Advising, Requirements, and Grades
- How can I meet with a Weinberg College Adviser?
- How many credits do I need for a Weinberg College degree?
- What other requirements do I need to meet in order to receive a degree from Weinberg College?
- Do AP credits count towards the Distribution Requirements or are they electives?
- Is there any limit on the number of AP credits that may be counted for the Distribution Requirements?
- How do I petition for exceptions to Distribution Requirements?
- How do I enroll in a 5th course?
- How do I drop or add a course?
- What are the passing grades for Distribution Requirements, majors, and P/N?
- What is the difference between an X and a Y grade? How do I petition for incompletes?
- How can I learn more about majors and minors in Weinberg College?
- Where and how do I declare my major or minor?
- May courses I take to meet the Distribution Requirements also count towards my major?
- If I have a double major, may a single course count towards both?
- If I study abroad, will the courses I take count towards my graduation requirements?
- Can I take summer school elsewhere and get credit for the course?
- I'm thinking about doing majors in two different schools at Northwestern or about switching from one school to another. Whom can I talk with about this?
- How do I transfer from my current school to another school within Northwestern?
- I'm thinking of going to medical school or to law school. How can I learn more about this?
- Where can I get more information about summer jobs, internships, or part-time jobs during the school year?
- What if I have questions that aren't answered here?
Q1. How can I meet with a Weinberg College Adviser?
A. WCAS students are assigned a College Advisers who will work with them on an individual basis from sophomore year through graduation. We also see freshmen and students in other schools considering interschool transfer into WCAS. We work at the Weinberg College Office of Academic Advising, 1908 Sheridan Road. We'd be glad to talk with you about choosing your courses and your major, about degree requirements and your progress toward meeting them, and about any other academic concerns you may have. To set up an appointment, call 847-491-8916 or stop by our office.
Q2. How many credits do I need for a Weinberg College degree?
A. You need at least 45 credits. In addition to courses you take here at Northwestern, these may include AP or IB credits accepted by the College, as well as approved credits transferred from other institutions. Most courses count for one credit.
The last 23 of your 45 credits must be taken while you are registered as an undergraduate student at Northwestern. You must also be registered in Weinberg College for the last three quarters before you receive your degree, and you must fulfill Northwestern University's Undergraduate Residence Requirement .
Q3. What other requirements do I need to meet in order to receive a degree from Weinberg College?
A. You need to demonstrate Writing Proficiency, as well as Proficiency in a Foreign Language. You also need to complete 12 Distribution Requirements . This involves taking two approved courses in each of six broad areas of study: Natural Sciences, Formal Studies, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Historical Studies, Ethics and Values, and Literature and Fine Arts. You need to complete the requirements for your chosen major. In addition, all students who are enrolled in Weinberg College as freshmen must also complete two Freshman Seminars. You can find more information on all of these degree requirements in the Weinberg College Student Handbook.
Q4. Do AP credits count towards the Distribution Requirements or are they electives?
A. It depends on the subject and the score you receive. Detailed information on how AP examinations are credited in Weinberg College is available online.
Q5. Is there any limit on the number of AP credits that may be counted for the Distribution Requirements?
A. Yes, a maximum of 2 AP or IB credits, each in a different area, can count toward distribution requirements. Additional AP credits can count as elective credits towards graduation. With the permission of the relevant department or program, AP credits can also count towards major or minor requirements. (NOTE: For students entering prior to Fall 2006, a maximum of 6 AP credits may count toward distribution requirements.)
Q6. How do I petition for exceptions to Distribution Requirements?
A. If you would like to request an exception to Distribution Requirements, read more about the policy on substitutions for Distribution Requirements in the Student Handbook. You can also download a copy of the Petition for Substitution of Distribution Requirements or get the form at the Weinberg College Office of Academic Advising, 1908 Sheridan Road. Follow the directions on the form and submit it, along with the requested documentation, to the Weinberg College Office of Academic Advising. If you have any questions regarding your petition, you can discuss them with your College Adviser or with Joan Linsenmeier, j-linsenmeier@northwestern.edu .
Q7. How do I enroll in a 5th course?
A. Do this during the drop/add period, which takes place at the beginning of the quarter. You will need to get a permission number from the department offering the course. You will also need to complete an add/drop slip and get it signed at the Weinberg College Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising, 1922 Sheridan Road, or the Weinberg College Office of Academic Advising, 1908 Sheridan Road. If you are a freshman, you should have a GPA of 3.50 or better for the preceding quarter, and if you are an upperclassman, you should have a 3.00 GPA or better. If your GPA is below the cut-off, you can meet with a College Adviser to request an exception. After getting a signature on the add/drop slip, you should take it to the Registrar's Office.
Q8. How do I drop or add a course?
A. You can add a course only during the drop/add period, which takes place at the very beginning of the quarter. To add some courses, you will need a permission number from the department in which it is offered; check with the specific department or on CAESAR for details. Once you have a permission number, or if no permission number is needed, you can add the course through CAESAR . (If you are already enrolled in four courses and want to add a fifth course, see the instructions above.)
While you can only add a course at the very beginning of the quarter, you can drop a course through CAESAR within six weeks of the start of the quarter; no signature or permission number is needed. Exact deadlines for adding and dropping courses are listed in the Registrar's academic calendar.
Q9. What are the passing grades for Distribution Requirements, majors, and P/N?
A. To count a course towards your major or minor, you need to earn a C- or better. To count a course towards the Distribution Requirements, you need at least a D. If you are taking a course P/N, D is the lowest passing grade.
Q10. What is the difference between an X and a Y grade? How do I petition for incompletes?
A. X means you missed a final exam, and Y means you missed other work in a course. If you are unable to take a final exam due to circumstances beyond your control, or you will be unable to submit some coursework before the end of the quarter, then (1) fill out a petition for an incomplete, (2) get your instructor's approval, and (3) make an appointment with a College Adviser to request final approval. You can download a copy of the Petition to Receive an Incomplete or get one at the Weinberg College Office of Academic Advising, 1908 Sheridan Road.
Q11. How can I learn more about majors and minors in Weinberg College?
A. One way to learn more is to discuss your interests with a Weinberg College Adviser or with an adviser in any major or minor you are considering. You can consult departmental websites for all of our majors and minors . These websites provide information on the department's faculty, courses and curricula, as well as a description of what it means to major in that field and of opportunities for its graduates. Each also includes information on whom to contact for more information about that major or minor.
Q12. Where and how do I declare my major or minor?A. Weinberg College students declare their majors by filling out a Declaration of Major form. You get the form and fill it out in the department or program in which you plan to major, and you should take one copy of the form to the Weinberg College Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising, 1922 Sheridan Rd. As part of the declaration process, you will discuss your plans with a department or program adviser, and you will also be invited to meet with a College Adviser.
When you're ready to declare your major, call or visit the department or program office and ask where to go to do your declaration; you can find office phone numbers and locations through our list of department and program webpages.
To declare a minor, follow the same procedure as for a major, but fill out a Declaration of Minor form instead.
Q13. May courses I take to meet the Distribution Requirements also count towards my major?
A. Yes, they may. For example, if you take Philosophy 150-Elementary Logic I to meet your Formal Studies requirement and then go on to become a Philosophy major, the course will count towards both sets of requirements. However, you will receive only one unit of credit for the course, not two.
Q14. If I have a double major, may a single course count towards both?
A. No, with two exceptions:
First, some majors require "related courses," that is, courses taken outside your major department or program that help to round out your knowledge of the subject. In these cases, the related courses for one major may also count for the second major. Please see the undergraduate course catalog or your major adviser for details.
Second, some interdisciplinary and adjunct majors have special double counting rules. Again, you should see the undergraduate course catalog or an adviser for your adjunct or interdisciplinary major for details.
Q15. If I study abroad, will the courses I take count towards my graduation requirements?
A. In general, courses you take on a study abroad program sanctioned by Northwestern University will count towards your degree, provided that you earn a grade of C or better in them. Some are likely to count as electives, and some may fulfill specific requirements.
You must check with your major or minor adviser, or the director of undergraduate studies in your major or minor, to ascertain which courses may be counted towards your major or minor requirements. In some cases, courses you take abroad may count towards your distribution requirements. Students who study abroad for the whole year may request up to two distribution credits, in two different areas, and those who study abroad for part of the year may request one.
Courses that do not count towards a major, minor, or distribution requirements usually count as electives. However, every student needs at least some electives in order to reach the minimum of 45 courses to graduate.
To count courses you take abroad toward your requirements, you must complete and submit a Petition for Credit from Study Abroad when you return to Northwestern; you can get this petition online or at the Weinberg College Office of Academic Advising, 1908 Sheridan Road. More information on counting study abroad courses toward Weinberg College requirements is available online.
Q16. Can I take summer school elsewhere and get credit for the course?
A. In general, the answer is yes, but you will have to get approval from the Weinberg College Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising, 1922 Sheridan Road, before you take summer school courses elsewhere. Bring a copy of the course description to the office and fill out a form. You will then need to take the form to the Northwestern department offering similar courses in order to discuss the appropriate transfer credit. If you want to count the course for a major or minor, you will need a signature from a major or minor adviser. After you have completed the course, a transcript should be submitted to Northwestern's Registrar's Office. You should also keep in mind that there is a limit to how many non-Northwestern courses can be counted towards your Weinberg College requirements.
More information on policies for taking courses elsewhere, as well as the Application for Credit for Non-Northwestern Courses, are available online.
Q17. I'm thinking about doing majors in two different schools at Northwestern or about switching from one school to another. Whom can I talk with about this?
A. Undergraduate students are enrolled in six different schools at Northwestern: Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Communication, the School of Education and Social Policy, the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Medill School of Journalism, and the School of Music. If you are a WCAS student thinking of transferring to another school, you should first consult your freshman adviser or your College Adviser. Another good place to go to talk about what's available in the different schools, and about ways to combine different options, is the University Academic Advising Center . You should also talk with advisers in the individual schools and departments that interest you.
Q18. How do I transfer from my current school to another school within Northwestern?
A. Get the Interschool Transfer (IST) Form and a copy of your transcript from the Registrar's Office. Complete the IST form and have it approved by your current school. Then bring your IST form to your proposed new school. In the case of students who would like to transfer to Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, you should submit your interschool transfer application at the Weinberg College Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising, 1922 Sheridan Road. You will also schedule a meeting with a College Adviser to discuss Weinberg College policies and degree requirements, as well as your own academic plans.
Q19. I'm thinking of going to medical school or to law school. How can I learn more about this?
A. The College Advisers provide premedical or prelaw advice, particularly as such plans impact your academic career here. Specific advising for premed students can be found at the University Academic Advising Center ; if you're interested in a career in medicine, you should be sure to contact the adviser there by the end of your freshman year. The Academic Advising Center also offers information sessions on various aspects of the preparation and application processes for graduate schools in the health professions. In addition, they hold question and answer sessions. One of the Weinberg College Advisers specializes in prelaw advising; to make an appointment with her, call 847-491-8916. You can also find a lot of useful information on premedical and prelaw studies online. One place to start is with the section of the Undergraduate Studies website that focuses on pre-professional studies .
Additional information for premed, prelaw, and other pre-professional students, as well as those interested in graduate training in other areas, is available through Career Services.
Q20. Where can I get more information about summer jobs, internships, or part-time jobs during the school year?
A. A good place to go for job or internship information is Career Services . Weinberg College also maintains information about internship opportunities . Many academic departments in Weinberg College also have information about work opportunities for their students. If you are eligible for the Federal Work-Study Program , then check with the Work-Study Office too and look through the opportunities listed on the work-study webpage.
Q21. What if I have questions that aren't answered here?
A. We encourage you to meet with a Weinberg College Adviser. Just stop by the Office of Academic Advising, 1908 Sheridan Road, or call 847-491-8916 to set up an appointment. You can also send questions by e-mail to wcas-adviser@northwestern.edu and a College Adviser will get back to you. Exploring other Weinberg College webpages and reading handouts distributed by the College are also good ways to learn more about the College and about the opportunities we offer.
