This page outlines key academic policies that apply to students in the School of Social Ecology. Please read each policy carefully. If you have questions, schedule an appointment with your academic counselor.
Grading Policies
Letter Grade Requirement for Major and School Courses
All courses applied toward your major and school requirements must be taken for a letter grade. Courses taken on a Pass/No Pass (P/NP) basis will not count toward major or school requirements.
Exceptions to this are courses that are offered on a P/NP only basis (Ex: SocEcol 195)
This includes all lower-division prerequisites, upper-division major courses, and any course listed in your major's DegreeWorks audit.
Pass/No Pass (P/NP) Policy
P/NP grading is permitted for elective units that are not being used toward major, minor, school, or general education requirements.
- A grade of "P" is awarded for work equivalent to a C- or better.
- P/NP units do not affect your GPA but do count toward total units completed.
- You may change your grading option before the designated deadline each quarter via WebReg.
Repeat Policy
Students may repeat a course in which they received a grade of C- or below. Both the original and repeated grade will appear on the transcript, but only the most recent grade is calculated into the GPA (subject to unit limits).
- A maximum of 16 units may be repeated where the new grade replaces the old grade in the GPA.
- Both grades will still show on the transcript.
- Courses repeated beyond the grade 16 unit limit will have both grades calculated into the GPA.
Enrollment Policies
Enrollment Exceptions
Enrollment exceptions are granted on a case-by-case basis and require approval from your academic counselor. Common enrollment exceptions include:
- Late Add: Adding a course after the add deadline requires instructor and counselor approval.
- Late Drop: Dropping a course after the drop deadline may result in a "W" (Withdrawal) on your transcript.
- Grading mode: Requests to change the grading mode from letter graded to P/NP, or vice versa.
Note: Social Ecology typically allows one late drop after UCI's standard Week 2 deadline without special justification. Each student in Social Ecology is permitted one late drop total during their time at UCI. Additional late drop requests will be considered only with documented extenuating circumstances preventing participation in the specific course. Please note late drops are not allowed in certain circumstances.
Students are responsible for any consequences that occur if their late drop is approved, e.g. ramifications to financial aide, housing, visa status, etc.
Unit Overload (More than 20 Units)
Students who wish to enroll in more than 20 units in a given quarter must submit a petition for approval. To be eligible, you must be in good academic standing (2.0+ GPA in all areas).
Submit the Request to Enroll in More than 20 Units form. Processing time is 2–3 business days after the 18-unit restriction lifts.
Minimum Unit Load
To maintain full-time student status, undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 units per quarter. Falling below this threshold may affect:
- Financial aid eligibility
- Health insurance coverage
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Visa status for international students
- Time to degree
If you need to drop below 12 units, speak with your academic counselor before making any changes.
Unit Maximum & Academic Progress
For students who entered UCI in Fall 2011 or later, a maximum of 216 units is permitted after their 12th quarter of study at UCI.
Course Modality
In-Person, Online, and Hybrid Courses
UC Irvine offers courses in multiple modalities. Students should review course listings carefully before enrolling to understand attendance and participation expectations.
- In-Person: Regular on-campus attendance is expected. Synchronous participation is required.
- Hybrid: A combination of in-person and online instruction. Check the course syllabus for the specific schedule.
- Fully Online (Synchronous): Held at a scheduled time via video conferencing. Attendance is required.
- Fully Online (Asynchronous): No set meeting time. Students complete coursework on their own schedule within weekly deadlines.
At least 50% of courses taken at UC Irvine must be completed in person.
Courses Taken Outside of UCI
Courses taken at other institutions (e.g., community colleges, other UC campuses) may be transferable to UCI, but there are important limitations:
- Courses completed at a community college will not count toward your UCI GPA.
- Transfer courses should be reviewed by your academic counselor before enrollment to ensure they will apply toward your degree requirements.
- To find equivalent courses at California community colleges, visit www.assist.org.
- Official transcripts must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions upon completion.
Academic Standing
Good Academic Standing
To remain in good academic standing in the School of Social Ecology, students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in all three of the following areas:
- Overall UCI GPA
- Upper Division Major GPA — all upper division courses applied to school and major requirements in DegreeWorks
- School GPA — all Social Ecology school and major requirements
Academic Notice
Students whose GPA falls below 2.0 in any of the areas listed above will be placed on Academic Notice. While on Academic Notice, students must:
- Meet with their academic counselor.
- Develop and follow an academic agreement.
- Raise all GPAs to 2.0 or above within the timeline determined by the counselor.
Failure to make sufficient progress while on Academic Notice may result in Disqualification from UC Irvine.
Disqualification & Readmission
Students who are academically Disqualified from UC Irvine must sit out for at least one quarter before applying for readmission. To return, students must demonstrate that they are able to meet the academic standing requirements outlined above.
For more information, visit the Readmission page.
Have questions about a specific policy? Schedule an appointment with an academic counselor or email us at SE.advising@uci.edu.