Academic Policies and Regulations


This Academic Policies and Regulations section is divided into the following subsections. The subsections appear in the following order:


Policies for All Students

Admission to Professional Programs

Certain courses of study at the University prepare students for entry into a profession, such as architecture, education, nursing and social work. Admission and retention in these programs may require adherence to a professional Code of Ethics. For the requirements of these degree programs, refer to the specific program’s information in this catalog or to other materials provided by these programs.

Attempted Hours

Courses appearing on a student’s schedule after the drop/add period are considered attempted hours. (See the Academic Calendar for the last day to drop/add without fee liability.) Courses that a student drops or withdraws from after the drop/add period are also considered attempted hours. Students will find their total attempted hours in their unofficial and official transcripts. For undergraduate students, attempted hours are used to calculate the Excess Hours Surcharge; click here or see the Excess Hours Surcharge information below. Refer also to the subsection Drop/Add and Withdrawal below for other pertinent information regarding dropped courses, withdrawing from courses and fee liability.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all of their scheduled University classes and to satisfy all academic objectives as outlined by the instructor. The effect of absences upon grades is determined by the instructor, and the University reserves the right to deal at any time with individual cases of non-attendance.

Students are responsible for arranging to make up work missed because of legitimate class absence, such as illness, family emergencies, military obligation, court-imposed legal obligations or participation in University-approved activities. Examples of University-approved reasons for absences include participating on an athletic or scholastic team, musical and theatrical performances and debate activities. It is the student’s responsibility to give the instructor notice prior to any anticipated absence and within a reasonable amount of time after an unanticipated absence, ordinarily by the next scheduled class meeting. Instructors must allow each student who is absent for a University-approved reason the opportunity to make up work missed without any reduction in the student’s final course grade as a direct result of such absence.

Attendance on First Day of Class
 Students are required to attend the first day of class for any course in which they are registered. If a student misses the first day of class for any reason, the student may be administratively withdrawn from the course.

Registration Requirement
No student may attend a course for which he or she is not registered, either as a degree-seeking student or as a non-degree-seeking student.

Communication Devices
 Student use of communication devices in the classroom shall be determined by individual faculty members subject to applicable University regulations and policies and applicable state and federal law, including but not limited to the classroom recording provisions in Florida Statute 1004.097. Students should refer to the course syllabus for policies.


Course Credits and Levels

The Semester System
Since fall 1981, courses taken at FAU are based on the semester system. FAU offers the traditional fall, spring and summer semesters. Each semester is divided into three terms: term 1 is the entire semester, term 2 is the first half of the semester and term 3 is the second half of the semester.

FAU also offers three intersession mini-terms: The 6-week fall intersession, the 3-week spring intersession and the 7-week summer intersession. In addition, students may choose from three 5-week mini-terms during the fall and spring semesters only. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for additional information.

All credits awarded by FAU are semester credit hours. Quarter credits may be converted to semester credits by multiplying the quarter credits by 2/3 (i.e., 90 quarter credits = 60 semester credits).

The Trimester and Quarter Systems
FAU began offering courses in fall 1964 with credit based on the trimester system. In fall 1967, when the State University System of Florida switched to the quarter system, FAU began offering courses in quarter credits and did so through summer 1981. Transcripts printed during this period were in quarter credits using this formula: quarter credit = 3/2 trimester/semester credit (i.e., 90 quarter credits = 60 trimester/semester credits).

Course Levels
The level of a course determines whether it is an undergraduate or graduate course and whether it is an upper-division or lower-division course.

Courses at the 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 levels are undergraduate courses. Those at the 1000 and 2000 levels are considered lower-division courses; those at the 3000 and 4000 levels are upper-division courses. Courses at the 5000, 6000 and 7000 levels are graduate courses.

Course Numbering System
For more information, refer to Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS), Appendix C in the Appendices section of this catalog and to the SCNS website.


Credit Totals Posted on the FAU Unofficial and Official Transcripts

When looking at the unofficial or official transcript, please note that all credits attempted and earned at any previous institution will be listed. If a student repeated any course at an institution, that course will be noted on the transcript as a repeat. The student's GPA from each institution attended will also be posted. However, these courses and GPAs will have no effect on the student's academic standing at FAU. This work is listed under the headings of Institution, Transfer, Total Transfer and Cumulative.

All credits attempted and earned at FAU are posted on the transcript and used for computing the student's GPA and posting academic standing (such as good standing, probation, etc.). Any course repeated at FAU using the Forgiveness Policy will also be noted on the transcript. FAU coursework is listed under the headings of Current Term, Cumulative, FAU Total, Overall and Total Institution.

Any course taken outside of FAU will not affect the student's FAU GPA nor academic standing.

Drop/Add and Withdrawal

Schedule changes may be made by accessing FAU Self-Service, available through MyFAU, by the appropriate deadlines. Drop/add requests and withdrawals also may be made through MyFAU. Students should understand that adding late into a course might put them at a disadvantage because of the number of classes missed since the start of the semester. Further, not all professors allow students to enter their classes if they have missed the first class. Students must get permission from professors to enter a course late.

Students may generally add or drop courses during the first week of the term without incurring a fee and without receiving a “W” on the transcript for dropped courses. As deadlines vary by the semester and mini-term of registration, please refer to the Academic Calendar for specific dates to drop/add without fee liability and the deadline for dropping with a “W.”

Limitations on Number of Withdrawals
Undergraduate students may not withdraw (with a grade of “W” or “ZR”) from more than two courses at the lower-division level (1000- and 2000-level courses) and from more than three courses at the upper-division or higher level (3000- and 4000-level courses; the limitation also applies to undergraduates taking graduate-level courses).  Zero- and one-credit courses are excluded from these limitations.  Exceptional Circumstance Withdrawals, which carry the “WM” grade, are excluded as well.

Complete Course Withdrawal

Undergraduate students wishing to drop or withdraw from all of their classes, please complete the following:

  1. Drop or withdraw from all but one class through MyFAU by the established deadlines.
  2. Complete the online FAU Complete Course Withdrawal form through the MyFAU portal.
  3. Once received, the Dean of Students Office will review the form and contact the student, if appropriate, to discuss possible strategies or interventions to ensure a timely graduation.
  4. The Office of the Registrar will process the withdrawal from the student's final class(es).

To drop or withdraw from courses during summer terms, students should follow the procedures above, but note the time frames in which to complete the drops. Refer to the Academic Calendar for specific deadlines (and consequences) to drop summer courses.

Graduate students who wish to withdraw from a graduate program, click here for details.

Additional Drop/Withdrawal Policies
Dropped courses, specifically those dropped during the second week of the term after the drop/add period, those that receive a grade of “W” on the transcript and those that receive a grade of “F” on the transcript, will count as attempted hours on the student’s record. Refer to the Attempted Hours subsection above for information regarding this calculation and its consequences.
Proportionate dates for dropping and withdrawing will be established for courses that are offered in less than the normal semester.

Dropping or withdrawing from courses in which the student is involved in academic irregularities is not permitted.

The subsections Refund of Registration Fees and Repeated Enrollment Fee in the Tuition, Fees and Refunds section of this catalog may be of interest.

Enrollment and Awarding of Certificate Programs

Declaring a Certificate and Deadline for Conferral
Students should declare their interest in pursuing a certificate as early as possible during their enrollment at Florida Atlantic University. Undergraduate students should consult with their academic advisors to discuss enrollment in courses that lead to a certificate to ensure that the enrollment would not affect their timely graduation. Graduate students must officially apply to the academic department managing the certificate program.

Upon completion of all coursework associated with the certificate, students must submit an application for degree/certificate to their college (graduate students must submit the application to the Graduate College). The latest a student can request the awarding of the certificate would be:

  • the last term of enrollment in the certificate program; or
  • the last term of enrollment in a degree program for students concurrently enrolled in both a certificate and degree program. 

Students may not re-enroll (as either degree seeking or non-degree seeking) to request a certificate in which previously earned credits constituted the completion of the certificate.

Recency of Credit
Students not concurrently enrolled in a degree program must complete all coursework toward the certificate no later than five years from initial enrollment in coursework that is applicable to the certificate. Degree-seeking students must complete certificate coursework within 10 years of the initial enrollment in coursework that is applicable to the certificate. Individual colleges/departments may establish more strict requirements for recency of credit.

Transfer Credit
Upon approval by the academic program, no more than 25 percent of the credits required for the certificate can be transferred from another institution. Individual colleges/departments may establish more strict requirements for transfer credit.


Exceptional Circumstance Withdrawal (Medical Withdrawal)

Students withdrawing from all classes in the current semester due to exceptional circumstances, such as illness of the student, military conscription, becoming primary care-giver to immediate family member or death of an immediate family member (parent, spouse, child, sibling or grandparent), may receive a refund, less non-refundable fees, if the request for exceptional circumstance withdrawal is granted. Students seeking exceptional circumstance withdrawals should contact the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at 561-297-3542 for the appropriate paperwork or visit www.fau.edu/dean/exceptional-withdrawal.php.


FAU Email

FAU's primary source for correspondence with students is through the student's FAU email. Messages sent by the University may include time-sensitive information regarding student accounts, announcements and class information. Students are responsible for checking their FAU email on a regular basis. FAU provides an Office 365 email account to all students upon admission and through 1 year after attending the University. For more information about FAU email, click here. For issues with logging into MyFAU, contact the Office of Information Technology Help Desk or 561-297-3999.


Final Exam Period

Fall and spring term final course examinations will be scheduled during the final week of the term (see Final Exam Schedule for current term). Some final examinations may be scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays. The summer semesters do not have final examination periods; course examinations may be given at the discretion of the faculty member teaching the course.


Honors Convocation

An Honors Convocation is held each year to recognize high scholastic attainment by individual students and superior teaching by individual faculty members. The program consists of the presentation of various awards to outstanding scholars, the Distinguished Teacher of the Year, the Distinguished Researchers of the Year and Distinguished Service Award recipients.


Graduation Procedure

Students must apply for a degree by the end of the third week of the semester in which they expect to graduate. The Application for Degree form is available on the Office of the Registrar's website. It is the student's responsibility to meet all requirements for the degree. For the deadlines to submit an application for a degree, consult the Academic Calendar.

Note: Undergraduate students should refer to the expectations for timely graduation elsewhere in this section to ensure the timely completion of their degree.

Graduating Student Survey
As part of the degree application process, all undergraduate students are required to complete the Graduating Student Survey. This brief online survey provides a snapshot of students' post-graduation plans. University funding is tied to FAU's ability to report this information. All undergraduates who are graduating must complete the survey to obtain their official transcript. The link to complete the survey will be emailed to students two weeks prior to the last day of classes. 

Commencement
Commencement ceremonies are held at the end of each fall, spring and summer semester. Candidates for graduation will be emailed (to their FAU email address) specific information regarding participation in the ceremony and tickets for guests.


Institutional Complaint Process

Students who have a complaint about their educational experience at Florida Atlantic University that is not resolved through internal University procedures may contact the following agencies for assistance:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Colleges
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2020/01/ComplaintPolicy-1.pdf

State University System of Florida
Board of Governors
325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1614
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
https://www.flbog.edu/wp-content/uploads/ComplaintFormRevisedFinal.pdf

Office for Civil Rights - Atlanta Office
U.S. Department of Education
61 Forsyth Street S.W., Suite 19T10
Atlanta, Georgia  30303-8927
Telephone: 404-974-9406
Fax: 404-974-9471; TDD: 877-521-2172
Email: OCR.Atlanta@ed.gov


Intellectual Property

As a condition of enrollment, students agree that the FAU Intellectual Property Policy applies to University personnel as defined in that policy in section C.1.b., which includes students involved in research who use appreciable University support. These individuals may be involved in research that could result in valuable intellectual property in which FAU may assert its rights. Students agree to abide by the Intellectual Property Policy of FAU regarding the assignment of intellectual property rights to FAU and the ownership of this intellectual property by FAU. Students further agree that all records that are generated as a part of their research will remain the property of FAU, and upon termination of their research or assistance in research, they will return all such records to their FAU supervisor.

In the event that students are employed by an entity or perform research for an entity other than FAU, which may result in intellectual property, they agree to obtain appropriate prior consent from that entity to the above stated terms.

Policy for the Use of Photographs and Videos

Florida Atlantic University routinely photographs and records video of college and departmental programs and student activities for educational and promotional purposes. These photographs and videos appear in official University marketing, fundraising and educational publications and materials, which include but are not limited to college and departmental brochures and newsletters, University websites (ex. FAU.edu and FAU.com), official University social media sites and other University publications and media outlets. For more information, contact Marketing and Creative Services at (561) 297-2080 or (561) 297-1352.


Religious Accommodation

In accordance with regulations of the Florida Board of Governors and Florida law, students have the right to reasonable accommodations from the University in order to observe religious practices and beliefs with regard to admissions, registration, class attendance and the scheduling of examinations and work assignments. University Regulation 2.007, Religious Observances, sets forth this policy for FAU and may be accessed on the FAU website at www.fau.edu/regulations.

Any student who feels aggrieved regarding religious accommodations may present a grievance to the director of Equal Opportunity Programs. Any such grievances will follow Florida Atlantic University’s established grievance procedure regarding alleged discrimination.

The Grading System

Undergraduate and Graduate Grading

Florida Atlantic University has a plus/minus (+/-) grading system. Grades for the undergraduate and graduate courses are reported by the symbols indicated in the following table:

  Grade Grade Points per Credit
  A 4.00
  A- 3.67
  B+ 3.33
  B 3.00
  B- 2.67
  C+ 2.33
  C 2.00
  C- 1.67
  D+ 1.33
  D 1.00
  D- 0.67
  F 0.00
     
  AU (Audit) No credit
  CR (Credit by Exam) Credit only
  I Incomplete
  NC No credit
  NR No reported grade
  P (Pass) Undergraduates only,
Credit only
  S (Satisfactory) Credit only
  U (Unsatisfactory) No credit
  W (Withdrawal) No credit
  WM (Withdrawal—
Exceptional
Circumstance)		 No credit



Administrative Notations

The following notations are not grades and are not assigned by instructors, but are entered administratively on the transcript when appropriate:

  AU Audit
  CR Credit only
  NC No credit
  NR No reported grade
  W Withdrawal
  WM Withdrawal
(Exceptional Circumstance)
  ZR Drop retained
(see note below)

The "AU" notation carries no credit and indicates that the student registered for the course only as an auditor.

A "CR" notation indicates that the student received credit for the course by examination (see Credit by Examination later in this section).

The "NC" notation indicates no credit and only pertains to General Education Program courses and selected lower-division courses. More information on the NC grade appears below.

The "NR" notation is temporarily added to the transcript by the Registrar's Office when an instructor does not turn in a grade for a student in a particular course by the deadline for submission in the semester the course was taken. The “NR” is not a grade, and courses so marked are not included in the grade point average. When the instructor submits a grade to the Registrar’s Office, the “NR” notation is replaced.

A “W” notation indicates that the student withdrew from the course during the period after the end of Drop/Add week up through the Last Day to Drop With a "W."  Please review the Academic Calendar for specific dates. The course appears on the transcript, but no credit is awarded and the course is not included in the grade point average.

The "WM" notation indicates that the student was granted an Exceptional Circumstance withdrawal.

The "ZR" notation appears next to courses that are dropped after the drop/add period. Drop retained courses are used in the calculation of attempted hours. Note: The ZR notation is no longer in use, but noted here for historical purposes.


Changes of Grade

Instructors may, for appropriate reasons, change the grade awarded to a student in a given course within one year of the end of the semester in which the course was taken. If the student received an Incomplete ("I") grade at the conclusion of the course and a letter grade was subsequently assigned, that grade may be changed within one year of the date it was assigned.

After more than one year has passed, the instructor must submit an email to their department chair/school director with the student's name, course subject and number, final grade, and the reason for the delayed grading. The department chair/school director would review and if approved, send to the college dean (or designee). The college dean (or designee) would review and if approved, forward to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies or the Dean of the Graduate College as is appropriate. The final approval is then sent to the Registrar's Office to update the student's record. For College of Medicine medical students, final approval of a late grade change will be completed by the College of Medicine Dean (or designee) and then sent to the College of Medicine Registrar’s Office to update the student’s record. 

Grade changes other than "I" to a grade (e.g., "A" to "B," or "C" to "B") are documented in college records indicating the reason for the change (error in grading test, miscalculation, etc.).

Academic Actions are recalculated and updated as a result of grade changes. Once a degree has been awarded, all coursework leading to that degree is considered final. Grade changes or withdrawal petitions for coursework leading to an awarded degree may be considered only in cases of documented University error or if the coursework in question is documented as solely applying to a degree that is still in progress. All other grade change and withdrawal petition policies still apply.


Incomplete Grades

Students who register for a course but fail to complete the course requirements without dropping the course will receive a grade of "F" from the course instructor. A student who is passing a course but has not completed all the required work because of exceptional circumstances may, with the approval of the instructor, temporarily receive a grade of "I" (incomplete). The grade of "I" is neither passing nor failing, and it is not used in computing a student's grade point average. The "I" grade is not to be used to allow students to do extra work to raise the grade earned during the regular term. It indicates a grade deferral and must be changed to a grade other than "I" within a specified time frame, not to exceed one calendar year from the end of the semester during which the course was taken.

Students cannot graduate from any FAU degree program with a grade of incomplete ("I") on their academic record. Additionally, students pursuing the A.A. degree cannot graduate with an “I” grade on their transcripts.

Instructors use the online grading system to enter "I" grades and expectations for course completion. This includes the academic work the student is missing, the deadline for completion of that work and the grade that will be assigned if the work is not completed by the deadline. It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor for the timely completion of this work.

Possible ways to resolve "I" grades are:

  1. Complete the work required in the "I" grade agreement made with the instructor.
  2. Request that the default grade filed by the instructor be immediately recorded. With approval of either the instructor or department chair, a grade of "F" may be recorded if the instructor did not submit the required documentation with the "I" grade.
  3. Petition to withdraw from the course, if exceptional circumstances show merit.

Changes to incomplete grades not resolved beyond the one-year deadline require approval at the University level. See Changes of Grade language, second paragraph above.

Link to additional grading information for graduate students


Grading Information Specifically for Undergraduate Students

Standard Grading
The grades of "A" through "D-" are passing grades, and credit is earned for courses in which they are awarded. Grades of "D+," "D" or "D-," while considered passing for undergraduate students, indicate weak performance. While the credits count toward graduation, some programs require certain courses to be passed with a "C" or better, or some other specific grade, to fulfill requirements for the major. No lower grade, such as a "C-" in this example, will satisfy these program requirements. (See the Degree Requirements section of this catalog for other requirements, such as Writing Across Curriculum/Gordon Rule courses.) The grade of "F" is a failing grade and does not earn credit.

No Credit (NC) Grading Policy
The No Credit grading policy is designed to enable degree-seeking Florida Atlantic University students the opportunity to progress through to a timely and successful graduation. This policy allows students to recover from initial difficulties they may experience in the transition to the rigors of university academic coursework.

This policy is limited to courses in the General Education Program and selected lower-division courses.   Students will receive a grade of NC (No Credit) if their grade does not meet the minimum requirement. NC grades are not calculated in the student’s grade point average (GPA). Grades that meet the minimum will appear as earned on the student’s transcript and will be calculated in GPA.

The following conditions apply to this policy:

  1. The grade of NC is applied a maximum of four times to the listed courses during the student’s academic career at FAU and applies only to courses carrying two or more credits.
  2. Students receiving one or more NC grades are subject to the University’s academic standing flags (probation, suspension, etc.) and must abide by the stipulations for continuation determined by their academic advisor.
  3. The grade of NC may not be applied to repeated courses. 
  4.  The NC grade may not be applied to grades awarded due to an academic irregularity. (See University Regulations, Chapter 4, Regulation 4.001, Code of Academic Integrity. )
  5. Students wishing to have their earned grade applied (and thus to remove their NC grade) must petition the Office of the Registrar.

The following courses (and the minimum required grade) fall under this policy:

  1. General Education mathematics and General Education Writing Across Curriculum (WAC or Gordon Rule Writing) courses: Minimum grade is C.
  2. All other General Education courses: Minimum grade is D-.
  3. MAT 1033 (prerequisite to General Education math course): Minimum grade is C.
  4. CHM 1025 (prerequisite to General Education chemistry course): Minimum grade is D-.
  5. Beginning foreign language courses, such as SPN 1120 and SPN 1121: Minimum grade is D-.

Students should understand that all coursework, including those courses for which the NC grade policy has been applied, counts in the calculation of excess hours. Students might eventually incur additional fees in the pursuit of their degree. Therefore, they will need to chart their plan of study in consultation with an academic advisor.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading
Certain courses are designated by the department offering them to be graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. In such courses, the grade of "S" indicates satisfactory work and will be awarded credit for the course, but the course will not be included in the grade point average. The grade of "U" indicates unsatisfactory work, will not be awarded credit for the course and will not be included in the grade point average. “S” and “U” grades are not associated with letter grades of “A” through “F.” The course syllabus will define what constitutes satisfactory work.

University Forgiveness Policy (Repeated Courses)
The University Forgiveness Policy permits an undergraduate student to repeat an FAU course and allows only the higher grade to count in the grade point average. The policy does not remove the previous grade but eliminates the effect of that grade on the student's GPA by removing it from the computation. The Forgiveness Policy does not apply to non-degree or transient students. However, students can use forgiveness for classes taken as non-degree if they are degree seeking at the time of the repeat. Undergraduates are permitted to apply the Forgiveness Policy at any time prior to graduation.

Forgiveness Policy Request forms are available here and should be submitted after the course has been repeated. In the event that a student chooses to repeat a course that is no longer offered by the University, it is the prerogative of the academic unit that offered the original course to either deny the student's request or to designate an appropriate, related substitute course. All freshmen wishing to use the Forgiveness Policy must obtain the approval of an advisor.

The following conditions apply to the use of the Forgiveness Policy:

  1. Students may request forgiveness up to three times during their undergraduate study at the University. No more than two forgiveness requests may be at the 3000 and 4000 levels. Undergraduate students approved to take graduate-level courses (5000-level) toward their undergraduate degree may use one of the two upper-division (3000/4000 level) forgiveness requests toward a 5000-level course.
  2.  The Forgiveness Policy does not apply to S/U courses.
  3. The repeated course must be taken at FAU.
  4. Grades awarded due to academic irregularities cannot be removed from the GPA calculation under the Forgiveness Policy. (See University Regulations, Chapter 4, Regulation 4.001, Code of Academic Integrity.)
  5.  For transferred courses, grade forgiveness by the prior institution will be honored by Florida Atlantic University.

Students should understand that all coursework, including those courses for which the Forgiveness Policy has been applied, counts in the calculation of excess hours. Students might eventually incur additional fees in the pursuit of their degree, so they will need to chart their plan of study in consultation with an academic advisor.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Computation
Except as provided by the University Forgiveness Policy, an undergraduate student's grade point average is computed by dividing the sum of all grade points earned at FAU by the total number of credits in all courses for which the grades of "A" through "F" have been received. Courses in which notations/grades of "S," "U," "I," "P," "AU," "CR," "W," "WM" or "ZR" have been received will not be used in computing a student's grade point average.


Grading Information Specifically for Graduate Students

Passing grades: The grades of "A" through "C," and "S," are passing grades. Note: The grades of "B-," "C+" and "C," while considered passing for undergraduate students, are often indicative of unsatisfactory work for graduate students and may not be accepted for some courses.

Failing grades: The grades of "C-," "D+," "D," "D-," "F" and "U" are failing grades. No credits are earned in courses in which grades of "AU," "CR," "F," "I," "U," "W," "WM" or "ZR" are received.

Thesis/dissertation grades: All thesis/dissertation credits receive a grade of "S" or "U."

The grades "S" and "U" are used to indicate satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance in courses approved for such grading.

A student who registers for a course but fails to meet the course requirements, without officially dropping the course, will receive a grade of "F" in the course. See Drop/Add section. In extraordinary circumstances, the faculty may record "NR," which will appear on the transcript as "NR" until the situation is resolved.


Additional Policies for Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate Student Classification

Undergraduate student classification is determined by the number of credits completed at all institutions as follows:

  Classification Credits Completed
  Freshman 0-29
  Sophomore 30-59
  Junior 60-89
  Senior 90 or more

Freshmen and sophomores are lower-division students, whereas juniors and seniors are upper-division students. Students who have not received a baccalaureate degree and students who are seeking a second baccalaureate degree are undergraduates.


Acceleration Mechanisms

Several accelerated programs are available to undergraduates. To learn about these, refer to Acceleration Mechanisms for Undergraduate Students, appearing later in this section.

Continuous Enrollment/Catalog Year

A student who has completed at least 1 credit during each academic year is considered to have satisfied the minimum requirements for “continuous enrollment.”

Catalog year determines the set of academic requirements (general education and the major) that must be fulfilled for graduation. A student who has been continuously enrolled at FAU may be awarded a degree by satisfying the degree requirements defined in any catalog in effect during the period of continuous enrollment leading up to graduation. Students must follow a single catalog, not a combination of catalogs, to meet graduation requirements. Catalog year academic program requirements are set each fall semester. First-Time-in-College (FTIC) students who begin their attendance at FAU in the summer will follow the academic program requirements of the fall catalog of the same year.

If a required course ceases to be offered prior to a student’s graduation, appropriate adjustments should be recommended by the student’s academic advisor and approved by the dean of the college offering the student’s major. The University will make every reasonable effort to honor the curriculum requirements appropriate to each student’s catalog year.


Deadline for Declaring a Major

Students entering FAU with a clear choice of major should declare a major or pre-major early and devise a plan of study to ensure a timely graduation. Declaring a major early provides students with a sense of direction, strengthens their motivation and helps to inform their course choices. Students entering without a clear choice of major should begin exploring major choices (and career options associated with the majors) very early in their first year.

New freshmen and transfer students without an A.A. degree who have not declared a major or pre-major prior to admission will be required to enroll in SLS 1301, Career and Life Planning, in their first fall or first spring semester, as determined by their academic advisor. These students must declare a major or pre-major upon the anticipated earning of 45 credits (earned credit hours plus any credits for which the students are currently registered).

New transfer students with an A.A. degree must declare a major or pre-major at the time of admission to FAU. 

Students with a pre-major must declare a major upon earning 60 credits.

Students must meet with their academic advisor to declare their major. Students can locate their academic advisor through the Success Network. For additional information on the Success Network, please visit fau.edu/successnetwork/.


Change of Major

Undergraduate students contemplating a change of major must meet with an academic advisor and carefully devise a plan of study to ensure a timely graduation. Please refer to the Timely Graduation Policy for credit requirement thresholds to change a major. Students can locate their academic advisor through the Success Network. For additional information on the Success Network, please visit fau.edu/successnetwork/.

Changing the major requires permission of the new department and satisfaction of the same academic qualifications as for new applicants for admission to that department. To change the major, an undergraduate must satisfy the prerequisite coursework required for the new major. Other restrictions may apply for admission to certain programs. Undergraduates who change their major are subject to the requirements of the new major in effect at the time of the change and may be subject to the Excess Hours Surcharge (see below).


Double Majors

Undergraduate students may pursue two majors. If the two majors are in different degrees, such as a B.A. and a B.S., students will receive the degree in the major that they have designated as their primary major. A double major does not require a minimum number of hours beyond those necessary for completing degree requirements (120 or more hours). To graduate with double majors, students must first declare the primary college and major of their choice on the application for admission. Then, undergraduates must inform the second college and department of their intent by completing a Second Major form, available in the Office of the Registrar. Undergraduates must consult with both departments to ensure that all courses needed for graduation are completed. The same catalog year must be used for both majors. A minimum of 21 credits must be applied exclusively toward requirements in the primary major. Students may not pursue a double major in the same academic program, such as a B.A. and B.S. in Biology.

Note: To ensure a timely graduation, students may pursue a double major only if the requirements can be completed without extending the anticipated graduation date. Please refer to the Timely Graduation Policy for credit requirement thresholds to declare a second major.

Students wishing to pursue a second major and receive two different degrees should refer to the requirements for a Second Baccalaureate Degree, appearing in the Degree Requirements section of this catalog.


Excess Hours Surcharge

Florida Statute 1009.286 defines “excess hours” as credit hours that exceed the completion requirements for a baccalaureate degree program at state universities. For students enrolling in a state university or a Florida State College System institution for the first time in or after the fall 2009 semester, a tuition rate surcharge will be applied for excess hours. The surcharge is assessed only on the tuition portion of the semester hour cost, not on the fees. To view our full cost of attendance information page, visit https://www.fau.edu/finaid/other/cost-of-attendance/. The amount of the surcharge and the allowable “excess hours” are determined by the initial term of entry as indicated below:

  1. Fall semester 2009 to summer semester 2011: students will pay a 50 percent tuition surcharge for each credit hour beyond 120 percent in excess of the hours required. For a degree program of 120 required hours this means any credits above 144 will be subject to the surcharge.
  2. Fall semester 2011 to summer semester 2012: students will pay a 100 percent tuition surcharge for each credit hour beyond 115 percent in excess of the hours required. For a degree program of 120 required hours this means any credits above 138 will be subject to the surcharge.
  3. Fall semester 2012 and beyond: students will pay a 100 percent tuition surcharge for each credit hour beyond 110 percent in excess of the hours required. For a degree program of 120 required hours, this means any credits above 132 will be subject to the surcharge.

In determining excess hours, the following will be included when calculating the number of hours taken by a student:

  • All credit hours taken at FAU, including courses the student fails;
  • Courses that are dropped after the drop/add period;
  • Courses that are repeated; exception: repeated courses for which the student has paid the repeat course surcharge as provided in Florida Statute 1009.285;
  • Courses from which a student withdraws;
  • Transfer credit earned at another institution that is subsequently applied to the student's degree program at FAU.

The law does allow for exceptions to the excess hour surcharge. For example, the courses taken under the following circumstances would not count as excess hours:

  • Articulated accelerated credit (e.g., Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Dual Enrollment);
  • Certification/Recertification and certificate program credits; see FAQ "What about credit for Certification?"
  • Credits required for a dual major;
  • Credits taken by active-duty military personnel;
  • Credits withdrawn due to medical or personal hardship;
  • Internship credit;
  • Military Science credits in Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs.
  • Remedial and English as a Second Language (ESOL) credit;

All students should make every effort to enroll in and complete only those courses that are required for their degree program. Repeating courses, changing majors and adding minors that are not required as part of a major may result in excess hours. Students should regularly review their degree audit and consult with an academic advisor to ensure that they are not enrolling in excess hours.

To see more information about the bullet points above, click here for the Excess Hours Surcharge Frequently Asked Questions.


Limitation on Repeated Courses

No course may be repeated more than once, whether at FAU or at any other institution, without the permission of the student’s advising office: University Advising Services, in the case of students with 45 or fewer completed credit hours; the college advising office, for those students with greater than 45 completed credit hours; or the Honors College Academic Support Services office, for students at the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College. To receive permission, the student must explain the reasons for the poor academic performance in past attempts and include a plan for success in the course on the next attempt. Those students who are requesting permission to enroll in the same mathematics course for the third time (or any subsequent attempt) may be required to first enroll in and successfully complete a math boot camp.


Repeat Course Surcharge

(Changes effective spring 2025.) In accordance with Florida Statute 1009.285, any student who registers for more than two lifetime attempts (including withdrawals) in the same undergraduate course at the 1000-4999 level will be charged a Repeat Course Surcharge. for the same Florida Atlantic University undergraduate course more than two times will be charged a Repeat Course Surcharge for the third and subsequent enrollments in the course. An undergraduate-level course is numbered at the 1000, 2000, 3000 or 4000 level. All courses that are fee-liable will be counted as a registration. The amount of the charge will be determined each term, but is expected to represent the full cost of instruction. To view our full cost of attendance information page, visit https://www.fau.edu/finaid/other/cost-of-attendance/.

Exceptions to the Repeat Course Surcharge are courses that are designated as repeatable by the university (Ex. XXX 4930, XXX 4957, etc.), those for individualized study (Ex. XXX 4905), courses that are repeated as a requirement of a major and courses that continue over multiple semesters, or courses taken prior to fall 1997. Courses repeated more than two times to increase the grade point average or meet minimum course grade requirements will be eligible for the surcharge.  Students intending to repeat a course for a third (or subsequent) attempt must request permission to register for the third (or subsequent) attempt based on policy set forth by their college advising office.

According to the statute, a student may be granted an exception to the Repeat Course Surcharge upon approval by the provost based upon a review of the individual circumstances presented by the student to document exceptional circumstance. Review will be initiated by student petition, which must provide all appropriate documentation to support the claim of exceptional circumstance. A student may appeal only once per course. Petition forms are available for this purpose and can be obtained here or from the Office of the Registrar.


Good Academic Standing

At Florida Atlantic University, students are in good standing if their cumulative (FAU) grade point average is 2.0 or higher and their current (most recent term) grade point average is 2.0 or higher.

Satisfactory Academic Record
To graduate from Florida Atlantic University, an undergraduate must achieve a satisfactory academic record. A satisfactory academic record is defined as an average of "C" or better on all work attempted (2.0 on a 4.0 scale). Certain majors may require higher standards.


Academic Probation

A “probation” status is assigned as a notice for undergraduate students and indicates there is an opportunity to raise the grade point average. The status is noted on the FAU  transcript. Students on “probation” or “continued probation” may continue to enroll in classes but are  strongly encouraged to take advantage of university resources designed to improve academic success, such as meeting with an academic advisor, utilizing the Center for Teaching and Learning for tutoring or visiting the ACCESS office for academic coaching. The full list of university resources is found on the Undergraduate Studies Academic Services webpage. 

Undergraduate students (both degree and non-degree seeking) who are unable to maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or higher on all coursework attempted in any semester will be on academic probation. Students on academic probation who are unable to earn a 2.0 grade point average on all coursework attempted in any semester but maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher at FAU will be continued on academic probation.

Students on academic probation who earn a 2.0 grade point average or higher in the next semester but whose cumulative grade point average at FAU is lower than 2.0 will be continued on academic probation.

Undergraduate students are removed from academic probation when they earn at least a 2.0 grade point average in all coursework attempted during the next semester and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher at Florida Atlantic University.


Suspension and Dismissal

An undergraduate student on academic probation who fails to earn a 2.0 grade point average in all work attempted in any term and who has a cumulative grade point average of lower than 2.0 at Florida Atlantic University will be suspended from the University. If at any time after having once been suspended, an undergraduate student fails to earn a 2.0 grade point average in all work attempted in any term and has a cumulative grade point average of lower than 2.0 at Florida Atlantic University, the student will be dismissed from the University.


Academic Actions for Freshmen

First-semester freshmen who fail to earn a 2.0 grade point average in their coursework will be required to enter the ACCESS Program in their second semester and abide by the terms of continued enrollment stipulated by their ACCESS academic coach/advisor. ACCESS Program information may be found in the Student Services and Activities section of this catalog.

Freshmen in their first year who complete their first spring semester (including those starting in the spring semester) with an FAU GPA (undergraduate GPA) below 2.0 (original grades, not the NC grade, are used in the calculation) must enroll in a minimum of 6 credits of summer coursework at FAU. The coursework taken must be chosen in consultation with an academic advisor. Those students who received a grade of "C-" or below, a Withdrawal (W) or an NC grade in their last mathematics course may be required, as well, to first enroll in and successfully complete a math boot camp.

Those freshmen on academic suspension at the end of the spring semester will have the suspension deferred to enable them to take summer courses. Suspension will be removed or applied at the end of the summer term based on the new GPA.

Students who fail to enroll in a minimum of 6 credits of summer coursework at FAU will not be allowed to enroll in fall coursework. Any exception to the summer coursework requirement due to financial and/or personal hardship must be approved through a petition to University Advising Services.


Returning After Suspension

A suspended student is eligible to re-enroll after a minimum of one semester and will return on academic probation due to previous suspension. All students returning from suspension are required to meet with an academic advisor, at which time the terms of re-enrollment will be specified. Students suspended with 59 or fewer earned credits will meet with an ACCESS academic coach/advisor. ACCESS Program information may be found in the Student Services and Activities section of this catalog. Students with 60 or more earned credits will meet with an academic advisor in their college.

Returning After Dismissal

(Changes effective spring 2025.) A dismissed student, after a minimum of one year away from the University, may seek re-entry by reapplying to the University and petitioning for approval from the student's last college/major. If a student is seeking admission to a college different from the original college, the petition process will include notifying the new college regarding the student's intent. If at any time after having once been dismissed (and subsequently reinstated), an undergraduate student has a term and cumulative average below 2.0, the student cannot petition for reinstatement and will remain be dismissed from the University permanently.


Deferred Probation, Suspension and Dismissal

If an undergraduate student (both degree and non-degree seeking) takes a single course (or a single course and linked laboratory) in any summer term and is unable to maintain a term GPA of 2.0 or higher, and if this would result in the student being placed on probation, suspension or dismissal, the action will be deferred until the end of the next term in which the student is enrolled. At that time, any academic action will be based on the grades earned in the "next enrolled term" and/or the cumulative FAU GPA. In the event of deferred action, the student's academic status will remain the same as at the end of the term prior to summer. 


Dean's List

The University recognizes superior academic performance at the end of each semester by the publication of a Dean's List for each college of the University. To be included in this list, an undergraduate student must complete a full-time load (at least 12 credits of graded coursework) with a grade point average of 3.5 or greater. The selection of Dean's List students is based on grades reported on the official grade reporting date for each semester. No changes are made to the list as a result of grade changes and removal of "I" grades. Graded coursework of "AU," "I," "NC," "NR," "P," "S," "U," "W," and "WM" are not used in determining eligibility for the Dean's List.


President's List

In recognition of superior academic achievement, the President's List is published at the end of each semester of the academic year. This list includes the names of all undergraduate students who have completed 12 or more credits of graded coursework and who have attained a grade point average of 4.0. The selection of President's List students is based on grades reported on the official grade reporting date for each semester. No changes are made to the list as a result of grade changes and removal of "I" grades. Graded coursework of "AU," "I," "NC," "NR," "P," "S," "U," "W," and "WM" are not used in determining eligibility for the President's List.

General Education Digital Badges

In 2021, the state amended section (s.) 10007.25, Florida Statues (F.S.) to require Florida public colleges and universities to award a “digital badge” upon completion of coursework intended to demonstrate career readiness. The digital badges are awarded in six Career Readiness Skills areas: Communication Skills, Applied Academic Skills, Critical Thinking Skills, Information Use, Technology Use, and Personal Qualities. The digital badge is automatically awarded to students at the end of the semester in which the student meets the requirements for the digital badge. Students who have earned equivalency through credit-by-examination will also have the badge awarded either at the end of their first semester of enrollment if the exam was taken prior to matriculation or at the end of the semester in which the exam was completed and reported to FAU. More information on digital badges is available here.


Baccalaureate Degrees of Distinction

FAU recognizes superior academic performance by granting baccalaureate degrees of distinction to undergraduates who have earned at least 45 credits at FAU as follows:

  • cum laude  for an FAU average of 3.50;
  • magna cum laude  for an FAU average of 3.70;
  • summa cum laude  for an FAU average of 3.90.

An undergraduate transfer student may qualify for a degree of distinction based on all work taken at the upper division (other institutions and FAU), a minimum of 45 credits, if the student has not completed 45 credits at FAU.

An undergraduate earning a second baccalaureate may qualify for a degree of distinction based on all work completed at FAU, a minimum of 30 credits.

All undergraduates receiving degrees of distinction must be recommended for that distinction by the faculty granting that degree.


Timely Graduation for Undergraduate Students

Florida Atlantic University is committed to ensuring that students admitted as undergraduates will make progress toward their degree and graduate in a timely manner. The University will make every effort to employ the advising and academic support personnel necessary to ensure student success. Students also must take responsibility for timely graduation. They must learn their degree requirements as listed in this University Catalog. They must review their degree audit (DARS) as least once every semester. They must meet with an academic advisor and review progress toward their degree at least once every semester. 

Expectations for Timely Graduation 
In their first semester at FAU, students will be given an “Expected Graduation Date,” which they are expected to follow as they complete their degree requirements. The following rules apply:

  1. Students admitted to FAU as freshmen are expected to complete their degree program within four years. (The typical degree program requires 120 credits.) To do so, students must successfully complete a minimum of 30 credits every year.
  2. Transfer students who enter FAU with an A.A. degree and other transfer students entering with 60 or more transfer credits are encouraged to complete their degree program within two years.
  3. Transfer students entering with 59 or fewer credits are encouraged to complete their degree program in three years.

To graduate within the timeframes specified above, students must successfully complete an average course load of 15 credits every semester. Students should enroll in summer courses so as to lighten their load in semesters when taking particularly difficult courses and to ensure progress toward their degree. Students in degree programs requiring more than 120 credits should take summer coursework in order to graduate in four years. All students entering FAU with fewer than 60 credits are required to earn a minimum of 9 credits in the summer.

Students unable to graduate within the expected graduation timeframes and unable to take a full-time course load in any given semester must secure the approval of an academic advisor and establish a plan of study. These steps will ensure their continuing progression toward a degree. 

All students who have completed 120 credits or more must only enroll in classes required for graduation. Exceptions are allowed with academic advisor approval only for those students needing to maintain a full-time course load due to financial aid or other requirements. 

Upon completing all requirements for their degree, students will graduate and have the opportunity to participate in commencement exercises. Those wishing to take additional courses after meeting degree requirements should consider a second baccalaureate degree, a graduate degree or coursework taken as a non-degree-seeking student.

All students must understand that credits earned in excess of those hours required for the degree may be subject to excess hours surcharges mandated by the State of Florida. Students will need to carefully consider the ramifications of their course selection in consultation with an academic advisor. The addition of a minor or additional courses to their academic portfolio may sound appealing, but it also might result in considerable additional expense and a delay in degree completion. A change of major, too, may have the same results.

Students who have completed all requirements for their first major by the deadlines stipulated above must graduate, regardless of missing requirements for a minor, second major or certificate program. Students who have not completed their major requirements within the specified deadlines will graduate with a Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) degree, assuming they have met requirements for this degree.

Students seeking an exception to this requirement should petition the student services office of the college overseeing their primary major. Students allowed an exception to the policy must meet with an academic advisor at least once every semester and follow the plan of study stipulated by the college student services office.

Minors, Certificate Programs, Second Majors, Dual Degrees and Change of Major
To meet the graduation requirements outlined above, students must adhere to the following:

Minors and Certificate Programs – Students must declare their minor or enroll in a certificate program after earning at least 45 credits but before completing the final 30 credits required to graduate. Requests will be approved only if it is clear that the student can complete all requirements by the expected graduate date.

Second Majors and Dual Degrees – Students must apply for the second major or dual degree after accumulating at least 45 credits but before completing the final 45 credits required to graduate. Requests will be approved only if it is clear that the student will meet all requirements by the expected graduate date.

Change of Major – All students seeking to change their major must meet with an academic advisor and carefully devise a plan of study to ensure a timely graduation. A change of major will not be considered for students who have completed 75 or more credits of coursework, unless there is a clear expectation that the graduation timeframe requirement will be met.

Exceptions for Timely Graduation Requirements
Students seeking an exception to any Timely Graduation requirement should petition the student services office of the college overseeing their primary major. 

Graduation Policy for Undergraduate Students

Florida Atlantic University helps students meet their academic goals by monitoring academic progress toward their degree.

If an undergraduate student has completed his or her respective degree requirements, the academic dean of the student's program confirms this and the student is eligible to be awarded the degree. The University reserves the right to award the degree. Once the degree is awarded, the student must be readmitted to Florida Atlantic University in order to enroll in any courses.

Students pursuing double majors or dual degrees must formally notify their academic dean of their intent. Undergraduate students pursuing dual degrees in different disciplines must obtain formal approval of their academic dean, following established University procedures for such approvals. For further details, refer to the Double Majors information in this catalog section.

Petitions

Academic Petitions Process (Changes effective spring 2025.)
Students are expected to be familiar with and to conform to the regulations of the University. An academic petition may be filed when a particular academic requirement or regulation causes undue hardship for the student. Please note that this process does not concern itself with grade reviews (see University Regulations, Chapter 4, Regulation 4.002, Student Academic Grievance Procedures for Grade Reviews) nor does it act on any financial matters, including refunds for dropped classes or withdrawals (see Fee Petitions and Other Petitions below).

  • Degree-seeking undergraduate students with declared majors submit their petitions to their college's student services office.
  • Degree-seeking students within Undergraduate Studies or with undeclared majors and non-degree-seeking students submit their petitions to University Advising Services.

The procedures to file an academic petition are as follows:

  1. Petitioner must fill out an electronic Undergraduate Petition form. The form is available through may be picked up at the college's student services office or at University Advising Services. The petitioner must attach any pertinent information in support of the petition (i.e., medical reports, records, verifying letters, memos from instructors.
    Note: No petition will be considered without the appropriate documentation. Students should consult their college's student services office or University Advising Services for advice on the type of documentation needed.
  2. A typewritten statement describing the extenuating circumstances of the petitioner's request must be submitted with the Undergraduate Petition form.
  3. Petitioner must submit return, signed and dated, the original page of the completed petition form to the college's student services office or University Advising Services, whichever applies.
  4. The decision of the college or University Advising Services will be communicated to the petitioner in writing by mail or by FAU email.
  5. Once a degree is awarded, no coursework leading to that degree may be petitioned. No petitions will be accepted after the student has graduated with a bachelor's degree.
  6. Petitions related to academic withdrawals will not be accepted after three semesters from the "semester end date" one academic year from the end of the semester in which the course was taken (as listed in the corresponding FAU Academic Calendar). See table for reference.
Semester when course(s) were taken Last day to submit a Late Withdrawal Petition
Fall (e.g, Fall 2023) The last day of the following Fall semester (e.g., Fall 2024)
Spring (e.g., Spring 2023) The last day of the following Spring semester (e.g., Spring 2024)
Summer (e.g., Summer 2023) The last day of the following Summer semester (e.g., Summer 2024)


Academic Appeals
Appeals of petition decisions should be directed to the college dean or, in the case of decisions made by University Advising Services, to the dean of Undergraduate Studies. The decision of the dean (or dean’s designee) constitutes final university action.

Fee Petitions
Contact the Controller's Office if the petition relates to refunds, waivers or withdrawal from courses for other than exceptional circumstances.

Other Petitions
Withdrawal for exceptional circumstances is a type of petition for which the Office of Student Affairs is responsible. This type of petition is discussed in detail in two sections of this University Catalog: above in this section and in the Tuition, Fees and Refunds section.

Additional Policies for Graduate Students

Academic Appeals

Exceptions to graduate policies and procedures must be submitted for approval using Form 10-Request to Waive a University Requirement. All requests must be reviewed by the degree-granting program, the appropriate college dean and the dean of the Graduate College.

Academic Progression Plan 

The minimum graduate program cumulative GPA requirement for degree-seeking graduate students is a 3.0. Note: Individual graduate programs may specify more stringent or specialized requirements beyond this minimum requirement. Students in graduate or professional degree programs whose cumulative grade point average for their graduate program falls below 3.0 at the end of a semester will be designated as not in good academic standing by the University and will be placed on academic probation. Graduate students on probation are expected to submit a signed and completed Form 11 - Academic Progression Plan (APP) to the Graduate College to continue in their program of study. 

Students will develop an APP with their academic advisor or program coordinator, gather the necessary signatures and submit the form to the Graduate College. The major professor and program director/coordinator will ensure that the student on probation adheres to the approved APP (i.e., registers for the prescribed degree-applicable courses). The advisor or program coordinator may recommend dismissal instead of developing and approving an APP. In this case, the graduate program will initiate the dismissal process as defined by the 2015 Provost's memo.

For a student who fails to meet the requirements stipulated in the APP (i.e., fails to attain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average by the end of the next full term of enrollment), the graduate program will initiate the dismissal process unless a revised APP is submitted and approved by the Graduate College. A revised APP will be required if the department does not recommend dismissal, and pending acceptance by the dean of the Graduate College, the student will be allowed to continue in the degree program. Academic dismissal constitutes a separation of the student from the University for academic reasons. Students on dismissal will not be permitted to register for courses, including registering as a non-degree student. A graduate student who is dismissed and subsequently enrolls as a non-degree-seeking graduate student, or as a graduate student at another institution, may not have this coursework count toward fulfilling degree requirements should the student ever be readmitted into the same graduate program at FAU.


Change of Major

Degree-seeking graduate students who change from one major to another must complete a new application, pay an application fee and have their credentials reviewed in the same manner as all other students applying for admission. An exception to this graduate policy includes students who are seeking a change of program level within the same major from a doctoral degree to a master's degree. These students must submit a Form 16-Official Graduate Change of Program request. All requests must be approved by the academic college and reviewed by the Graduate College.


Continuous Enrollment

Graduate students are required to enroll for at least 1 credit during at least two semesters (fall, spring or summer) of every academic year in order to remain eligible for the degree. Students who have been admitted to candidacy normally should enroll in the Thesis (6971) or Dissertation (7980) course in their departments. Those who have not yet been admitted to candidacy, but do not need to take additional courses, should enroll in an appropriate Directed Independent Study course or Advanced Research course.

Students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment, as defined above, lose their eligibility for the degree. In such cases, students are required to submit a new application and pay a new $30 application fee. In addition, students may be required to register for additional credits of Directed Independent Study, Thesis or Dissertation in an amount equal to the number of such credits missed while not continuously enrolled.


Full-Time Enrollment and Petitions

For fall and spring semesters: Graduate students registered for 9 or more credits are considered full-time, registrations for 7 credits are considered 3/4-time and registrations for 4.5 credits are considered half-time. For the summer semester: Graduate students registered for 6 credits are considered full-time, registrations for 5 credits are considered 3/4-time and registrations for 3 credits are considered half-time.

Graduate students may petition to take fewer credits and maintain full-time graduate student status. Students must meet the eligibility guidelines below to submit the petition (Form 10-Request to Waive a University Requirement) and must satisfy at least one of the following four conditions:

  1. Master's degree students who have completed all required coursework as listed on their approved Plan of Study and are only enrolled in thesis credits may petition to be classified as full-time graduate students with an enrollment of at least 3 credits.
  2. Doctoral degree students who have advanced to candidacy, have completed all required coursework as listed on their approved Plan of Study and are only enrolled in dissertation credits may petition to be classified as full-time graduate students with an enrollment of at least 3 credits.
  3. All graduate students who have completed all coursework and thesis/dissertation credits as listed on their approved Plan of Study and are only enrolled to satisfy continuous enrollment requirements to complete their thesis or dissertation may petition to be classified as full-time graduate students with an enrollment of at least 1 credit.
  4. All graduate students in their last semester of study, as verified by their approved Plan of Study, may petition to be classified as full-time graduate students with an enrollment of the remaining credits needed to complete their degree.

Eligibility Guidelines
The following eligibility guidelines must first be satisfied prior to submitting the petition to seek full-time graduate student status. A separate petition must be submitted for each term in which this status is being sought. The student must have:

  1. An approved Plan of Study on file in the Graduate College;
  2. Maintained continuous enrollment during the previous 12-month period;
  3. Enrolled in the minimum number of credits as stipulated by one of the four applicable conditions above.


graduating semester enrollment 

For Thesis and Dissertation Students

All graduate students seeking a degree that requires a thesis, dissertation or graduate thesis exhibition must register for at least one credit in the term in which the degree is to be awarded. Individual graduate degree programs may have additional requirements.


Leave of Absence

Graduate students who find it necessary to temporarily suspend their studies may apply for leave of absence from graduate study. Leave of absence is intended for students who are unable to pursue their studies at all, rather than for students who are actively working on a thesis or dissertation after completing coursework. Leave of absence is approved by the Graduate College on the basis of the recommendation of the student's faculty advisor, department chair and college dean. To apply for a leave of absence, students use a Form 10-Request to Waive a University Requirement.

Degree-seeking students returning after an absence of more than one year will be subject to the following:

  1. File a new graduate admissions application with appropriate documentation.
  2. Re-establish Florida residency for tuition purposes.
  3. Be in good academic standing (eligible to return) at FAU and at any institution attended since the last period of enrollment at FAU.
  4. Provide official transcripts to the Graduate College from any institution attended since the last period of enrollment at FAU.
  5. Submit proof of conformity to the Measles Immunization Policy of the State University System for graduate students under the age of 40 who have not previously submitted this information.
  6. Students who were enrolled without being fully admitted into a graduate degree program will not be eligible to return.
  7. Returning students will be admitted under the catalog guidelines in place at the time of re-admission.

Recency of Credits

No credit that is more than 10 years old at the time the Florida Atlantic University graduate degree is awarded may be counted toward that degree. Credits transferred into or applied to an FAU program are considered earned in the first semester of enrollment at FAU. Note: Individual graduate programs may have stricter recency of credit time limits.


Satisfactory Academic Performance

To remain in good academic standing, each graduate student at Florida Atlantic University must maintain a satisfactory record. A cumulative 3.0 average must be maintained on all degree requirements. This is the minimum quality necessary for a graduate degree at Florida Atlantic University. Note: Individual degree programs may have higher academic performance standards.

TIME LIMIT FOR COMPLETION OF DOCTORAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed within five calendar years from the time the student passes the preliminary or qualifying examination and is admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree. Leaves of absence do not extend the five-year limit. Extensions (in one-year increments) beyond the five-year limit will be considered through the submission of a formal Form 10 petition. If the student’s program coordinator, program director and/or department chair does not choose to approve an Extension of Time (EOT), then the student may no longer be enrolled in that program at Florida Atlantic University.

Transfer Credits

Master's programs may accept a maximum of 6 graduate credits earned from another institution beyond a baccalaureate degree. Doctoral programs may accept a maximum of 36 credits earned elsewhere in an approved graduate program. A maximum of 6 graduate credits earned from another institution in a non-degree-seeking status may be transferred. The Graduate College reserves the right to request a professional evaluation of credits transferred from universities outside the U.S.

Acceptance of transfer credits for a course is dependent upon the following provisions:

  1. The student received a grade of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale in the course to be transferred.
  2. The course was taken at a regionally accredited institution.
  3. The course is relevant to the graduate program in which the student is accepted, as judged by the graduate or supervisory committee of the department or program.
  4. The course is listed on the official transcript received by the Graduate College.
  5. The course was completed within six years preceding admission to the program.

Since many graduate programs do not accept transfer credits that have been applied to a completed degree, the student should consult the department offering the degree. See individual departments for particular degree requirements.


Withdrawal

A graduate student who wishes to officially withdraw from a graduate program must complete and submit a Form 15-Graduate Program Official Withdrawal to the Graduate College. To access the form, please visit the Graduate College website.


Acceleration Mechanisms for Undergraduate Students

FAU participates in numerous programs that afford students the opportunity to accelerate their degree programs if they so desire. The accelerated programs and policies appear below. Note: Test scores and credits awarded under each program are subject to change when mandated by the state. The scores and credits listed in the current catalog at the time the test is taken will determine the credits that will be awarded. The FAU catalog is the only official source to determine credit to be awarded by FAU for acceleration mechanisms.

Correspondence Courses

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses

Credit by Examination, including:

  • Advanced International Certificate in Education (AICE)
  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
  • International Baccalaureate (IB)

Excelsior College Examinations

Military Service College Credit:

  • DSST Examination Program


Correspondence Courses – Undergraduates

The University may award up to 10 credits of correspondence coursework toward admission provided the credit earned was "C" or higher and appears on the transcript of a regionally accredited college or university. Acceptability of such credit for advanced standing and/or degree credit will be determined by the individual college. Credit earned in this manner will be treated as transfer credit.

The State University System of Florida offers a program of about 80 courses by correspondence through the Division of Continuing Education of the University of Florida. Courses are offered in each of the following departments: Advertising, Anthropology, Art, Business, Criminology and Law, Economics, Education, English, English as a Second Language, Geography, Geology, Germanic and Slavic Languages, History, Journalism, Latin, Linguistics, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Relations, Religion, Romance Languages, Sociology, Statistics, Study Skills and Textiles. Correspondence courses are also offered in the professional programs of Dietary Management, Insurance Pre-Licensing, Legal Assistant and Water Management. Program information and course details may be obtained here, or by calling the Division of Continuing Education at the University of Florida: 800-327-4218 or 352-392-1711.


Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses

Undergraduate students may enroll in certain graduate courses for credit with permission of their department or the instructor of the course. A maximum of 12 graduate credits, taken before the student has fulfilled the baccalaureate degree requirements, may be applied to a graduate degree with the approval of the department. No credits applied toward an undergraduate degree may be used to fulfill requirements for a graduate degree unless specifically approved by the department offering the graduate degree.


Credit by Examination – Undergraduates

Credit by Examination may be earned from the Advanced International Certificate in Education (AICE), Advanced Placement (AP) Policy, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Credit will not be awarded for examinations covering the same areas or for comparable college courses already completed. Students are urged to consult with the dean of their college in order to ascertain which examinations would be appropriate for their degree program.

A maximum of 45 credits may be earned by examination. Note that although college credit may be earned from AICE, AP and IB examinations, this credit may only be earned while the student is in high school. Credit earned in this manner will be treated as transfer credit.

Advanced International Certificate in Education (AICE)

The AICE program is an international, advanced secondary curriculum and assessment program equivalent to the British system of "A-Levels." For more information, visit the AICE website.

Examination Course Equivalent Passing Score Credits
Accounting (AS-Level)

ACG 2021

 

 A-E 3
Accounting (A-Level) ACG 2021, ACG 2071  A-E 6
Applied ICT-Information Communication Technology
(AS-Level)		 CGS 2060 or
CGS 2100		 A-E 3
Applied ICT-Information Communication Technology
(A-Level)		 TBA A-E 6
Art and Design (AS-Level) ART 2930 A-E 3
Art and Design (A-Level) ART 2930, ART 2930 A-E 6
Biology (AS-Level) BSC 1005, BSC 1005L A-E 4
Biology (A-Level) BSC 1010, BSC 1010L,
BSC 2930		 A-E 7
Business Studies (AS-Level) GEB 2011 A-E 3
Business Studies (A-Level) GEB 2011, GEB 2930 A-E 6
Chemistry (AS-Level) CHM 1020, CHM 1020L A-E 4
Chemistry (A-Level) CHM 1025, CHM 1025L,
CHM 2045, CHM 2045L		 A-E 8
Classical Studies (AS-Level) CLA 1010 A-E 3
Computer Science (AS-Level) COP 2000 A-E 3
Computer Science (A-Level)
(effective summer 2025) 		COP 2000, COP 2220C A-E 6
Computing (AS-Level) CGS 1073 A-E 3
Computing (A-Level) CGS 1073, CGS 1074 A-E 6
Design and Technology (AS-Level) ETI 1482C A-E 3
Design and Technology (A-Level) ETI 1482C, ETI 2930 A-E 6
Digital Media and Design (AS-Level) DIG 1000 A-E 3
Digital Media and Design (A-Level) DIG 1004 A-E 3
Divinity (AS-Level) REL 2210 A-E 3
Divinity (A-Level) REL 2210, REL 2240 A-E 6
Economics (AS-Level) ECO 1000 A-E 3
Economics (A-Level) ECO 2013, ECO 2023 A-E 6
English (AS-Level) - English Language or
Language and Literature in English)		 ENC 1101 A-E 3
English (A-Level) ENC 1101 and either
ENC 1102 or LIT 2000*		 A-E 6
English (AS-Level) - Literature in English ENC 1101 or
ENC 1102**		 A-E 3
English (A-Level) - Literature in English ENC 1101, ENC 1102 or
ENC 1102, LIT 2100*** 		A-E 6
Environmental Management (AS-Level) ISC 2051
(EVR 2017 may be substituted)		 A-E 3
French Language (AS-Level) FRE 1121 A-E 4
French Literature (AS-Level) FRW 2930 A-E 3
French (A-Level) FRE 2220, FRE 2221 A-E 8
Further Mathematics (A-Level) MAC 2311 and
MAC 2312 or STA 2023		 A-E 8
General Paper IDS 1110 A-E 3
Geography (AS-Level) GEA 2000 A-E 3
Geography (A-Level) GEA 2000, GEO 2200C A-E 6
German Language (AS-Level) GER 1121 A-E 4
German Language (A-Level) GER 2220, GER 2221 A-E 8
Global Perspectives I (AS-Level) ISS 1011 or ISS 1013 A-E 3
Global Perspectives Pre-U Independent Research II
(A-Level)		 ISS 1011 and ISS 1012 A-E 6
History, U.S. History, c. 1840-1941 (AS-Level) AMH 2029 A-E 3
History, U.S. History, c. 1840-1990 (A-Level) AMH 2029 and
AMH 2020		 A-E 6
History, European History, c. 1789-1917
(AS-Level)		 EUH 2031 A-E 3
History, European History, c. 1789-1941
(A-Level)		 EUH 2001 and EUH 2002 A-E 6
History, International Relations History,
c. 1871-1945 (AS-Level)		 WOH 2040 A-E 3
History, International Relations History,
c. 1871-1991 (A-Level)		 WOH 2040 and
WOH 2043		 A-E 6
Latin (AS-Level) LAT 1121 A-E 4
Marine Science (AS-Level) OCE 2001 A-E 3
Marine Science (A-Level) OCE 2001, OCB 2000 A-E 6
Mathematics (AS-Level) MAC 1147 A-E 4
Mathematics (A-Level) MAC 1114, MAC 2311 A-E 7
Media Studies (AS-Level) DIG 1000 A-E 3
Media Studies (A-Level) DIG 1000 and
DIG 1001 or DIG 1030		 A-E 6
Music (AS-Level) MUH 1001 A-E 3
Music (A-Level) MUH 1001 and
MUH 1011 or MUH 1012 		A-E 6
Physics (AS-Level) PHY 1020, PHY 1020L A-E 4
Physics (A-Level) PHY 2053, PHY 2053L,
PHY 2054, PHY 2054L		 A-E 8
Psychology (AS-Level) PSY 1012 A-E 3
Psychology (A-Level) PSY 1012, PSY 2930 A-E 6
Sociology (AS-Level) SYG 1000 A-E 3
Sociology (A-Level) SYG 1000 A-E 3
Spanish Language (AS-Level) SPN 1121 A-E 4
Spanish Literature (AS-Level) SPW 2930 A-E 3
Spanish (A-Level) SPN 2220, SPN 2221 A-E 8
Thinking Skills (AS-Level) PHI 2100 A-E 3
Thinking Skills (A-Level) PHI 2100, PHI 2930 A-E 6
Travel and Tourism (AS-Level) HFT 1000 A-E 3
Travel and Tourism (A-Level) HFT 1000, HFT 2930 A-E 6


* If credit already awarded for ENC 1101 or ENC 1102, may award ENC X121 and ENC X122.

** Award credit for ENC 1102 if student has credit for ENC 1101.

*** Award credit for ENC 1102/LIT X006 if student has credit for ENC 1101.


Advanced Placement (AP)

Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are given at the end of the year in high school Advanced Placement courses. Students may earn credits for Advanced Placement examinations taken in high schools as specified below. Credit will not be awarded for both AP and CLEP examinations covering the same course material. Official test scores sent directly from the testing center to Florida Atlantic University are required in order to award credit. To request official scores and for information visit the AP website or call 888-225-5427.

Examination Course Equivalent Passing Score Credits
2-D Art and Design ART 1201C 3-5 3
3-D Art and Design ART 1203C 3-5 3
Art History ARH 2000 3 3
Art History ARH 2000, ARH 2051 4-5 6
Biology BSC 1005, BSC 1005L 3 4
Biology BSC 1010, BSC 1010L 4 4
Biology BSC 1010, BSC 1010L,
BSC 1011, BSC 1011L		 5 8
Calculus AB MAC 2311 3-5 4
Calculus BC MAC 2311 3 4
Calculus BC MAC 2311, MAC 2312 4-5 8
Calculus AB (subscore) MAC 2311 3-5 4
Capstone Research IDS 1930 3-5 3
Capstone Seminar IDS 1350 3-5 3
Chemistry CHM 1020, CHM 1020L 3 4
Chemistry CHM 2045, CHM 2045L 4 4
Chemistry CHM 2045, CHM 2045L
CHM 2046, CHM 2046L		 5 8
Chinese Language and Culture FOL 2220 3 4
Chinese Language and Culture FOL 2220, FOL 2221 4-5 8
Computer Science A CGS 1075 3-5 3
Computer Science Principles COP 2000 3-5 3
Drawing ART 1300C 3-5 3
Economics: Macro ECO 2013 3-5 3
Economics: Micro ECO 2023 3-5 3
English Language and Composition ENC 1101 3 3
English Language and Composition ENC 1101, ENC 1102 4-5 6
English Literature and Composition* ENC 1101 or LIT 1005 3 3
English Literature and Composition* ENC 1101 and either
ENC 1102 or LIT 1005		 4-5 6
Environmental Science ISC 2051 3-5 3
European History WOH 2022 3 3
European History WOH 2012, WOH 2022 4-5 6
French Language and Culture FRE 2220 3 4
French Language and Culture FRE 2220, FRE 2221 4-5 8
German Language and Culture GER 2220 3 4
German Language and Culture GER 2220, GER 2221 4-5 8
Government and Politics: Comparative INR 2002 3-5 3
Government and Politics: United States POS 2041 3-5 3
Human Geography GEA 2000 3-5 3
Italian Language and Culture ITA 2220 3 4
Italian Language and Culture ITA 2220, ITA 2221 4-5 8
Japanese Language and Culture JPN 2220 3 4
Japanese Language and Culture JPN 2220, JPN 2221 4-5 8
Latin LNW 2700 or LNW 2321 3-5 3
Music Theory MUT 1001** 3-5 2
Music Theory MUT 1111,***
MUT 1241		 3-5 4
Physics 1 PHY 2053, PHY 2053L
or PHY 2053C		 3-5 4
Physics 2 PHY 2054, PHY 2054L
or PHY 2054C		 3-5 4
Physics C: Electricity/Magnetism PHY 2054, PHY 2054L 3 4
Physics C: Electricity/Magnetism PHY 2049, PHY 2049L 4-5 5
Physics C: Mechanics PHY 2053, PHY 2053L 3 4
Physics C: Mechanics PHY 2048, PHY 2048L 4-5 5
Precalculus MAC 1140 3 3
Precalculus MAC 1140 and
(MAC 1114 or MAC 1147) 		4-5 6-8
Psychology PSY 1012 3-5 3
Spanish Language and Culture SPN 2220 3 4
Spanish Language and Culture SPN 2220, SPN 2221 4-5 8
Spanish Literature SPW 2930 3 3
Spanish Literature SPW 2930, SPW 2930 4-5 6
Statistics STA 2023 3-5 3
United States History AMH 2010 3 3
United States History AMH 2010, AMH 2020 4-5 6
World History: Modern WOH 2022 3-5 3


* Based on previous credit earned.

** MUT 1001 if composite score is 3 or higher.

*** MUT 1111 and MUT 1241 if both aural and non-aural subscores are 3 or higher.


College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Undergraduate students may earn credits from the CLEP examinations provided they have not received comparable college credit in the CLEP examination area. Minimum scores are subject to change at any time. Official scores must be sent to FAU from the testing center. Scores cannot be posted from other institutions' transcripts. To obtain official scores, visit the CLEP website. For a Transcript Request form and other pertinent information or call 800-257-9558.

Examination Course Equivalent Passing Score Credits
Algebra, College MAC 1105 50 3
American Government POS 2041 50 3
American Literature AML 2010 50 3
Biology, General BSC 1005 50 3
Business Law, Introduction to BUL 2241 50 3
Calculus MAC 2233 50 3
Chemistry, General CHM 1025 50 3
College Composition ENC 1101, ENC 1102 50 6
Educational Psychology, Introduction to EDP 2002 50 3
English Literature ENL 1000 50 3
Financial Accounting ACG 2001 50 3
French Language FRE 1120 50 4
French Language FRE 1120, FRE 1121 59 8
German Language GER 1120 50 4
German Language GER 1120, GER 1121 60 8
History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877 AMH 2010 50 3
History of the United States II: 1865 to Present AMH 2020 50 3
Human Growth and Development DEP 2004 50 3
Humanities HUM 2235 50 3
Information Systems and Computer Applications ISM 2000 50 3
Macroeconomics, Principles of ECO 2013 50 3
Management, Principles of MAN 2021 50 3
Marketing, Principles of MAR 2011 50 3
Mathematics, College MGF 1130 or MGF 1131
 		50 3
Microeconomics, Principles of ECO 2023 50 3
Precalculus MAC 1140 50 3
Psychology, Introductory PSY 1012 50 3
Social Science and History
IDS 1000 50 3
Sociology, Introductory SYG 1000 50 3
Spanish Language SPN 1120 50 4
Spanish Language SPN 1120, SPN 1121 63 8
Spanish with Writing SPN 1120 50 4
Spanish with Writing SPN 1120, SPN 1121 65 8
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 WOH 2012 50 3
Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present WOH 2022 50 3

 

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Florida Atlantic University will award credit based on scores achieved on IB diploma program examinations.

Students will be awarded up to 30 credits. Students with a score of 4 on subject areas will receive 3-4 credits for each examination. Students with a score of 5 or above will receive 6-8 credits.

Students who are awarded IB credit for ENC 1101, ENC 1102 or MAC 1105 will receive Gordon Rule credit for these courses.

For more information, visit the IB website.

Examination Course Equivalent Passing Score Credits
Biology BSC 1005, 1005L 4 4
Biology BSC 1005, BSC 1005L,
BSC 1010, BSC 1010L		 5-7 8
Business and Management GEB 2011 4 3
Business and Management GEB 2011, MAN 1930 5-7 6
Chemistry CHM 1020C 4 3
Chemistry CHM 1020C,
CHM 2045, CHM 2045L		 5-7 7
Computer Science ISM 2000 4 3
Computer Science ISM 2000, Elective 5-7 6
Design Technology ETI 1410* 4 3
Design Technology ETI 1410*, ETI 2930* 5-7 6
Economics ECO 1000 4 3
Economics ECO 2013, ECO 2023 5-7 6
Ecosystems and Societies EVR 2017 4 3
Ecosystems and Societies EVR 2017, EVR 2930* 5-7 6
English Language A: Language and Literature ENC 1101 4 3
English Language A: Language and Literature ENC 1101, ENC 1102 5-7 6
English Language A: Literature ENC 1102 or LIT 2000 4 3
English Language A: Literature ENC 1102 and LIT 2000 5-7 6
Environmental Systems ISC 2050* 4 3
Environmental Systems ISC 2050* , ISC 2930* 5-7 6
Film Studies FIL 2000 4 3
Film Studies FIL 2000, FIL 2002* 5-7 6
French Language B FRE 1121 4 4
French Language B FRE 1121, FRE 2220 5-7 8
Further Mathematics (Advanced Mathematics) MHF 1202* 4 3
Further Mathematics (Advanced Mathematics) MHF 1202*, MHF 1209* 5-7 6
Geography GEA 2000 4 3
Geography GEA 2000, GEO 2200C 5-7 6
German Language B GER 1121 4 4
German Language B GER 1121, GER 2220 5-7 8
Global Politics (SL) INR 2002 4-7 3
Global Politics (HL) INR 2002 4 3
Global Politics (HL) INR 2002, INR 2003* 5-7 6
History** WOH 2022 4 3
History** WOH 2022, WOH 2012 or
AMH 2010, AMH 2020		 5-7 6
Information and Technology for a Global Society CGS 1001* 4 3
Information and Technology for a Global Society CGS 1001*, CGS 1002* 5-7 6
Islamic History ASH 1001* 4 3
Islamic History ASH 1001*, ASH 1002* 5-7 6
Italian Language B ITA 1121 4 4
Italian Language B ITA 1121, ITA 2220 5-7 8
Latin LAT 2220 4 4
Latin LAT 2220, LNW 2930* 5-7 7
Marine Science BSC 2311C* or
OCB 2000C* or
OCB 2010C*		 4 3
Marine Science BSC 2311C* or
OCB 2000C* or
OCB 2010C*		 5-7 6
Mathematical Studies MAT 1033 4 3
Mathematical Studies MAT 1033, MGF 1130  5-7 6
Mathematical Studies (SL) MAC 1105 (for exams taken after 5/16/18) 4-7 3
Mathematics MAC 1147 4 4
Mathematics MAC 1147, MAC 2233 or
MAC 2233, MAC 2311		 5-7 7
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (SL) MAC 1105 4 3
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (SL) MAC 1105, MGF 1130  5-7 6
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL) MAC 1147 4 4
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL) MAC 1147, MAC 2311 5-7 8
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (SL)

 		MAC 1140 4 3
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (SL)  MAC 1147, MGF 1130  5-7 7
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (HL) MAC 1140 4 3
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (HL)  MAC 1147, MGF 1130  5-7 7
Music MUL 2010 4 3
Music MUL 2010 and
MUL 2102*		 5-7 6
Philosophy PHI 2010 4 3
Philosophy PHI 2010 and PHI 2100 5-7 6
Physics PHY 1020*, PHY 1020L* 4 3
Physics PHY 2053, PHY 2053L,
PHY 2054, PHY 2054L		 5-7 8
Psychology PSY 1012 4 3
Psychology PSY 1012 and PSY 2930 5-7 6
Social and Cultural Anthropology ANT 2410 4 3
Social and Cultural Anthropology ANT 2410 and ANT 2000 5-7 6
Spanish Language B SPN 1121 4 4
Spanish Language B SPN 1121, SPN 2220 5-7 8
Theatre Arts THE 2000 4 3
Theatre Arts THE 2000 and a 1000- or 2000-level (min. 3 credits), one semester elective course*** 5-7 6
Visual Arts ART 1014 4 3
Visual Arts ART 1014, ARH 2000 5-7 6
World Religions (SL) REL 2300* 4-7 3


* Not an existing FAU course; elective credit is provided.

** All students study 20th century world history. Higher-level students also study a 100-year period between 1750 and the present in one of several regions. Standard-level students complete a project in any history subject. The second course for which credit is awarded is dependent on the area of specialization.

*** The elective course must be in theatre history, performance, stagecraft, theory or literature, depending on student's strengths.


Excelsior College Examinations 

The table below provides information related to the Excelsior exam and subtest areas for which credit is awarded for undergraduate students. More detailed information can be found at the Excelsior website.

Examination Course Equivalent
(all courses receive 3 credits) 		Passing Score
Abnormal Psychology CLP 1140 C
Earth Science ESC 2000 or GLY 2000 C
English Composition ENC 1101 or ENC 1102 C
Ethics: Theory and Practice PHI 1630 C
Foundations of Gerontology GEY 1000 C
Human Resources Management MAN 1300 C
Introduction to Music MUL 2010
(for exams taken after 5/22/2019)		 C
Introduction to Music MUH 2011
(for exams taken on or before 5/22/2019)		 C
Labor Relations MAN 2400 C
Lifespan Developmental Psychology DEP 2004 C
Managerial Accounting ACG 2071 C
Microbiology MCB 1000 C
Principles of Marketing MAR 2011 C
Psychology of Adulthood and Aging DEP 1401 C
Workplace Communication with Computers OST 2335 C
World Conflicts since 1900 WOH 2040 C



Military Service College Credit

Consistent with Florida Board of Governors Regulation 6.013, Military Veterans and Active Duty, undergraduate students who are or were members of the United States Armed Forces may earn appropriate academic college credit for college-level training and education acquired in the military. College credit will be granted to students with military training and coursework that is recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE), subject to institution transfer practices and limitations on amount, level, etc., of transfer credit. Military training coursework will be subject to the same treatment as any other transfer credit evaluated, with the utilization of the ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services for determining equivalency and alignment of military coursework with applicable University courses. If the coursework fulfills a general education, major course, and/or degree requirement, consistent with the college/department policy, the credit will be granted for meeting that requirement toward graduation. Applicable course credit may include elective course credit toward the degree.

To apply for such credit, military veterans or active duty service members should submit one of the following forms of documentation and/or evidence of appropriate test scores on the DSST Examination Program (formerly DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) in college and technical subjects. See DSST exams and scores below the required documentation details.

Required Documentation

For the United States Army, United States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy:
Request a military transcript or DD214/DD295 Course Completion Certificates.

For the United States Air Force:
Request a Community College of the Air Force transcript (if applicable) from
https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/CCAF/Display/Article/803247/ or DD214/DD295 Course Completion Certificates.

For the Department of Defense:
Request a Defense Language Institute transcript (if applicable).


DSST Examination Program

The table below provides information related to the DSST exams for undergraduate students. For more details, visit the DSST website.

Examination Course Equivalent
(all courses receive
3 credits) 		Passing Score (exams prior to 2008) Passing Score (exams 2008 to present)*
A History of the Vietnam War AMH 2059 44 400
Art of the Western World ARH 2000 48 400
Astronomy AST 2002 48 400
Business Ethics and Society GEB 2441 400 400
Business Law II BUL 2242 44 --
Business Mathematics QMB 1001 48 400
The Civil War and Reconstruction AMH 1056 47 400
Computing and Information Technology (formerly Introduction to Computing)

CGS 2000 or CGS 2060

45 400
Criminal Justice CCJ 1000 49 400
Environment and Humanity EVR 2017 46 400
Environmental Science EVR 1001 -- * 400
(for exams
taken after
5/16/18)
Ethics in America PHI 1630 46 400
Foundation of Education EDF 1002 46 400
Fundamentals of College Algebra MAT 1033 47 400
Fundamentals of College Algebra MAC 1105 -- * 400
(for exams taken after 5/16/18)
Fundamentals of Counseling PCO 2202 45 400
Fundamentals of Cyber Security CIS 2350 or CIS 2354 -- 400
General Anthropology ANT 2000 47 400
Health and Human Development
(formerly Here's to Your Health)		 HSC 2100 48 400
History of the Soviet Union
(formerly Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union)		 EUH 1066 45 400
Human Resources Management MAN 4301 46 400
Human/Cultural Geography GEO 1400 48 400
Introduction to Business GEB 2011 46 400
Introduction to Law Enforcement CCJ 1100 45 400
Introduction to the Modern Middle East ASH 1044 47 --
Introduction to World Religions REL 2300 48 400
Lifespan Developmental Psychology DEP 2004 46 400
Math for Liberal Arts MGF 1106 -- 400
Management Information Systems ISM 3011 46 400
Money and Banking ECO 4223 48 400
Organizational Behavior MAN 3025 48 400
Personal Finance FIN 3140 46 400
Physical Geology GLY 2010C 46 --
Principles of Advanced English ENC 1101 -- 400
Principles of Finance FIN 3403 46 400
Principles of Financial Accounting ACG 2021 47 --
Principles of Physical Science 1 PSC 2121 47 400
Principles of Public Speaking SPC 2608 47 400
Principles of Statistics STA 1014 48 400
Principles of Supervision MNA 1345 46 400
Substance Abuse HSC 1140 49 400
Technical Writing ENC 1210 46 400


Student Code of Conduct Regulations

Responsibility and Discipline

Florida Atlantic University is dedicated to the intellectual, social and moral development of students in order to provide responsible leaders who can work effectively in a democratic society.

Under the authority granted by the Florida Board of Governors, the University has the right and responsibility to determine who shall be admitted to the institution, the conduct or behavior acceptable to the institution and under what conditions one may continue as a student. As a condition for admission to the University, students agree to abide by the policies and regulations of the institution. The President of the University has responsibility for student conduct and discipline. That responsibility shall be exercised through the University Student Code of Conduct, which is administered through the Office of Student Conduct, a department within the Division of Student Affairs.

Every student is subject to federal and state law, respective county and city ordinances and all Florida Board of Governors and University rules and regulations. Violations of these laws, ordinances or rules and regulations may subject the violator to appropriate disciplinary action by University authorities.

The President or approved designee shall have the authority, after notice to the student of the charges and a hearing thereon, to expel or otherwise discipline any student found to have violated a rule or regulation of the Florida Board of Governors or the University or any law or ordinance.

The President or approved designee shall have the authority to order any student to cease and desist any activity that in the President's or designee's judgment disrupts the orderly operation of the institution. Any student failing to abide by the cease and desist order shall be subject to interim suspension pending a hearing.

The conviction of a student for a criminal offense of a kind that interferes with the educational or orderly operation of the University or of a kind which, if the student were allowed to remain enrolled, would endanger the health, safety or property of members of the academic community, shall be sufficient grounds for expulsion or other disciplinary action against such student.

Except as provided above, in all student violations of non-academic rules and regulations, a student shall be afforded adequate notice of charges, a reasonable time to answer, a fair and impartial hearing and a decision. The final administrative appeal shall be to the President or approved designee who may reopen the hearing, order a new hearing or accept determination of sanctions. In the conclusion of the appeal process, the decision of the President or president's designee shall be final. For full details of the FAU Student Code of Conduct, see University Regulation 4.007.


Code of Academic Integrity

Florida Atlantic University students are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards. Academic dishonesty is considered a serious breach of these ethical standards because it interferes with the University mission to provide a high-quality education in which no student enjoys an unfair advantage over any other. Academic dishonesty is also destructive of the University community, which is grounded in a system of mutual trust and places high value on personal integrity and individual responsibility.

The FAU Code of Academic Integrity describes the expectations for students' ethical academic conduct and the procedures for charging a student with a violation of the Code. It also outlines the procedures for students to appeal such charges.

Academic dishonesty includes any act designed to obtain, or assist another in obtaining, academic credit, grades or other recognition, which is not properly earned, or behavior that improperly advances, protects or diminishes the academic status of individuals or the University. Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Cheating

    1. The unauthorized use of notes, books, electronic devices or other study aids while taking an examination or working on an assignment.

    2. Providing unauthorized assistance to or receiving assistance from another person or entity during an examination or while working on an assignment. 

    3. Having someone take an exam or complete an assignment in one's place.

    4. Securing an exam, receiving an unauthorized copy of an exam, sharing a copy of an exam or uploading an exam or exam questions online.

  2. Plagiarism

    1. The presentation of words from any other source or another person as one's own without proper quotation and citation.

    2. Putting someone else's ideas or facts into your own words (paraphrasing) without proper citation.

    3. Turning in someone else's work as one's own, including the buying and selling of term papers or assignments.

  3.   Other Forms of Dishonesty

    1.  Falsifying or inventing information, data or citations.

    2.    Failing to comply with examination regulations or failing to obey the instructions of an examination proctor.

    3. Submitting the same paper or assignment, or part thereof, in more than one class without the written consent of both instructors.

    4.  Any other form of academic cheating, plagiarism or dishonesty.

For full details of the FAU Code Academic Integrity, see University Regulation 4.001.


University Regulations

Additional rules regarding student responsibility and discipline and a host of other regulations are set out in the Florida Atlantic University Regulations. University Regulations are subject to change without notice. For the University Regulations in effect at any given time, visit www.fau.edu/regulations.