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Course FAQs

Registration is typically held the week before classes begin. First time registration for new students is done by the Graduate Program Coordinator. In subsequent semesters, students will register online through the Emory’s OPUS system (https://www.opus.emory.edu). Students must consult with their faculty advisor or the DGS on matters related to registration (e.g., pre-registration, registration, drop, add). If a student does not consult his or her faculty advisor, he or she will be held responsible for any academic issues that may arise. Once a student has been registered, the student will need to pay his or her fees to Student Financial Services.

NOTE: Schedule changes are prohibited after the official add/drop period (normally the first week of class). It is not possible to retroactively enroll in, drop, or change the grading basis of a course. It is the student's responsibility to check and verify his or her registration status in a timely manner.

Students must receive permission to enroll in directed study or research sections by their mentor/advisor. These courses are by permission only and enrollment will only ocuur if permission has been granted.

Before enrolling in classes outside of the CSI program, students must obtain the following information: (1) written permission from their faculty advisor, (2) proof that the course is part of their degree requirements, and (3) permission from a representative of the department teaching the course. Any problems with scheduling must be addressed during the add/drop period.

Course transfers and requirement substitutions are the two general mechanisms a student can use to petition the use of an external course (prior coursework not taken as a part of their current degree program) to satisfy a CSI program requirement.

A course transfer petition seeks to transfer an external course and the accompanying credit hours to satisfy a CSI program requirement. A requirement substitution petition merely seeks to satisfy a CSI program requirement using an external course, i.e. without the transfer of a course or credit hours.

A course transfer petition will contain an adjoining requirement substitution petition. However, a requirement substitution petition does not require a course transfer.

Generally, a student can petition for up to 9 hours of transfer credit to be counted in lieu of Emory courses. The DGS will verify that:

  1. The course to be transferred was not counted toward another degree; and
  2. The course is deemed equivalent to the Emory course to be substituted.
  3. Once these verifications have been made, the DGS will make a formal a course transfer recommendation to LGS on behalf of the student. LGS makes the final course transfer decisions.

A student can petition for any number of courses to be counted in lieu of Emory courses. The DGS will verify that courses are deemed equivalent to the Emory courses to be substituted. Once these verifications have been made, the DGS will make final course substitution decisions.

Course equivalency is determined by the DGS using the following procedures:

  1. Student submits an external course petition to the DGS (see below); DGS propagates petition to an ad-hoc faculty committee;
  2. Ad-hoc committee makes a recommendation to the DGS;
  3. DGS makes a final decision.

Each course substitution petition should be submitted separately (as a single .pdf file) and include a cover letter and course portfolio:

  • Cover letter: a brief letter specifying the transfer, waiver or substitution being requested. Course transfer petitions must assert that no more than six (6) prior credits of coursework has already been transferred and that the course under consideration was not used to satisfy the requirements for a previously attained degree.
  • Course Portfolio: (the more complete a portfolio, the easier it will be to evaluate)
  • Table of contents: an itemization of the contents of the submitted portfolio
  • Syllabus: a copy of the course syllabus, including information on the course’s content, topic schedule, how the course was taught, graded and textbooks or other teaching materials used.
  • Homeworks: all homework assignments, including assignment specification and graded submitted work if available
  • Projects: all project assignments, including assignment specification and graded submitted work if available
  • Tests: all tests, exams and quizzes, including the given questions and graded submitted work if available.
  • Any other course-relevant materials that may help to support the petition

LGS students can take any LGS graduate courses, without any special approval. However, students must consult with their faculty advisor or DGS to discuss how the course fits into the student’s program of study. Additionally, via the ARCHE program, students take courses from member institutions including GSU, UGA, GA TECH. In all cases, program approval is needed for courses to be considered for requirements satisfaction.