Office of The Registrar

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

Academic Program Contracts (APCs)

What is an Academic Program Contract (APC)?

An Academic Program Contract (APC) is an agreement between the student and the academic department that outlines the courses and requirements the student must successfully complete to earn the major/minor.

When a student declares a major/minor, an APC is completed, signed by student and department chair, an advisor is assigned, and the APC is forwarded to the Office of the Registrar.

When a student prepares to apply for graduation, the APC is finalized and forwarded to the Office of the Registrar.

What majors/minors require an APC?

An APC is required for every major/minor a student wishes to receive upon degree completion. APCs are available on the Office of the Registrar's website and in the major/minor departments' offices.  Click here to locate the online APCs.

What is a Final APC?

A final APC has the signature of the department chair in the "Graduation Clearance" box, and documents any waivers or substitutions approved by the department chair. Final APCs are submitted to the Student Services Center.

Why does the department chair need to sign the APC?

The signature of the department chair in the "Graduation Clearance" box signifies that upon the completion of the listed courses and requirements on the APC, the student is eligible for the major/minor.

What happens if a student takes courses not listed on the Final APC?

If a student gets approval to substitute a course not listed on the APC or approval to waive a course on the APC, it must be documented on the final APC that the department chair approved the change. To document the change, the department chair must initial the change, in addition to signing in the "Graduation Clearance" box.

CAPP and Junior Review

How does a student review a CAPP report or find information on the Junior Review?

Click here for information on the Curriculum Advising and Program Planning (CAPP) report and the Junior Review.

 

Faculty Course, Rosters and Enrollment Information

What are the Emergency Rosters?

A printed emergency roster is provided to faculty for each course being taught at the beginning of each semester. This roster is used to take attendance in case of an emergency or for an emergency drill. Emergency rosters are replaced for only those classes affected by a specific drill.

How are classrooms scheduled for courses?

Classrooms for fall and spring semesters, plus J-Term PLU courses only are scheduled through Sarah Sanders, scheduling coordinator. Classrooms for summer are scheduled through Susan Johnson, summer session coordinator.

Deans and chairs may change a classroom for a course by contacting the scheduling coordinator at sandersc@plu.edu for fall, J term, and spring and johnsosj@plu.edu for summer.

Faculty members who wish to schedule a classroom for a student group, faculty meeting, campus event or conference must contact Conference and Events at 253.535.7450.

How does a faculty member access a class or emergency roster?

Class rosters can be accessed online through Banner Web. The following instructions detail how to access the rosters for any class.

Go to banweb.plu.edu
Select: Secure Banweb
Select: Faculty Services
Select: Summary Class List
Choose the term and click Submit
Select the CRN (course reference number) and click Submit
Scroll down to view the roster
Click on the print icon to print

If you have another course roster to print, simply scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click "CRN Selection" (if the course is in the same term). 

The choices for selection in the legend at the bottom of the screen are: Term Selection, CRN selection, Detail Class List, Mid Term Grades, Final Grades, Faculty Detail Schedule, Detail Waitlist, Summary Waitlist.

When finished, scroll back to top and click on "Exit."

Note: If not the instructor of record, a faculty member may still view any other class roster by clicking on "Term Selection" and choosing the desired term from the Faculty Services menu.

Then choose "CRN Selection" from the Faculty Services menu and click on "Enter Section Identifier (CRN) Directly" at the bottom of the "Select CRN" screen.

Enter the desired CRN and submit your entry. Once done, all class list options will use this term and CRN combination.

To select another combination, follow the steps above to change to a different term and CRN. If the CRN is not know, please use the Interactive Class Schedule application to look up the desired class. This application always displays for the current term or terms for which registration is open. If you forget your PIN, you will need to follow the reset PIN instructions.

For any questions, contact Joann Nelson by phone 253.535.8877 or email at nelsonjf@plu.edu.

How does a faculty member notify the Office of the Registrar on enrollment changes?

It is vital that the university is aware of any student who is not enrolled at PLU at the beginning, middle, or at the end of the term. Faculty members should report to the Office of the Registrar any student who is not in attendance.

Please report students who have never attended, stopped attending, and anyone who is not currently on a class roster to Joann Nelson at nelsonjf@plu.edu. Students will be contacted so PLU can determine if the student plans to withdraw or if there is another problem.

It is most helpful when contacting the Office of the Registrar about attendance to have the student's name, ID# and dates of attendance (if applicable). Our preference for contact is e-mail to provide a record for the student's file; however, you may use any of the following modes:

e-mail: nelsonjf@plu.edu
phone: 253.535.8877
in person: ADMN 104

 

General Education Program

What is the General Education Program?

The General Education Program at PLU has seven components totaling 48 semester hours.

The areas are: (a) Embracing the Life of the Mind: First Year Experience, (b) Engaging Arts and Performance,(c) Interpreting Living traditions for a Humane Future, (d) Exploring Nature and Number, (e) Investigating Human Behavior, Culture, and Institutions, (f) Encountering Perspectives on Diversity, and (g) Producing and Presenting Culminating Scholarship: Senior Seminar/Project. To view the General Education Program, click here.

How do I receive advising on the General Education Program?

The Academic Advising Office or a faculty advisor will assist a student in regards to academic progress at PLU and completion of the General Education Program. Once a major is declared, the faculty advisor in that department will continue to assist a student in pursuit of the degree.

What is the difference between Cross-Cultural and Alternative Perspectives in the General Education Program?

Both of these perspectives are required to fulfill the Encountering Perspectives on Diversity General Program element. Classes that qualify for cross cultural and alternative perspective are listed in the catalog. The title of a course will either reflect an "A" for Alternative Perspective or a "C" for Cross-Cultural Perspective as shown in the class schedule.

Alternative Perspective courses create an awareness and understanding of diversity in the United States, directly addressing issues such as ethnicity, gender, disability, racism, or poverty.

Cross-Cultural Perspective courses enhance cross-cultural understandings through examination of other cultures.

To view the Encountering Perspectives on Diversity area of the General Education Program, click here.

What is double-dipping?

Double dipping refers only to the Encountering Perspectives on Diversity component of the General Education Program.

Students who entered PLU prior to Fall 2009 with fewer than 60 semester hours are permitted to double dip one time between the Diversity element and other General Education Program areas. An example would be MUSIC 120, which could satisfy the Art, Music, and Theatre (AR) element and the Cross-Cultural (C) Perspective.

Students who entered PLU as of Fall 2009 with fewer than 60 semester hours are permitted to double dip two times between the Diversity element and other General Education Program areas.

Students who entered PLU with 60 or more semester hours are not permitted to double dip.

Using an Encountering Perspectives on Diversity class to fulfill a major requirement is not considered double-dipping.

What is the physical education requirement at PLU?

All students must complete PHED 100 and three other physical education activity courses.

What is the requirement for J-Term (January Term)?

Students who enter PLU with fewer than 20 semester hours must take a course in the J-Term of their freshman year.

Students who enter PLU with 20 or more semester hours are not required to complete a J-Term course.

What is the College of Arts and Science requirement at PLU?

The College of Arts and Sciences requirement applies to all students who will earn Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education, or Bachelor of Science in Physical Education degrees at PLU. To view further information on the College of Arts and Sciences requirement, click here.

Students are required to meet either Option I, II or III of the College of Arts and Sciences requirement.

Candidates for the B.A. in English, B.A. in Education with a secondary teaching major in English, B.A. in Global Studies or for election to the Arete Society must meet Option I.

Candidates for a B.A. in Music must meet the Option I or II and take a non-music arts elective in either visual art, theatre or dance.

Students should refer to the PLU catalog for further information on Option I, II, and III.

General Information

How does a student request information from the Office of the Registrar?

A PLU ID card is required to verify a student's identity before any information is provided from the Office of the Registrar. The student ID number is used as an identifier along with the student's picture.

What is the Personal Identification Number (PIN)?

Students will use their assigned PLU Student ID Number and the Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access the Banner Web to check on their personal information.

The PIN is the six-digit personal identification number used to enter Banner Web. After several failed attempts to access Banner Web, the PIN becomes disabled. If the PIN is disabled, an error message stating "Banner Self-Service Access Disabled" appears. Follow the directions shown with the error message.

If you have been locked out of banner because of a disabled PIN, the following instructions are provided to reset your Banner Self-Service PIN

  1. Enter your responses to the three requested fields listed: PLU ID (without dashes), six-digit Birthday (MMDDYY), and f
  2. Click Request PIN Reset Key button
  3. Without leaving or moving from the current page, log in to your PLU e-mail account (or the e-mail account to which your PLU e-mail is forwarded) and check for a new incoming message containing your PIN Reset Key.
  4. Enter the PIN Reset Key in the provided field.
  5. Click Reset PIN Now which will take you to the Banner Self-Service Login page
  6. Again, without leaving or moving from the Self-Service log in page, log into your PLU e-mail account (or the e-mail account to which your PLU e-mail is forwarded) and check for a new incoming message containing your new temporary PIN.
  7. Enter your PLU ID and new PIN to log in to the Banner Self-Service. (NOTE: PINs are case sensitive)
  8. You will then be prompted to change your PIN to one of your choice.
How do I change personal information?

It is the student's responsibility to inform the Student Services Center of any changes to personal information. The type of changes include billing and mailing addresses or name changes.

How does an International Honors (IHON) student receive alternative credit for a non-IHON course?

Occasionally non-IHON classes are approved for substitution of an IHON requirement. If prior approval has been given to substitute a class and the class does not appear on the CAPP report, a student must complete the IHON Alternate Course Form, obtain the necessary signature(s) and return the form to the Student Services Center for processing. Click here for form.

How does a student transfer credit from the International Honors (IHON) Program to the General Education Program?

Students who wish to transfer from the International Honors (IHON) Program to the General Education Program must complete the gray area on the Request for Credit Transfer Form. Once the form has been completed, an appointment with the chair of International Honors Program must be requested for equivalency information and approval. Once approved, the signed, completed form must be brought to the Student Services Center for processing.

How does a student receive credit through the Credit by Examination Process?

Students are permitted, within limits, to obtain credit by examination in lieu of regular enrollment and class attendance.

To receive credit by examination, students must complete the Credit By Examination Registration Form which may be downloaded here or from the display rack outside the Student Services Center. Signatures must be obtained from the respective department dean or chair plus the instructor for the course. The student must arrange the examination time with the instructor of the course. The completed form must be returned to the Office of the Registrar by the add/drop deadline for the appropriate term.

How does a student receive an exemption to academic requirements?

Requests for exemptions (waivers or substitutions) to academic requirements are processed through the Office of the Registrar. The approval officials are different for each type of exception. The Exemption to Academic Requirements Form provides instructions as to which signatures are required for each exemption. After a student obtains the required signatures, the form must be turned into the Student Services Center. The Office of the Registrar will send a copy of the completed form back to the student to indicate whether or not the request was approved.

To check the status of an exemption request, students should contact Kevin Berg at bergka@plu.edu or Beth Crippen at crippeba@plu.edu or call 253.535.7331.

How does a student receive a waiver or substitution of a graduate school requirement?

To request a waiver or substitution of a graduate school requirement, the student must complete the Graduate School Petition Waiver Form. The form must be signed by the instructor or advisor, concentration coordinator and program dean. Final approval for any waiver or substitution is through the dean of graduate studies. 

Grades

What are the approved grade options at PLU?

The following are faculty-approved PLU grading options which are calculated into the grade point average (GPA):

A (4.00) C (2.00)
A- (3.67) C- (1.67)
B+ (3.33) D+ (1.33)
B (3.00) D (1.00)
B- (2.67) D- (0.67)
C+ (2.33) E (0.00) failing grade


The following grade options are not used in calculation of the grade point average. No grade points are earned under these designations:

Pass/Fail: P or F (only for courses set up with this option)
Incomplete: I
In Progress: IP (only for certain courses)
Audit: AU


Pass(P) and Fail (F) are grades for courses which have either been designated as Pass/Fail courses by the department or a student has chosen to designate a course for pass/fail by filling out the Pass/Fail option.

Faculty submit regular letter grades for students who have opted for and completed the pass/fail form. The computer automatically converts the assigned grade to the P/F option.

Please note: For students who are enrolled in the School of Nursing, the deadline for completion of the incomplete contract in nursing is before the first day of classes of the following term.

Work must be submitted by students in time for instructors to meet these deadlines. Instructors are advised to consult with students on an appropriate time frame.

There is no penalty for an incomplete grade; however, an "I" will remain on a student's transcript in front of the letter grade earned. For example, an "A" in the course will be recorded on the transcript as "IA."

How do faculty enter grades into Banner Web?

Grades are to be submitted, online via Banner Web, by instructors by the fifth working day after the end of the specific term. To enter grades online from home, the faculty member must use Internet Explorer.  Enter grades as follows:

Go to the PLU Home Page
Click on eResources
Click on Banner Web
Click on Enter Secure Area
Enter your PLU User ID without the hyphen. (the number found on your PLU ID card)
Enter your PIN
Click on login
Click on Faculty Services
Click on Final Grades
Select the term and submit, then select the CRN (Course Reference Number)
Click on Submit. Click on the box with the check mark to see all CRNs
Enter Grades
Scroll down to the bottom and click Submit. After submitting the grades, you will get a message that states the changes you made were saved successfully.
To enter grades for another course, click on CRN selection at the bottom of the screen, choose the CRN and submit, then click on final grades.
Exit when all grades have been entered. After 30 minutes of continuous inactivity, you will be exited from the system and will need to re-login.

How do students view grades through Banner Web?

Students may access grades through Banner Web. Grades may be viewed approximately 24 hours after the instructor submits the grade. The deadline for faculty posting grades is available under the Deadlines and Important Dates section of the Office of the Registrar website.

To access Banner Web to view grades, do the following:

  • Click Current Students on main PLU page
  • Click the eResources tab
  • In side menu, click Banner
  • Click to Enter Secure Area (Banner Web)
  • Type in your student ID# and PIN
  • Click Login
  • Click on Student Services & Financial Aid
  • Click on Student Records
  • Click on Final Grades
  • Choose the term in the drop down menu and click submit
  • Grades will appear; scroll down to view all grades

If any grades are not posted or are incorrect, contact the faculty member directly.

What is the PLU Grade Change Policy?

Faculty may not change a grade once it has been recorded in the Registrar's records unless an error was made in assigning the original grade. The error must be reported to the Registrar by the end of the following term after which it was entered (by the spring grade submission deadline for fall and J-term, and by the fall grade deadline for spring and summer).

Any grade change requested after the designated date must be approved by the respective department chair and dean. The Grade Change Policy does not apply to "I" or "IP" grades, which are subject to separate policies.

How does a faculty member make a grade change?

Grade changes may not be done through Banner Web. To change a course grade, the instructor may either email Joann Nelson at nelsonjf@plu.edu for a change or visit the Office of the Registrar and fill out a Change of Grade Report form.

How are grades processed?

End-of-term grades are entered into Banner Web by each faculty member. The grades are then processed by the Office of the Registrar.

Study abroad grades are processed by the Office of the Registrar when they are received from the Wang Center for Global Education. Study abroad grades for courses taught by non-PLU faculty are listed as pass or fail (P/F) with the actual letter grade recorded as well (for example, PA-, PC+, or FE).

Pass or fail grades are not calculated in the PLU grade point average (GPA).

Grades of A through C- are regarded as passing and grades D+ through E as failing.

How do students use the pass/fail option?

The Pass/Fail form may be obtained at the Student Services Center or by clicking here for download. The completed form must be returned to the Student Services Center by the deadline noted on the Office of the Registrar's Deadlines and Important Dates. Click Deadlines and Important Dates found on the left of this screen for the specific term requesting the pass/fail option.

The pass/fail option is limited to eight semester hours and only one course may be taken pass/fail in fulfillment of the General Education Program or for the College of Arts and Sciences requirement.

Is the pass/fail grade calculated into the PLU grade point average (GPA)?

No. The "P" or "F" grade is not calculated in the PLU grade point average (GPA).

How does an instructor change an incomplete to a grade?

To  change an incomplete to a letter grade, submit a Change of Grade report to the Office of Registrar in Admin 104 or email the Records Coordinator, Joann Nelson at nelsonjf@plu.edu.

How is the incomplete grade (I) assigned to a student?

The incomplete grade is granted by the faculty member only for extraordinary circumstances beyond the student's control. The Incomplete Contract Form is used to assign the "I" grade.

A student must consult with his/her faculty member to see if it is possible to be granted an incomplete grade. If the faculty member determines the incomplete is justified, the Incomplete Contract Form must be completed, signed by both the faculty member and the student, and returned to the Office of the Registrar.

To receive credit, the student must complete all required classwork and a passing grade must be reported from the faculty member. An incomplete does not entitle a student to attend the class again without re-enrollment and payment of tuition.

What is the deadline for incomplete grades and how are the grades reflected on the student transcript?

Incomplete grades from spring or summer terms are due six weeks into the following fall semester. Fall  and J-Term incomplete grades are due six weeks into the following spring semester. Instructors may assign an alternate, shorter deadline.

The "I" in front of any grade designates that an incomplete has been converted to a letter grade. The "I" remains on the student transcript. It will show as "IA" for an incomplete converted to an A grade. The "IPA" designates that an incomplete has converted to a pass (P) grade.

If grades are not posted or are incorrect, what should a student do?

A student should directly contact the instructor of the class which shows a grade not posted or in error.

How does a student register to receive an audit (AU) or to repeat a course?

To audit a course, permission must be granted from the instructor. If approved, the instructor must sign the audit column found on the add/drop form and return the form to the Student Services Center by the established add deadline for that term.

Courses may be repeated two times (including withdrawals). If a student is repeating a course, registration must be completed by the Student Services Center. Some departments do not allow certain courses to be repeated. The course with the lowest grade will be excluded from the student's GPA, but will remain on the transcript.

How does a student qualify for the Dean's List

A Dean's List (applicable to undergraduate level only) is created at the end of fall and spring semesters. To be eligible, a student must have attained a semester grade average of 3.50 with a minimum of twelve-graded semester hours.

What is the independent study (IS) process?

A student may arrange for an independent study (IS) by filling out the pink Independent Study Card. The card must be signed by the instructor, chair or dean of the department, and turned into the Student Services Center no later than the add deadline for the term in which the independent study is to be completed.

The Independent Study Card may be downloaded from here or found on the display rack outside the Student Services Center.

As defined in the Faculty Handbook, page 76, independent study work should be assigned to course numbers 491 and 591; and directed studies assigned to 291.

When an instructor agrees to offer an existing course available in the regular curriculum to a student on an individual bases, the 291/491/591 course numbers are not used. Instead, the pink card should denote the regular course number, title, and credits given for the independent study (IS). For example, a student wishes to take ENGL 239 as an independent study, the card should read: ENGL 239: IS: Environment and Culture, 4 credits.

Graduation and Commencement

How does a student get a duplicate diploma?

To order a duplicate diploma complete the form and submit it along with payment to the Office of the Registrar. Click here to download the required Duplicate Diploma Request Form.

What does a student do to participate in commencement and to apply for graduation?

All students seeking a degree from Pacific Lutheran University must apply for graduation. Graduation applications are available online or in the Student Services Center. The graduation application must be completed and submitted to the Student Services Center by the deadline indicated on the Office of the Registrar website.

Click here for the Bachelor's Degree Graduation Form

Click here for the Master's Degree Graduation Form

Does participation in a Commencement Ceremony mean a degree has been awarded?

Participation in a PLU commencement ceremony does not signify that a student has been awarded to a student or will be awarded a degree. Commencement is a celebration at PLU, participation in a ceremony does not indicate a student has graduation. In addition, regardless of when a student participates in commencement, degrees are awarded for the term all requirements are completed.

Registration

How does a student find his/her current class schedule?

Online Access:  Once you have logged into Banner Web, click the Student Services & Financial Aid tab. Next, click on the link entitled, Registration. On the new page that opens, click on the link, Student Schedule by Day & Time. This will display your class schedule.

How do students register for classes?

With the exception of first-year and transfer students (see description below), students register for their courses through Banner Web on their scheduled registration date. Students with less than 60 semester hours earned must meet with their academic advisor to receive their numeric passcode to register for courses on Banner Web.

First-year students (those who are beginning at PLU) and transfer students must meet with a counselor from the Academic Advising Office either in person or over the phone. Students will be notified of the dates at which they may call the office to make an appointment to register. As Banner Web is not yet available to these students until after they begin their first term at PLU, all registration activity is done through the Academic Advising Office. Students may reach the Academic Advising Office at 253.535.7459.

Online Access: Once a student is logged into Banner Web, enter the Student Services & Financial Aid section of the site. Then click on the link Registration.

How are registration dates prioritized?

Graduate students and priority groups (IHON, Study Away, and registered DSS students) register for courses on the first day of registration for the upcoming term(s). Next, registration times are assigned, in descending order, for other continuing students based on the number of completed semester hours. Registration times are available by logging into Banner Web, selecting Student Services & Financial Aid, selecting Registration, and finally selecting Check your Registration Status.

What are the restrictions on registration?

Some restrictions limit registration, such as medical holds, academic holds, financial holds, etc. A student can check holds on Banner Web. For a complete listing and description of holds, see the PLU catalog section on Tuition, Fees, and Payment Information. Students may visit the Student Services Center to learn more about how to clear a hold.

How do students waitlist a class?

The Waitlist Form is available on the wall by the Student Services center or by download from the Office of the Registrar Documents & Forms section. A student may not waitlist a class through Banner Web. A completed paper copy of the waitlist form must be submitted to the Student Services Center for processing by the listed add/drop deadline for the specific term.

What is the $50 Late Registration Fee?

PLU policy charges a $50 late registration fee for any registration change after the add/drop period date. If a request for a waiver to the fee is approved, the $50 late registration fee is waived. However, a "W" will appear on the PLU transcript to indicate withdrawal from the course(s). Tuition for any withdrawn courses will continue to be charged.

How do students receive permission to take an overload in a semester?

Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.00 are required to have the Overload Form filled out and all required signatures obtained. The signed form should be brought to the Student Services Center for processing. Students with a 3.00 cumulative GPA or above do not need permission to register for 18 or more hours in a semester.

During the summer, a student must complete the Summer Overload Form to take more than five semester hours in any one session.

Transfer and Equivalency Guides

What are the Equivalency Guides and the credits that normally transfer into PLU?

PLU awards credit for college-level courses that are equivalent to PLU courses or requirements. Vocational or technical courses, such as office technology, fashion, or career development, although valuable, are not considered transferable because there is no equivalent coursework at PLU. Equivalency Guides are found on the Office of the Registrar website.

Does PLU give junior status to students with an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree?

PLU does not grant junior standing for any associate degree that is not recognized by the Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA). If a degree is not part of the Direct Transfer Agreement (Such as Associate of Applied Arts, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Technical Arts, and Associate of General Studies), a student is not guaranteed junior standing at PLU. Associate degrees completed at a technical college or credits from any other institution without regional accreditation are granted recognition on a case-by-case basis.

Students who earn a DTA Associate of Arts degree from a community college in the State of Washington are guaranteed junior standing (60 semester hours) upon entrance to PLU. A final transcript is required which shows the AA degree has been awarded.

If the AA degree is from a community college outside of the State of Washington or if the degree is an Associate in Technical Arts from any community college, junior standing is not guaranteed.

How is a student's transcript evaluated for major requirement fulfillment at PLU?

A student must meet with a department faculty advisor to discuss what classes on the transcript will be accepted toward the declared major.

What are the maximum hours transferable into PLU?

PLU awards a maximum of 64 semester hours for all work completed at a two-year college. For work completed at a four-year institution, the maximum is 96 semester hours. PLU will accept a maximum of 96 transferable semester hours in total, which could include a combination of credit hours completed at community colleges and four-year institutions.

How do transfer credits and grade point average (GPA) appear on the PLU transcript?

Transfer credits count toward the university's requirements for graduation, but are not included in the semester hours used to determine the cumulative PLU grade point average (GPA) listed on the PLU transcript.

What is the lowest grade acceptable for transfer to PLU?

The minimum transfer grade PLU will accept is a C- or 1.5 quality grade points.

As a transfer student with an AA degree from a State of Washington community college, what general education requirements remain to be completed at PLU?

Religion

Transfer students entering PLU as juniors or seniors must take four semester hours from Christian Traditions (RC) unless presenting eight transfer semester hours of religion from another regionally-accredited college or university.

Global Religious Traditions (RG) courses will not fulfill the General Education Program element in religion if transferring into PLU with a junior or senior standing.

Encountering Perspectives on Diversity

Transfer students entering PLU as juniors or seniors must take one Encountering Perspectives on Diversity course (four semester hours) at PLU that does not simultaneously fulfill another general education program element, or must show that they have satisfied both the Alternative Perspective (A) and Cross-Cultural (C) pieces of the element.

College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences requirement applies to all students who will earn Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education, or Bachelor of Science in Physical Education degrees at PLU. To view further information on the College of Arts and Sciences requirement, click here.

Students are required to meet either Option I, II or III of the College of Arts and Sciences requirement.

Candidates for the B.A. in English, B.A. in Education with a secondary teaching major in English, B.A. in Global Studies or for election to the Arete Society must meet Option I.

Candidates for a B.A. in Music must meet the Option I or II and take a non-music arts elective in either visual art, theatre or dance.

Students should refer to the PLU catalog for further information on Option I, II, and III.

Students must complete 40 semester hours of upper-division coursework and earn a minimum of 128 semester hours (which includes PLU and accepted transfer coursework) to earn a PLU degree.

How are courses transferred from other colleges into PLU?

College-level, academic courses completed with a grade of C- or better at other accredited colleges or universities will normally be accepted for graduation credit. To have the credit evaluated and added to a student's PLU record, an official transcript from the college or university you attended must be sent directly to PLU's Office of the Registrar. If a student is entering the senior year, an advisor must be consulted with before taking any courses elsewhere. For additional information, contact the Office of the Registrar.

How many credits are permitted at PLU from other educational experiences?

No more than 30 semester hours may be counted toward graduation whether from the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or any other examinations.

Students should refer to the catalog Academic Policy section on Credit By Examination and Procedures and the Admission section on Evaluation of Credits under Other Educational Experiences.

To view the catalog information on Other Educational Experiences, click here.

Withdrawals

How does a student withdraw from PLU?

Students are entitled to withdraw honorably from the university if their record is satisfactory and all financial obligations are satisfied.

Student must complete and sign the "Notification of Student Withdrawal" form in the Student Services Center.

Partial tuition refunds may be available depending on when the student withdraws. Refer to Tuition and Fees section of the catalog for more information. Grades of "W" will appear on the student's transcript for the term.

How does a student withdraw from a class?

A student may withdraw from a class with an instructor's signature after the drop deadline and before the withdraw deadline listed for each term under the Deadlines and Important Dates section of the Office of the Registrar's website and as published in the Term Information Brochure.

Tuition is not refunded, a $50 late registration fee is charged and any additional tuition will be charged for adding any other classes. A grade of "W" is recorded on the student's academic transcript. Faculty cannot enter a "W" grade. If the "W" is not included on the grade roster, the faculty member is to give the student the letter grade earned for the course.

If a student is enrolled in a class, has never attended or did not drop the course before the published deadline, the student must obtain the signature of the instructor on an add/drop form and will be charged a $50 late registration fee.

Add/drop forms are available at the Student Services Center or download here.

How does a student withdraw from a future term?

Students are required to notify PLU if they do not plan to return for the following term. Students are entitled to withdraw honorably from the university if their record is satisfactory and all financial obligations are satisfied. Students must complete and sign the "Notification of Student Withdrawal" form in the Student Services Center.

How does a student apply for a medical withdrawal?

Students may also withdraw completely from the university for a term for medical reasons. The student must complete a Medical Withdrawal Petition, provide written evidence from a physician and a personal explanation to the Vice President for Admission and Student Life.

This must be completed in a timely manner and in no case later than the last day of a class in any given term. If granted, the grade of "WM" will appear on the student's transcript. Physician clearance is required prior to re-enrollment.

Office of The Registrar, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma WA 98447