How to Register for Classes

It is the student’s responsibility to stay on track with graduation requirements, and to make sure the Faculty Adviser approves non-approved electives prior to registering for each semester.

The GSAS Academic Calendar indicates important academic dates and deadlines. The system will allow students to register only during specific registration appointment times on Student Services Online (SSOL) (accessed with UNI and password).

The Columbia Course Directory and Vergil offer key information about each class including the course size, prerequisites, and if there are any restrictions. For example, if a course is not open to students in GSAS, it would not be open to MA Statistics students. For further details about registration procedures, students may refer to the GSAS Registration page.

Before registering, the onus is on the student to reach out to their assigned faculty adviser to have the individual course approved if a course is not listed on the Approved Electives List.

Residence Units

Below are Residence Unit Categories for each of the MA Programs. For more information about Residence Units, refer to the GSAS Website.  Registration in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is a two-part process that consists of registering for both individual classes and also for a full or fractional Residence Unit.  A Residence Unit (RU) is a registration category that determines the amount of tuition and your enrollment status.

Full-Time Student (Registration for one full RU or ER is considered full-time.)

• First Semester – RU
• Second Semester – RU
• Students may opt to take summer courses
• Third Semester – ER

Part-Time Student

Part-time allows for QR (Quarter Residence Unit) or HR (Half Residence Unit).  ALL MA Program students are required to complete two RUs to graduate. 

All Students

After completing a total of two RUs, all students who wish to continue their studies in the MA Program for a subsequent semester must register for ER.  One can register for ER for more than one semester (e.g., Summer Term and Fall Term).  ALL MA Program students are required to complete two RUs to graduate. 

*To find the call number for Residence Unit, look in the Columbia Course Directory under Richard Slusarczyk – (Assc. Dean-Academic Affairs, GSAS) who will be listed as the “instructor” for GSAS residence units.  Choose the correct unit and semester. 

Important Links for Registration

• University Registrar– University Registrars Office
• Registration–GSAS instructions for registration
• Directory of Classes or Vergil – either can be used to find out more information about a class including cap and if there are any restrictions.
• GSAS Academic Calendar
• Registration Adjustment Form– This is for special cases to add/drop that are not accessible via SSOL.
• Request for Transcripts
• Student Financial Services: Billing and Payments

CROSS REGISTRATION

The Statistics Department does not have any influence on allowing you into a cross registered class. Cross Registration is always at the discretion of the specific School/Department/Instructor. 

Admittance into any course is not guaranteed.  All courses are subject to availability. 

Most schools/departments do not allow students to cross-register until the first week of classes. 

Transfer Credit

Courses taken in Statistics at Columbia University prior to entering the M.A. program may count toward the M.A. degree if approved by the Director of Curricular and upon final review by the Graduate School. According to the policy of the Statistics Department, no more than 4 classes (and a maximum of 1 RU), taken at Columbia prior to admission in the M.A. program may be applied towards the M.A. degree.  No Columbia course may be applied to more than one degree.

When transfer credit is granted, concomitant Residence Units may also be credited toward fulfilling the two RU requirement for the M.A. Degree.  Here is more information about transfer credit.

A student may receive Transfer Credit by following this procedure:

1. There is a Transfer Credit form on the GSAS Website.  The top of this form must be filled out with student signature on the appropriate line.
2. The courses should be listed in the blank area provided.
3. “Previous Institution” should be Columbia University, i.e., where the courses were taken.
4. The form may be given or emailed to Jill Forger who will pass it to the Faculty Director for approval.
5. The Faculty Director will determine the number of points and RUs to be credited.
6. Once the form has been approved and signed by the Director, it can be submitted to GSAS in 107 Low.

Courses Taken for R Grade or Pass/Fail

After the deadline to drop a class, all classes will remain on the transcript and receive a grade. 

COURSES TAKEN FOR R OR PASS/FAIL DO NOT COUNT TOWARD THE MA STATISTICS DEGREE.   

• The decision to choose Pass/Fail or R is PERMANENT after the deadline.  
• Courses taken for Pass/Fail or R do not count toward the 30 credits required for graduation.  
• A PASS will not affect the GPA, but a FAIL grade will be the same as an F in any course.  

Not all classes are Pass/Fail eligible:

• Core Courses & Capstone Courses are NOT Pass/Fail eligible.  
• Elective Courses:  The instructor will determine if the course is Pass/Fail eligible. Check for Pass/Fail eligibility in SSOL.  If not, ask the instructor.  

For R Credit, a student must make an arrangement with the instructor before the deadline.  

GSAS DEADLINES for dropping classes and choosing Pass/Fail or R are strictly enforced. 

• HERE are further details on the GSAS grading system.  

Summer Registration

Summer Session:  Classes are offered to students in the MA Statistics Program through SPS (School of Professional Studies).  This is why courses may be labeled “S”.  They are the same MA Statistics Courses as offered during the Fall & Spring Semesters.  Only course numbers that begin with “52” (not “42”) in the Statistics Department will count toward graduation. 

• Please see SPS Registration and Calendars for dates and deadlines.
• Find classes in the Columbia University Directory. 

Classes that Do Not Count for Graduation

MA students taking only summer courses that do not count toward their specific degree requirements (e.g., language study for reading knowledge) should contact the GSAS Office of Student Affairs in person at 107 Low Library or by email at gsas-studentaffairs@columbia.edu for guidance on paying tuition according to the schedule on the Tuition and Fees page of the SPS website.

 Questions about registering for Summer courses in SPS can be sent to:  [email protected].