In most cases, new seats are added or a waitlist is opened when every section of a specific course is shown as filled on the Schedule of Classes (SOC).

Check Testudo periodically to monitor the opening of new seats.

Students must register for what is open, available, and what can be added to their schedule first. Students can expect to switch sections in courses they may have already added—wherever flexibility is evident on the Schedule of Classes (SOC)—to incorporate STEM lectures or labs that have limited seats and are time sensitive to complete.

If no open seats are available

—then students must add themselves to any available waitlists once they have been opened by the appropriate academic department. Check Testudo periodically if a waitlist has yet to open.

Academic advisors do not administer course waitlists.

If significant time has elapsed between checking Testudo and following the instructions above, and no changes in course availability have been observed, then students may contact the academic department that administers the course for more information. See contacts by course code down below.

Academic advisors are not course schedulers.

Students are responsible for their course scheduling: this includes adding, dropping, and waitlisting for courses based on the options that are available to all students on Testudo. Academic advisors do not “force add” or “oversubscribe” students into closed sections.

If no open seats are available:

—then students must add themselves to any available waitlists once they have been opened by the appropriate academic department. Check Testudo periodically if a waitlist has yet to open.

No, students cannot waitlist for a course they are already registered for. Do not drop a course to waitlist—especially an LEP-Benchmark requirement—as being on the waitlist does not guarantee admission into a course.

Being on the waitlist does not guarantee admission into a course. Students must complete the waitlist check-in daily to reserve their spot on the waitlist and to maximize their chance of being admitted into a course.

If a course expected for registration during the Fall or Spring is not attempted on time—especially an LEP-Benchmark requirement—then an attempt during the Summer or Winter Session‍ may be expected to get back on track.

No. All prerequisites posted in the Schedule of Classes (SOC) must be satisfied to register (or remain registered) for a course.

Any student who manages to register for a course without the necessary prerequisite will be administratively dropped.

Students may take a maximum of 17 credits per Fall or Spring semester, 4 credits per Winter semester, and 8 credits in a single Summer session under the College of CMNS maximum credit limit.

A request for high credit load (credit overload) is a policy exception ruled on by the College of CMNS. Exceptions to College and University policy are only approved under rare and extraordinary circumstances.

Before submitting a petition form to the College, students must…

• discuss any request for credit overload with their matched academic advisor for Biological Sciences (this can be done during mandatory advising or by email)

• list the specific courses requested to attempt while under credit overload

• list the total number of credits requested for the upcoming semester

• explain the purpose of the request

The academic advisor will examine the student’s record and elect one of the two options below. Once elected, this step within the Biological Sciences Program is final. The student must then submit the petition form to the College of CMNS to fully process the request:

A note signed on behalf of Biological Sciences that supports an exception for credit overload

( OR )

A note signed on behalf of Biological Sciences that objects to an exception for credit overload

The student’s academic advisor must document whether the Biological Sciences Program supports or objects to an exception in TerpEngage.

Factors considered by the program when evaluating support or objection for a credit overload exception:

• Necessity of the exception

• The combination of STEM courses requested

• Whether LEP-Benchmark courses are outstanding

• Student’s flexibility to reprioritize courses in their grad plan (this includes using course options available during the UMD Summer or Winter Sessions)

• Academic standing and performance

The College of CMNS rules on whether an exception can be granted.

Students who receive a note of objection from Biological Sciences may still submit their credit overload request to the College by using the petition form on their website. Students retain the option to appeal a request that has been denied by the College, but may only appeal once.

• Refer to this webpage to access the petition form for credit overload. See under Request for High Credit Load.

A registration appointment is the scheduled date and time that Testudo will allow a specific student to register for courses—provided all outstanding registration blocks have been cleared.

Check Appointment and Registration Status to see the day and time you can first register and view any registration blocks that need to be resolved before you can register.

Your registration appointment is not the same as mandatory advising. Mandatory advising must be satisfied before students can register for courses on their registration appointment. See under Prepare for mandatory advising on bsci.umd.edu/advising for more information.

Students must ensure they are checking in on the correct dates for waitlist check-in, otherwise they will be automatically dropped from the waitlist. 

Students cannot waitlist for a course they are already registered for.