Registering for Math Courses at Rutgers
In general, registering for math courses at Rutgers is the same as it is for courses from other departments, but there are some department-specific policies and procedures, including a Special Permission Process in some cases.
Teaching Schedules
Using the Schedule of Classes for information on mathematics courses is often sufficient, but the most up-to-date information can usually be found on the Teaching Schedules page. Instructors and class times may be posted earlier on these pages, which come directly from the Department of Mathematics.
For undergraduate mathematics courses, instructors are often released after the course schedule is. In some of the more recent cases, instructors for undergraduate courses were released after the end of the previous semester. For graduate courses, the list of instructors is usually available at the time of release.
Special Permission Numbers
Special Permission Numbers (SPNs) are needed to register for courses in the following situations:
- The section you want is closed
- You want to take an honors class
- You want to take a graduate class
SPNs are NOT used to override a prerequisite. Details on these specific processes are available below.
Note that SPNs may expire after some time, so it is important that you use them quickly!
Registering for…
Closed courses
If you would like to take a section of a course which is closed, then you will need to request a Special Permission Number (SPN) through the math SPN portal. Note that this process happens in rounds, as detailed under “Closed Sections” on the Special Permission Process page.
Courses you do not meet the official prerequisite for
In some cases, you may have satisfied a prerequisite for a course in an unusual way which is not reflected by the Web Registration System (WebReg)—for example, students who obtain internal proficiency in Math 250 without having taken the course—or have otherwise received permission from the instructor to take a course despite not meeting the prerequisite. In this case, WebReg will not let you register yourself for the course, even if you have an SPN! Fill out the application for a prerequisite override, and if successful your request will be sent to the Registrar (they will register you for the course).
Once the course is in your schedule, you can switch your section of the course without needing another override by entering the index of the new section. However, if you drop the course, you will need to go through the override process again.
Honors courses
To take an honors course, you will usually need an SPN, but it would be obtained by a different process involving a separate form. You can request an honors SPN at any time; response times depend on your previous and current coursework. In some cases, you may not receive a decision on your honors SPN for a few months for various reasons, such as the reviewers waiting on your current grades in math courses to make a decision. Do not be worried if you see people receiving SPNs for the same honors sections you have requested before you!
Note that for honors sequences (291–292, 411–412, 451–452), you will not need an SPN to continue in the sequence. For example, a student currently taking 291 will not need an SPN to register for 292.
Graduate courses
To register for a graduate course, an SPN will be needed. The process is different from the one for honors courses, but similar. There is a separate graduate course SPN form for undergraduates you will need to fill out. Your response will be directed to the Honors Advisor after submission, who will make a decision. (Previously, the process was to email the Graduate Secretary directly with your request; this process is now outdated.)