You should make an appointment with your academic advisor at least once a semester until graduation. Some departments and programs require that students see their advisor more frequently. Check with your advisor about their policy.
You should make an appointment with your academic advisor at least once a semester until graduation. Some departments and programs require that students see their advisor more frequently. Check with your advisor about their policy.
Locate your academic advisor/advisement center by visiting your MyUB HUB Student Center - Academic Progress tile or use Navigate. If you are thinking about changing your major, locate your advising center by using the Advising Directory.
If you have an extenuating circumstance that substantially impacts your academic performance, you should speak with an academic advisor immediately. Extenuating circumstances would include medical, death or illness of an immediate family member, or military orders. Documentation is required to submit a withdrawal petition and there are application deadlines.
You must complete the UB Curriculum (general education) requirements, the requirements for your major (including GPA requirements), obtain at least 120 credits, and have a grade point average of at least 2.0. Your personalized Academic Advisement Report will provide ongoing information about how far along you are toward your degree.
No, you cannot graduate with fewer than 120 credits. This is an absolute minimum.
Yes you can, if the fields of study are significantly different. If you wish to obtain two different degrees, such as BA, BS, BFA, or Mus.B., you will have to complete the requirements for each major and obtain a minimum of 30 credits accrued beyond the first degree or 150 credits total, whichever is greater.
It is important that you meet with an academic advisor early in your undergraduate career to review your academic plan to be sure that you are intending to pursue significantly different fields of study. See the Undergraduate Catalog and select Academic Policies and Procedures–Degree Requirements-Major Requirement–Double Degrees for more information.
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Yes, you can under certain circumstances. The eligibility criteria can be found by visiting the Undergraduate Catalog and selecting Academic Policies and Procedures-Registering for Courses–Registration in Graduate Courses for Undergraduate Credit. Completion of the Petition for Course Credit Outside Your Primary Academic Career (PDF) form is also required. The department offering the course will implement the registration only when permission is granted. Consult with your academic advisor for more information.
A student may repeat a course to replace a failing grade, a resignation, or to seek to improve the student’s record when the student’s first enrollment resulted in a passing grade. Several conditions apply, including possible financial aid implications. For complete information, review the Undergraduate Catalog and select Academic Policies and Procedures-Grading Policies-Repeat Policy. It is also important to consult with an academic advisor.
Students should also be aware of the Course Enrollment Control Policy, which restricts repeating courses that have been identified as controlled enrollment (impacted). Visit the Undergraduate Catalog and select Academic Policies and Procedures-Grading Policies-Repeat Policy-Course Enrollment Control Policy for more information.
Yes, as long as the course is not required for your major, is a prerequisite for your major or is used to fulfill UB Curriculum (General Education) requirements. Visit the Undergraduate Catalog and select Academic Policies and Procedures-Grading Policies-Explanation of Grades-Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading for more information.
Students may recover a letter grade earned in a course graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U). Once recovered, the letter grade is considered permanent and cannot be reverted back to an S/U. Visit the Undergraduate Catalog and select Academic Policies and Procedures-Grading Policies-Explanation of Grades-Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading for more information.
It is at the instructor’s discretion if you can be granted an incomplete grade, as only an instructor can grant an incomplete grade in a course. Typically, students must have completed a portion of the coursework and have a passing grade in the course to be granted an Incomplete. Students also have a limited period of time (12 months) to complete the course.
Students should never reregister for a course they have an incomplete grade in, but instead follow the instructor’s direction. For further information, visit the Undergraduate Catalog and select Academic Policies and Procedures-Grading Policies-Explanation of Grades-Incomplete Grades.
Your overall Grade Point Average (GPA) includes all college credit completed (both UB and transfer course grades). Your UB GPA includes only grades from coursework completed at UB. To graduate from UB, both your UB and overall GPA must be at least a 2.0.
Course credits earned at accredited institutions as defined in the Undergraduate Catalog (Academic Policies and Procedures-Transfer Credit Policies) are generally accepted at UB. Faculty approved articulation will determine how the credits may be applied to your degree requirements. You will see the application of your transferred coursework in your Transfer Credit Report.
If you are considering taking courses elsewhere to complete requirements, you should consult the UB Course Equivalencies Guide to view existing course articulation. In advance, you should also speak with your advisor. While the grades of transferred coursework will not affect your UB grade point average, these grades will be a part of your transfer grade point average and your overall grade point average (which includes both your credits at UB and your average at other colleges you have attended).
Research the many options available at UB using the Undergraduate Catalog- Program Requirements section (center of the page). Think also about what you enjoy doing and realistically consider the areas in which you excel.
Work with your academic advisor and an advisor from the Career Design Center to discover the array of job opportunities for each of your choices. If you have two areas that seem right for you, consider two majors or a major and a minor.
Review the Choosing Your Major information for further assistance and remember to gain acceptance to a major by no later than 60 credits completed.
Review the acceptance criteria/prerequisite requirements necessary for the major you would like to apply. Visit the Undergraduate Catalog and select Program Requirements (center of page) to find your program. Further information may also be available on the department‘s website. It is also recommended you talk with your academic advisor.
Most majors admit new students concurrent with admission to the university. Others may require an audition or completion of some coursework after enrollment.
It is strongly recommended that you be accepted into a major upon completion of 45 credits. All students are required to be accepted into a major upon completion of 60 credits.
For further information, review the Applying to Your UB Major & Minor information.
It is possible to create your own individualized major (Special Studies) with the guidance of two faculty members and an academic advisor. To familiarize yourself with the guidelines and steps necessary to complete the program, review the Special Studies information.
Yes, you can. You will have to complete the requirements for each major. You can also major in one department and do a minor in another department. Visit the Undergraduate Catalog and select Program Requirements (center of page) for a list of majors, minors, and other programs available at UB. For further information on what constitutes a double major versus a double degree, visit the Undergraduate Catalog and select Academic Policies and Procedures–Degree Requirements–Major Requirement for more information.
You may be surprised by the type of jobs available for people who have degrees in many of these areas! You should consult the Career Design Center, an academic advisor and a faculty member. Additional career information may also be available on the department’s website. Visit the Undergraduate Catalog and select Program Requirements (center of page) to find more information on UB’s various programs.
Plan at least one hour of travel time between a North and South Campus class. Plan 30 minutes of travel time between a class in the Ellicott Complex and a class on the North Campus spine.
You should be careful not to overload yourself in any one term. If you take at least 15 credits each term for eight terms, you will have a minimum of 120 credits completed to graduate, which is required for most programs. If you complete fewer than 15 credits a semester, consider enrolling in summer or winter session courses.
Registering for more than 19 credits (for a fall or spring term) or 14 credits (for a summer term) requires the approval of an academic advisor. It is recommended that you be in good academic standing and have at least a 2.5 or higher overall grade point average. Further information about class registration is also available on the Registrar website.
You may resign from your coursework by using the HUB Student Center via MyUB. If you would like to resign from a course, it is recommended that you first speak with an academic advisor and financial aid advisor to understand how resigning from a course could potentially affect your academic and/or financial status.
There are deadline dates within each semester for resigning a course. Consult the Student Academic Calendars for semester deadlines. Prior to resigning a course, you should also determine if the course is identified under the Course Enrollment Control Policy, as these courses have limited future enrollment possibilities. Visit the Undergraduate Catalog and select Academic Policies and Procedures–Grading Policies–Repeat Policy–Course Enrollment Control Policy for more information.
MyUB is a web-based, personal portal to UB’s online resources. It provides links to important UB information and tools (like email, the HUB Student Center, etc.). “Views” of MyUB are available for various audiences: faculty, staff and students. In addition, it delivers customized information based upon the academic profile and interests of individual users.
UBlearns is powered by Brightspace. UBlearns is where faculty post course documents and PowerPoint presentations, host discussion boards or post links to websites that relate to information relevant to their course. They may even use UBlearns to give assignments and tests.
Both of these online tools are valuable and should be checked on a regular basis.
UBLearns is one way that communication reaches you as a student, but many important and official communications are sent to students via their university email address. It is important to check your UB email daily if possible.
Some examples of official university communications that are sent via email: Academic Standards Review (Academic Warning and Academic Probation) notices and lack of Satisfactory Academic Progress to receive financial aid.
The HUB Student Center is UB’s student services website where students have one-stop access to academic, financial and university account transactions. Students access their HUB Student Center via a tab in MyUB.
Last updated: May 01, 2023 12:55 pm EST
University at Buffalo Academic Advisement Vision Statement: To empower students to be active, responsible learners who take full advantage of the many opportunities the university provides in the areas of academics, research, and community and global engagement.