Emerson College

Frequently Asked Questions

Majors and Minors

Registration and Schedule Changes

Grades and Academic Difficulty

Study Abroad and Courses Taken Elsewhere

General Questions

If you have a question and you don't find the answer here, call the Academic Advising Center at 617.824.7876 or send us an e-mail at advising@emerson.edu.

How do I change my major?

Students must complete a Declaration of Major form that is available at the Academic Advising Center. An appointment is not required, but we strongly encourage students to discuss their plans with an academic advisor. All major changes require approval by the Chair of the respective academic department. Additional requirements may exist depending on the desired major.  For more information, please contact the Academic Advising Center.

Can I double major?

Students may choose to complete a double major by fulfilling all of the requirements for two majors in two separate departments. No single course is allowed to fulfill a requirement in both majors. Students with a major in the Visual and Media Arts department may not pursue a double major.

Taking on a second major requires a serious commitment on the part of the student. Most, if not all, of a student's free electives may be needed to complete the second major. In fact, many students who double major must earn beyond the minimum 128 credits by taking summer classes, overloading, or staying an extra semester in order to finish the dual degree. With careful planning, however, double majors be accomplished. We encourage any student considering a double major to meet with an advisor.

Can I design my own major?

Emerson offers eligible students the opportunity to create an individually designed interdisciplinary program (IDIP). An IDIP is a major program consisting of courses from two or more departments taken in a well-defined area of interest. Students design the program in consultation with faculty members from the departments where the majority of the coursework will be based and then submit the proposal to the IDIP faculty committee for approval.

To be eligible students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and they must complete the proposal and have it approved before the beginning of their Junior year. It is important to understand that the IDIP is for focused and committed students who have a clear vision of their academic goals.

It is not for students who can't decide between majors or who hope to avoid required classes that they find less interesting in an existing major. More information about rules, submission dates, and instructions is available from the Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies.

What does it take to get a minor and how do I declare one?

Minors give students the opportunity to explore an area outside of their major field of study. All minors consist of at least 16 credits of related coursework previously approved by the School in which the minor is offered. No course may fulfill a requirement in both the major and the minor, but in most cases up to 8 credits of the General Education curriculum may apply to a minor.

To declare a minor, fill out a Minor Change Request Form at the Academic Advising Center. Students can learn what minors are offered at Emerson by consulting the Undergraduate Catalogue (minor requirements are included at the beginning of each Department chapter) or by stopping by the Academic Advising Center to pick up our list of minors and minor requirements.

Note: Students cannot create their own minor, except within Communication Disorders with departmental approval. There is no minor offered in media production. While many students will find they have room to complete a minor (and even have free elective credits to spare), BFA students, double-majors, and transfer students who transferred in mostly elective credits may be more restricted.

Do I need a minor to graduate?

No, a minor is not required in order to graduate from Emerson. However, many students find that pursuing a minor is an effective and interesting way to give focus to elective credits.

DO I NEED TO MEET WITH AN ADVISOR TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES?

Yes, you do need to meet with an advisor. Your advisor is not only there to offer suggestions about your educational path, but to ensure that you keep on track for your major, your general education courses, and your expected graduation date. Meeting with your advisor is the only way for you to obtain your alternate PIN, which is necessary for web registration. If you are advised by one of the advisors in the Academic Advising Center, call 617.824.7876 to make an appointment. If you are advised by a faculty advisor, contact them directly to set up an appointment. If you aren't sure who your advisor is or how to contact him/her, you can access this information online through Interactive Services.

WHAT IS ADVISING WEEK?

Advising Week relates to students who are assigned to faculty advisors, not students assigned to an advisor in the Academic Advising Center. During Advising Week, students with faculty advisors meet with their advisors to discuss registration for the following semester. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL ADVISING WEEK TO SCHEDULE THIS APPOINTMENT! Faculty members have many students to accommodate, so it is important that you call or visit your faculty advisor's office at least a week or two before Advising Week in order to arrange a meeting. Students who have advisors in the Academic Advising Center will meet with their advisors to plan for registration, but these meetings generally take place prior to Advising Week. If you aren't sure who your advisor is or how to contact him/her, you can access this information online through Interactive Services.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CHANGE MY SCHEDULE?

If seats remain open in a class, students can add and drop freely through the first week of the semester. During the second week, instructor permission is required to add a class. Note that it is often difficult to make changes during the second week -- many instructors are unwilling to add a student if they feel too much material has been covered. Adding a class after the second week is extremely rare and incurs a late registration fee. No class may be dropped after the second week; instead students must officially withdraw from the class without a refund.

WHAT IF A CLASS I WANT TO TAKE IS FULL?

If a class you planned to take is full when it is your time to register, it is wise to continue to check back online to see if any seats open up. Students continually make changes to their schedule as long as web registration is available (up until bills are due: January 1 for Spring semester, August 1 for Fall semester) and a class you want may be a class someone else decides to drop. Students may also ask the instructor to add them into a full class as an overenrolled student. If space remains in the classroom (that is, if the enrollment does not exceed room capacity set by fire codes) the Registrar will add you into the class with a signed form from the instructor. If the room is at capacity, the only way to add a class is if someone else drops it. Keep in mind that many classes are often repeated at Emerson -- if you aren't able to take it one semester, you will have another chance to take it in the future.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A COURSE ANYMORE. WHAT CAN I DO?

During the first two weeks of a semester, you can drop from any class without permission through the Student Service Center. After the first two weeks, students may no longer drop a class, they must officially withdraw from a class. To withdraw from a class, have your professor sign a Withdrawal form, available at the Student Service Center, and return it to the Student Service Center before the deadline, roughly two weeks before the end of the semester. (See the academic calendar for exact dates.) If you withdraw from a course, your instructor will assign you a grade: WP (Withdraw Pass) if you are passing at the time of your withdrawal, or WF (Withdraw Fail) if you are failing. This grade will appear on your transcript. While a WP has no effect on GPA, a WF is calculated into the GPA as a failing grade. Note that if you simply stop going to class without officially dropping or withdrawing, neither the professor nor the Registrar will know your plans and you could end up with a failing grade. Talk to your advisor about options and consequences (e.g. the potential impact on academic standing) of withdrawing from a course.

WHAT'S AN INCOMPLETE?

Under certain circumstances, professors will allow students extra time to complete their coursework. A grade of Incomplete "I" will appear on the transcript and students have until the end of the following semester to complete all assignments for the course. Any Incomplete grades not finished by this deadline will change into an F.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE A COURSE OR TWO OVER THE SUMMER AT EMERSON. WHEN WILL I FIND OUT WHAT'S OFFERED?

Each summer Emerson holds two summer sessions through the Department of Professional Studies and Special Programs. Schedules are posted in early-to-mid March. While there is no guarantee of what will be offered over the summer, typically a variety of General Education courses and certain core courses in most majors are available. Taking summer courses can be helpful for students who want to make up credits, complete a double major, or graduate early. An added bonus is that summer courses are less expensive than tuition during the regular academic year. Because the summer sessions are shorter and more intensive than the fall and spring semester, students typically take no more than two classes per session. Over the course of two sessions, however, a student can earn a full 16 credits.

HOW DO I FIND OUT MY GRADES?

The Registrar mails grades to students at their permanent address at end of the semester. Grades are also posted on the web and viewable through Interactive Services.

CAN A PROFESSOR REALLY FAIL ME IF I MISS MORE THAN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CLASSES?

Yes, professors can enforce strict policies on attendance. It is the student's responsibility to find out what each professor expects in terms of attendance. If you must miss class, always try to e-mail or call a professor ahead of time to let him or her know about your absence. Extenuating circumstances, such as an extended illness or personal crisis, should be discussed with the professor or the Dean of Students.

I'M NOT DOING WELL IN A CLASS. WHAT CAN I DO?

You have several options. The best first step is to schedule a meeting with your professor or drop by during his/her office hours to discuss your progress in the class. You may also benefit from a visit to the Writing and Academic Resource Center (WARC), located on the 5th floor of 216 Tremont (617.824.7874). WARC offers writing assistance, tutoring, and workshops on study skills and time management.

If your academic performance is suffering because of personal problems, the Counseling Center on the 2nd floor of 216 Tremont (617.824.8595) is available to assist you. Call the Academic Advising Center at 617.824.7876 and make an appointment to learn more about these options and discuss alternative plans, such as withdrawing from a course or asking for an Incomplete.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO AVOID ACADEMIC PROBATION?

First year students need to maintain a 1.7 GPA and all other students must maintain a 2.0 in order to avoid academic probation. All students must also successfully complete at least 75% of attempted coursework. A grade of WP, WF, I or F does not constitute successful completion of a course. For instance, a student who receives 2 A's and 2 WP's, resulting in a 4.0 GPA but only 50% successful completion of attempted coursework, would be put on academic probation.

If a student is put on probation as a result of GPA or the "75% rule", they have the following semester to improve their standing. Two semesters in a row of academic probation will result in academic suspension. If suspended, students must leave the college for no less than one year. After one year they may petition to the Office of Academic Affairs to be reinstated.

I took a course at another school last summer. Does it count?

To transfer credits taken at another school into Emerson, an official transcript from that school will need to be sent to the Registrar. The Registrar will evaluate the credit and, if eligible, apply it to your record.

It is strongly advised that students have potential transfer courses pre-approved by the Registrar's Office via interactive services prior to registering for courses elsewhere. This way you will know ahead of time that the class you want to take will transfer, how many credits it will be worth, and whether or not it will fulfill a requirement.

If you hope to have a course taken elsewhere fulfill a major requirement, you will need to have the course evaluated by the Department Chair or Undergraduate Coordinator. To help with the evaluation process, it is smart to save copies of your transcript, syllabus, and course description.

I want to take a class at my community college at home over the summer.  Can I transfer that back to Emerson and have it fulfill a requirement?

It is possible to have courses taken at other schools transfer into Emerson. Transfer credit is granted for comparable course work completed at an accredited two- and four-year institution with a grade of "C" or better.

Current Emerson students wishing to earn credit elsewhere while enrolled at Emerson my transfer in a maximum of 64 credits. Students with 64+ credits must transfer in credit from a four-year institution or petition to take credits at a community college.

To receive transfer credit, students must have an official transcript sent directly from the institution to the Registrar's Office. The Registrar's Office will review the transcript to apply credit and determine what, if any, General Education requirements have been fulfilled. Transfer courses related to the student's major field must be reviewed by the academic department to determine if the course may fulfill a major requirement. It is advised that students keep course descriptions and syllabi in case additional information is necessary to determine course equivalency.

While completed course work may be evaluated for transfer credit, approval is not automatic. Therefore, it is strongly advised that students have potential transfer courses pre-approved by the Registrar's Office via interactive services prior to registering for courses elsewhere. This simple process pre-approves the intended transfer course work and helps students understand, in advance, if and how the credit will be evaluated. For more information please contact the Registrar's Office at 617.824.8655 or visit Student Administrative Services on the first floor of the Little Building, 80 Boylston Street.

I'm considering studying abroad for a semester through another college, but I'm coming back to Emerson. What should I do?

The International Study and External Programs office is available to offer guidance and counseling to students regarding accredited study abroad programs offered by other colleges and universities.  For more information on this process contact the International Study and External Programs Office by phone at 617.824.8567, or via e-mail at abroad@emerson.edu.

Undergraduate students who temporarily leave Emerson to study abroad, but plan to return within two years to finish their degree, need to file for a leave of absence (LOA). Forms are available in the Dean of Students Office at 150 Boylston Street, 2nd Floor.  Before you leave, make an appointment with the Academic Advising Center to discuss your plans and learn about the process of being readmitted to the college after a LOA.

You will also want to have all courses that you plan to take elsewhere pre-approved for transfer credit by the Registrar's office.

I want to spend a semester at Kasteel Well and/or the Los Angeles Center. What should I do?

More information about these Emerson programs is available at the International Study & External Programs Office, located temporarily at 80 Boylston Street. It's also wise to meet with an advisor to look ahead at how these programs can fit into your overall academic plan.

HOW CAN I CONTACT MY ADVISOR?

Students advised by a member of the Academic Advising Center staff can call 617.824.7876 to schedule an appointment. Students advised by a faculty member contact their advisor directly to schedule a meeting. Students unsure of who their academic advisor is or how to contact him/her may access this information through Interactive Services.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GRADUATE FROM EMERSON?

All baccalaureate degree candidates must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 128 semester credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.0. In so doing, students must complete the General Education Curriculum and the specific requirements for a major. BA, BS, and BSSp degree candidates complete between 9 to 11 courses in the major; BFA students complete between 14 and 16 courses in their major. Students must satisfactorily complete one full year at Emerson (32 credits) and they must complete their final 16 credits at Emerson or at an Emerson External program, such as the Los Angeles Center. Students submit a Graduation Application with the Registrar and must make an appointment for a senior credit evaluation before the last semester of attendance in order to be cleared for graduation.

HOW DO ALL THE CREDITS AND REQUIRED CLASSES BREAK DOWN?

While each student has a slightly different case due to many different factors (what your major is, if you had Math or World Language waivers, if you brought in AP credit, etc.), some overall generalizations can be made:

  • All students must earn at least 128 credits to graduate. Students entering Emerson as first-year students will automatically reach this goal by taking a full, normal load each semester (16 credits) and staying a full four years (8 semesters). 8 semesters x 16 credits a semester = 128 credits.
  • Of the courses taken to reach 128 credits, some will be required for the General Education curriculum, some will be required for major requirements, and the remaining credits will be free elective credits. A 'free elective' means you are free to elect to take any course you want (and are eligible for) to fulfill the remaining credits.
  • The number of free elective credits a student has varies widely according to such factors as the number of credits required to fulfill the major, if any waivers or AP scores fulfilled Gen Ed requirements, etc. For the average student seeking a BA or BS degree, a safe generalization is that 1/3 of the credits will go towards Gen Eds, 1/3 toward the major, and 1/3 toward free electives.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I'M TAKING THE RIGHT COURSES?

Students have a variety of ways to check their academic progress:
  1. Review a copy of your degree audit, available with a student ID at the Student Service Center or online through Interactive Services. This document lists your degree requirements and keeps track of which requirements you have fulfilled and those that remain. Courses you are currently registered for are indicated with an IP (In Progress) allowing you to easily check if they are the "right courses" and fulfilling your degree requirements in the way you planned.
  2. Familiarize yourself with the degree requirements as listed in the Undergraduate Catalogue. Be sure to follow the catalogue you received upon entering Emerson. Rules and requirements change from year-to-year, but you are held to the requirements in place when you entered the College.
  3. While students are encouraged to take ownership of their education by utilizing the degree audit and Undergraduate Catalogue when a question arises, you may always consult with an academic advisor for support. Contact information for your assigned academic advisor is available through Interactive Services. All students, regardless of their assigned advisor, are also welcome to contact the Academic Advising Center for help. 
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