Registration

Degree Works

Student Records

Courses and Classes

Grades, Grading, & Academic Actions

GERs & Degree Summary

Other Documentation & Resources

Catalog Records by Subject

This information is provided to assist academic departments in managing their course offerings and reflects the most recent data for the period indicated. The information displayed includes course descriptions, prerequisites, cross-listing and registration information, credit, grading mode, and attributes used in the degree summary system. A guide to course qualities is available.

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Course Credit

Lawrence University operates on a 3-term calendar (September to June) and uses a term-course credit system. A standard course is valued at 6 Lawrence units. A normal course load for a term is three standard courses, or 18 units. Some departments offer fractional courses and the credit earned in tutorials, independent study, and internships varies and is determined by the instructor of the course. The smallest amount of credit recorded is 1 Lawrence unit.

Prior to the fall of 2001, credit was recorded in term courses. A standard course was one credit and fractional courses were reported in sixths.

A term consists of 10 weeks of instruction and one week of exams. The normal class period is either three 70-minute sessions or two 110-minute sessions per week. A standard course (reported as either 6 units or 1 term course credit) is the equivalent of 3.333 semester hours or 5 quarter hours. The laboratory components of courses in the sciences are not listed separately on transcripts. Laboratory courses in the sciences are equivalent to courses at other colleges valued at 5 semester or 8 quarter hours.

Credit attempted and credit earned plays a role in the evaluation of academic progress, eligibility for grants and scholarships, load deferments, veteran's benefits, participation in sports and co-curricular activities, insurance (car, health), etc.

Academic Class Standing and Lawrence Units

  • Freshman: 0 to 47
  • Sophomore: 48 to 101
  • Junior: 102 to 155
  • Senior: 156 or more

Minimum Credit Required For Degree and Lawrence Units

  • B.A.: 216
  • B.Mus.: 216
  • B.A./B.Mus.: 270

Time Status and Lawrence Units

  • Normal Load for Standard Term: 18
  • Full-Time (standard term): 15 or more
  • Three-Quarter-Time (standard term): 12 to 14
  • Half-Time (standard term): 8 to 11
  • Less than Half-Time (standard term): 7 or fewer
  • Normal load for Off-Campus Semester Program: 27
  • Full-Time (semester program): 21 or more
  • Three-Quarter-Time (semester program): 16 to 20
  • Half-Time (semester program): 11 to 15
  • Less than Half-Time (semester program): 10 or fewer

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The Life of a Course

Only "active" courses are published in the printed catalog and may be scheduled by the home academic department for a particular term session. The status of a course is determined in accordance with the following rules and procedures:

  1. An active course record will be created when the faculty approve a new course proposal. The description and other pertinent information contained in the proposal will be used to create both the master record for the course and the listing in the printed catalog.
  2. A course will be inactivated if the home department decides it will no longer be offered.
  3. The registrar will review catalog listings each year and inactivate those courses not taught within the last five years.
  4. A course will be reactivated and made available for scheduling at the request of the home department as long as the course was taught within the last 10 years.
  5. A department must ask the Committee on Instruction for approval to reinstate an inactive course that has not been taught in the last 10 years. The department should provide the committee with whatever information is currently being requested for new course approvals.

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Class Scheduling Rules & Guidelines

Class Periods

Departments or instructors who wish to schedule courses at times that do not meet the requirements below must obtain the approval of the Committee on Instruction.  For details and photos for classrooms, visit Classrooms and/or Active Learning Classrooms.  

A standard course must be scheduled using a regular class period (a course valued at less than 6 units may use less than the full class period). Class periods are defined as follows:

Monday/Wednesday/Friday (three 70-minute sessions)

  • 8:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
  • 9:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
  • 11:10 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
  • 1:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • 3:10 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.

Monday/Wednesday

  • 12:30 p.m.- 1:40 p.m. (Studios)

Tuesday/Thursday (two 105-minute sessions)

  • 8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
  • 10:25 a.m.. – 12:10 p.m.
  • 12:40 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
  • 2:35 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.

A course with fourth or fifth sessions each week do not have to be held at the same time as the primary class period used for the class section.  The fourth or fifth sessions must be scheduled using the following times for the additional sessions:

Tuesday, Thursday, or both (70-minute sessions)

  • 8:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
  • 11:00 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
  • 12:40 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
  • 3:10 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.

A course with a laboratory session must be scheduled using one or the following times for the laboratory:

Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday

  • 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (3-hour lab)
  • 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (4-hour lab)

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

  • 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (3-hour lab)
  • 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (4-hour lab)

Convocation Hour (12:30 p.m.– 1:40 p.m., Friday)

The convocation hour remains a reserved hour and not available as a regular class meeting time.

3:10 p.m. - 4:20 p.m. MWF

Music ensembles will be scheduled at this time.  All academic departments are responsible for complying with the rule that courses required for a major may not be scheduled during this period unless another class session of the course is also offered at another class period in the same term.

Final Exam Schedule

The final exam schedule will be based on the nine standard class periods. Final examinations for classes scheduled as arranged or permitted to meet at odd times will continue to be arranged by the instructor during exam week at a time convenient to all students in the class.  There will be three days at the end of each term devoted to final examinations. Examinations are up to 2.5 hours long with an hour break in between. In most terms, there will be three exam periods each day.  Approval of petitions to change final examination times will be granted to students with three exams on the same day.

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Course Numbers

Prior to the fall of 2001 Lawrence used 2-digit course numbers. Courses numbered 20 or above were considered upper-level courses. Beginning with the fall term of 2001-02 Lawrence converted to 3-digit course numbers. These can be interpreted as follows:

  • 100-199 Introductory Courses: These courses generally do not require prior study unless they are part of a sequence, such as introductory language or mathematics courses. This level includes courses introducing students to the discipline as well as any topical courses aimed at non-majors.
  • 200-399 Foundation/Gateway Courses: These courses represent the second tier of work in each discipline and might include methods courses and introductions to sub-disciplines. Typically these courses are not appropriate for entering freshmen, but in some departments they might be appropriate for continuing students with no prior experience in the subject.
  • 400-599 Advanced Courses: These courses include seminar series, special topics courses, and advanced work in sub-disciplines. Students enrolling in advanced courses are expected to understand the basic methodology of the discipline.
  • 600-699 Capstone Courses: These courses include the culminating work in a discipline, and are not appropriate for students who are neither majors nor minors in the discipline.

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Course Schedule Type

All courses must be assigned to one of the following schedule types. Academic departments/curricular programs will be asked to review these assignments each year as part of the creation of the class schedule.

  • 01 Standard: Classes meet regularly for 210-220 minutes of instruction per week over a 10-week term for six units or a proportional amount of time for less than six units.
  • 02 Standard Plus: Classes meet on a modified standard schedule for approximately 230-270 minutes of instruction per week over a 10-week term for six units or a proportional amount of time for less than six units. Additional class time is used for recitation/discussion/applied sessions.
  • 03 Standard Plus Additional: Classes meet on a modified standard schedule for approximately 280-350 minutes of instruction per week over a 10-week term for six units or a proportional amount of time for less than six units. Additional class time is used for recitation/discussion/applied sessions.
  • 04 Standard Plus Lab: Classes meet on a standard schedule plus an additional laboratory session for approximately 380 minutes of instruction per week over a 10-week term for six units or a proportional amount of time for less than six units.
  • 05 Lab/Studio: Classes consist of regularly scheduled laboratory or studio sessions only and meet for approximately 420-510 minutes per week over a 10-week term for six units or a proportional amount of time for less than six units.
  • 06 Individual Performance Study: Classes consist of half- or one-hour music lessons each week over a 10-week term for six, three or two units.
  • 07 Group Performance Study: Classes consist of regularly scheduled meetings and music performance(s) during a 10-week term for one unit. Instruction time per unit varies by course.
  • 08 Internship/Practicum:  No formal instruction although academic work is evaluated by faculty and guidance may be provided. The course is recorded on a term basis, but may be continued for more than one term.  The number of units to be awarded is determined by sponsoring department or the Committee on Instruction based on the nature and amount of academic work to be completed.
  • 09 Tutorial: Opportunity for a student or small group of students to study a topic in-depth in collaboration with one or more faculty members. The instructor and the student determine a regular meeting schedule for the term. The course is recorded on a term basis, but may be continued for more than one term. The number of units to be awarded is determined by the instructor and student before registration based on the nature and amount of work to be completed.
  • 10 Independent Study: Opportunity for a student to pursue a special interest resulting in new scholarship or creative activity typical of the discipline.  The student works independently, with some meetings with instructor. The course is recorded on a term basis, but may be continued for more than one term. The number of units to be awarded is determined by the instructor and student before registration based on the nature and amount of work to be completed.
  • 11 Writing For Credit: No formal instruction.  The student challenges course within a one-year time frame by completing all readings, quizzes, exams, reports, papers, projects and any other course requirements independently. Not available for all courses.
  • 13 Graduate Course: Course is part of limited number of graduate programs. Instruction time per unit varies by program.
  • 14 Directed Study: Course follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work.  The number of units to be awarded is determined by the instructor and student before registration based on the nature and amount of work to be completed.  The course is recorded on a term basis, but may be continued for more than one term.
  • 15 December Term:   Courses address topics not covered in the regular curriculum and may involve trips away from campus, performances, or projects.  All December Term courses are offered for three units and meet for approximately 500-600 minutes per week during the two-week session.

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Preview Catalog Records by Subject: 2024-2025

This information is provided to assist academic departments in managing their course offerings and reflects the most recent data for the time period indicated. Information displayed includes course descriptions, prerequisites, cross-listing and registration information, credit, grading mode, and attributes used in the degree summary system. A  guide to course qualities (pdf) is available.

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General Education Requirements

The text of the current general education and other degree requirements for each degree program (BA, BMUS, five-year BA/BMUS, and BMA) can be found at Academics. Current students should refer to the catalog under which they entered to review the requirements for their degrees, which can be found on the Course Catalogs page.

The most recent revision of the general education requirements occurred in Fall 2007 for the BMUS degree program, and in Fall 2008 for the BA and BA/BMUS degree programs. A comparison sheet (pdf) is available to help advisors who need to work with students completing under different sets of requirements (catalogs).

The university faculty has designated certain classes as meeting competency and diversity requirements. Symbols appear in the class schedule and on student transcripts for classes so designated. (G--global diversity, D--dimensions of diversity, A--BA foreign language competency, M--BMUS. foreign language competency, Q--quantitative and mathematical reasoning, S--speaking intensive, and W--writing intensive).

The definitive list of offerings meeting diversity and competency requirements can be found in the Class Schedule. There is no guarantee, however, that every time a particular course is offered it will be taught in a way that fulfills a particular competency or diversity requirement. For example, not every offering of ENG 455 will be done as a speaking-intensive class. Classes that might be offered to meet these requirements are listed in the Course-instructor Approvals for Diversity and Competency Requirements (PDF).

Instructors must request approval from the Committee on Instruction to have the courses they teach fulfill diversity and competency requirements using a GER approval request form.

Once a course syllabus has been approved for a competency or diversity requirement, the instructor is free to offer the course in a particular term using the approved syllabus. The instructor or department chair must indicate the competency or diversity requirement when scheduling the class.

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Releasing Advising Holds

Academic Advising Holds

Advising holds will be reset in the registration system before each registration period. A hold will be created for every advisor-student pair. An active advising hold will prevent a student from making any registration transactions in Voyager. When the hold is "released" in Voyager by the advisor it indicates that the advisor and student have had a conversation about the registration changes to be made and the advisor has given the student her or his best advice on the matter.

Exception: In the spring term for the first round of advance registration for the next academic year, advising holds will not be set for students attending off-campus programs or on leave of absence.

Viewing Advising Holds

You can see the status of advising holds for your advisees using your "List of Advisees" in Voyager. Students can see advising and other registration holds on their "Check Registration Times & Status" page in Voyager.

To Release a Hold for an Advisee

Select the following links after logging into Voyager—

  1. Faculty Academic Services
  2. Advisor Menu
  3. List of Advisees

Use the "Release" link in the "Advisor Hold" column and follow the directions on the next screen. If the "Advisor Hold" column is blank, all advising holds on the student have been released.

To Release a Hold for Any Student

Department chairs acting as temporary advisors when members of the faculty are ill, out of town, or not reachable by a student needing assistance can release advising holds for any student. In an emergency any member of the faculty can release an advising hold. It is expected that such individuals releasing holds, will contact the original advisor about the situation and the matters that were discussed.

Select the following links after logging into Voyage:

  1. Faculty Academic Services
  2. Advisor Menu
  3. Administrative Advising Menu
  4. SELECT TERM (use the current term)
  5. SELECT STUDENT (Hint: Type in a few letters of the student’s last name and end with %. "Submit" to create a drop-down box of Lawrence students from which to pick a name.)
  6. Release Student’s Advising Hold
View Advising Hold History for Your Advisee

You can see the history of advising holds (when they were set, and when and who released them) for one of your advisees by using the Adminstrative Advising Menu.

Released a Hold in Error?

Please email the Registrar’s Office at registrar@lawrence.edu.

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Giving Approval to Register

Instructor Approval for Registration Must Be Recorded in Voyager
  • When the course is scheduled as requiring the instructor’s approval to register. These classes are marked "APR" in the class schedule.
  • For a student to add a limited enrollment course on or after the first day of classes of the term. A student on the waiting list who is offered a seat in the class at the first meeting will not be able to register for the class until approval is recorded by the instructor.
  • For all non-degree students (audit only, general non-degree, Lawrence Academy, or teacher certification programs). These students are not permitted to advance register and may not be seated until all degree-seeking students are accommodated at the beginning of the term.
Some Things to Think About in Advance
  • What will you require the student to provide to obtain your approval? Is an email request OK? What else?
  • Telling students when you will record your approvals will help reduce the number of email messages you receive, particularly at the beginning of the term. Students have the first 5 class days to register at the beginning of every term. Recording your approvals by Wednesday of the first week should allow them plenty of time to log in to Voyager and add your class to their schedules before the registration period ends.
Recording an Approval to Register for Your Classes

Select the following links after logging into Voyager:

  1. Faculty Academic Services
  2. Instructor Menu
  3. Give Approval to Register For Your Classes Only

Use the scroll bar to find your student, then click on the student's name. A page will appear showing all your scheduled classes for the current and any future terms. Click in the boxes (one or more) to identify those classes for which you would like to give the student approval to register. Click "Submit" to enter your approvals.

Use the link at the bottom of the page to return to the student list to select another student or use the links at the top of the page to return to the menu or elsewhere in Voyager.

Note: If you teach music lessons, clicking on the box in front of the lesson row will award approval for all terms in which that level of lesson is scheduled.

Recording an Approval to Register for a Colleague's Class–Special Circumstances Only

If you need to record an approval for a colleague in an emergency, select the following links after logging into Voyager—

  1. Faculty Academic Services
  2. Instructor Menu
  3. SELECT TERM
  4. SELECT CRN (pick class from the drop-down list or type in CRN using the link at the bottom of the page)
  5. SELECT STUDENT (Hint: Type in a few letters of the student's last name and end with %. "Submit" to create a drop-down box of Lawrence students from which to pick a name.)
  6. Give Approval to Register (Hint: If you are recording a number of approvals for the same class, use the "Select Student" link at the bottom of the page to pick the next student. The system will remain locked on to the same term and CRN. Important Note: For limited enrollment classes after the term begins, you must use the code labeled "Apr to Add Lim Enr Class." This code will only appear after the term begins.)
Viewing Approvals

Students will see approvals in Voyager on their "Check Registration Times & Status" page for term. Instructors can view approvals by using the "View Instructor Approvals to Register," which is the last item on the Instructor Menu, or click on the CRN on the "Give Approval..." page. The "View Instructor Approvals..." page provides a total count at the bottom and will show if the student has registered or waitlisted the class.

Limited Enrollment Classes

If you are offering a seat to a student in a limited enrollment class after the term begins, a special code ("Apr to Add Lim Enr Class") is required. On or after the first day of classes the "Give Approval to Register for Your Classes Only" page will insert the proper code for you. If you are using the generic approval form, you will need to select the proper code yourself.

Authorization to Give Approvals

It is expected that only the course instructor will record approvals to register. The system, however, will allow any faculty member to approve any course. This will allow colleagues to help students when faculty are ill or have other emergencies during registration periods. If you give approval for someone else's class, you need to communicate that fact to the instructor.

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Grading Instructions

The prompt reporting of final grades is essential for our students. It is expected that instructors will submit their class grades by the scheduled deadlines. Missing grades can affect applications for graduate school and employment; qualifications for off-campus programs, scholarships, financial aid, and insurance; and the end-of-term academic standing review.

All grades are submitted online using the Voyager Information System. Grade deadlines can be found at the top of the class list display and in the grade submission form. The links below provide more detailed information about the grading system and grade submission process.