Academic Policies
University Policies
Limitation on Repeated Courses
No course may be repeated more than once, whether at ֱ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.
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.
Timely Graduation for Undergraduate Students
ֱ 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:
- Students admitted to ֱ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.
- Transfer students entering with 59 or fewer credits are expected to complete their degree program within three years.
- Transfer students who enter ֱwith an A.A. degree and other transfer students entering with 60 or more transfer credits are expected to complete their degree program within two 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.
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.
College Policies
Senior Design Sequence (New information effective summer 2026.)
Most undergraduate degrees in the College of Engineering and Computer Science contain a two-semester capstone senior design sequence where the students work in teams to design, build and test selected projects. Given the nature of these courses, students must persist through both semesters with the same group; therefore, unless permitted by the faculty member teaching the course, all two-course design sequences (CGN 4803C/CGN 4804C, EGN 4950C/EGN 4952C, EML 4521C/EML 4551, EOC 4804/EOC 4804L) must be taken in consecutive semesters (excluding summer, only if not offered).
If a student fails to earn a grade of “C” or higher or withdraws from the second of the two design courses, both courses must be repeated. The retake of Design 1 must be registered for credit, which carries fee liability, and will receive a recording with a final letter grade, or as an audit (au), which will carry fee liability, but no letter grade will be recorded. Determination of which option is most appropriate is at the discretion of the instructors of record in consultation with academic advising.
Unsuccessful Course Attempts
All core, math, science, and elective courses required for degrees in the College of Engineering and Computer Science must be completed with grades of “C” or higher to satisfy the degree requirement. Grades of “C-“ and lower, as well as withdrawal (W) grades, are considered unsuccessful attempts.
While the university considers any grade above an "F" as passing, and, therefore, it may appear that credit has been earned for grades of “C-“ and lower, our degree programs specify that a grade of "C" or higher is required. Some general education courses may be satisfied with grades below “C.” Please check with your academic advisor to confirm satisfactory completion.
Limitation on Course Attempts
No course may be repeated more than once, whether at ֱor at any other institution, without the permission of the student’s advising office. Students may not make a second attempt at more than three upper-division (3000-4000) level College of Engineering and Computer Science courses required for the major. Students who exceed the total of three upper-division course repetitions will not be permitted to continue in the major or any other major requiring the repeated course(s).
No student will be permitted more than five non-passing grades in courses in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (excluding “W”) throughout the degree program. Students who reach five non-passing grades will be asked to change their major outside the College of Engineering & Computer Science.
Timely Degree Completion
Transfer students are expected to graduate within three years, as established by the Florida Board of Governors. Students who have not met all requirements for their major, but who have accumulated 120 credits, including 42 upper-division credits, have met all general education requirements, and who are more than 30 credits from graduation, will automatically be granted a Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) degree (no major specified*) and have the opportunity to participate in commencement exercises. Those wishing to take additional courses after meeting degree requirements may consider a second baccalaureate degree, a graduate degree or coursework taken as a non-degree-seeking student.
First Time in College and Early Admission students are expected to graduate within four years, as established by the Florida Board of Governors. Students who have not met all requirements for their major, but who have accumulated 120 credits, including 42 upper-division credits, have met all general education requirements, and who are more than 30 credits from graduation, will automatically be granted a Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) degree (no major specified*) and have the opportunity to participate in commencement exercises. Those wishing to take additional courses after meeting degree requirements may consider a second baccalaureate degree, a graduate degree, or coursework taken as a non-degree-seeking student.
Any student enrolled in any College of Engineering and Computer Science degree program for six years, who has accumulated 120 credits, including 42 upper division credits, and all general education requirements, will automatically be granted a Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) degree (no major specified*) and have the opportunity to participate in commencement exercises. Those wishing to take additional courses after meeting degree requirements may consider a second baccalaureate degree, a graduate degree or coursework taken as a non-degree-seeking student.