General Timeline and Procedures

The following information pertains to the fall 2026 semester and beyond.

Fall and Spring Classes

During the first three weeks of fall and spring classes — during your access to self-service registration, you may adjust your schedule online. You can add, drop, swap, or change grading basis without approval.

• Only restricted classes require permission to add.
• Wait-listing continues only through the end of the first week. 

NEW! The last day to drop, swap or change grading basis is the end the third week of instruction, usually but not always, the third Friday. Find exact dates by term in the Registration Calendar.

Please review What Do You Want to Change? for advice on each registration transaction.

If possible, please finalize your schedule by the 20th day of instruction, when recorded enrollments are considered official.

Winter and Summer Term

Because winter and summer terms are taught in accelerated formats, the timelines to adjust your schedule online are shortened. Visit the Registration Calendar or the Student Academic Calendar for specific dates.

When the fourth week of instruction begins, your access to self-service registration changes based on the schedule adjustment you want to make.

• ADD: You may continue to add classes online with a permission number from the instructor.
• CHANGE GRADING BASIS: You must request approval to change the basis of grading. Undergraduate students, please see Credit/No Credit Grading for limitations.
• DROP/SWAP: You must request approval to drop or swap classes.

To request approval, submit the following forms for your class level, carefully reviewing the instructions on the form:

• 4th Week Change of Schedule Petition for Undergraduate and Second Bachelor's Students (web form)
• Late Change in Academic Schedule (PDF) at Graduate Evaluations: Forms

Adding Classes

• Students may add a class only with instructor permission through Week 12 of fall or spring instruction using self-service registration. No form is required. 
• For exact dates, see Late Schedule Change Deadlines or the Registration Calendar.
• If you are a financial aid recipient, adding units after Week 4, the 20^th weekday of instruction, will not increase your financial aid award. Please see What Affects My Aid: Enrollment Requirements.
• You might owe additional tuition and other fees, including nonresident tuition if applicable. Always check your student financial account balance and the payment deadline each time you add.

Withdrawing/Dropping Classes

Withdrawals after the fourth week and prior to the final three weeks (Last 20%) of fall and spring instruction may be permitted only for serious and compelling reasons. Equivalent deadlines and conditions apply to summer and winter terms.

If you think that your situation meets the criteria for serious and compelling circumstances for which there is no viable alternative, take these steps:

• Complete the appropriate Late Schedule Change Forms.
• You must state the reasons for your late schedule change request and provide relevant supporting documentation.
• To request permission to withdraw, deliver your completed form(s) and documents to the academic administrators indicated on the appropriate Late Schedule Change Form. The approving administrator might be the associate dean for your major or the associate vice president of Undergraduate Studies based on the timing of your withdrawal request submission.
• If you wish to be excused from obtaining faculty signatures or approvals due to Title IX matters, including sexual harassment and sexual misconduct or violence, contact the Offices of Undergraduate Studies or Graduate Evaluations based on your class level.
• A decision will normally be made within five business days of receiving the request form and supporting documents. You will be informed of the decision by email to your CSUN account.
• You should continue attending class(es) while waiting for a decision.

Schedule changes are not permitted.

Withdrawals, whether partial or complete, shall not be permitted during or after the final three weeks (Last 20%) of instruction except in cases, such as accident or serious illness, where the cause of withdrawal is due to circumstances clearly beyond the student's control and the assignment of a grade of Incomplete is not practicable. A course grade and credit, or an Incomplete grade, may be assigned for one or more courses in which the student has completed sufficient work to permit its evaluation.

Please note the following limitations:

• Courses associated with disciplinary action by the Office of Student Affairs will not be considered for withdrawal.
• Withdrawals are not permitted if the student has taken final exams.
• Petitions requesting retroactive withdrawals beyond one year of the conclusion of the semester for which the withdrawal is requested will not be considered.

Process:

• If you have completed most of the coursework, ask your professor if a grade and credit, or a grade of Incomplete, is possible. Review Administrative Grading Symbols – Incomplete and the directions on the Request for a Grade of Incomplete (PDF) form and contract.

  Helpful: How to File a Student Form

• If you withdraw, use the appropriate Late Schedule Change Forms for your class level — undergraduate or graduate.
• Requests to withdraw under the above circumstances shall be granted only with the permission of the academic administrators indicated on the form.

A decision will normally be made within five business days of receiving the request form and supporting documents. You will be informed of the decision by email to your CSUN account. Please continue attending the class(es) while waiting for a decision.

A medical withdrawal usually constitutes complete withdrawal from the university for the academic period in question. Medical withdrawals may be granted solely for established medical purposes and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Process

Partial and complete medical withdrawals should be requested directly from the Office of Undergraduate Studies or Graduate Evaluations. Please see instructions on the appropriate forms:

• Graduate students working toward a master’s, doctorate, credential or certificate: Use the “Late Change in Academic Schedule” form at Graduate Evaluations: Forms.
• Undergraduate students, including those working toward a second bachelor’s degree: Use at least two forms at Late Change in Academic Schedule for Undergraduate Students.

IMPORTANT

So that the medical withdrawal can be recorded, do not drop courses online during the online self-service registration period

Students seeking a complete or partial medical withdrawal for themselves, or to care for a family member, must take these steps:

1. For all medical withdrawals at any time after classes begin, complete the “Student Consent and Health Care Provider Guidelines Form,” as explained at Late Schedule Change Forms.
2. If dropping for medical reasons within the first four weeks of classes (i.e., during self-service registration), you may request that a medical withdrawal be notated on your student record. Verify your situation by completing the appropriate medical withdrawal forms for your class level.
3. After the deadline to drop classes using self-service registration (differs for undergraduate and graduate students), also complete the appropriate withdrawal form for your student group, as explained at Late Schedule Change Forms.
4. Prepare required supporting documents and obtain all required approvals following instructions on the forms.
5. Your request must describe a direct correlation between the medical condition and the particular course(s) being petitioned.
6. Submit the completed, signed withdrawal and consent forms along with attachments, including the letter from your health care provider, to the Office of Undergraduate Studies or Graduate Evaluations based on your class level as directed on the forms.

A decision will normally be made within five business days of receiving the request form and supporting documents. You will be informed of the decision by email to your CSUN Gmail account.