Loyola University Chicago

If you have declared a major or minor, you have been assigned a faculty advisor in the department of your major or minor. The departmental contact for your major or minor can direct you to your faculty advisor.

For information about academic advising and advisor assignments, click here.

All students register through Loyola's Online Connection to University Services (LOCUS). For information about classes, you can view course offerings online or search via LOCUS, which has the most up-to-date information. If you have questions, first meet with your college advisor; then, register via LOCUS.

You can change your registration, i.e., drop and/or add courses, through the first week of the semester during the regular academic year (and through the first two days of the semester during summer sessions) via LOCUS. After the first week of classes, you can withdraw from courses through LOCUS, but may not add them. In some cases, you may add a class after the first week, contingent upon written permission from the instructor, department chair and dean. Download and submit the permission form (PDF) to appeal adding a class in the second week of the term, or appeal for entry into a closed course.

Note: If you are blocked from withdrawal by LOCUS, please contact your dean's office for assistance. However, please note that the dean's office only has control over "academic blocks," e.g., probation, advising, etc. If you have a bursar block due to an outstanding balance, an immunization records block by the Wellness Center, or a "missing transcript" block from the Office of Undergraduate Admission, you must contact those units to have the block lifted.

Note which office has applied the block and follow up with that office.

1. To maintain full-time status, you must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours. A typical full-time courseload is 14-16 credits per semester.
2. Normally students may take no more than 18 credits in a semester.
3. If you are interested in taking more than 18 credit hours during a semester, you must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and junior standing.  Please contact your assigned academic advisor for permission. 

If you drop below 12 credits, you are reduced to part-time status, which may have an impact on your financial aid. If you are considering such action, please consult with a financial assistance counselor to discuss the possible consequences. You should also meet with your academic advisor to review the effect of the drop on your academic standing. Finally, if you are living in an on-campus residence hall, you are required to maintain full-time status. As such, please also consult with Residence Life before dropping below 12 credits.

Only an academic advisor can authorize the repetition of a course. In some cases (for major or minor requirements), you must repeat a course if you earn lower than a C-, but you cannot repeat courses simply to raise your GPA or to enhance your application for post-graduate study. Authorized repeated courses are noted on your transcript; both grade attempts are listed and calculated in the GPA, but you only receive credit for the course once.  If you are interested in repeating a course, please contact your academic advisor.

Yes, however, restrictions apply regarding who is eligible and which courses can be taken on a pass/no pass basis. You should consult the undergraduate catalog for details and then speak with your academic advisor. The pass/no pass option must be chosen by the end of the second week in a Fall or Spring semester or during the first week of a Summer Session.

In an independent study course, you examine a particular area of interest under the direction of a faculty member in that area. Independent studies are typically upper-level courses initiated and designed by the student in consultation with a faculty member. If you are interested in an independent study, you should contact your faculty advisor and the appropriate department chair.

Auditing a course means taking a course without receiving credit. A course which is audited does not count toward graduation, but it does provide you with background in a particular subject area. After consulting the undergraduate catalog guidelines for auditing courses, you must register for the course through normal procedures, and then follow up this registration by filling out a course audit form in the Office of Academic Advising and Services within the first two weeks of the semester or the first week of a summer session.

Sure. Currently enrolled students can register for summer courses via LOCUS. Students are always advised to speak with their assigned academic and/or faculty advisor before registering for classes.

You should be able to withdraw using LOCUS through the ninth week of the term. Any time you withdraw from a course via LOCUS, you should print a new copy of your schedule which should confirm your withdrawal status. If you are unable to withdraw, please check to see if there is a hold on your account and contact the appropriate office (e.g. bursar's office, library, dean's office). If you are a part-time student, dropping from full-time to part-time student status, or completely withdrawing from the university, you must contact the Office of Academic Advising and Services in order to withdraw. For information about the withdrawal policy related to tuition adjustment, please see the Bursar's Office.

Note: Students who officially withdraw after the first week but before the deadline receive a final grade of "W" in the course. Students who unofficially withdraw from a course (i.e., stop attending class) or withdraw after the deadline receive a final grade of "WF," which is calculated as an "F."

Students who are considering a complete withdrawal from Loyola should contact their academic advisor for advisement and instructions.

Yes. You can take courses at any of Loyola's Chicago campuses as long as the appropriate course prerequisites are met. If you want to take a course offered by the School of Professional Studies (SPS), you must contact the SPS office to request permission and ensure that you meet the requirements. If you would like to take a graduate course in a CAS department, you must contact the department office in order to request permission.

To transfer to another school within Loyola (e.g., School of Business Administration, School of Education, School of Nursing, School of Social Work), complete an internal transfer application available in the Undergraduate Admission Office or the college dean's office. Details and the internal transfer application are also available online. Submit the application to the dean's office of the school into which you want to transfer. Remember that students who are pursuing certification in secondary education enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences and complete a sequence of courses in the School of Education.

The catalog states that current degree-seeking Loyola students may not take courses at another college or university without previous written consent. You should begin the process by meeting with your academic advisor. If you have compelling reasons for taking a course elsewhere, you should bring a catalog description of the course to your academic advisor and request permission. Typically, only elective courses may be taken elsewhere.

Students in good standing who leave the university for no longer than a semester, and do not take courses elsewhere during that semester, may return to the college without reapplying. Students who take courses elsewhere during their absence, and/or are absent for more than a semester, must reapply to the university. Students who are dismissed for poor scholarship may be considered for readmission no earlier than two complete semesters from the date of dismissal. Readmission decisions for students who are suspended or expelled for disciplinary reasons are made by the appropriate student affairs official(s).

Many students explore majors and careers by taking a course in the field and by speaking directly with faculty about the major. Internships are also a good way to explore various careers. For assistance with internships, students should consult the Career and Internship Center or, for some majors, the faculty internship supervisor in the academic department.

Students should also consider taking the two-credit-hour Career and Life Planning course (CPSY 224) for a structured exploration of self, majors and careers. Career counselors are also available in the Career and Internship Center. Finally, Project EVOKE provides programs, workshops and other guidance to help students understand their interests and calling in life and how they align with various majors and careers.

Students may pick up a change of major/minor card in the Office of Academic Advising and Services or either of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Offices (Damen 205 or LT 900). Once completed, students may drop off their major/minor card at the Office of Academic Advising and Services.

Yes. Students interested in pursuing an additional major should declare the new major and must complete all requirements for both majors. In some cases declaring an additional major presents the possibility (but not the necessity) of pursuing two degrees—for example, both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science. To complete two undergraduate degrees, students must fulfill all requirements for both degrees, including major requirements and college or school requirements, in addition to the university Core Curriculum. Students considering a double major or two undergraduate degrees should consult an academic advisor about their plans.

Academic advisors are available to meet with students to discuss progress toward completion of the degree.

 Students must apply (in the dean's office) for graduation early in the semester prior to their expected graduation date: for example, if you expect to graduate in May, you should apply in the previous September. After applying for graduation, students should schedule a graduate advising appointment with the college senior evaluator.

Per Loyola's undergraduate catalog, "Plagiarism on the part of a student in academic work or dishonest examination behavior will result minimally in the instructor assigning the grade of "F" for the assignment or examination. In addition, all instances of academic dishonesty must be reported to the chairperson of the department involved."

Although academic dishonesty violations are not noted on students' official transcripts, violations must be reported to the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office.

For more information about Loyola's policy on academic integrity, please click here.

Information about the Rome Center is available online and in the Rome Center Office (8-2760). Information about other Loyola-sponsored programs is available from the Office for International Programs (8-3899).

Students should keep instructors informed of absences well in advance if possible. If you will miss one week or more of class because of illness or a personal emergency, contact the dean's office. Dean's office staff will notify your instructors. Notification of an absence does not excuse the absence; upon returning to classes, you are responsible for contacting instructors, producing appropriate documentation for the absence, and completing any missed work.

Contact your instructor to find out if there are options for making up the exam.

First, speak with the instructor about the situation. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of that conversation, make an appointment to speak with the department chairperson.

Students may request official transcripts by completing a transcript request form and returning it to the Office of Registration and Records. Written transcript requests take two weeks to process, so submit them in advance. For quicker delivery or pickup of transcripts, students may request them through LOCUS—simply click the "Request Official Transcript" link on the Academics menu. Transcripts will not be released to students who have been put on transcript hold.

Bring a picture ID and proof that you are a Loyola student (e.g., course schedule, bill) to the Campus Card Office.

You can update your permanent and local addresses and your phone number using LOCUS.