Withdrawing from or Repeating Classes
“Freshman Forgiveness”
Students who enter as first-time freshmen (not enrolled at another college for a fall or spring semester prior to enrolling at USC) may repeat a maximum of three courses taken during the first two semesters of enrollment at USC in which grades of D+ or below (including UW and IX) were received. These courses must be retaken at USC.
Only the subsequent grade, even if lower, will be calculated in the grade point average, but both courses and the grades received will appear on the transcript. The same course may only be repeated once for the benefit of substitution of grade.
Students must repeat a course BEFORE taking any other courses for which it is a prerequisite.
Students who have been assigned a grade as a result of a Student Conduct sanction may not repeat the course under the Freshman Forgiveness policy.
Repeating Other Courses at USC
See below for the available options which depend on the grade earned in the course. Keep in mind that students must repeat a course BEFORE taking any other courses for which it is a prerequisite.
Courses with a grade of D+ or below (but which do not fall under the Freshman Forgiveness policy):
The course can be retaken and both grades will be calculated in the grade point average.
The unit credit can only be earned once.
Courses with a grade of C+, C, or C-:
The course can be retaken, but a petition must be submitted to the Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures (CAPP) for permission to get the subsequent grade calculated in the GPA.
This petition must be approved prior to re-registering in the course.
These petitions are rarely approved.
Courses with a grade of B- or better:
No student may repeat a course in which a grade of B- or better was received.
Withdrawing from Classes / Deadlines
During the first three weeks of classes:
Students can drop and add classes during this time period without any effect on their transcripts. Anyone considering dropping a course or changing their classes for the semester should speak with an
academic advisor before doing so to discuss any potential consequences.
Classes can be dropped either online using
Web Registration or in-person by going to the Registrar’s Office (REG) and filling out a blue drop/add form. Students attempting to drop a class using Web Registration should double-check their schedule to make sure they have properly dropped the course.
During this time period, some departments (i.e. Mathematics), require additional Departmental Clearances (D-Clearances) to register for their courses. Classes requiring D-Clearances are indicated by the letter 'D' following the five digit class number. Please consult the
Schedule of Classes to see if extra clearances are needed when changing classes.
After the third week of classes (and before the end of the 12th week of classes):
During this period, students can drop a course, and that class will appear on the transcript with a mark of “W” (for withdrawn). A mark of “W” does not affect a student’s gpa. Classes cannot be added during this period and courses cannot be dropped after the 12th week deadline
First, students considering dropping a course by the 12
th week deadline need to speak with an
academic advisor to discuss the consequences of that action. Students should ask themselves,
"Have I spoken to my professor and TA?" "Is this a prerequisite course for other major requirements? Can I make up this course in the summer?"
Second, determine if your financial aid eligibility will be affected. Remember, you are required to complete at least 12 units, on average, every semester and maintain
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) . Generally, if you fall below twelve units after the third week of class, your financial aid for that semester is NOT altered; however, you are still held to SAP guidelines, outlined in detail on p. 50 of the
2005-2006 University Catalogue.
Classes can be dropped either online using Web Registration or by going in-person to the Registrar’s Office (REG) and filling out a blue drop/add form. Students attempting to drop a class using
Web Registration should double-check their schedule to make sure they have properly dropped the course. If you are dropping
all course work for the semester, you must do so in person at the Registration Building and complete a
Leave of Absence form in RTH 110.
Unofficial Withdrawals:
If a student stops attending a course after the third week of classes and before the end of the 12th week without officially dropping the class, the student may be awarded a mark of UW (unofficial withdrawal) by the instructor, which is calculated into the GPA like a grade of F. Students are responsible for all of their registered courses and are expected to either complete all courses accordingly or to withdraw from them by the 12th week deadline.
After the 12th Week of Classes:
See the following section on incompletes.
Incompletes
An incomplete (IN) is awarded on the basis of an agreement between the instructor and the student. Incompletes can be awarded only as a result of a documented illness or emergency occurring after the 12th week of classes.
An IN can be removed only by completing the portion of work not finished as a result of the documented illness or emergency. The Incomplete (IN) Completion form, which is completed by the instructor, details the work that must be done to remove the IN.
Time Limit for the Removal of an Incomplete
Students are given one calendar year in which to complete an IN. It is not possible to remove an IN by re-registering for the course, even within the designated time.
If the IN is not removed within the designated time, the course is considered “lapsed,” the grade is changed to an “IX." An "IX" will be calculated into the grade point average as 0 points. Courses offered on a Credit/No Credit basis or taken on a Pass/No Pass basis for which a mark of Incomplete is assigned will be lapsed with a mark of NC or NP and will not be calculated into the grade point average.
Extension of Time for Removal of an Incomplete
Removing the IN within the one-year period should be the student’s highest priority. A student may petition the Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures (CAPP) for an extension of time for the removal of an IN; however, extensions beyond the specified time limit are rarely approved if the student has enrolled in subsequent semesters.
In all cases, a petition for an extension of time for removal of an IN must have departmental approval and include a statement from the instructor explaining what is needed to complete the course and why the student should be given further time for completion. (Source:
USC Catalogue 2005-2006, p. 35)
