Enrollment and Registration Policies

Full-Time Enrollment

Undergraduate students register for between 12 and 18 credits to maintain full-time status. Graduate students register for between 9 and 18 credits to maintain full-time status.  International students are required to maintain full-time enrollment. An exception can be made for international students during their final semester if the total credits needed to complete their degree requirements are less than full-time enrollment.

Less than Full-Time Enrollment

The College does not permit part-time schedules except in cases that are required by law (Americans with Disabilities Act) or in special circumstances (documented illness, death in the family, or other special circumstances). Students who believe their situation is a special circumstance must complete the Approval to Attend Part-Time form. This form is available online in MyOtis.

Students on financial aid (including loans) seeking approval for a part-time schedule must also complete the Approval to Attend Part-Time form and receive advisement from a financial aid counselor to determine the effect of a less than full-time enrollment upon their aid packages. Many forms of financial aid require full-time status on the part of awarded students. Students who enroll in less than full-time enrollment will be charged the per credit tuition rate for each credit taken.

Repeating a Course for Degree Credit

Students may not repeat the same course (same subject code, course number and title) for credit toward their degree.

Taking More than 18 Credits

Students who wish to register for more than 18 credits must submit an Override Request form (available online on MyOtis) signed by their department chair or academic advisor approving the additional credits. Students who take more than 18 credits will be charged the per credit
tuition rate for each credit taken above 18. Students are advised to meet with a counselor in Student Financial Services before taking more than 18 credits.

Limited Non-Degree-Seeking Status

Through special approval of the Department Chair and the Provost, Otis College graduates may petition for limited, non-degree-seeking status at either the undergraduate or graduate levels. Interested parties fill out a Petition for Non-Degree Status available through the Registration Office, which is reviewed by the College. With the approval of the appropriate Department Chair(s) and Provost, and having satisfied any prerequisites, a student may be admitted on a limited, non-degree seeking basis if space is available.

Participation by the non-degree status student is contingent upon review of any material or documents deemed necessary by the College. Students attending Otis under non-degree-seeking status are not eligible to enroll in Independent Study courses.

Enrollment with this status is limited to two semesters, for a total of 9 credits at either the graduate or undergraduate level. Students are responsible for the same per-hour tuition rate and fees as matriculated students. Students enrolled with this status are not eligible for financial aid, tuition remission, or any other form of tuition discount.

Class Level

The official undergraduate class level as reflected in our student information system is determined by the number of credits completed and includes credits completed at Otis College and credits from other institutions that have been officially approved for transfer toward the degree. The official undergraduate class level is used to determine registration priority and for the purposes of financial aid eligibility. Official class level is determined as follows:

Adding, Dropping, or Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add, drop, or withdraw from a course by taking the following steps:

1. Consult the Academic Calendar for Add, Drop, and Withdrawal deadlines.
2. Log into Self-Service to add/drop classes during the appropriate add/drop periods. Withdrawals from courses are done by completing a Course Withdrawal Request form available online in MyOtis..
3. To withdraw from a course, please first meet with an academic advisor. Then complete a Course Withdrawal Request form available in MyOtis, which routes to the Chair for approval.