the schedule line number (SLN) in the Time Schedule.
Entry codes are only valid once and for a limited period of time after they have been issued. If you drop a section that required an entry code to add, then you must obtain another entry code from the program if you wish to re-add the section.
If a course is full: Instructor permission and an entry code from the program with their approval are required before you will be able to register for the class. See Quarterly Credit Limits for additional information about using entry codes to overload closed courses. For more information using entry codes, watch the Add Code Tutorial.
Drop code
In some cases, a drop code is required to remove a course from your schedule. You can obtain the code from the program offering the course.
Faculty code
If you are enrolling in an independent study course (usually numbered 499, 600, 700 or 800) you will first need to obtain a faculty number from the instructor or program. The faculty number is used instead of the entry code to register for these courses. The system will not let you register for these courses without one.
How to Request Course Enrollment or an Entry Code
Academic programs reserve the right to require entry codes whether or not the course is so designated in the time schedule. Usually, information on where to obtain entry codes is found with the listings in the Time Schedule.
Entry codes are requested from the program office that offers the course. See below for specific instructions from each program about requesting an entry code from their department.
From your UW email account, please make sure you include the following information when making a request such as, your full name, student ID #, the SLN for the course and the course number, or your request may be delayed.
Make your requests to the following:
For course enrollment requests offered through the Milgard School of Business, make your request through this link.
For courses offered through the School of Engineering and Technology, contact an advisor, either David Ross or Beth Jeffrey, at their UW email addresses.
For course enrollment requests offered through the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, make your request through this link.
For courses offered through the School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership, make your request through this link.
For courses offered through the School of Social Welfare & Criminal Justice, make your request through this link.
For courses offered through the School of Urban Studies, email your request to uwturban@uw.edu.
Cross-Campus Registration
Students who have completed a minimum number of credits at the Tacoma campus are eligible to register for a maximum of fifteen credits per academic year (autumn quarter through summer quarter) at one of the other UW campuses in Seattle or Bothell during Registration Period II.
Eligibility
| Freshmen | Once admitted, freshmen must complete 25 credit hours at their home campus before registering for courses at other UW campuses |
|---|---|
| Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, Post-baccalaureate students | All students with a class standing from sophomore to post-baccalaureate must complete 15 credits at their home campus before cross-registering at another campus. |
| Graduate students | There are no restrictions regarding cross-campus registration. |
| Non-matriculated students | Non-matriculated students may not register cross-campus, except for summer quarter. This includes non-matriculated students taking courses under the staff or Washington State Tuition Waiver. See the section below about summer quarter for more information. |
- A maximum of 15 credits per academic year (autumn quarter through summer quarter) may be taken on a campus other than the home campus.
- Undergraduate students are limited to a maximum total of 45 credits through cross-campus registration that may be counted toward their degree.
Final-year Residency Requirement
Students are required to complete 45 of their final 60 credits as matriculated students in residence at UW Tacoma. Some degree programs may have stricter residency requirements.
To seek an exception to the residency requirement the student needs to submit a graduation petition to the UW Tacoma Registrar for review by the Academic Policy Committee. If an exception is granted, the student still must present a minimum of 45 credits taken in residence as a matriculated student to be awarded a UW degree.
Summer Quarter
All students (including non-matriculating) may cross-enroll during the summer quarter, and they may register for classes during Registration Period I. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and post-baccalaureate students must complete the required number of home-campus credits first.
Prerequisites and Registration Restrictions
All registration restrictions (e.g., class standing, entry codes) still apply. However, prerequisites taken at the home campus might not be recognized when you register for classes by MyUW. In that case, please contact the department offering the course.
Notes
- A student may declare a major on only one campus; a student cannot declare a cross-campus double major or double degree. A student who wishes to complete two majors on two different campuses must first graduate with a major from one campus, then gain admission as a post-baccalaureate student to complete the second major at the other campus.
- Only credits taken at the campus granting the degree are considered residence credit. Credits transferred from another UW campus don't count as residence credit, and don't count toward the final-year residence requirement.
Course Offerings for Seattle and Bothell Campus
Quarterly Credit Limits
Undergraduate students are limited to registering for no more than 19 credits during Registration Periods I and II to allow all students a chance to develop a basic schedule. Additional credits may be added during Registration Period III. The maximum limit is 30 credits per quarter.
There are additional tuition charges for any credits over 18 credits.
See the Tuition Rates for charges on registering for any credits over 18 credits.
Registration Eligibility
All students who remain in good standing and in compliance with other rules and regulations are guaranteed the opportunity to register each quarter as long as they maintain continuous enrollment (with the exception of summer quarter). Continuation must be in the same classification, i.e., undergraduate, post-baccalaureate (fifth-year), graduate. Once a student earns a baccalaureate degree, she or he must apply for re-admission as a post-baccalaureate (fifth-year), non-matriculated, or graduate student.
Exceptions to this guarantee include:
All students who are enrolled on any of the three University of Washington campuses (Tacoma, Seattle, or Bothell) are held accountable to the Student Conduct Code. The code outlines both the expectations for behavior and the procedures for handling violations of the conduct code
If a hold is on your student account, you will not be permitted to register or add courses until the hold has been released. Your degree will be posted to your record but if a hold exists, your diploma will not be released until your account is clear. If you attempt to register before your hold has been released, the system will indicate which office has placed the hold and where to go to get it released. Examples of holds and contact information are listed below.
You will not be eligible to register, if you have an outstanding balance on your tuition and fee account, past due housing charges, and financial aid charges. You must contact the Student Fiscal Services at 206-543-4694 and pay any fees due in order to register.
| Type of Hold | Who to Contact | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TACADV: Academic Advisor -Declare Major/Graduation Date | University Academic Advising | uwtuaa@uw.edu | 253-692-4857 |
| TACFIN: Financial/Tuition/Fees | Student Fiscal Services | sfshelp@uw.edu | 206-543-4694 |
| FIN AID: Financial Aid | Financial Aid Office | uwtfa@uw.edu | 253-692-4374 |
| GRADMIS: Graduate Admissions | Graduate School | uwgrad@uw.edu | 206-543-7468 |
| TACISSS: International Student Check in | International Student and Scholar Services | uwtiss@uw.edu | 253-692-4762 |
| TACCON: Student Conduct | Student Conduct and Academic Integrity | uwtse@uw.edu | 253-692-4901 |
| TACHOU: Student Housing | Housing and Resident Life | court17@uw.edu | 253-274-9000 |
| TACADM: Transcript Required | Admissions Office | uwtinfo@uw.edu | 253-692-4742 |
Each quarter during week 4, students are notified about the university Satisfactory Progress Policy which can involve both warning and hold messages.
An undergraduate student who has been dropped for low scholarship will be readmitted to the university only at the discretion of the pre-major reinstatement committee or if in a major, the student’s academic program. In most cases, a student may be required to sit out one quarter. A student readmitted after being dropped under these rules reenters the university on academic probation. The student’s GPA is the same as when dropped from the university, and the student may not use grades from other colleges or universities to raise his or her UW grade point average. A readmitted student is dropped if they fail to attain either a 2.00 grade point average for the following quarter’s work or a cumulative UW grade point average of 2.00 at the end of that quarter. The student is removed from probation at the end of the quarter in which a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better is reached. The petition for reinstatement form is available online through the Office of the Registrar or the student’s academic program.
Please note: The University of Washington transcript is comprised of course work and grades from all three campuses. Students who are dropped for low scholarship from one campus and reinstated at another will remain on academic probation until their cumulative grade point average reaches 2.0.
Students that are dropped for low scholarship will need to schedule an appointment to see their academic advisor.
Senior in final quarter
A senior who has completed the required number of credits for graduation, but has not met the graduation requirement of a cumulative 2.0 GPA, will be placed on probation and be required to complete coursework that would bring up their GPA to meet the graduation requirement. It is advised that the student should meet with their academic advisor to discuss options. A degree will not be awarded until the student has met all graduation requirements and is removed from probation.
Returning Students
If you are a prior UW Tacoma student and have not attended classes for the last two or more quarters at the university and you have been dropped for low scholarship, you will need to re-apply as a returning student and meet with an advisor to complete the paperwork for a Petition for Reinstatement. Reinstatement to the University of Washington Tacoma requires approval of the student's academic program or in the case of pre-major students, the Reinstatement Committee. Students who have been dropped from UW Tacoma for low scholarship will be required to sit out one quarter unless exceptional circumstances exist.
To be considered, you must have submitted a returning student application and the reinstatement petition must be complete and submitted to your academic advisor three weeks prior to the start of the quarter. Reinstatement decisions must be finalized one week prior to the start of the requested quarter of reinstatement.
The Academic Policy Curriculum Committee may terminate your enrollment if you have demonstrated a lack of academic progress as evidenced by excessive course repeats, course drops, or University withdrawals and cancellations. You may be reinstated with the approval of your college and the committee.
Repeat a Course
With the approval of the academic department offering the course, a student may repeat a course once.
Restrictions may include:
- Only allowing registration after Period I
- Only allowing registration after the quarter has begun, or
- Requiring an Entry Code for a repeat registration
Courses considered to have been taken once include any numerical grade or those with grades I, CR/NC, or S/NS. Withdrawn or dropped courses and courses with X or no grade reported will not count as the first taking of a course.
Repeating a course at University to get a better grade will not replace a lower grade; both the original grade and the second grade will be computed in the grade-point average, but credit will be allowed only once.
A second repeat (taking a class for a third-or greater-time) cannot be done using MyUW. A second repeat requires the department or the Registrar's Office to register you into the course. Grades in the third or subsequent takings will not be included in the grade-point average (GPA). To register for a second repeat, submit the Registration Transaction Form with the required approvals to the Registrar's Office.
Veterans receiving benefits must receive approval from the veterans coordinator in the Veteran and Military Resource Center before a course is repeated.
Satisfactory Progress Policy
If you are pursuing a baccalaureate degree, you are expected to make satisfactory progress toward the attainment of that degree and are expected to enter a major and graduate after completion of a reasonable number of credits and quarters. The satisfactory progress policy looks at your total credits, but when counting quarters, only regular academic-year quarters — autumn, winter and spring — are considered. The courses and credits you take during summer quarters count towards your degree requirements and are included in your credit total. Summer quarters are not added to your satisfactory progress quarter total and, thus, do not count against the number of quarters you may complete before the satisfactory progress credit limit is enforced.
Each quarter during week 4, students are notified about the university Satisfactory Progress Policy which can involve both warning and hold messages.
Please note: Individual departments may have additional satisfactory progress requirements. For Financial Aid satisfactory progress information, click here.
| 105-credit rule |
Undergraduates must declare a major by the time they have completed five (5) academic-year quarters and earned 105 credits or a hold will be placed on their registration until they either declare a major, or meet with an advisor and receive a pre-major extension. The hold is placed on the student record when five (5) or more academic-year quarters and 105 or more credits have been completed. Transfer students who are admitted to the University with 105 or more credits are expected to declare a major before their second quarter at the UW, or obtain an extension from their advisor. You will be granted a pre-major extension if your advisor decides that you are pursuing a reasonable goal, and have a good chance of gaining admission to your intended major. The extension will be granted for the number of quarters it should take you to complete the admission requirements of your major. You will receive a warning letter from the University as you approach five (5) academic-year quarters and 105 credits, if you have not yet declared a major. If you complete five (5) academic-year quarters and 105 credits and are still a pre-major, the registration system will not let you register for the next quarter. To avoid registration delays, meet with your advisor at least one quarter before you complete five (5) academic-year quarters and 105 credits. |
|---|---|
| 165-credit rule |
Students who have completed 165 or more credits and 11 or more academic satisfactory progress quarters and who do not have a graduation application or graduation plan on file will receive a registration hold, and must meet with their advisor and start planning for graduation. In order to remove the hold, the student must submit a graduation application or a graduation plan. Students whose plans include multiple degrees or whose intended time at UW extends beyond the satisfactory progress limits should complete a graduation plan at this time. Graduation plans must be completed with your academic advisor and record on your advising record. |
| 210-credit rule |
The University's satisfactory progress policy requires students to complete their undergraduate degree programs within 30 credits beyond the minimum required for the degree. Because most degrees require 180 credits, students generally must complete their programs by the time they earn 210 credits. The timing for enforcement of this policy is as follows:
Undergraduates who have completed over 210 credits will be notified by email the third week of the quarter that a block is being placed on their registration due to lack of satisfactory progress. Students ineligible to graduate will be permitted to register for succeeding quarters only if they receive approval from their program after filing a graduation plan. Students receiving satisfactory progress registration blocks should immediately contact their advisor to file a graduation application or to initiate an advising plan. |
Time Conflict
You may not register for two courses that meet at the same time or for courses with overlapping meeting times. If you want to add a course whose schedule conflicts with another, you must add the second course via Registration Transaction Form. Students must obtain approval from both instructors to add a course that conflicts one hour a week or less; instructor signatures are required for courses whose schedules conflict more than one hour per week.