Course Selection and Registration

Download as PDF

Course registration takes place in the fall term for spring courses and in the spring term for fall courses. Registration for winter and summer courses occurs before the start of those terms. Students may register online if they were registered in the previous semester and are continuing their coursework in the next term. Students who have been on an approved Leave of Absence with an Expected to Return date of the coming semester can also register online for the semester they are returning. Registration opens by groups, which are assigned by the Registrar’s Office based on students’ progress toward graduation and computed total credits (earned credits plus enrolled credits). Earned credits include AP, IB, transfer, and other advanced standing credits. Students can find their registration group and corresponding registration date on the Registrar’s website.

Failure to take courses in sequence may cause a delay in normal academic progress and achievement. Some courses at Babson College have prerequisites (required courses that must be completed before taking another course). Students may look up prerequisites by course through the Course Listing in Workday.

Course Listing

Students can find current course offerings online through Workday.

Note: Babson College reserves the right to make changes and updates to the courses offered and to cancel or reschedule any class where low enrollment or other considerations warrant. Babson does not offer every course every semester.

Registration

Once matriculated, students must take all courses on campus or through a Babson-approved program (e.g. cross-registration programs, approved institutions abroad, approved off-campus course work). Students who wish to accelerate their program of study should take coursework at Babson during the summer or winter sessions or take approved course overloads. Course registration takes place in the fall term for spring courses and in the spring term for fall courses. Registration for winter and summer courses occurs before the start of those terms. Students may register online if they were registered in the previous semester and are continuing their coursework in the next term. Students who have been on an approved Leave of Absence with an Expected to Return date of the coming semester can also register online for the semester they are returning. Registration opens by groups, which are assigned by the Registrar’s Office based on students’ progress toward graduation and computed total credits (earned credits plus enrolled credits). Earned credits include AP, IB, transfer, and other advanced standing credits. Students can find their registration group and corresponding registration date on the Registrar’s webpage. Failure to take courses in sequence may cause a delay in normal academic progress and achievement. Some courses at Babson College have prerequisites (required courses that must be completed before taking another course). Students may look up prerequisites by course through the Course Listing in Workday.

Schedule Confirmation

Students may view their course schedules, grades, or other options by clicking the academic icon in Workday. Schedule confirmations are not mailed to students.

Course Changes: Add, Drop, or Withdrawal

All students may make adjustments to their schedule during the add/drop period. Please view the Academic Calendar for specific add/drop deadlines for a given semester or term. Students adding courses during this period will be reasonably accommodated with regard to any assignments, examinations, or other deliverables assigned prior to their registration in a manner that does not unreasonably disadvantage them. It is the responsibility of the student to approach the instructor as to this matter. If students add a course during the add/drop period that requires additional tuition, the additional tuition cost must be paid prior to registering.

Following the conclusion of the add/drop period, students may withdraw from individual courses up to the withdrawal deadline. The withdrawal deadline is determined by the Registrar’s Office each semester/term. Please visit the Registrar’s website for the specific dates, which are listed on the Academic Calendar. No withdrawals will be approved and no tuition will be refunded after the 60 percent point of the academic period. There are not prorated tuition refunds for individual course drops or withdrawals after the add/drop period. For information on the financial implications of withdrawing from the College, please refer to the Tuition Policies section of the handbook.

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must first obtain the approval of a Student Success Advisor. Students who withdraw from a course after the add/drop period and no later than the withdrawal deadline will receive a W on their transcript for that course. Students who do not formally withdraw from a course by the withdrawal deadline will receive a grade in that course. Final grades will be accepted only for students listed on the official class roster. Students seeking to withdraw below 12 credits must seek approval from the Reduced Courseload Committee. Please see instructions in the “Reduced Course Load – Fewer Than 12 Credits After the Add/Drop Deadline” section below.

For 2-credit courses that start in the middle of the semester, students may add or drop the course before the start of the second class meeting. Students have the opportunity to withdraw from these courses prior to 60 percent of the course being completed.

For courses that are taught entirely online or via Web-Ex, dropping the course before the start of the second online class meeting carries no academic or financial penalty. After that, if the course withdrawal occurs between the start of the second online class meeting and the 60 percent point of the academic period, the student will receive a grade of “W” for the course in progress at the time of withdrawal. For course withdrawals from summer or winter term courses, tuition and fees will be refunded on a prorated scale based upon the date of the withdrawal, with no refund to be awarded after the 60 percent point in the academic period. Prorated tuition refunds are not applicable for individual course withdrawals during the fall or spring semesters.

Students wishing to drop all of their courses are regarded as withdrawing from the semester and must complete a Separation form, which is available online through the Babson Hub. In addition, students who drop or withdraw from all courses are required to vacate College housing. Under such a status, students are not eligible to participate in any College activities including athletics, student clubs and organizations, student business development space, or student employment. For students who drop all of their courses, failure to complete the Separation form may result in a status change to Administrative Withdrawal.

The minimum credit threshold during a fall or spring semester to be considered a full-time student is 12 credits. The undergraduate program at Babson is a full-time program, and students seeking to enroll in less than a full time credit load after add/drop must seek permission from the College by following the steps of the Course Load Policy below.

Semester Course Load

Course Load Policy

Normal progression through the curriculum is defined as 16 credits per Fall and Spring semester. It may be appropriate for students to deviate from a full course load in certain circumstances. Requests may require supporting documentation and additional approvals depending on timing and student status.

Reduced Course Load - Fewer than 12 credits

Enrollment Changes Prior to the Add/Drop Deadline

Students may adjust their enrollment during the published add/drop period, including reducing their course load below full-time status (12 credits), without submitting a Reduced Course Load Request.

Students considering a reduction in enrollment below 12 credits are strongly encouraged to consult with their Student Success Advisor to understand the academic implications of their decision. Depending on their circumstances, students should also consult Student Financial Services, Residence Life, International Student & Scholar Services (for international students), and other applicable campus offices.

Reduced Course Load – Fewer Than 12 Credits After the Add/Drop Deadline

Students who wish to reduce their enrollment below 12 credits after the add/drop deadline must request approval for a reduced course load. Requests will be considered only under eligible circumstances outlined by the policy and may require supporting documentation.

Students must email studentadvising@babson.edu to begin the request process. The review can take up to two weeks.

Eligibility and Criteria – Course Load Adjustment Request

Students who wish to amend their enrollment to fewer than 12 credits in a Fall or Spring semester must request approval for a reduced course load in one of the following circumstances:

A documented disability necessitates enrollment in less than a full course load
A documented medical condition necessitates enrollment in less than a full course load
Consistent with applicable leave policies, a student requires a reduced course load:
- To care for a child within one year of birth, adoption, or the initiation of foster care; and/or
- To care for a child, spouse, partner, or parent with a serious health condition.
Significant personal circumstances, such as family or work obligations, that substantially affect a student's ability to maintain a full course load

Requests Submitted After the Withdraw Deadline

Requests submitted after the published withdrawal deadline will be considered only when supported by documentation demonstrating exceptional circumstances that arose or worsened after the deadline or prevented the student from withdrawing from a course by the deadline.

Review Committee

Requests will be evaluated by the Reduced Courseload Committee that may include representatives from:

Academic Affairs
Accessibility Services
Babson CARES
Student Advising & Success
Student Financial Services
Counseling & Psychological Services, Health Services, and/or Wellness & Prevention (when applicable)
International Student & Scholar Services (for international students, when applicable)

The Committee may consult other campus offices as needed to assess the request and its implications.

Implications of a Reduced Course Load

Before requesting a reduced course load, students should understand the potential impact on their academic progression and student status.

International Students

Students in F-1 or J-1 immigration status are generally required to maintain enrollment in at least 12 credits each semester to comply with federal immigration regulations. Limited exceptions may apply, including a student's final semester if fewer credits are needed to complete degree requirements.

International students must consult with an International Student Advisor in the Glavin Office before applying to reduce their enrollment below 12 credits.

Financial Aid

A reduced course load may affect eligibility for federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs. Students are responsible for consulting Student Financial Services prior to reducing their course load to understand any impact on aid eligibility, satisfactory academic progress requirements, or future funding.

Billing and Tuition

Students enrolled in 12 credits will be charged at the per-credit tuition rate.
Students enrolled in more than 12 credits and up to 18 credits will be charged the flat-rate tuition amount.

Students should consult Student Financial Services for the most current tuition and fee information.

Housing and Other Campus Services

Students residing in campus housing should be aware that a reduced course load may affect eligibility for housing, student employment, health insurance requirements, athletic participation, and other campus services. Students are encouraged to consult the appropriate campus offices before applying to reduce their enrollment.

Appeals

Students may appeal a denial of a Course Load Adjustment Request.

Grounds for Appeal

Appeals will be considered only when one or more of the following conditions exist:

New information or documentation that was unavailable during the original review
A procedural error that materially affected the outcome of the decision
Evidence that the policy was applied inconsistently

Disagreement with the decision alone is not sufficient grounds for appeal.

Appeal Process

Submit a written appeal via email within ten business days of receiving the decision to Dr. Ryan Travia, Associate Vice President of Student Success.
Include a detailed explanation of the basis for the appeal and any supporting documentation

The outcome of the appeal will be communicated in writing and will be considered final.

Reduced Courseload - Enrollment Between 12 and 15 Credits

Students who wish to take fewer than the standard 16-credit load but remain enrolled in at least 12 credits are not required to submit a Course Load Adjustment Request Form. However, students are strongly encouraged to discuss the academic implications of this decision with their Student Success Advisor.

Audit Policy

Babson College students may not audit a course. Babson offers this option only to senior citizens from Wellesley and Needham and to Babson alumni who are 65 years or older.