Registration Policies
Northwestern students generally sign up for courses during the registration period preceding each academic quarter. A certain number of courses are required, but you have some flexibility when planning your schedule.
Adding and Dropping Classes
Students can change their schedules in CAESAR by adding, dropping, or swapping courses up to the add or drop deadlines for the term. See rules and policies for adding and dropping classes.
Overloads and Underloads
Special considerations apply to students who take more than 4.99 units in a quarter (sometimes called an overload) or less than 3 units (an underload). See rules and policies for overloads and underloads.
The P/N Option
This registration option allows you to enroll in some classes for a P (pass) or N (no credit) rather than a grade. See rules and policies for the P/N option.
Special Courses
Explore rules and policies for different types of courses:
- Student Organized Seminars, which are tightly focused P/N-courses taken by a small group of undergraduate students and sponsored by a Weinberg faculty member.
- Independent Study Courses, which let you earn course credit by doing advanced work or research in an academic area under the supervision of a faculty member.