Registration

​Policies  
Auditing a Course    Credit Duplication    Credit Overloads    Graduate Student Registrations in Undergraduate Courses    Independent Study    Internship    Off-campus Study    Pass/Fail Option    Private Music Lessons    Repeating Courses    Undergraduate Student Registrations in Graduate Courses    Withdrawal from a Course

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.

To audit a course:

1. Download the Pass/Fail or Audit form from the Office of the Registrar’s website
2. Complete and return the form to the Office of the Registrar by the end of the registration period.

Credit Duplication

No courses, including graduate courses, used to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements may be counted again toward graduate degree requirements. Except where explicitly outlined in program requirements in the five year Bachelor of Fine Arts + MAT programs.

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.

Graduate student registrations in undergraduate courses

For graduate credit

Graduate students may register for undergraduate courses for graduate credit. Often this work contributes directly to preparation of the graduate project or thesis proposal.

The student and instructor will document in writing the additional requirements commensurate with graduate level study, beyond the undergraduate requirements for the course. It should be understood that “additional requirements” implies complexity of work, which is not satisfied by quantity alone.

To enroll:

1. Complete the Graduate Topics available on the Forms page on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
2. Complete the form in counsel with the course instructor.
3. Obtain permission from the Program Director and (for Liberal Arts courses) the Dean of Liberal Arts.
4. Submit the form to the Office of the Registrar for processing.

For undergraduate credit

Graduate student are not permitted to enroll in undergraduate courses for undergraduate credit.

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 CAMD for 1.5-6 credits, CPA for 1-6 credits and Liberal Arts 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 LA electives).

To enroll in an independent study:

1. Download an independent study form from the Office of the Registrar’s website.
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.

Internships

Internships allow students the opportunity to earn academic credit while working in their chosen field. For more information contact the Office of Career Services at 215.717.6075, careerservices@uarts.edu, or click here to schedule a meeting.

The following policies apply to internships:

• Available to matriculated junior and senior undergraduate students and graduate students.
• A maximum of 6.0 credits (CAMD & LA) 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 summer internship enrollment.

To apply & enroll in an internship

• 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.
• After final approval is received students will be administratively registered for the internship.

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.

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 to let them know of your interest in taking a course at USciences. 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.

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.

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 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 liberal arts 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 Office of the Registrar’s website
2. Complete and return the form to the Office of the Registrar by the end of the registration period.

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 published on the Course Section Offerings page of the Office of the Registrar website.
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.

Questions can be directed to Michelle Wall in the School of Music via email mwall@uarts.edu.

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  .

Undergraduate Student Registrations in 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.

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 Office of the Registrar’s website.
2. Complete the form, obtaining advisor approval, and return it to the Office of the Registrar.