Graduate Course Registration
frequently asked questions
Graduate Student Registration
Selecting Courses
Closed, Restricted, and WCAS (Evening) Courses
Troubleshooting
Billing Information
Summer 2013
Q: What are the fall and summer 2013 registration dates and procedures for graduate students?
A: Fall and summer 2013 registration and drop/add period begins on April 10 at 8:00 a.m. and continues through September 11 at 11:00 p.m. for all graduate students, except for students in the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW). GSSW students in the class of 2014 will register at 7:00 p.m. on April 22. Registration for all other GSSW students will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Graduate students in degree programs must register each semester until they graduate. If you find that you cannot continue in the spring semester, you should apply for a leave of absence with your dean. You may download a Graduate Withdrawal/Leave of Absence Form.
Doctoral Continuation—Students whose departments require permission need to obtain an override for Doctoral Continuation and process it in the Office of Student Services in Lyons Hall.
Special Students—Graduate students including those using teaching vouchers who are not currently in a Boston College degree program and who want to take graduate level courses must apply as special students to the appropriate graduate school. Graduate students using LSOE teaching vouchers should speak with Melita Malley, Assistant Director, in the Practicum Office, Campion 135.
Q: Do doctoral candidates need to sign up for graduation?
A: Doctoral students who plan to graduate in August or December 2013 need to confirm their diploma names by logging onto portal.bc.edu and selecting “Diploma Name Information—View Edit” from your MyServices menu. Enter your Eagle Number to view your information. Your name will appear as it is listed on the University’s student system. Follow the directions and post your password at the bottom of the screen, even if you have no changes. This will ensure that your diploma is ordered correctly and that you are listed in the Commencement Program.
Q: Where do I find the list of courses that are offered for the semester?
A: There are several ways to view the Schedule of Courses. First, you can go to www.bc.edu/courses and select Search Courses by Specific Criteria. Second, you can pick up a Schedule of Courses newspaper in the lower level of Lyons Hall. Third, you can click on Course Information and Schedule under "My Services" from your Agora Portal list.
Q: How do I register?
A: Students register using either:
Q: What if I have a registration hold?
A: Remember that if you have an outstanding balance on your student account or have failed to submit proof of immunization to the Health Services Office, a hold will be placed on your registration. If a registration hold message appears on the registration screen, you must see the appropriate office (Outstanding Balance-Student Services, Immunization-Health Services) to resolve the situation before you can register.
Q: How do I find information about my advisor?
A: Graduate students should check with their departments for advisor assignments.
Q: How can I audit a course?
A: Students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Theology and Ministry, and the Connell School of Nursing may register for an audit online. Lynch School of Education, Carroll School of Management, Law School, and Graduate School of Social Work students must consult the Graduate Associate Dean’s Office before they can audit a course. Woods College of Advancing Studies students may not audit courses.
After the drop/add period (during the first seven class-days of the semester), graduate students who wish to change a course from credit to audit or audit to credit must go to their respective Graduate Associate Dean’s Office and complete a Graduate Course Exception form. Students in the Carroll School of Management may change a course from credit to audit but not audit to credit.
After September 11, 2013, graduate students who wish to change a course from credit to audit or audit to credit must go to the Associate Dean’s Office and complete a “Graduate Course Exception” form. Students in the Carroll School of Management, Graduate Programs may change a course from credit to audit but not audit to credit. If you drop an audit before September 11, 2013, you will receive a 100% refund. You may not drop an audit after September 11. There is no cancellation of tuition for a course changed from credit to audit.
Closed, Restricted, and WCAS (Evening) Courses
Q: How can I gain access to a course that requires permission or is closed or restricted?
A: Students may go to the department that offers the course. The department will do one of the following: decline permission, add the course to your schedule at the time, or provide you with a stamped override form that you should bring to Student Services, where the staff will add the course to your schedule.
Problems you may encounter when registering:
Invalid Password (Unable to sign-in to the UIS system.)
Check to make sure that you correctly inputted your username and password or pin. If you are still having difficulties, contact the Office of Student Services at 617-552-3300.
Wrong Index Number
Check to make sure you are inputting the correct 4-digit index number, not the course number (e.g., 9999 rather than LL999.09). Refer to Schedule of Courses for index numbers.
Time Conflict Message
Check the Schedule of Courses or the on-line open course list again. If there is still a problem, there may have been a time change. The information on the system is correct, since it is the most up-to-date.
Course Restricted to Major or School
You must get the appropriate department or school approval to be allowed to override these restrictions.
Course Closed or Requires Department Permission
If a course is closed, please try again later to register for the course.
On August 15, 2013, the Office of Student Services will generate an online bill for the spring semester. After August 15, bills will be sent around the fifteenth day of each month and are due upon receipt. A notice will be sent to your BC email address when the statement is ready for viewing.
You should then logon to your Agora Portal account at portal.bc.edu and select “My Bill” to view your bill.
Students are encouraged to register before August 15 to ensure proper billing. Charges for courses added or dropped after August 15 will be reflected on September's online bill.
If your account remains unresolved with the Office of Student Services, you may be withdrawn from classes and subject to a $150 late payment fee.
Question regarding billing and payment may be directed to the Office of Student Services, Lyons Hall, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 800-294-0294 or 617-552-3300.
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Summer 2013
Audits
Eligible graduate students may register for the course they wish to audit on U-View or U-Dial. If you registered for a course as an audit, you will receive a 100% refund of tuition if you drop the audit by the first class day. After the first class day, you may not drop an audit.
There is no refund for students who change from credit to audit. To change a course from audit to credit or credit to audit, go to your Associate Dean’s office and complete a Graduate Course Exception form. STM students should contact Donna Derosa at 617-552-8440.
Pass/Fail
Eligible students may sign-up to take a course pass/fail through their Agora Portal account at portal.bc.edu or U-Dial at the time they register. To declare a course pass/fail in the Graduate School of Social Work, contact Liz Cinquino at 617-552-4020. STM students should contact Donna Derosa at 617-552-8440. Students in CGSOM, GSA&S, LGSOE, and WGCAS may not take a course counting toward the degree pass/fail.
Summer Credit Variation
If you need to change the number of credits for a course, pick up a Credit Variation form from the Office of Student Services. Have the Associate Dean’s office sign the form and return it to Lyons Hall.
Tuition Refund Schedule
By the second day of class, 100% of tuition charged is cancelled. No cancellation of tuition is made after the second day of class.