Undergraduate Academic Guidelines
Below are the most frequent asked questions by undergraduate students. Please feel free to contact the Reinhardt Academic Center for assistance with any aspect of your undergraduate degree.
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Credit Hour Requirements
60-Hour Rule: The 60-hour rule requires students to complete a total of at least 60 hours of their degree requirements at a four-year academic institution. The 30-hour rule requires students to take 30 of their last 36 hours of coursework at University of Louisville. Students are required to take a minimum of 12 hours of course work in their major at UofL College of Business.
Hours Required to Earn a Degree: The number of hours required for a degree varies. The UofL undergraduate catalog specifically outlines the requirements for each degree. Of the required courses, 50 hours must be at the 300-400 (junior-senior) level.
Several factors affect how long it will take you to graduate. If you average at least 15 hours per semester (and maybe a summer or two). You may be able to graduate in four years. However, if you work, change majors, experience personal problems etc., you will likely need more time. Fewer hours per semester lengthen your time in school. There is no magic timetable for completion; every student is different.
Electives: All majors in the College of Business allow for some Arts and Science electives. The number ranges from 6 to 18 hours depending on the major. The chosen major may also require business and/or major electives.
You may take one Arts and Science elective per semester on a Pass/Fail basis. You have until mid-term to decide if you want to change from a grade to Pass/Fail. Pass/Fail courses are not calculated in your GPA, but do count as hours earned toward your degree. Courses taken for general education requirements and business courses may not be taken pass/fail.
Business Electives: Most of the majors in the College of Business allow you to take at least one business elective. A business elective is any 300-400 level business course not already required in your major. Remember, prerequisites must be followed.
Full-time status in the COB can also be met by being registered for 3 credit hours of approved COB Co-op in a given semester. Co-op credit hours count toward the total hours taken. All COB students considering COB Co-op should evaluate course loads in terms of individual needs and plan accordingly with the assistance of an academic advisor. Other academic course load during a Co-op semester should be severely limited. Students should check with their financial aid lending institution when considering the impact of COB Co-op on financial planning for semesters involving co-op work.
Students on academic warning and probation are also restricted to no more than one course per summer or winter term.
Note: The College of Business reserves the right to administratively withdraw students from courses based on academic policies.
Minimum Hours
Each student must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit. Required hours exclude non-academic credits (all remedial course work including Reading, English and Math courses numbered 100 or below). Students pursuing a second bachelor's degree must be admitted to the College of Business in degree status, must earn a minimum of 30 hours beyond their last degree and fulfill all program and GPA requirements of the second degree.
GPA
- 2.0 cumulative grade point average
- 2.0 expanded grade point average in the major. All courses taken to fulfill the required courses in the major will be used for the major GPA calculation, including transfer courses.
Upper-Level Hours
At least 48 of the total semester hours, whether required or elective, must be earned in courses numbered 300 or higher. Note that the number of the course, the student's classification, determines whether or not a course is senior-level.
Choosing/Changing Majors
Current College of Business Students:
- Current students in the College of Business who wish to declare or change their major, please contact the Reinhardt Academic Advising Office at 852-7439.
Current U of L Non-business Major Students:
- UofL students outside of the College of Business who wish to declare a College of Business major can do so through ULink under Student Services tab. Change Major Request link is in third column. Any questions concerning transferring to the College of Business, please contact the Reinhardt Academic Advising Office at 502-852-7439.
To be admitted to your desired minor program, you must have earned a 2.8 overall GPA and a 2.8 GPA within the prerequisites for the minor program. Admission to a minor is not granted until the minor prerequisites are complete.
Warning, Probation, Suspension, Dismissal and Readmission
College of Business students on academic warning or probation are subject to load limitations (see the Course Load section of this catalog) or other actions deemed appropriate by the COB. The records of students on Academic Probation will be evaluated at the end of the probationary semester with one of the following outcomes:
- Students whose GPA for the probationary semester is 2.5 or above, but whose University GPA remains below 2.0 will be retained on Probation.
- Students whose University GPA is still below 2.0 and who earned a semester grade point average below 2.5 will be placed on Academic Suspension and will be suspended from the COB. Suspended students are withdrawn from all 300- and 400-level COB courses.
- Readmission of suspended students into the COB is not guaranteed.
For readmission, students must submit a written petition addressed to the College of Business Undergraduate Studies Committee and an academic plan form.
Drop/Withdraw/Repeat Class
Students may drop courses over the telephone or on-line before the drop deadline. After the first week of classes, students will receive the notation of “W” (withdrawal) on their transcripts. The “W” grade is not calculated in the GPA. After the last day to withdraw, you must petition in order to drop a class.
Failure to attend a class does not constitute an official drop and will result in the assignment of an “F” grade. Students must officially withdraw from a class.
For business classes, a petition must be filed. Stop by the Reinhardt Academic Advising Center to pick up a General Petition form . Results take approximately two weeks. Petitioning does not guarantee a late withdrawal. Each case is reviewed individually. For Arts and Sciences classes, you may petition with the College of Arts and Sciences, located in Gardiner Hall by Ekstrom Library. For a Total Withdrawal, you must petition with your academic unit.
Students are allowed 4 repeats to replace a previous grade of “C” or lower. The student must fill out a repeat form in order to replace the grade. When the course is repeated, the grade from the first attempt is removed from the GPA, but still appears on the transcript, and the second attempt is calculated in. If you make a better grade, your GPA will improve. It is a good idea to use repeats to improve your GPA. A repeat form is available in the Reinhardt Academic Advising Center.
7 Steps to Register for Classes
Register for the classes you want by taking advantage of your assigned priority registration date.
Visit the Registrar’s Office Registration Page to find out your priority date.
Visit ULink to find out if you have any holds or “service indicators” on your account.
Select “Tasks” then “Details” and follow the directions to remove the hold from your account.
Positive service indicators give you information about your record and may inform you of what you must do. These DO NOT prevent you from registering. Some schools or departments may hold your registration until you have been advised. Most financial holds will restrict you from registering and obtaining official transcripts or your diploma.
See if there are any holds on your record by visiting ULink. Select “Tasks” then “Details” to find information about resolving the hold.
There are a variety of resources available that can support your student success.
What-If Advisement Report
- You may be considering a program of study and want to see the degree requirements along with any transfer coursework or test credit already approved by the institution. You can use this to set up and request a simulated, what-if advisement report.
- Check your what-if advisement report by clicking on the “Academic Progress” tile from your ULink Student Homepage and then selecting “What-If Advisement Report”.
View My Degree Audit
- The Degree Audit is a tool that shows all the courses that you have taken or are enrolled in as well as those courses needed for you to graduate. You can see if the View My Degree Audit is available for your degree program by clicking on the “Academic Progress” tile from your ULink Student Homepage and then selecting “View My Degree Audit.”
UofL Official Catalog
- The University Catalog is the official source for all degree programs, academic requirements and institutional policies and procedures. It is subject to change. Ensure you are enrolled in courses that count toward completing your degree program requirements. Courses that do not count toward a student’s degree, certificate or other recognized credential cannot count toward enrollment status when determining federal and state CAP Grant aid eligibility.
- Learn more about the Financial Aid Course Auditor.
Advising Appointments
- Set up an appointment with your advisor through the CardSmart Student Appointment Scheduler, or contact the College of Business Reinhardt Academic Center
- If you do not have an advising hold on your account, you are not required to meet with an advisor before registering. If you cannot meet with your advisor before your priority registration date, you can register for classes on your own. You can also make changes during your upcoming advising appointment by the drop/add deadline.
- Schedule an appointment with an advisor by clicking on the “Academic Progress” tile from your ULink Student Homepage and then selecting “CardSmart”.
Make Your Academic Program Sheets
- Your program sheet lists each course/requirement you need for your degree to graduate.
- Obtain a copy of your program sheet on CardSmart in the “Reports/Notes” section, or contact your advisor to request an updated copy.
- View the CardSmart instructional website.
Student Success Center (SSC)
- UofL’s Student Success Center (SSC) supports every UofL undergraduate student with Student Success Coordinators. Undergraduate students experiencing academic, financial or personal difficulties can receive one-on-one assistance from a Student Success Coordinator. The Student Success Coordinators are located in the Belknap Academic Building.
- Make an appointment with your assigned coordinator via CardSmart. Students are also welcome to contact the SSC by email, call at 502-852-7969, or stop by the front desk on the first floor to set up an appointment.
Faculty Support
- Faculty can support students in learning about career options, understanding course requirements and navigating degree programs and majors. Attending office hours can have a significant impact on your academic success. View the course syllabus for office hours or contact the department for assistance.
Ulmer Career Management Center
- The College of Business Ulmer Career Management Center is available to students and alumni. It offers a variety of resources, including mentoring, career counseling, internship searches, interview preparation, career fairs and events, all focused on maximizing your professional readiness.
- Make an appointment:
- Visit Cardinal Careers
- Call (502) 852-7756
- Email ulmer@louisville.edu
View the available schedule of classes [Duo Login required].
Make note of any prerequisites, required permissions or other special circumstances. Pre-requisites can be found in the “notes” section for each course. Courses requiring special permission will indicate this in the course details. You must contact the department offering the course to gain permission to enroll.
Placing courses in your shopping cart beforehand to streamline the registration process. You can access your shopping cart through ULink. Select “Enrollment Shopping Cart” on the left below “Academics.”
View the Shopping Cart tutorial or contact the Registrar’s Office at 502-852-6522 or e-mail regoff@louisville.edu for assistance.
Taking at least 15 credit hours during each fall or spring semester helps keep you on track to graduate in four years.
Have a backup plan for waitlisted/closed classes. Advisors cannot help students move up on the waitlist or add students to closed classes. Students should always be prepared with class alternatives in case they don’t get into their first choice.
View the Waitlisting Courses/Closed Classes Policy.
To enroll in all classes in your shopping cart, select “click to enroll in class(es) in your shopping cart” in the “Shopping Cart” section.
For help with registration, contact the Registrar’s Office at 502-852-6522 or e-mail at regoff@louisville.edu.
After you enroll in classes, refer to the academic calendar for important dates, such as the final date to alter your schedule and the semester start date.
Congrats, you’re enrolled! Now what? Here are some additional tips to help you throughout your semester.
Set Up Your User Account Profile and Password
- Make sure your ULink, Blackboard and UofL email are set up. Contact IT if you need help.
Log into ULink and Check Your Student Self Service
- Check your To-Do List by clicking on “Tasks” from your ULink Student Homepage
- Check your course schedule for class days & times
- Check your class notes to see if they are live stream, in-person or completely online
- Watch these videos for a walk-through of your student self-service account
Check Your Financial Aid or Make Payment Arrangements
- Check your Financial Account by clicking on “Financial Account” from your ULink Student Homepage
- View Account Balance and Charges Due
- Make a Payment on your account
Attend Class - Don't Get Dropped as a No-Show
- If you are taking an online class, participate in the class to prevent being dropped as a no-show. If you aren’t sure what is required, avoid being dropped by contacting your instructor. Logging into the class does not count as an academic activity.
- If you are taking a face-to-face class, attend the scheduled in-person class. If you can’t attend, communicate this to your instructor.
- The “no” show policy applies to face-to-face and online classes. Being dropped as a “no” show can impact financial aid and may result in owing money to the college.
Review Your Syllabus
- A syllabus outlines essential course information, including class topics, due dates, resources and policies. You can access your syllabus on Blackboard once your instructor opens the course. Timing for course access varies by instructor and course start date. Contact your instructor if you can’t access the course by the first day of class. Instructor’s emails are in the address book in your UofL email.
Check Your UofL Email
- Check your UofL email daily. This is how your instructor, advisor, financial aid and campus offices will contact you. View UofL Email FAQs.
Get Your Textbooks
- To see your course’s required/recommended texts, visit the Campus Store and enter your 7-digit Student ID or course information.
Get Your Student ID Card
- Get your Student ID card at the Cardinal Card Office. Current students can use their student ID to ride TARC for free and access athletic events.
Get Involved & Get Recognized - Join College of Business Cardinal Flight
- Cardinal Flight is a co-curricular digital badge program exclusive to business undergraduate students.
- The program encourages students to develop skills and career readiness competencies through participation in a series of approved learning experiences outside the classroom. Students who complete the program can earn a digital badge of completion, various milestone rewards and a College of Business Cardinal Flight custom stole at graduation.