Common Questions
Help! I don’t know where to go or what to ask!Relax, we’re here to help! Often the best place to start is right here with the College of Sciences Academic Services office (COSAS). Visit our office (click here for directions), send us an email to COSAS@ucf.edu. If it’s not our office that needs to assist you then we can direct you to the right place. You can also find many answers below on this F.A.Q. page.
Each student has several advisors to work with based upon their major selection. For students in the College of Sciences you will have a College Advisor (which assists with general questions, academic standing, degree audit, and graduation) and also a Departmental Advisor (which assists with major-specific questions, internships, and discipline specific knowledge). To find out who your specific advisors are click here.
COSAS is located on the UCF main campus on the 2nd floor of the College of Sciences Building (room CSB 250). The College of Sciences building is right across from the Student Union Smoothie King. For a picture of the building an a detailed map to our location click here.
In most cases, you will need to file for graduation though MyUCF and attend a COSAS graduation workshop. Both of these things must be completed in your second-to-last semester, so timing is important! Check out our Graduation page for more specific details.
There are many reasons that registration may be closed for you:
- Holds or To-Dos: First make sure that you do not have any holds or To-do’s on your account. Those are view-able on the student self-service page of MyUCF. Holds are the #1 most common issue for preventing registration and typically must be satisfied in order to register for courses. To find out what you will need to do to satisfy your hold, click the “details” link beneath it on your MyUCF student self-service page.
- Enrollment Appointments: Also another issue could be that enrollment appointments are not open yet. That can also be checked on your MyUCF student self-service page (just below the holds and to-dos area). Each student has a specific day and time that they are able to register for the next semester. This section of your student self-service page shows the specific time you are able to enroll.
- Other concerns: Please stop by our office if you are unable to figure out the problem.
Students who are on academic probation have a COS hold on their student accounts, preventing them from registering. Students can confirm whether or not they are on academic probation by checking their account through MyUCF. This hold ensures that COS students connect with their advisors, receive basic University policy information, and are informed of the options available to address his or her academic standing. For more information on what is required to lift the Academic Probation Hold click here.
You are not meeting major requirements for your declared degree program. Information on how to proceed with the hold will be emailed to you via UCF email. For some students with the Mandatory Advisement Hold the COS Explore programming may be required. Should you need additional assistance please email our office at cosas@ucf.edu.
Holds may be placed on your record for various reasons. Holds may restrict your ability to register, receive grades, transcripts or your diploma. For instructions on how to clear or remove a hold, please follow the instructions displayed when viewing your hold on the MyUCF portal. COSAS cannot remove a hold that was placed by a different department or college so make sure you are contacting the correct office.
UCF email is University of Central Florida’s official email service. You must check your UCF email address frequently since you receive UCF information vital to your student account, financial aid, registration, advising, and web courses. Most offices at UCF will NOT correspond with students through non-UCF email accounts, so it is critical to set up your UCF email account and check it regularly. To set up a UCF email account click here. Should you have questions or concerns with creating or accessing your UCF email account please contact the UCF Service Desk.
For scheduling planning you should speak with your department advisor. Departmental advisors will have the most up-to-date information on what classes in your major are being offered, what instructors best align with your future goals, and can offer additional insights into the course content of the chosen class. To find the contact information for your departmental advisor click here.
Freshman and Transfer Students entering the College of Sciences, visit UCF Orientation Services at http://orientation.ucf.edu for more complete information.
- Freshmen: For Freshmen entering the College of Sciences: COSAS will give you an overview of the college and split you into groups by major for a group advising session. The next day, you will be assigned a first year advisor who will help you register for your classes. For more information on freshman orientation visit: http://orientation.ucf.edu
- Transfer Students: Click here for important notes on preparing for Transfer Orientation.
Graduation Questions
What do I need to do to Graduate?Students must fulfill both the requirements for the major and the university graduation requirements to receive a degree from the University of Central Florida. Use this checklist and your Degree Audit as a guide in monitoring your progress toward degree requirements.
In most cases, you will need to file for graduation though MyUCF, complete the COS Gradform, and attend a COSAS graduation workshop. All three of these requirements must be completed in your second-to-last semester, so timing is important! Check out our Graduation page for more specific details.
Once you have filed your intent to graduate you will receive an email informing you about Graduation Workshop dates. Typically, workshops are held a couple of weeks before the semester you will graduate begins.
Visit https://gradform.cos.ucf.edu/ to begin your COS Gradform. This website will help you file the digital paperwork required for you to graduate. This online questionnaire is for our COSAS advisors to review and make sure all requirements are being met. After clicking start, you will be guided through the process. First you will be asked for information regarding yourself, and your major. Then you must agree to the conditions set forth by the College of Sciences. Finally, you will be asked to specify any deficiencies regarding your progress towards graduation.
Follow the instructions listed on the email. If you have any more questions, please email cosgraduation@ucf.edu
If both majors are within the same college and are of the same degree type (BA or BS), both majors will be indicated on the diploma and you receive one diploma; however, if the majors are from different colleges or are of different degree types, you will only get one diploma and may have the option to decide which major is displayed.
For a double degree a student may earn 2 degrees (and diplomas) by completing the requirements for both majors and earning a minimum of 150 credit hours. If you are a double degree student than you will receive two diplomas; one for each degree.
For a double major a student may earn one degree, a BA or BS, with two majors, by completing the requirements for both majors. Students earning a double major must use the same Catalog year for both majors. For a double degree a student may earn a BA and a BS, by completing the requirements for both majors and earning a minimum of 150 credit hours.
- A student may earn two diplomas, from any 2 degrees so long as the degrees are earned in separate colleges and a minimum of 150 (or more) credit hours are earned.
- A student may earn two diplomas, either both BA or both BS, within the same college if allowed by the particular college and a minimum of 150 (or more) credit hours are earned.
- Students earning two degrees may use different Catalog years for each degree. If different Catalog years are used, the general university requirements in the latest of the two catalogs will be applied to both degrees.
Students attempting multiple majors or degrees beyond two must consult with the Registrar’s Office for coordination among degree programs. Responsibility for doing so rests with the student. The stipulations for two majors and/or two degrees will apply as well as other minimum amount of hours and prohibitions about combinations. For more information visit, http://catalog.ucf.edu/policies/degree-requirements.
You can find more information about commencement at http://registrar.ucf.edu/.
Degree Audit Questions
What is my degree audit and where can I find it?The Degree Audit is a computer-generated evaluation of a student’s progress toward a specified degree program. It is NOT an official transcript. Use your Degree Audit to check which degree requirements you have met and which you have not met. Audits are available prior to registration and should be brought to each advising session. You may obtain your Audit online at MyUCF using the scroll-down bar located in the Student Center and print a copy as needed. For step-by-step instructions on how to access and read your degree audit click here.
Your Degree Audit may at first seem confusing, but following these guidelines will make it easier to comprehend. For step-by-step instructions on how to access and read your degree audit click here.
The General Education Program (GEP) are 36 required semester credit hours. Course descriptions are in the online UCF catalog. Some majors require suggest specific General Education classes. Consult your academic advisor. Not all classes are offered every semester. For more information on GEP click here.
An awarded Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree from a Florida public community college or university satisfies the general education program requirements at UCF; this includes the Florida Gordon Rules. For more information on transfer credits click here.
Students must fulfill both the requirements for a major and University requirements to receive a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida. Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to one year of college instruction (and occasionally more, depending upon the specific major). This requirement may be met either by successful completion of the appropriate college-level course or by examination.
Credits are sometimes not applied to an intended requirement area as a result of poor organization and communication between students and UCF.
Transferring students should review our Orientation page for additional information on what forms to fill out and what information you will need from your transfer institution. Some credits will be transferred automatically, while others may require some extra processing.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact COSAS by emailing cosas@ucf.edu.
In order to complete your University requirements and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida you must complete the University Credit hour requirements. The requirement is at least 120 overall hours and 48 of those must be upper level hours which means the course is a 3000 or 4000 level class.
The number of electives you can take varies based on your major. Your degree audit, undergraduate catalog description, and departmental advisor can help you see how many and which electives count towards your major requirements.
Academic Standing
What is Academic Probation at UCF?A student is placed on academic probation when their UCF cumulative GPA drops below a 2.0. A student must receive at least a 2.0 term GPA the each semester after being placed on probation to remain at the University. Students on academic probation have mandatory programming and requirements to retain their UCF student status. Click here to find out more about academic probation.
If you have been disqualified, your first step should be to print and follow the Academic Success Checklist. This checklist lists best practices, suggestions, and ideas for self assessment and identifying what priorities are most important in a student’s studies. The most important thing disqualified students should keep in mind is that you still have options, and that there are many paths to completion of undergraduate studies. You should also review our Readmission website for additional instructions on what is required to return to UCF.
The College of Sciences COS Explore programming is an early warning intervention program targeting participating majors within the STEM disciplines. This program is designed to alert students of the minimum major GPA requirements for their chosen degree, educate students on how the major GPA is calculated, encourage those who are not satisfying the major GPA to seek additional counseling and advising, and to offer students a non-judgmental environment to discuss their major selection and develop parallel plans of study to pursue. Visit our COS Explore page for additional information.
Students who are on academic probation have a COS “mandatory advisement” hold on their student accounts, preventing them from registering. This hold returns each semester a student continues on Academic Probation and must be lifted once again by completing another Pegasus Plan and attending a Pegasus Workshop. Failure to complete these requirements can lead to students being unable to register for the following semester should no additional workshops be available, and as such students are advised to complete both requirements well before the withdrawal deadline each term. Click here to find out the specific requirements necessary to complete the Pegasus Workshop and Pegsaus Plan.
Students who have been discontinued for non-enrollment will need to contact the UCF Registrar’s office for additional information.
Students who are seeking a second undergraduate degree at UCF should contact the UCF Registrar’s office to determine if they are eligible for readmission.
Registration Questions
What is Add/Drop?Add/Drop refers to the first week of classes each semester. Students may continue to add and drop courses during this week and often change classes based upon their experiences during the first class session. Add/Drop week is an excellent time to seek classes that may have been previously full or closed, as students frequently change one or more classes during this time.Students may add courses all the way through the end of the day of the Friday of Add/Drop week. However, students may only drop or swap courses through the Thursday of Add/Drop week, meaning whatever is on a student’s schedule as of Friday morning at 12:00 am the student is tuition and fee liable. See the Academic Calendar for specific dates and deadlines concerning Add/Drop.Should a student not have enrolled in at least one course by 11:59 pm on the Sunday before Add/Drop week students may still register for courses during add drop but may be assessed a $100.00 late registration fee.
The majority of courses at UCF have one or more prerequisites that are required to be completed before being able to enroll (for example, ENC 1101 is typically required to enroll in ENC 1102). The best way to find out what prerequisites are required for a course you are interested in is to check the UCF Undergraduate Catalog (the last third of which is a course-by-course listing of all prerequisites). You can also check the prerequisites for a course under the class summary when enrolling in MyUCF.
Registration overrides are various ways in which a student attempts to enroll in a course that is otherwise closed. This could be enrolling in a course the student does not meet prerequisites for, or attempting to enroll in a class that is full or closed. Registration overrides are typically only granted in specific circumstances and are not something students should plan their studies around obtaining. For more information on registration overrides click here.
Closed classes occur when a class has met the seat cap with enrolled students. Each classroom can only accommodate so many students safely, and once that limit has been reached a class is closed for enrollment until enrolled students drop from the course. Students who wish to enroll in a closed class may contact the department that offers the course for any accommodations, though it should be noted that students are rarely allowed to override into a closed class.
A wait-listed course in MyUCF is a class that has a specific queue in place to accommodate students wishing to enroll in an otherwise full class. The wait-list allows students to be automatically enrolled in the class in the order they joined the wait-list and ensures a fair and timely means of accommodating waiting students. Because of the nature of wait-listed courses, no overrides are typically given for these courses as doing so would essentially skip the student to the front of the line. For more information on the specific process of adding and enrolling in a wait-listed class click here.
With a few exceptions, nearly every course at UCF has some form of prerequisites that must be satisfied to enroll in the course. Sometimes these are a lower level course (for example, MAT1033 is required to enroll in MAC1105C), a specific academic standing (such as being a junior or in the Burnett Honors College), and sometimes these courses require specific permission from the faculty or department offering the course (such as with an Independent Study).If you are not satisfying the prerequisites for a course your first step should be to check the UCF Undergraduate Catalog (the last third of which is a course-by-course listing of all prerequisites) to determine what prerequisites, if any, you are missing.
Students who desire an override around a missing prerequisites fall into two categories:Students who have not completed the prerequisite course – Students who have not completed the prerequisite but still wish to enroll in the course must contact the department offering the course for an override. Keep in mind that such overrides are rarely approved as prerequisites typically are required in order to successfully complete the higher level course.Students who have completed the prerequisite course and believe they are getting an error – For prerequisites errors COSAS is the best office to call. With some basic information provided by the student we can override the student into the course, though the student will need to provide proof of completion of the missing prerequisite.
Students may enroll in courses that they are presently satisfying prerequisites for with current enrollment (for example, a student taking MAT1033 in Fall may enroll in the following Spring’s MAC1105C). However, when a student does not successfully complete the prerequisite course the student will need to change future registration to ensure all prerequisites are satisfied. In the College of Sciences, many of our courses will flag students to be dropped should they not be satisfying prerequisites. Students are contacted at their UCF email account before the first day of classes informing them that they are not meeting prerequisites and, should they not drop themselves from the course, may be administratively removed from the course.Some students, particularly new students transferring to UCF with AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, or other institutional course credit may also be contacted by this process should their official records or transcripts not be provided. Should this occur, students will need to provide proof to COSAS to remain in the course flagged to be dropped (specifics on what proof is required is included in the email notifying students of the drop status). Should the student not provide this proof by the given deadline they may be dropped from the class even if they do have the records to satisfy the prerequisites. All drop notifications for the College of Sciences are sent to a student’s UCF email account from the COSDROPNOTIFY@ucf.edu address. This address is only active during the drop process, and general questions should be directed to COSAS@ucf.edu.
Students who have been dropped from their course due to not satisfying prerequisites have two options. Should they not be satisfying the prerequisite via unsatisfactory or incomplete previous coursework they will need to contact the department that offers the course for an override. Should the student have completed the prerequisite but not have provided the required proof to COSDROPNOTIFY by the stated deadline they may contact COSAS to get an override into an open section of the course in question. Should all sections of the course be full, the student will need to either wait for a section to open or contact the department offering the course to request an override into a closed class. Not checking your UCF email or failing to provide proof by the deadline is not sufficient cause for an administrative override and students should always check their UCF email accounts regularly to ensure compliance with all UCF policies and procedures.
Late Add and Late Drop are administrative appeals to be added or removed from a class after the end of the Add/Drop period. A late add may be pursued only if you were unable to add a course by the add deadline due to extraordinary circumstances. A late drop will result in a full refund of tuition fees and the complete removal of the course from the student’s academic record. Therefore, a late drop requires the student to be involved in a truly extraordinary situation. For more information on the Late Add/Dop process students should contact Academic Services.
The Withdrawal option is a tool for students to remove themselves from a class they no longer feel they can successfully complete after the Add/Drop deadline. The Withdrawal period for each term begins after the Drop/Swap deadline. Students remain fee liable for any classes from which they withdraw. Students may withdraw from a class and receive the notation of “W” until the deadline noted in the Academic Calendar. A student may withdraw from courses using myUCF. Withdrawing from classes may have financial aid, NCAA eligibility or international visa consequences. Students should seek appropriate advisement prior to withdrawing from a class. A student is not automatically dropped or withdrawn from a class for not attending, nor can an instructor drop or withdraw a student from a class.
While each college operates their override policies independently, typically the best place to start in seeking an override is by speaking with the department that houses the course.
Course prerequisites can occasionally change as departments re-align their majors and content to modern needs. While the major requirements for students are bound to their catalog year, prerequisite requirements are always reflective of the current catalog. If a course you previously qualified for no longer will allow you to enroll, you should check the UCF Undergraduate Catalog for the present year to verify the current prerequisites and determine what, if anything, you may be missing. Should you not satisfy the prerequisites you will need to contact the department that offers the course for an override or enroll in the missing prerequisites.
Students interested in obtaining transient status to take coursework at another institution will need to follow the instructions listed on the Registrar’s Office to request their coursework. Transient applications are required to get several levels approval from multiple offices and separate institutions, so this process can take some time. Students should begin planning for taking transient coursework at early in the semester before the course is offered.
MyUCF Questions
How do I register for courses in MyUCF?Students register for courses in MyUCF through their student self-service portal. For step by step instructions on how to register for courses click here.
The UCF Webcourses system is the primary tool for online courses to provide students with content and materials. Webcourses can be accessed through MyUCF via a gray tab called “Online Course Tools” at the top of the page once a student logs in or by logging in directly at the Webcourses Website.
For step by step instructions on how to modify your declared degree programs see the guide provided here.
Holds may be placed on your record for various reasons including: failure to turn in the appropriate paper work, parking infractions, advisement required, orientation required, failure to complete a loan entrance or exit interview, as well as failure to pay a university debt. Holds may restrict any or all of the following: registration, grades, transcripts or diploma. For instructions on how to clear or remove a hold, please follow the instructions displayed when viewing your hold on the myUCF portal.The To Do List may contain items that you need to complete for Student Financial Assistance (SFA) or other offices within the UCF community. Students receiving financial aid should regularly check their To Do List. Failure to submit the items requested will delay your financial aid from being processed. As a result, your financial aid may not be posted on your account before the fee payment deadline.
Directory Questions
What is Financial Aid and how can I apply for it?Financial Aid refers both to the specific type of grant, scholarship, loan or other means in which a student is assisted in paying tuition and fees as well as the Office of Financial Assistance which advises and provides these resources. At UCF all financial aid information is managed by the Office of Financial Assistance and no other resource may provide financial information.
The UCF Student ID Card serves as a required form of identification for all students. You will need to present your card to receive the benefits of many services, including sporting events and discounts at the SGA Ticket Office. It also serves as your library card with the UCF Libraries system.The UCF Student ID Card lets you move through campus without cash – and without missing out on anything. Deposited funds can be used for purchases at vending machines, copy machines, computer labs, UCF Bookstore, UCF Health Center, Marketplace/Knightro’s, restaurants, and all on-campus merchants. Many instructors will require proof of identification through the student ID on the first week of classes and when turning in exams, so having your Student ID card available at all times is critical to success at UCF.To find out more information on the UCF Student ID Card visit Card Services.
Parking Services is the office that manages parking, citations, and the shuttle services within the UCF Main Campus. Students who park a vehicle on the University of Central Florida campus must purchase a parking permit. The registered owner of the permit is responsible for all infractions and penalties attributed to the permit, even if expired. Parking without a permit or a daily pass may lead to holds on a student’s records and traffic citations. For information on obtaining a parking decal visit the Parking Services website.
Each year, over 20,000 students at UCF participate in experiential learning in co-op, internships, and service-learning courses. This participation assists students to gain practical experience and apply what they learn to real-world problems, and is an excellent opportunity to kick-start personal and professional growth. The first stop for internships should always be your major departmental advising office, but UCF also offers the Office of Experiential Learning for additional opportunities throughout the Central Florida region.
UCF Career Services contributes to the university’s goal of offering high quality undergraduate and graduate education and student development by providing centralized, comprehensive and coordinated career development, experiential learning and employer relations programs. With semesterly workshops, job fairs, resume assistance, and much more UCF Career Services is often the best place to begin seeking your future career.
Depending upon the subject area, students have several opportunities for tutoring within the College of Sciences:
- The University Writing Center (UWC) – The University Writing Center is a campus resource that offers free individual and small-group consultations to UCF students, faculty, staff, and community members, for any writing you do. That includes research papers and other work for UCF classes, research or scholarly writing, resumes and cover letters, graduate school or scholarship applications, presentations, creative writing, and anything else you’re writing.
- Student Academic Resource Center (SARC) – SARC provides high-quality academic support programs, including tutoring and supplemental instruction, retention programs, academic advising programs, and various other academic programs and services. SARC serves as a means for retention of students and is an important element in enabling UCF students to achieve their academic goals. SARC provides undergraduate students with free individualized and small-group tutoring in accounting, astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, and statistics.
- UCF Math Lab – The purpose of the Math Lab is to provide tutoring for students enrolled in mathematics courses here at UCF. We offer tutoring in the following courses: Finite Mathematics, Explorations in Mathematics, College Algebra, Trigonometry, Business Calculus, Precalculus, Mathematics for Calculus, Calculus I, II, III, and Differential Equations.
Participating in undergraduate research will expand your academic experience at UCF. Research is a process of careful inquiry leading to the discovery of new information. Although there are some differences in how research is conducted across disciplines, research is not restricted to certain disciplines and occurs in all programs at UCF. Undergraduate students are currently working on numerous and diverse projects, and you can too! Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research to find out more.
The mission of the Office of Pre-Health Pre-Law Advising is to provide guidance and support to students interested in pursuing careers in the health and legal professions. OPPA provides information about the field of law and a wide variety of health-related fields such as allopathic (M.D.), osteopathic (D.O.), and veterinary (D.V.M.) medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and public health. These careers require academic study in professional school settings beyond the baccalaureate degree, and OPPA assists “Pre-Professional” Students in any undergraduate major by offering academic advising, administrative support, and other activities related to preparing for and applying to professional schools.
Students looking to find out more about opportunities for graduate education should speak with their departmental advisor to discuss their goals and the options within their area of study. Should students wish to pursue a graduate degree at UCF the best place to start is the UCF Graduate Studies Office.