Petitions

Course Pre-approval via EASy

Students have not taken a course or are currently enrolled in a course (with no grades yet on their Academic History) but wish for approval that it will apply toward their major or minor requirements. Each course you are submitting a petition for must have its own petition submission. 

If you plan to take a class at another institution and want it reviewed for equivalency before you enroll, submit a Pre-Approval petition. This includes courses from:

• A university abroad
• A community college or institution not listed on ASSIST.org
• Another UC not listed on our Transfer Credit Equivalency page

How to Petition

1. Submit Request: Use our online petition tool and select "Pre-Approval" as the petition type from the drop-down menu. Include all Syllabus information required for full-review.
2. Completion and Posting: If your petition is approved, you must:
   • Complete the class with a passing grade.
   • Ensure the class is posted to your academic history.
3. Contact Us: Once the above steps are complete, contact the A&A department via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) to have the credit attached to your transfer course.

Course Substitution

Students have already successfully completed a course (with a grade already posted on their Academic History) and wish to use the course as a substitution for a Astronomy & Astrophysics major or minor requirement. Each course you are submitting a petition for must have its own petition submission.

How to Petition

1. Submit Request: Use our online petition tool and select "Course Substitutions" as the petition type from the drop-down menu. Include all Syllabus information required for full-review.
2. Completion and Posting: If your petition is approved, you must:
   • Complete the class with a passing grade.
   • Ensure the class is posted to your academic history.
3. Contact Us: Once the above steps are complete, contact the A&A department via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) to have the credit attached to your transfer course.

Required Syllabus Information

• College name
• Course number(s)
• Year and term of the course, and semester or quarter system
• Hours spent in lecture, recitation, and lab (if applicable)
• Topics covered
• Textbook used

Note: If any information is missing from the syllabus, provide it in the "Reason" section of your request.

Common Reasons to Submit a Degree Requirement Waiver

• Grade Exception: Request to graduate with two "D" grades in upper-division courses for the major.
• Pass/No Pass Courses: Request to use a course taken with a P/NP grade toward the major. (Note: For 199 to count as an upper-division elective, a course substitution petition is required.)
• GPA Exception: Request to graduate with a Major GPA below 2.0.
• Degree Audit Deviations: Requests for changes that deviate from the degree audit.

NOTE: Major/minor Requirement waivers are highly unlikely to be approved and require extenuating circumstances. Please contact a A&A Academic Advisor via VAC to discuss alternate options.

How to Petition

1. Submit Request: Use our online petition tool and select "Major Requirement Waiver" from the petition type drop-down menu.

Materials to Include

• Statement: Write a short statement supporting your petition request. You will not be present when this is reviewed so what do we need to know in order for a decision to be made?  It's your chance to plead your case so make sure it is very clear with supporting evidence.
• Additional Documentation: You may need to provide additional documentation. Contact a A&A Advisor via the VAC for advice on what to include.

Undergraduate Petition Form

To address any situation regarding university deadlines and policies, including retroactive withdrawals from courses, you must submit an Undergraduate Petition Form. Follow the instructions below for specific petitions:

Retroactive Drop Petition

1. Complete Form: Fill out an Undergraduate Petition Form.
2. Submit Statement: Include a statement explaining the extenuating reason for missing the drop deadline. Provide supporting documentation, such as a doctor's note, etc., if applicable.
3. Instructor's Signature: Obtain your course instructor's signature on the petition.
4. Submission: Email your petition, statement, and supporting documents to astro-advising@ucsd.edu. The Student Affairs office will forward it to the Vice Chair for Undergraduate for review.
5. College Approval: If approved by the department's vice chair, submit the petition to your college's advising office for further review by the Academic Senate.

Request to Receive an Incomplete Grade

• Work directly with your instructor to determine eligibility for an Incomplete grade.
• If necessary, fill out an Incomplete form upon instructor request and submit a copy to the department and your instructor.

Double Major Petitions

• Include a quarter-by-quarter plan and a statement of purpose in your petition. Email your statement and supporting documents to astro-advising@ucsd.edu. Consult the University guidelines on double majors for further guidance.

SAP Appeals

• Coordinate with the Financial Aid office for SAP appeal inquiries.

Grade Changes

• Grade changes are arranged solely between the instructor and student. Nonacademic criteria must be the basis for consideration.

Other Petition Types

• If your situation does not fit any of the above categories, utilize the Undergraduate Petition Form.
• If unsure or in need of guidance, contact a Chemistry/Biochemistry or College Academic Advisor.

For assistance or clarification on petition types, reach out to the appropriate academic advisor.