In most cases, new seats may be 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 course 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 dropped remotely from the course by Testudo. The remote-drop occurs before the end of the schedule adjustment period.

Academic Policy: Maximum Credit Limit

Students may take a maximum of…

• 17 credits per Fall or Spring semester

• 4 credits per Winter semester

• 8 credits in a single Summer session

Any exception to academic policy, including an exception to maximum credit limit, is only granted under rare and extraordinary circumstances.

Before submitting an exception to policy request to the College of CMNS, students must…

disclose the request to their matched academic advisor for Biological Sciences (this can be done during mandatory advising or by email).

• list the specific courses requested

• list the total number of credits requested

• explain the purpose of the request

The student’s request and academic record will be examined. Then, one of two options will be elected.

A note from Biological Sciences Program that encourages an exception to the maximum credit limit — added with the student’s request

OR

A note from Biological Sciences Program that dismisses an exception to the maximum credit limit — added with the student’s request

• Once elected, this step by Biological Sciences is documented in TerpEngage for the College’s evaluation and is final.

• The student must then submit the request form to the College of CMNS for ruling.

Factors considered by Biological Sciences when evaluating a request for exception to maximum credit limit:

• 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

Lastly, the College of CMNS rules on whether any exception to academic policy can be granted to students.

• Students who receive a dismissal of request from Biological Sciences may still submit the request form to the College for ruling.

• Students retain the option to appeal a request that has then been ruled and denied by the College, but may only appeal once.

• Request form for exception to maximum credit limit. 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.

The 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.