ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT FAQS

COURSE LOADS: CREDIT OVERLOADS AND DROPPING COURSES

How many credits am I allowed to take in my first semester?

We encourage entering freshmen and transfer students to take a full-time program of between 12 and 15 credits. We set no minimum number of credits you must take, but you may not register for more than 18 credits. We strongly urge entering freshmen not to work if you can avoid it. If you must work, work for as few hours as possible. If you have a full-time job, taking more than two or three courses is very likely to jeopardize your career at Baruch.

What if I want to take more than 18 credits?

Students in all three schools may apply for a credit overload. The credit overload allows students to register for 19 to 21 credits in either the Spring or Fall semesters. For those students seeking permission for the summer session(s) a maximum of 5 courses is allowed with 3 three courses in one session. First semester transfer students and first semester freshmen are not permitted credit overloads. Please see any advisor for additional information about applying for a credit overload.

What if I need to drop a course?

1. See Schedule of Classes for the deadline to drop a course(s).
2. Student must complete a drop form and have it approved at the Office of the Registrar or the Center for Advisement and Orientation by the stated deadline date.
3. If you are receiving financial aid or are an international student, dropping a course might affect you. Please see the appropriate office.
4. If you are withdrawing from all courses (Total Withdrawal) at any time during the semester, you must come to the Center for Advisement and Orientation and meet with an Academic Advisor.
5. If you need to drop a course after the deadline date, meet with an Advisor at the Center for Advisement and Orientation.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS, EXEMPTIONS, EXAMS, WAIVERS

How do I know if I have met all degree requirements for graduation?

Review your DegreeWorks Degree Audit. You may find the DegreeWorks Degree Audit link on the Center’s website and on the Office of the Registrar website. You should also meet with an advisor to review your academic progress.

May I pursue a double major?

Students may pursue a double major only with the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences. You must file two separate specialization (major) forms; each form must have the appropriate department advisor's signature. The Office of the Associate Dean grants final approval. Double majors are not possible through the School of Public Affairs or the Zicklin School of Business.

How will I find out the courses for which I will be able to get Advanced Placement credit or transfer credit?

We provide freshmen credit for Advanced Placement classes or tests, or College NOW course work once we receive transcripts documenting the results. Generally, we give placement credit for Advanced Placement scores of 4 or higher.

I want to be exempt from a course. What should I do?

A department may, under certain circumstances, grant exemption from a particular course. To find out more, contact the department that offers the course and inquire about the possibility of applying for an exemption exam.

Is it possible to get credit for military experience?

Yes, the College grants limited credit for military experience (usually elective course credit). For more information and to obtain an application, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 25th Street, Room 720. Submit the completed form to an evaluator at the Registrar's Office.
Note: International students are not eligible to receive credit for military experience.

Is it possible to get credit for work experience?

No, at this time Baruch does not grant credit for work experience.

Where can I find out information about the CLEP exams?

Visit the Undergraduate Admissions Office
151 East 25th Street, Room 750
or email admissions@baruch.cuny.edu

What is an Independent Study course?

This course enables students to pursue an interdisciplinary project independently in an area that is not available in the course offerings. The subject should be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor who will act as the student’s supervisor. A description of the project and its specific goals should be clearly articulated in the written prospectus.

How can I take honors courses?

A large number of Honors classes are offered each semester and are listed in the Schedule of Classes. Some are honors sections of courses in the base curriculum. Others are electives, including the Feit Seminars in the Humanities and the Harman Writer-in-Residence classes.

Honors courses provide special enrichment for highly motivated and well-prepared students. Such courses have the designation "H" in the Schedule of Classes and, if taken, students' transcripts will indicate Honors courses where appropriate.

Honors courses are open to all students who are in good standing in the Baruch Honors College and, with some restrictions, to other students who have qualifying GPAs. For more information about enrolling in the Baruch College Honors Program, please see the Honors Program website at www.baruch.cuny.edu/honors.

ACADEMIC APPEALS

What is an appeal?

If a student wants to request an exception to an academic rule and has special circumstances, he/she may file an appeal. It is frequently helpful if the student can attach relevant supporting documentation. Each school has its own Committee on Academic Standing, which reviews appeals in writing only.

The appeal process may help you if you have the following types of requests:

• to withdraw from a course after the deadline
• to seek a change in your final grade (e.g. retroactive withdrawal)
• to be granted an extension to make up a missed final
• to have a course substitution or waiver within the School's base curriculum requirements
• to be reinstated into the College after you have been dismissed due to poor academic standing
• to receive additional transfer credit after the final evaluation has been completed

How do I submit an appeal?

You can pick up the Appeal form you need at the Center for Advisement and Orientation, or download an application from the Center for Advisement & Orientation website, and submit it to the appropriate department/school. Students should meet with an academic advisor at the Center for Advisement and Orientation for assistance in filing an appeal.

GRADES/GPA/GRADING POLICIES

Am I allowed to I take a course on a PASS/FAIL basis?

Only certain majors and certain courses may be taken on a PASS/FAIL basis. Please fill out an application at the Center for Advisement and Orientation prior to registration. Students planning to major in business may not take courses on a PASS/FAIL basis.

What do my grades mean?

The following table lists the grades that are used at Baruch College.

Explanation of Grades

Excellent (A, A-) Paves the way to the Dean’s List.
Very good (B+, B, B-)
Average (C+, C)
Poor (C-, D+, D) Merely passing. Enough of these and you can be dismissed.
Failure (F)

Am I allowed to retake a class in which I received a 'D'?

No. You may only repeat a course in which you received a failing grade (F, FIN, FAB, FPN, WU, or WF). For information on repeating failing grades, please see our 'F' Grade Policy.

What is the Dean's List?

In addition to awarding degrees with honors, the College also recognizes excellence with the annual Dean's List. The Dean's List is promulgated at the end of the Spring semester in each school of the College. To be eligible for inclusion on the list, a matriculated student must have an average in all subjects of at least 3.5 in a program of at least 12 credits per semester for two consecutive semesters of attendance as a full-time student, or at least 24 credits taken in a maximum of four consecutive semesters as a part-time student. P (Pass) grades and credits are not included in the calculation.

What does it mean to graduate with Latin Honors?

The policy regarding Latin Honors is as follows:
To be eligible for Latin Honors, students must have completed at least 56 credits at Baruch College. The scholastic index is first computed on the courses taken at Baruch College and then on the entire scholastic record. Grades earned at another college are computed according to Baruch's academic standards. The lower of the two indexes so computed determines the graduation honors. There are three levels of Latin Honors:

• Summa cum laude shall be granted to those students whose scholastic index in all subjects is at least 3.85 (3.8 for those entering prior to fall 2004 who remain in continuous attendance until graduation)
• Magna cum laude shall be granted to those students whose scholastic index in all subjects is at least 3.75 (3.5 for those entering prior to fall 2004 who remain in continuous attendance until graduation)
• Cum laude shall be granted to those students whose scholastic index in all subjects is at least 3.5 (3.2 for those entering prior to fall 2004 who remain in continuous attendance)

PROBATION/DISMISSAL/REINSTATEMENT

Are you struggling with your courses?

First ask yourself:

• Is it Academic difficulties?
• Is it Time Management?
• Is it Personal/Family problems?
• Not sure why?

Contact the Counseling Center at counseling@baruch.cuny.edu or at 646.312.2155.

What is academic probation?

Students must maintain a certain minimum Grade Point Average(GPA) based on the number of credits earned. Students will be placed on Grade Point Average Probation at the end of the Spring semester if their cumulative GPA falls below that minimum. Students who fail to meet the terms of GPA probation will be dismissed at the end of the Spring semester. Dismissal from the College is permanent unless a written reinstatement appeal, made to the Committee on Academic Standing of one of the College's three schools, is successful.

Students must maintain a certain minimum Grade Point Average based on the number of credits earned:
0-12 credits - 1.50 cumulative GPA
13-24 credits - 1.75 cumulative GPA
25 credits or more - 2.00 cumulative GPA

Students on probation are urged to take advantage of the tutoring services offered by the Student Academic Consulting Center (SACC) located on the 2nd Floor, Room 2-116, Newman Vertical Campus (646) 312-4830.

What do I do if I am academically dismissed?

Students who fail to meet the terms of GPA probation will be dismissed at the end of the Spring semester. Dismissal from the College is permanent unless a written reinstatement appeal, made to the Committee on Academic Standing of one of the College's three schools, is successful. (Alternately, the appeal may need to be filed with the Joint Committee on Academic Standing. Consult the Center for Advisement & Orientation for assistance). The deadline for submitting appeals for reinstatement to the Committee on Academic Standing in the appropriate school is November 1 for the Spring semester and April 1 for the Fall semester. Students must also file a reentry application with the Registrar's Office.

PICKING A MAJOR AND A MINOR

What majors are offered at Baruch?

Consult the Undergraduate Bulletin for a complete list of majors available at the College.

Students in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences and in the School of Public Affairs must declare their majors with a faculty advisor in the appropriate department.

Some departments require that certain courses must be completed prior to declaring a major offered in their department. In certain instances there may be a minimum GPA required in order to proceed from one level of coursework to a higher level.

A student may not substitute a course that has been specified in their major specialization form without the written permission of the faculty advisor in the department.

A 'C' (2.0) average in the major courses is required for graduation.

If you are uncertain about your choice of major, meet with a faculty advisor from the department(s) of interest to you, a counselor from the Starr Career Development Center and last with an advisor from the Center for Advisement and Orientation.

Consult the Center for Advisement & Orientation website to determine if you have met the requirements for the major of your choice and fill out the online "Eligibility Review For Your Major" form when you have met those requirements.

AM I ON THE RIGHT PATH

Here is a quick "to-do" list for each year of your undergraduate degree at Baruch:

Freshman Year: 

• Dropping a course? Watch the drop deadline! (see the Schedule of Classes for up-to-date deadline information). To officially withdraw from a course, you MUST see an advisor at the Center for Advisement and Orientation.
• Start checking off courses included in your block program on the core curriculum sheet you received during orientation. When you pass these courses, write down the semester in which you took the course, and the grade.
• Start thinking about what you wish to take next semester, choosing courses from Tier 1 and 2.
• Take and Pass the SimNet Assessment Exam.
• You will take a Strong Interest Inventory Test online, which will help you determine your academic interests and strengths and weaknesses. This test will be followed up with workshops, where your test results will be interpreted for you to further help you determine eventual major and minor choices. Your registration date will be affected depending upon whether or not you attend these workshops. There will also be a major fair, which you will need to attend.
• Visit the Starr Career Development Center website.
• Start thinking about which degree program you may wish to enter as there are additional requirements separate from the core curriculum for each school.

Sophomore Year:

• Start thinking about major(s) you are interested in learning more about.
• To find out how your courses are fulfilling your degree requirements, log onto Degree Works, the degree audit system.
• Take and Pass the SimNet Assessment Exam if you have not already done so.
• Take and pass the CPE exam.
• Start considering internship opportunities. An internship gives you real-life experience in an area in which you may eventually major, and may also help you pursue a career in that area.
• Consider studying abroad during your junior year.
• Consider what you want to Minor in from Tier III.
• Submit the online Eligibility Review For Your Major.

Junior Year:

• Consider studying abroad during your junior year.
• Decide what you want to Minor in from Tier III.
• Submit the online Eligibility Review For Your Major form.

Senior Year:

• Sign up for on-campus recruitment and workshops.
• Find out how your courses are fulfilling your degree requirements. Review your worksheet. Use Degree Works.
• Apply for graduation through the Registrar’s office.