Undergraduate Degrees and Programs

Degree Requirements

A Liberal Education

As do all major universities, Stanford provides the means for its undergraduates to acquire a liberal education, an education that broadens the student's knowledge and awareness in each of the major areas of human knowledge, that significantly deepens understanding of one or two of these areas, and that prepares him or her for a lifetime of continual learning and application of knowledge to career and personal life.

The undergraduate curriculum at Stanford allows considerable flexibility. It permits each student to plan an individual program of study that takes into account personal educational goals consistent with particular interests, prior experience, and future aims. All programs of study should achieve some balance between depth of knowledge acquired in specialization and breadth of knowledge acquired through exploration. Guidance as to the limits within which that balance ought to be struck is provided by the University's General Education Requirements and by the requirements set for major fields of study.

These educational goals are achieved through study in individual courses that bring together groups of students examining a topic or subject under the supervision of scholars. Courses are assigned credit units. To earn a bachelor's degree, the student must complete at least 180 allowable units and, in so doing, also complete the Writing Requirement, the Ways of Thinking, Ways of Doing (Ways) Requirement, the Language Requirement, and the requirements of a major.

The purpose of the Writing Requirement is to promote effective communication by ensuring that every undergraduate can write clear and effective English prose. Words are the vehicles for thought, and clear thinking requires facility in writing and speech.

The Language Requirement ensures that every student gains a basic familiarity with a foreign language. Foreign language study extends the student's range of knowledge and expression in significant ways, providing access to materials and cultures that otherwise would be out of reach.

The Ways Requirement provides guidance toward the attainment of breadth and stipulates that a significant share of a student's work must lie outside an area of specialization. These requirements ensure that every student is exposed to different ideas and different ways of thinking. They enable the student to approach and to understand the important ways of knowing how to assess their strengths and limitations, their uniqueness, and, no less important, what they have in common with others.

Depth, the intensive study of one subject or area, is provided through specialization in a major field. The major relates more specifically to a student's personal goals and interests than do the general requirements outlined above. Stanford's curriculum provides a wide range of standard majors through its discipline-oriented departments, a number of interdisciplinary majors in addition to department offerings, and the opportunity for students to design their own major programs.

Elective courses, which are not taken to satisfy requirements, play a special role in tailoring the student's program to individual needs. For most students, such courses form a large portion of the work offered for a degree. Within the limitations of requirements, students may freely choose any course for which previous studies have prepared them.

This section provides more detailed descriptions of these various requirements and the rationales upon which they are based.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Stanford University confers the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.S.) on those candidates who have been recommended by the Committee on Undergraduate Standards and Policy (C-USP), who have applied in advance for conferral of the degree, and who have fulfilled the following requirements:

1. A minimum of 180 units of allowable University work. (Units above the allowable limits for activity courses and for courses taken on a satisfactory/no credit and credit/no credit basis cannot be counted towards the 180-unit minimum.)
2. The Writing, General Education, and Language Requirements.
3. Curricular requirements of at least one major department or program and the recommendation of the department(s). (Descriptions of curricular and special degree requirements are included in each department's section of this bulletin.)
4. Students admitted as freshmen—A minimum of 135 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 135 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement for up to 15 units through the Last Units Out of Residence petition.
5. Students admitted as transfers—A minimum of 90 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 90 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement for up to 15 units through the Last Units Out of Residence petition.

Stanford confers the Bachelor of Science degree on candidates who fulfill these requirements in the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, in the School of Engineering, or in the departments of Applied Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology, Mathematics, or Physics in the School of Humanities and Sciences. The University also awards B.S. degrees to candidates in the Program in Science, Technology, and Society; in the Program in Mathematical and Computational Science; in the Program in Symbolic Systems; and, when appropriate, in the Program for Individually Designed Majors. Candidates who fulfill these requirements in other schools or departments receive the Bachelor of Arts degree. For degree programs that offer both the B.A. and B.S. degrees in the same discipline, students cannot pursue both degree options and must select either the B.A. or B.S. degree.

Students who complete the requirements for two or more majors, which ordinarily would lead to the same degree (B.A. or B.S.), should review "The Major" section of this bulletin to ensure that they have an understanding of the requirements for multiple or secondary majors.

Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.S.)

The University confers the degree of Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.S.) on candidates who have completed the following:

1. with no overlapping courses, the curricular requirements of two majors which ordinarily would lead to different bachelor's degrees (that is, a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science).
2. These students must have applied in advance for graduation with the B.A.S. degree instead of the B.A. or B.S. degree, as recommended by the Committee on Undergraduate Standards and Policy (C-USP),
3. Fulfilled a minimum of 180 units of University work described in point 1 of the "Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.)" section.
4. The requirements of each major without applying any course towards the requirements of more than one major, according to "Multiple Majors" section of this bulletin. The Major-Minor and Multiple Major Course Approval Form is required for graduation for students with the B.A.S degree.
5. The Writing, General Education, and Language requirements.
6. Students admitted as freshmen—A minimum of 180 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 180 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement for up to 15 units.
7. Students admitted as transfers—A minimum of 135 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 135 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement.

Students who cannot meet the requirements for both majors without overlapping courses are not eligible for the B.A.S., but may apply to have a secondary major recorded on their transcripts. (See "The Major" in the "Undergraduate Degrees and Programs" section of this bulletin.)

Dual Bachelor's Degrees (Concurrent B.A. and B.S.)

A Stanford undergraduate may work concurrently toward both a B.A. and a B.S. degree. To qualify for both degrees, a student must complete:

1. A minimum of 225 units of University work. Units above the allowable limits for activity courses and for courses taken on a satisfactory/no credit and credit/no credit basis cannot be counted towards the 225 unit minimum.
2. The requirements of each major without applying any course towards the requirements of more than one major, according to "Multiple Majors" section of this bulletin. The Major-Minor and Multiple Major Course Approval Form is required for graduation for students with dual degrees.
3. The Writing, General Education, and Language requirements.
4. The curricular requirements of two majors (one of which leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree and the other to a Bachelor of Science degree).
5. Students admitted as freshmen—A minimum of 180 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 180 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement for up to 15 units.
6. Students admitted as transfers—A minimum of 135 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 135 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement.

A student interested in dual bachelor's degrees should declare them in Axess no later than two quarters in advance of completing the program.

Students who do not meet the higher unit and residence requirements of the dual degree option may be eligible instead for the B.A.S. degree as described above.

Second Bachelor's Degree

Stanford does not award a second Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree to an individual who already holds a Bachelor of Arts, nor a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree to an individual who already holds a Bachelor of Science degree. Nor does Stanford award a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree to the holder of either a B.A. or B.S.

However, the holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford may apply to the C-USP Subcommittee on Academic Progress for admission to candidacy for a Bachelor of Science degree, and the holder of a Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford may apply for candidacy for a Bachelor of Arts degree.  A recommendation of the major department for the second bachelor's degree must accompany the application. Generally, a holder of a B.A. or B.S. degree from Stanford may not apply for the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree, although a student may submit a petition for exception. The C-USP Subcommittee on Academic Progress determines whether the application for a second degree may be approved and/or the conditions a student must meet in order to be allowed to earn a second degree. The office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, via the office of Academic Advising, Sweet Hall, reviews these petitions. A student approved for this program may register as an undergraduate and is subject to the current rules and regulations affecting undergraduates. Requirements for a second Stanford bachelor's degree are the same as those described above for dual bachelor's degrees.

Approvals or denials of applications under this section are in the discretion of the University.

Finally, Second Bachelor's Degree pertains only to students who earned their bachelor's degree from Stanford, and does not apply to those who have earned their bachelor's degree elsewhere.  Requests by such individuals for a second bachelor's degree at Stanford are not accepted.

Coterminal Bachelor's and Master's Degrees

See the "Coterminal Degrees" section of this Bulletin.

The Major

The primary purpose of the major is to encourage each student to explore a subject area in considerable depth. This in-depth study complements the breadth of study promoted by the General Education Requirements and, in many cases, by a student's choice of electives. Work in depth permits practice in critical analysis and the solving of problems. Because of its depth, such study also provides a sense of how knowledge grows and is shaped by time and circumstances.

The structure of a major should be a coherent reflection of the logic of the discipline it represents. Ideally, the student should be introduced to the subject area through a course providing a general overview, and upper-division courses should build upon lower-division courses. The course of study should, if feasible, give the student the opportunity and responsibility of doing original, creative work in the major subject. Benefits of the major program are greatest when it includes a culminating and synthesizing experience such as a senior seminar, an undergraduate thesis, or a senior project.

Degree Requirements

Undergraduates must select a major by the end of their sophomore year. All undergraduate major programs listed in this bulletin, except for certain honors degree programs that require application and admission in advance, are open to all students. Students may use Axess to declare, drop, or change a major. In some departments or programs, though, a late change could easily result in extending the period of undergraduate study. Students who have applied to graduate or who wish to declare an individually designed major must use the Declaration or Change of Undergraduate Major, Minor, Honors, or Degree Program to select or change a major. Students requiring assistance should contact the Student Services Center. For academic advising regarding majors, students should consult Academic Advising.

Check individual department or program listings in this bulletin for the undergraduate degrees offered and for specific major requirements. If an area of study has no baccalaureate degree, that discipline is not available as a regular undergraduate major.

Faculty set the minimum requirements for the major in each department. These requirements usually allow latitude for tailoring a major program to a student's specific educational goals. The responsibility for developing a major program within department or program requirements lies ultimately with the individual student working in consultation with the major adviser.

Limits of the Major

In order to achieve the values of study in depth, a well-structured major should constitute at least one-third of a student's program (55-65 units). To ensure the values of breadth, a major should comprise no more than two-thirds of a student's program (115-125 units); and, to avoid intellectual parochialism, a major program should not require a student to take more than about one-third of his or her courses from within a single department.

Major requirements in cognate subjects essential to the structure of a given major should be counted as part of the major program in applying these guidelines. Department or school requirements designed to provide extra disciplinary breadth should not be counted.

For a limited number of qualified students, many departments and programs offer special programs leading to degrees with honors. A student may apply to the major department or program for acceptance into the honors program. Demands on the student may vary, but all honors programs encourage creative, independent work at an advanced level in addition to the major requirements.

The guidelines set forth here are deliberately general; implementation must take into account the specific needs of a student's program and the nature of the discipline or disciplines involved. The exercise of responsibility in achieving the desired educational balance belongs first with the student, who, after all, has the strongest interest in the value of his or her education. It belongs secondarily to departments and major programs, which must set the requirements of competence in the many majors offered.

Multiple Majors

Although most students declare only one major, a student may formally declare more than one major within a single bachelor's degree (B.A., B.S., or B.A.S.) program. The student may do that either at the time of initial major declaration or, as may be more advisable given the planning required to complete more than one major, by amending the original declaration. The student's major departments or programs have access routinely to all information pertinent to that student's academic record (for example, course and grade information), and each is expected to provide advising and other assistance. To be awarded a bachelor's degree with multiple majors, the student must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Formally declare all majors through Axess to the Office of the University Registrar.
2. Satisfy the requirements of each major without applying any course towards the requirements of more than one major or any minor unless:
   1. overlapping courses constitute introductory skill requirements (for example, introductory math or a foreign language);
   2. overlapping courses enable the student to meet school requirements (for example, for two majors within the School of Engineering). Currently, only the School of Engineering has school requirements for its undergraduate majors.
3. Submit the Major-Minor and Multiple Major Course Approval Form by the Final Study List deadline of the quarter of intended graduation. The form is required for graduation for students with multiple majors or a minor and should be submitted to the Student Services Center.

Students pursuing multiple majors must complete a multiple major program form indicating which courses they plan to apply toward each major and any minor(s). Departments must certify that the plan of study meets all requirements for the majors and any minor(s) without unallowable overlaps in course work; the School of Engineering Dean's office certifies this information in any case involving an Engineering major or minor. To facilitate advance planning, multiple major program forms are available at any time from the Registrar's forms web site. 

If the pursuit of multiple majors (or joint majors or secondary majors, or minors) unduly delays an undergraduate's progress through Stanford, the University reserves the right to limit a student to a single major, and/or to confer a degree on a student who has completed all of the requirements for a degree even though the student has not applied to graduate; such an individual would then be subject to the University's usual rules and restrictions regarding future enrollment or registration.

When students cannot meet the requirements of multiple majors without overlaps, the secondary major, may be relevant.

Secondary Major

In some cases, students may complete course requirements for more than one major, but they may not meet the requirements outlined for the multiple major option. For example, the student may develop a course plan in which courses requisite for one major overlap with requirements for another. In these cases, the student may declare a secondary major which results in the transcript bearing an annotation that the course requirements for that major have also been met. Secondary majors are not listed on the diploma. Students declare secondary majors through the Declaration or Change of Undergraduate Major, Minor, Honors, or Degree Program .

Joint Major Program

A joint major differs from a multiple major in that 1-2 fewer optional courses are required for each major, while an integrative senior capstone experience is required for all students in the program. Fourteen joint major programs were approved for a six-year pilot beginning in Autumn Quarter, 2014-15. See the "Joint Major" section of this bulletin for details.

Foreign Language Proficiency

The notation "proficiency in (language)" appears on the official transcripts of those students whose levels of achievement are found by procedures established by the Language Center to be roughly equivalent to knowledge an excellent student can be expected to demonstrate late in the third quarter of the third year of study in that language.

The Joint Major Program (JMP)

The University has offered a joint major program (JMP) aimed at integrating the Humanities and Computer Science while providing students with unique educational experiences. This experimental program was approved by the Academic Senate for a six-year pilot, which began in Autumn Quarter 2014-15. Based upon continuing assessment, including feedback from students and faculty, the pilot was discontinued at the end of the academic year 2018-19.

All students with declared joint majors will be permitted to complete their degree; faculty and departments are committed to providing the necessary advising support. Students wishing to declare a joint major may do so until June 18, 2019. After that date, no new joint major declarations will be approved.

Joint major programs leads to conferral of a B.A.S. (Bachelor of Arts and Sciences), and are distinct from multiple degrees in which a student may formally declare more than one major within a single bachelor's degree (B.A., B.S., or B.A.S.) program.

The following 14 programs were approved (each major is linked to the department's bulletin site with specific information for that major):

• Computer Science and Art Practice
• Computer Science and Classics
• Computer Science and Comparative Literature
• Computer Science and English
• Computer Science and French
• Computer Science and German Studies
• Computer Science and History
• Computer Science and Iberian and Latin American Cultures
• Computer Science and Italian
• Computer Science and Linguistics
• Computer Science and Music
• Computer Science and Philosophy
• Computer Science and Slavic Languages and Literatures
• Computer Science and Spanish

Only a limited number of joint majors were approved by the Academic Senate. Assessment of the joint major program continued throughout the duration of the six-year pilot; based upon that assessment, the decision was made to terminate the program at the end of 2018-19. As above, students in the program will be permitted to complete the program, and students may still declare the program through June 18, 2019. The School of Humanities and Sciences limited participation in the pilot to Humanities departments that wished to propose a joint major with Computer Science. Only approved joint majors as listed in this bulletin are available. Other combinations of majors may be taken as a multiple major, but are not part of the joint major program with its special rules and requirements.

Requirements for Joint Majors

Typically a student in a joint major program will have an adviser in each major.

Graduation with a joint major requires the completion of a minimum of 180 units, of which at least 135 must be completed at Stanford. The specific number of units required for each major is specific to that major. It is not possible to give a single absolute number of units that a student might require in order to graduate with a joint major.

A student who declares a joint major completes the degree requirements for each of the majors. However, each of the majors in a joint major program typically requires 1-2 fewer optional courses; see the "Joint Major" sections of the respective departments for details. This course reduction in the joint major program differs from a multiple major in which all courses in both majors must be completed.

Because the joint major programs are designed to allow a student to pursue a course of study leading to mastery in two fields by blending the intellectual traditions of two Stanford departments, students in a joint major program take a senior capstone experience such as a course or project that is integrative in nature. Although the integrative capstone experience may fulfill the requirement for a capstone experience for both majors, the units may only be counted toward the required total units in one of the majors.

It is possible, with approval of both departments, to use one course to fulfill a requirement for each major in a joint major program. University policy prohibits double counting of courses in multiple programs except in specific cases such as introductory skill requirements or overlapping courses that enable a student to meet University requirements such as GERs. Therefore, when a single course fulfills requirements in both majors, a student may apply the units associated with the course to the total units requirement of only one of the majors and then must work with the other major to identify another course that would benefit the academic plan and whose associated units may be applied to that major's total units requirement.

Dropping a Joint Major Program

To drop the joint major, students must submit the Declaration or Change of Undergraduate Major, Minor, Honors, or Degree Program. Students may also consult the Student Services Center with questions concerning dropping the joint major.

Transcript and Diploma

Students completing a joint major graduate with a B.A.S. degree. The two majors are identified on one diploma separated by a hyphen. There will be a notation indicating that the student has completed a "Joint Major."  The two majors are identified on the transcript with a notation indicating that the student has completed a "Joint Major."

Undergraduate Minor

Students completing a bachelor's degree may elect to complete one or more minors in addition to the major. Minors must be officially declared by students no later than the deadline for their application(s) to graduate, according to declaration procedures developed and monitored by the Registrar. Earlier deadlines for declaration of the minor may be set by the offering school or department. Satisfactory completion of declared minors is noted on the student's transcript after degree conferral.

A minor is a coherent program of study defined by the department or degree program. It may be a limited version of a major concentration or a specialized subset of a field. A minor consists of no fewer than six courses of 3 or more units to a maximum of 36 units of letter-graded work, except where letter grades are not offered. Departments and degree programs establish the structure and requirements of each minor in accordance with the policy above and within specific guidelines developed by the deans of schools. Programs which do not offer undergraduate degrees may also make proposals to their cognizant deans to establish a minor. Requirements for each minor are described in the individual department or program listings in this bulletin.

Students may not overlap (double-count) courses for completing major and minor requirements, unless:

1. Overlapping courses constitute introductory skill requirements (for example, introductory math or a foreign language), such that the introductory course acts a prerequisite for further mastery in the subject, the introductory course is broadly accessible and does not require a prerequisite for enrollment; or
2. Overlapping courses enable the student to meet school requirements. However, courses used for the major and/or the minor depth/core must not be duplicated within any other of the student’s degree programs (for example, for a major within the School of Engineering and a minor within or outside of the School of Engineering). Currently, only the School of Engineering has school requirements for its undergraduate majors.

Undergraduates use Axess to declare or drop a minor. The Major-Minor and Multiple Major Course Approval eForm (available in the eForms portal in the Student tab in Axess)  is required for graduation for students with a minor. The form should be submitted electronically to the Student Services Center by the final study list deadline of the quarter of intended graduation.

Students with questions about declaring minors or double-counting courses towards combinations of majors and/or minors should consult with the departments or programs involved or the Student Services Center. For academic advising regarding minors, students should consult undergraduate Academic Advising).

Baccalaureate Honors

With Distinction

In recognition of high scholastic attainment, the University, upon recommendation of a major department or program, awards the Bachelor's Degree with Distinction. Distinction is awarded to 15% of the graduating class based on cumulative grade point averages. GPA for Distinction purposes is calculated through Winter Quarter for each graduating class. Distinction is awarded at the end of the Spring Quarter for graduates of the Spring Quarter and prior Summer, Autumn, Winter quarters. Students are notified of Distinction on their diploma. Students who are granted Distinction, and have already received their diploma in a prior quarter, will be mailed an updated diploma. The Distinction notation will show on official transcripts after Spring Commencement.

Students are also urged to consider the departmental honors programs that may give depth to their major study and to consider, as well, how the interdisciplinary honors programs might contribute to the quality of their undergraduate education.

Departmental Honors Programs

In recognition of successful completion of special advanced work, departments may recommend their students for honors in the major. Departmental honors programs demand independent creative work at an advanced level in addition to major requirements. If approved for departmental honors, the student should declare the Honors degree through Axess.

Interdisciplinary Honors Programs

In recognition of successful completion of honors program requirements, the following interdisciplinary programs can recommend students majoring in any field for honors in their program:

• Arts
• Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity
• Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL)
• Education
• Ethics in Society
• Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• International Security Studies (CISAC)
• Latin American Studies
• Science, Technology, and Society

The interdisciplinary honors programs are designed to complement study in a department major. The requirements for these honors programs are described in the department sections of this bulletin. If approved for interdisciplinary honors, the student should then declare the Interdisciplinary Honors Program in Axess.

COVID-19 Policies

Ways Requirement

Ways courses completed during all four quarters of academic year 2020-21 with units earned for courses taken for a letter grade, CR/NC (CR grade), or S/NC (S grade) will satisfy the Ways requirement. For Ways transfer credit, the same grading policy exception will apply. Also, online courses and post-course evaluation requests will be allowed.

General Education Requirements

In order to graduate, undergraduates must complete the following General Education Requirements: 

• Thinking Matters Requirement
• Ways of Thinking/Ways of Doing (Ways) Requirement
• Writing and Rhetoric Requirement
  • Program in Writing and Rhetoric (2 courses required, PWR 1 and PWR 2)
  • Writing in the Major
• Language Requirement

Purpose

The General Education Requirements are an integral part of undergraduate education at Stanford. Their purpose is to introduce students to the intellectual life of the University, to foreground important questions, and to illustrate how they may be approached from multiple perspectives. They are intended to develop a broad set of essential intellectual and social competencies of enduring value no matter what field a student eventually pursues. Students have flexibility to select topics that appeal to them while building critical skills, exploring interests, forming relationships with faculty and peers, and forging connections between educational experiences in many spheres. Together with the major, the requirements serve as the nucleus around which students build their four years at Stanford.

General Education Requirement courses must be taken for a letter grade and a minimum of 3 units of credit, with the exception of courses taken to fulfill the Language requirement, which may be taken for credit/no credit. Additionally, a course taken to satisfy the Creative Expression Way (Way-CE) may be taken for a minimum of 2 units and must be taken for a letter grade (unless a letter grade is not offered, and the course is only offered for a Satisfactory/No Credit grade).

Thinking Matters

Students are required to take one Thinking Matters (THINK) course during their freshman year. Most students take one stand-alone course selected from approximately eight courses offered each quarter.

• THINK courses

Alternatively, students may take one of two residence-based, year-long programs:

• Immersion in the Arts: Living in Culture (ITALIC)
• Structured Liberal Education (SLE)
  • Each of these also satisfies at least part of the Writing and Rhetoric Requirement as well as several Ways requirements.

Another option, in Autumn Quarter only, allows students to enroll in Education as Self-Fashioning (ESF) that satisfies the Thinking Matters requirement as well as PWR 1.

Ways of Thinking/Ways of Doing (Ways)

Students must fulfill the Ways general education requirement which is a skills capacity-based approach to fostering breadth rather than a traditional discipline-based approach. 

These courses provide students with educational breadth by giving instruction in essential skills and capacities in the areas of:

• Way-A-II: Aesthetic and Interpretive Inquiry (2 courses)
• Way-AQR: Applied Quantitative Reasoning
• Way-CE: Creative Expression (2 units)
• Way-ED: Engaging Diversity
• Way-ER: Ethical Reasoning
• Way-FR: Formal Reasoning
• Way-SI: Social Inquiry (2 courses)
• Way-SMA: Scientific Method and Analysis (2 courses)

Students are required to take eleven certified Ways courses, with two courses in Way-AII, Way-SI, and Way-SMA, and one course in each of the remaining five Ways. Transfer students fulfill the Ways requirement as outlined in the “Transfer Credit for Ways” section below.

Although courses may be certified to fulfill two Ways, a student may only count a course toward one Way in a program of study. Thinking Matters courses typically fulfill a Way. Courses may also count for both major and Ways requirements.

Courses taken prior to matriculation, independent study courses, graduate courses, and online transfer courses are not eligible for Ways credit.  Courses must be a minimum of 3 units and taken for a letter grade except Way-CE which may be taken for fewer units.

Transfer Credit for Ways

Incoming transfer students who matriculate with the following number of transfer units must complete the defined number of Stanford Ways courses as part of their undergraduate education. 

• Excludes Advanced Placement (AP) or other external test units, independent study, online courses, or additional transfer courses from other institutions.
• A minimum of 2 units is required to complete the Creative Expression (CE) Ways requirement. This may be fulfilled by taking one 2-unit minimum CE course, taking a 1-unit CE course twice, or taking two 1-unit CE courses in the same program such as Dance, Music, or TAPS.

Matriculated students may fulfill a maximum of five Ways courses out of the 11 course requirement from another accredited college or university; these courses may be certified in any of the eight Ways categories but no more than one course in any one Way (i.e., up to one course in Way-A-II, Way-SI, Way-SMA, which have a two-course requirement; one course in Way-AQR, Way-ED, Way-ER, Way-FR; and 2 units in Way-CE). No more than 45 units in total transfer credit may count toward the undergraduate degree. The five course transfer limit is cumulative over a student’s undergraduate career at Stanford.

Pre-Approval of Courses for Transfer Credit for Ways

Courses taken at another accredited college or university must be pre-approved for Ways certification prior to enrollment in the course.  Courses that have not been pre-approved prior to enrollment at another accredited college or university are not eligible for Ways credit.  Matriculated students must submit their Ways pre-approval request(s) by the quarterly deadline as defined on the Ways web site.  The student is subject to a three-course limit for Ways pre-approval evaluation requests per term.

To request a Ways requirement through transfer work, the pre-approved course must be taken for a minimum of 3 quarter units, except for Creative Expression which is a minimum of 2 units, and be taken for a letter grade.

Once Ways transfer credit has been posted to the student’s record by the Office of the University Registrar, it is final and may not be changed. 

Students seeking transfer credit should consult the Ways Transfer Credit page and the Transfer Credit Procedures page on the Office of the Registrar web site.

Language Requirement

To fulfill the Language Requirement, undergraduates are required to complete one year of college-level study or the equivalent in a foreign language. Students may fulfill the requirement in any one of the following ways:

1. Complete three quarters of a first-year, 4-5 units language course at Stanford or the equivalent at another recognized post-secondary institution subject to current University transfer credit policies. Language courses at Stanford may be taken with the Credit/No Credit grading basis, if so offered, to fulfill the requirement.
2. Score 4 or 5 on the Language Advanced Placement (AP) test in one of the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, or Spanish. Advanced Placement (AP) tests in foreign literature do not fulfill the requirement.
3. Achieve a satisfactory score on the SAT II Subject Tests in the following languages taken prior to college matriculation:

   Satisfactory Scores for the SAT II Subject Tests

   Test Subject	Score
   Chinese	630
   French	640
   German	630
   Latin	630
   Spanish	630
   Italian	630
   Japanese	620
   Korean	630
   Hebrew	540

4.  Take a diagnostic test in a particular language which either:
   1. Places them out of the requirement, or
   2. Diagnoses them as needing one, two, or three additional quarters of college-level study. In this case, the requirement can then be fulfilled either by passing the required number of quarters of college-level language study at Stanford or the equivalent elsewhere, or by retaking the diagnostic test at a later date and placing out of the requirement.

Written placements are offered online throughout the summer in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Spanish for home background speakers.

For a full description of Language Center offerings, see the "Language Center" section of this bulletin under the school of Humanities and Sciences.

Writing and Rhetoric Requirement

COVID-19-Related Grading Changes

PWR courses completed during academic year 2020-21, including Summer 2021, and taken for CR/NC grading with a Credit (CR) grade satisfy the WR-1 and WR-2 requirement. This grading policy exception, as well as online courses, will also be allowed for WR-1 and WR-2 transfer credit evaluations, provided those courses fulfill the other criteria for equivalency approval.

All instructors at Stanford University expect students to express themselves effectively in writing and speech. The Writing and Rhetoric requirement helps students meet those high expectations.

All candidates for the bachelor's degree, regardless of the date of matriculation, must satisfy the Writing and Rhetoric requirement. Transfer students are individually reviewed at the time of matriculation by the Office of the University Registrar's Degree Progress section and, if necessary, the Program in Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) as to their status with regard to the requirement.

The Writing and Rhetoric requirement includes courses at three levels. The first two levels are described in more detail below. Writing-intensive courses that fulfill the third level, the Writing in the Major (WIM) requirement, are designated under individual department listings.

All undergraduates must satisfy the first-level Writing and Rhetoric requirement (WR 1) in one of five ways:

1. PWR 1: a course emphasizing writing and research-based argument.
2. SLE: writing instruction in connection with the Structured Liberal Education program.
3. ESF: writing instruction in connection with the Education as Self-Fashioning Thinking Matters course.
4. ITALIC: writing instruction in connection with the ITALIC Integrated Learning Environment.
5. Transfer credit approved by the Office of the University Registrar for this purpose.

All undergraduates must satisfy the second-level Writing and Rhetoric Requirement (WR 2) in one of four ways:

1. PWR 2, a course emphasizing writing, research, and oral presentation of research.
2. SLE: writing and oral presentation instruction in connection with the Structured Liberal Education program.
3. A course offered through a department or program certified as meeting the WR 2 requirement by the Writing and Rhetoric Governance Board. These courses are designated as WRITE 2.
4. Transfer credit approved by the Office of the University Registrar for this purpose.

A complete listing of PWR 1 courses is available each quarter on the PWR web site and in the PWR office in Sweet Hall, Third Floor. Complete listings of PWR 2 and WRITE 2 courses are available to students on the PWR web site the quarter before they are scheduled to complete the WR 2 requirement.

For a full description of the Program in Writing and Rhetoric (PWR), see the "Writing and Rhetoric" section of this bulletin under the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education.

Unit Credit

Activity Courses

For undergraduates, a maximum of 8 units of credit earned in activity courses, regardless of the offering department or if accepted as transfer units, count towards the 180 units (225 if dual degrees are being pursued) required for the bachelor's degree. All activity courses are offered on a satisfactory/no credit basis.

Courses Taken on Satisfactory/No Credit or Credit/No Credit Basis

A maximum of 36 units of credit (including activity courses) taken at Stanford or its overseas campuses for a "CR" or "S" grade may be applied towards the 180 units (225 if dual degrees are being pursued) required for the bachelor's degree. The maximum for transfer students is 27 units.

Departments may also limit the number of satisfactory or credit courses accepted towards the requirements for a major. Satisfactory/Credit courses applied towards a minor may be similarly limited. Courses not letter-graded are not accepted in fulfillment of the General Education Requirements, except for Ways-CE (see the "General Education Requirements/Ways" section of this bulletin for further information). Writing in the Major courses are usually offered letter grade only. In those instances where the course is offered for a letter grade or CR/NC, the course must be taken for a letter grade to fulfill Ways of Thinking/Ways of Doing requirement and Writing in the Major requirement.

Internship Credit Guidelines

Undergraduate internships should not by themselves carry any credit. However, an individual student may arrange with a faculty member for a research or other academic project to be based on the internship. Arrangements between students and faculty regarding credit are expected to be made well in advance of the internship. Credit should be arranged within departmental rules for directed reading or independent study and should meet the usual department standards. No transfer credit is awarded for internships.

Concurrent Enrollment (Undergraduate)

Undergraduates may enroll concurrently at Stanford and at another college or university. The following policies apply to concurrent enrollment:

1. Students may not exceed 20 quarter units between both schools. This is the same unit maximum for undergraduates at Stanford. (One semester credit or hour generally equals 1.5 quarter units.)
2. Satisfactory academic progress is determined only by Stanford courses and units. Transfer work completed at other institutions is not considered in this calculation.
3. Students are expected to submit a Request for Transfer Credit Evaluation eForm (available in the eForms portal in the Student tab in Axess) for pre-approval of transfer credit prior to enrolling in the transfer institution.

Advanced Placement

Stanford University allows up to 45 units of external credit (90 units for transfer students) toward graduation including work completed in high school as part of the College Board Advanced Placement curriculum. The awarding of such credit is based on Advanced Placement test scores and is subject to University and department approval.

The faculty of a given department determine whether any credit toward the 180-unit requirement can be based on achievement in the College Board Advanced Placement Program in their discipline. Stanford departments electing to accept the Advanced Placement (AP) credit are bound by these University policies:

1. Credit is usually granted for an AP score of 4 or 5. Usually, 10 quarter units are awarded (but occasionally fewer than 10). No more than 10 quarter units may be given for performance in a single examination.
2. Whether credit is to be given for an AP score of 3 is a matter for departmental discretion; up to 10 units may be awarded.
3. No credit may be authorized for an AP score lower than 3.

Performance on an AP exam can indicate the appropriate placement for continuing course work in that subject at Stanford. If students enroll in courses at Stanford for which they received equivalent AP credit, the duplicating AP credit will be removed. The chart below shows the current AP credit and placement policies.

A maximum of 45 quarter units of Advanced Placement (AP), transfer credit, and/or other external credit (such as International Baccalaureate) may be applied toward the undergraduate degree. More than 45 units of AP, transfer, and other external credit may appear on the Stanford University transcript; however, only 45 units can be applied to the minimum units required for the undergraduate degree. Once credit has been posted it cannot be removed from the student record. However, if Stanford courses are taken below the level of the placement course, the duplicating AP units are removed. Students may not receive duplicate unit credit for AP and IB exams in the same discipline, and the duplicating unit credit may be removed from the student's record. Stanford University policies on AP and other external credit are subject to review and change on an annual basis. Subjects not listed on this chart are not eligible for AP credit at Stanford University. Students may only receive AP credit for the AP policies that were effective during their matriculation year at Stanford.

Further information is available from the Student Services Center or on the Registrar's website.

AP Scores and Placement

International Baccalaureate (IB) Transfer Credit

Stanford University awards advanced placement credit for certain International Baccalaureate (IB) and international advanced placement subject examinations. The international test subjects must match the content of the College Board Advanced Placement test subjects that receive advanced placement credit. See the Registrar's website for detailed information.

A maximum of 45 quarter units of transfer and test credit may be applied toward the undergraduate degree. Only higher level IB exams with scores of 5 or higher, in the subjects listed below, are eligible for credit. Subjects not listed on this chart are not eligible for IB credit. Scores of 5 or higher on language IB exams fulfill the language requirement. If Stanford courses are taken below the level of the placement course, the duplicating IB units will be removed. Students may not receive duplicate unit credit for AP and IB exams in the same discipline, and the duplicating unit credit may be removed from the student's record.

Chemistry Advanced Placement for Incoming Frosh

Undergraduate Transfer Work

COVID-19 Policies on Undergraduate Transfer Work for Academic Year 2020-21

• The 15-quarter unit cap on online work has been eliminated, students may apply for transfer credit for work that was or will be completed via an online/hybrid/correspondence instruction mode.The coursework must still meet all other conditions for transfer credit.
• Students may reach out to their departments for review/approval of transfer credit without having to first secure a review/approval from the Registrar's Office. Please note: students will want to confirm with departments what their transfer credit process is, if seeking a review of transfer credit for application towards major/minor requirements.
• Credit earned in U.S. military training and service may be eligible for transfer to Stanford if the work was completed at an accredited U.S. college or University or if the work appears on an official Joint Services Transcript (JST) and meets all other conditions for transfer credit. Joint Services Transcripts can be requested via the JST website. 

Academic credit for work done elsewhere may be allowed toward a Stanford bachelor's degree under the following rules and conditions:

1. Credit may be granted for work completed at institutions in the U.S. only if the institutions are regionally accredited.
2. Study in institutions outside the U.S., when validated by examination results, tutorial reports, or other official evidence of satisfactory work, may be credited toward a Stanford bachelor's degree, subject to the approval of the credit evaluator and the appropriate departments. See the Registrar's web site for additional information regarding transfer credit requests for course work completed abroad.
3. Credit is officially allowed only after the student has been unconditionally admitted to Stanford.
4. Credit is allowed for work completed at institutions in the U.S. only on the basis of an official transcript received by the Registrar at Stanford directly from the institution where the credit was earned. In order for transfer credit to be awarded, students must submit an official transcript that clearly indicates all of the below information for each course:
   • Course codes/numbers
   • Course titles or descriptions
   • Final grades earned 
   • Course credits earned
5. Credit from another institution may be transferred for courses which are substantially equivalent to those offered at Stanford University on the undergraduate level, subject to the approval of the credit evaluator. A maximum of 20 quarter units may represent courses which do not parallel specific undergraduate courses at Stanford, again, subject to the approval of the credit evaluator as to quality and suitability.
6. Course work cannot duplicate, overlap, or regress previous work. 
7. Transfer course work cannot count towards secondary school diploma and/or graduation requirements.
8. For students interested in fulfilling a Ways of Thinking/Doing (Ways) breadth requirement through transfer work, a transfer course evaluation must be submitted to confirm if the course will meet the Ways criteria. Requests for fulfilling Ways requirements in transfer require pre-approval prior to course enrollment and the pre-approval requests must be submitted prior to the term in which students intend to enroll in the transfer course and as defined on the Ways web site. Courses must be taken for a minimum of 3 quarter units (2 units in the case of Creative Expression only) and must be taken for a letter grade.
   For incoming transfer students, a proportion of their Ways requirement must be fulfilled at Stanford based on the number of qualified transfer units awarded at matriculation. Students must complete a number of Ways courses to fulfill the Ways requirement as outlined in the “Transfer Credit for Ways” section of this bulletin.
9. Transfer work can be used to satisfy a department major or minor requirement. The transfer work must first be officially accepted into the University through the Office of the University Registrar. After the transfer credit has been approved and posted by the Office of the University Registrar, the departments determine if the approved transfer work can be used to satisfy a department major or minor requirement. Students should consult with their departments about a program's transfer credit policies/procedures.
10. The credit allowed at Stanford for one quarter's work may not exceed the number of units that would have been permissible for one quarter if the work had been done at Stanford; for work done under a system other than the quarter system, the permissible maximum units are calculated at an appropriate ratio of equivalence (i.e. is converted into quarter units). 
11. Credit is allowed at Stanford for work graded 'C-' (or better) or 'Pass' (where 'Pass' is equivalent to a letter grade of 'C-' or above), but not for work graded 'D' or below.
12. No more than 45 (90 for transfer students) quarter units of credit for work done elsewhere (including external test credit) may be counted toward a bachelor's degree at Stanford.
13. Credit earned in extension, correspondence, and online courses is transferable only if the university offering the courses allows that credit toward its own bachelor's degree. Such credit is limited to a maximum of 45 quarter units for extension courses, a maximum of 15 quarter units for correspondence and online study, and a maximum of 45 quarter units for the combination of extension, correspondence, and online courses. Online and independent study courses are not eligible for Ways credit. 
14. Credit earned in military training and service is not transferable to Stanford, unless offered by an accredited college or university in the U.S. and evaluated as above by the credit evaluator.

See the Registrar's web site for additional information regarding transfer credit policies and procedures.

Special Registration Statuses (Undergraduate)

COVID-19 Policies on Undergraduate Special Registration Statuses for Academic Year 2020-21

• Permit to Attend for Services Only (PSO): Students approved for the PSO status will be assessed a $150 fee instead of the standard PSO fee.
• 13th Quarter: this status will be available in the Summer Quarter, as Summer will not necessarily be the standard optional quarter for the Academic Year 2020-21.

The following reduced-tuition categories can be requested by undergraduates in the final stages of their degree program:

Permit to Attend for Services Only (PSO)

Undergraduates in their terminal quarter who are completing honors theses, clearing incomplete grades, or have completed all requirements and are requiring a registration status to utilize university resources, may petition one time only for PSO status. PSO does not permit any course enrollment. Students must apply to graduate through Axess if applying for the PSO special registration status. The deadline for the completed PSO petition is the Preliminary Study List deadline of the applicable quarter.

13th Quarter

Undergraduates who have completed at least twelve full-time quarters may petition to register for 13th Quarter registration status at a reduced tuition rate for their final quarter, but must register for at least eight units. Undergraduate dual degree students must complete at least fifteen full-time quarters before petitioning for reduced tuition in their final quarter.  Students receiving financial aid should check with the Financial Aid Office for eligibility if they are seeking aid beyond 12 quarters of enrollment.  Undergraduates must apply to graduate through Axess if applying for the 13th-quarter special registration status.

Last Units out of Residence

Students may petition to complete their final 15 units out of residence to complete their degree requirements. The final 15 units of transfer credit must meet the criteria in the undergraduate "Transfer Work" section of this bulletin. Students must submit the Request for Last Units Out of Residence Petition to determine eligibility and to request pre-approval of the transfer work. A registration status is required to graduate. Students should select either the Graduation Quarter or the Permit for Services Only special registration status on the Last Units Out of Residence petition. Refer to the Special Registration Status section of the bulletin for a description of theses statuses. An application to graduate should be submitted through Axess.

Graduation Quarter

Undergraduates may petition one time only for Graduation Quarter in their terminal quarter only if:

1. filing a Request for Last Units Out of Residence in order to complete up to 15 final units at another institution; or
2. returning from a discontinued status and filing a Request to Return and Register in Undergraduate Study  in order to confer their degree; or
3. if all degree requirements, including honors theses, have been completed and student requires a registration status to graduate, but will not be using University resources or housing.

Coterminal students are only eligible for the Graduation Quarter special registration status if they are applying to confer both the undergraduate and graduate degree in the same quarter. Undergraduates may be eligible for Graduation Quarter status in these three situations only if the student has completed all graduation requirements and will not be utilizing University resources, including housing. The deadline for the completed Graduation Quarter petition is the Preliminary Study List deadline of the applicable quarter. Undergraduates must apply to graduate through Axess if applying for the Graduation Quarter special registration status.

Minimum Progress for Undergraduates

Undergraduates are expected to finish their degree requirements in a timely fashion. In addition to maintaining academic progress obligations, students are expected to take courses to progress towards a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. If after 12 quarters, an undergraduate is not on track to complete degree requirements and graduate within the next two quarters, the University may impose requirements with deadlines on a student's course of study. Further, if a student fails to meet those imposed requirements and/or has not after 18 quarters completed all degree requirements, the University may discontinue the student for failure to progress.

Leaves of Absence and Reinstatement (Undergraduate)

A Leave of Absence allows a student to take a break from enrollment either before or after a quarter begins. There may also be conditions associated with a Leave, which are outlined in greater detail below. Undergraduates are admitted to Stanford University with the expectation that they complete their degree programs in a reasonable amount of time, usually within four years.

Leaves of absence for undergraduates may not exceed a cumulative total of two years (eight quarters including Summer Quarters).

COVID-19 Policies on Undergraduate Leaves of Absence for Academic Year 2020-21

For academic year 2020-21, new leaves of absence taken during Autumn, Winter, Spring, or Summer quarters do not count towards the eight quarters maximum.

Undergraduates and coterms in the undergraduate tuition group are expected to enroll in three of four quarters during the 2020-21 academic year, with one quarter considered the student's Flex Term. If students are unable to or elect not to enroll in three quarters, they must apply for a leave of absence for those quarter(s). Leaves of absence information for International undergraduates can be found below in this bulletin section. 

Undergraduates may take one quarter away from Stanford without having to file for a leave of absence (LOA), this term being considered the student's Flex Term. If a student takes more than one quarter away from Stanford, a Leave of Absence form is required. A student would be discontinued for no enrollment in any term in which they do not enroll after use of the Flex Term. See the Discontinuation and Reinstatement section below for further information. 

Students on leave of absence are not registered at Stanford and, therefore, do not have the rights and privileges of registered students. They cannot fulfill any official department or University requirements during the leave period. Students on leave may complete course work for which an 'Incomplete' grade was awarded in a prior term (unless doing so places an undue burden on the part of an instructor, department, staff, or other university resource) and are expected to comply with the maximum one-year time limit for resolving incompletes; a leave of absence does not stop the clock on the time limit for resolving incompletes.

New freshmen and transfers are required to register in Autumn Quarter and may not take a leave of absence prior to their first quarter.  However, new undergraduate students may request a deferment from the Office of Undergraduate Admission before the first day of Autumn Quarter. Under rare and exceptional circumstances, new freshmen and transfers may take a leave of absence during their first quarter with the permission of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (or his or her designee).

When a student is granted or placed on a leave of absence after the beginning of the term, courses in which the student was enrolled after the final study list deadline appear on the student's transcript and show the symbol 'W' (withdraw). For additional information regarding satisfactory academic progress, refer to the "Academic Progress" section of this bulletin. Information on tuition refunds is available in the "Refunds" section of this bulletin.

International Undergraduates

A Leave of Absence allows a student to take a break from enrollment either before or after a quarter begins. There may also be conditions associated with a Leave, which are outlined in greater detail below. Undergraduates are admitted to Stanford University with the expectation that they complete their degree programs in a reasonable amount of time, usually within four years.

Leaves of absence for undergraduates may not exceed a cumulative total of two years (eight quarters including Summer Quarters). For academic year 2020-21, leaves of absence taken during Autumn, Winter, Spring or Summer quarters will not count towards the eight quarters maximum.

COVID-19 Policy on Leaves of Absence for International Undergraduates

International undergraduates are expected to enroll in three consecutive quarters during the 2020-21 academic year. If undergraduates are unable to or elect to not enroll in three consecutive quarters, they must apply for a Leave of Absence for those quarter(s). International undergraduates are required to consult with a Bechtel International Center immigration advisor well before  requesting a Leave of Absence. The Leave of Absence may complicate an international student's legal status and ability to remain and work in the U.S.

Students on leave of absence are not registered at Stanford and, therefore, do not have the rights and privileges of registered students. They cannot fulfill any official department or University requirements during the leave period. Students on leave may complete course work for which an 'Incomplete' grade was awarded in a prior term (unless doing so places an undue burden on the part of an instructor, department, staff, or other university resource) and are expected to comply with the maximum one-year time limit for resolving incompletes; a leave of absence does not stop the clock on the time limit for resolving incompletes.

New freshmen and transfers are required to register in Autumn Quarter and may not take a leave of absence prior to their first quarter.  However, new undergraduate students may request a deferment from the Office of Undergraduate Admission before the first day of Autumn Quarter. Under rare and exceptional circumstances, new freshmen and transfers may take a leave of absence during their first quarter with the permission of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (or his or her designee). When circumstances arise which make it advisable or necessary for freshmen to take a leave of absence during any of their first three quarters, the student is required to wait until Autumn Quarter of the following academic year to return.

When a student is granted or placed on a leave of absence after the beginning of the term, courses in which the student was enrolled after the final study list deadline appear on the student's transcript and show the symbol 'W' (withdraw). For additional information regarding satisfactory academic progress, refer to the "Academic Progress" section of this bulletin. Information on tuition refunds is available in the "Refunds" section of this bulletin.

Voluntary Leave of Absence

Students have the option of taking a voluntary leave of absence for up to one year, or four quarters, upon filing a Leave of Absence form with the Office of the University Registrar and receiving approval. Students may revoke their request to take a voluntary leave of absence via Axess, within two business days of submitting a Leave of Absence eForm. Except where unexpected circumstances necessitate an immediate leave, students are expected to file for a voluntary leave of absence 30 days prior to the quarter in which the leave will begin. The leave may be extended for up to one additional year, or four quarters, provided the student files (before the end of the initial one-year leave) a Leave of Absence form for the leave extension with the Office of the University Registrar and receives approval. Leaves requested for a longer period than one year, or four quarters, are approved only in exceptional circumstances (for example, mandatory military service). Leaves of absence for undergraduate students may not exceed a cumulative total of two years (eight quarters including summer quarters).

Undergraduates who take an approved leave of absence while in good standing from a quarter for which they have registered in advance and do not wish to attend may enroll in the University for the subsequent quarter with the privileges of a continuing student. For undergraduates who wish to withdraw from the current quarter after the beginning of the term, courses in which the student was enrolled after the final study list deadline appear on the student's transcript and show the symbol 'W' (withdraw). For additional information regarding satisfactory academic progress, refer to the "Academic Progress" section of this bulletin.  In either situation, the University may condition its approval of a petition for leave of absence on the student's meeting such requirements as the University deems appropriate in the individual case for the student to be eligible to return (such as, in the case of a leave for medical reasons, proof of treatment and/or an interview with a provider at Vaden Health Center or Counseling and Psychological Services or its designee). Undergraduates who wish to withdraw from the current quarter, or from a quarter for which they have registered in advance and do not wish to attend, must file a Leave of Absence form with and receive approval from the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, via Academic Advising, Sweet Hall.

Information on tuition refunds is available in the "Refunds" section of this bulletin. For a full refund, petitions must be received by the Office of the University Registrar no later than the first day of classes for the quarter.

Discontinuation and Reinstatement

COVID-19 Policies on Discontinuation and Reinstatement for Academic Year 2020-21

In academic year 2020-21, a student's active status in their academic degree program may be discontinued if the student:

• fails to be enrolled by the study list deadline of their second term away from Stanford; or
• fails to be approved for a leave of absence by the start of the term of their second term away from Stanford; or
• fails to enroll by the study list deadline, or fails to file and be approved for a leave of absence in a subsequent quarter, after use of the Flex Term; or
• voluntarily terminates undergraduate studies; or
• is dismissed for academic reasons; or
• is expelled from the University.

Students who fail to be either enrolled by the final study list deadline of their second term away from Stanford, or who fail to submit a Leave of Absence petition by the published deadline in their second term away from Stanford, must apply for reinstatement through the Request to Return and Register in Undergraduate Study.

This policy is applicable to the four quarters in academic year 2020-21 only; additional policy will be published prior to academic year 2021-22.

The University is not obliged to approve reinstatements of students. Applications for reinstatement are reviewed by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and are subject to the approval of the Faculty Senate Committee on Undergraduate Standards and Policy or its designees. The Committee or its designees may determine whether the application for reinstatement will be approved or not, and/or the conditions a student must meet in order to be reinstated. Reinstatement decisions are in the discretion of the University and may be based on the applicant's status when last enrolled, activities while away from campus, the length of the absence, the perceived potential for successful completion of the program, as well as any other factors or considerations regarded as relevant to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, the Committee, or their designees.

Applications for reinstatement through the Request to Return and Register in Undergraduate Study, must be submitted eight weeks prior to the start of the term in which the student seeks to enroll in classes. Information and instructions may be obtained by contacting the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, via Academic Advising, Sweet Hall.

Students who have been expelled from Stanford University are not permitted to apply for reinstatement.

Students who wish to terminate their study as undergraduates (e.g., for transfer to another institution) should submit a properly endorsed Request to Permanently Withdraw from Degree Program form to the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, via Academic Advising, Sweet Hall. In this instance, applications for reinstatement through the Request to Return and Register in Undergraduate Study are not appropriate. Any student wishing then to return to undergraduate study at Stanford is required to apply as a transfer student through the Office of Undergraduate Admission, and such re-admission is not guaranteed.

Leaves of absence and reinstatement of graduate students are addressed in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

Involuntary Leave of Absence and Return Policy

In effect as of January 4, 2020

Stanford University is committed to the safety, health and well-being of the campus community. The University recognizes that students may experience situations that significantly limit their ability to function successfully or safely in their role as students. In such circumstances, students should consider requesting a leave of absence. A leave of absence permits students to take a break from the University and their studies, so that they may address the issues that led to the need for the leave and later return to the University with an enhanced opportunity to achieve their educational goals. Students will be given the option to take a voluntary leave of absence before a decision is made with respect to an involuntary leave.

1. Involuntary Leave of Absence

   Requiring a student to take a leave of absence is rare and, subject to Section III, only happens when current medical knowledge and/or the best available objective evidence indicates to the Senior Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students or their designee (hereinafter, Dean of Students) that there is a significant risk to the student’s health or safety or the health or safety of others, or the student’s behavior severely disrupts the University environment, and no reasonable accommodations can adequately reduce that risk or disruption.

   Consistent with Stanford’s Nondiscrimination Policy, Stanford prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of any type of disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in the administration of the University’s programs and activities. Stanford offers a range of resources, support services and accommodations to address the physical and mental health needs of students. However, on rare occasion, a student’s needs may require a level of care that exceeds the care the University can appropriately provide. Where current knowledge about the individual’s medical condition and/or the best available objective evidence indicates that a student poses a significant risk to the health or safety of a member of the University community, where a student is unable or unwilling to carry out substantial self-care obligations and poses a significant risk to their own safety not based on mere speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations, or where a student’s behavior severely disrupts the University environment and the student does not want to take a voluntary leave, the Dean of Students has the authority to place a student on an involuntary leave of absence. Before placing any student on an involuntary leave of absence, Stanford will conduct an individualized assessment, consulting with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) to determine if there are reasonable accommodations that would permit the student to continue to participate in the University community without taking a leave of absence.

   The Dean of Students may be notified about a student who may meet the criteria of an involuntary leave of absence from a variety of sources including, but not limited to, the student, the student’s academic advisor, Residential Education staff, Graduate Life Office staff, an academic department, or a member of the University’s threat assessment team. If the Dean of Students deems it appropriate, these procedures will be initiated.

   1. Procedures for Placing a Student on an Involuntary Leave of Absence

      1. The Dean of Students will consult with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) prior to making a decision to impose an involuntary leave of absence.

      2. The Dean of Students will issue a notice to the student in writing that an involuntary leave of absence is under consideration. The written notice will include the reason(s) why the student is being considered for an involuntary leave, contact information for OAE, which can provide information about accommodations, and a copy of this policy. In addition, the notice will provide contact information for the Process Resource, an administrator outside of the decision-making process with knowledge of Stanford’s involuntary leave of absence process who will serve as a neutral process resource to answer any student questions about the process from referral through return to Stanford. In the written notice, the student will be encouraged to respond before a decision regarding a leave of absence is made and will be given a specified time period within which to do so.

      3. The Dean of Students will consider potential accommodations and/or modifications that could obviate the need for an involuntary leave of absence, such as the option to take a voluntary leave of absence, academic accommodations, housing and dining accommodations, and modifications to University policies, rules, and regulations. Examples of academic, administrative, and housing accommodations that may be facilitated through the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) can be found on the OAE website.

      4. The student may be asked to execute an Exchange of Confidential Information Consent Form providing Stanford personnel temporary authority to get information from the student’s healthcare provider(s) regarding issues relevant and appropriate to the consideration of an involuntary leave of absence when there is a need for the University to have access to that information as part of the interactive process and individualized assessment. If a student refuses to execute an Exchange of Confidential Information Consent Form or to respond within the timeframe set by the Dean of Students, the Dean may proceed with the assessment based on information in the Dean’s possession at the time.

      5. The Dean of Students will also confer, as feasible and when appropriate in a particular matter, with individuals regarding the need for an involuntary leave of absence. Although each case will vary, conferring individuals could include:

         1. Residence Deans, or Graduate Life Office Deans;

         2. Faculty members;

         3. Academic advisors;

         4. With appropriate authorization, representatives from Stanford’s Vaden Health Center (Vaden);

         5. With appropriate authorization, the student’s treatment provider(s) or other health care professionals;

         6. Member(s) of the University’s threat assessment team; and/or

         7. Such other individuals as may be appropriate in an individual matter.

            In each case, the Dean of Students will confer with a representative from the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) with expertise in mental health disabilities.

      6. Particular attention will be paid to the criteria for imposing an involuntary leave of absence, specifically:

         1. whether current knowledge about the individual’s medical condition and/or the best available objective evidence indicates that a student poses a significant risk to the health or safety of a member of the University community;

         2. whether a student is unable or unwilling to carry out substantial self-care obligations and poses a significant risk to their own safety not based on mere speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations; and/or

         3. whether a student’s behavior severely disrupts the University environment.

            The individualized assessment as to each factor, based on reasonable judgment that relies on current medical knowledge or on the best available objective evidence, should ascertain: the nature, duration, and severity of the risk or disruption; the probability that the risk or disruption will actually occur; and whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices, or procedures will adequately mitigate the risk or disruption so as to eliminate the need for an involuntary leave of absence.

      7. The Dean of Students will give significant weight to the opinion of the student’s treatment provider(s), including those identified by the student, regarding the student’s ability to function academically and safely at the University with or without reasonable accommodations. If the Dean of Students determines that the information provided by the treatment provider(s) is incomplete, requires further explanation or clarification, or is inconsistent with other information in the student’s record, the Dean of Students, with proper authorization, will contact the treatment provider(s) to obtain additional information. In certain circumstances, the University may require the student to undergo an additional evaluation by an independent and objective professional designated by Stanford, if the Dean of Students believes it will facilitate a more informed decision.

      8. Following these consultations and based on a review of the relevant documentation and information available, the Dean of Students will make a decision as to whether the student should be placed on an involuntary leave of absence, and will provide written notice of this decision to the student. The written notice of decision will include information about the student’s right to appeal and to reasonable accommodations during the appeal process. The review and notice of decision under this policy should be done in a reasonably timely manner. Where students have been asked to remain away from the University while the review is underway, every effort will be made by the Dean of Students to reach a decision within one week, provided the student responds in a timely manner to requests for information and, if appropriate, evaluation.

         1. If an involuntary leave of absence is imposed. The written notice of decision to the student will set forth the basis for the decision and a time-frame for when the student must leave the University and when they may be eligible to return to the University and the conditions and/or requirements the student will need to satisfy to be eligible for return. The written notice will also inform the student of their right to reasonable accommodations in the return process and will provide contact information for OAE and the Process Resource. The length of the leave will be determined on an individual basis.

         2. If an involuntary leave of absence is not imposed. The Dean of Students may impose conditions and/or requirements under which the student is allowed to remain at the University.

      9. Within one week of receiving the decision of the Dean of Students, the student may submit an appeal of the decision in writing to the Vice Provost for Student Affairs or the Vice Provost’s designee, who may not be the Dean of Students. The written request for appeal must specify the particular substantive and/or procedural basis for the appeal, and must be made on grounds other than general dissatisfaction with the decision of the Dean of Students. The review by the Vice Provost for Student Affairs or the Vice Provost’s designee will be limited to the following considerations:

         1. Were the proper facts and criteria brought to bear on the decision?

         2. Is there any new information not previously available to the student that may change the outcome of the decision-making process?

         3. Were there any procedural irregularities that materially affected the outcome of the matter to the detriment of the appellant?

         4. Given the proper facts, criteria, and procedures, was the decision a reasonable one?

      After reviewing the matter fully, the Vice Provost for Student Affairs or the Vice Provost’s designee will issue a written decision affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision to place the student on an involuntary leave of absence. The Vice Provost’s decision shall be final, and no other appeals or grievance procedures are available.

   2. Implications of an Involuntary Leave of Absence

      1. Student status. Students on a leave of absence generally retain their admitted student status; however, they are not registered and therefore do not have the rights and privileges of registered students.

      2. Housing. Consistent with Stanford’s policies and procedures, students assigned to a University residence are subject to the terms of the University Residence Agreement. However, as set forth on the Registrar’s Office Leave of Absence website, students with medical disabilities (including mental health disabilities) that require University medical services may petition to remain in campus housing for one term while on leave. Students who leave the University before the end of a term may be eligible to receive refunds of portions of their housing charges. Eligibility criteria for refunds are set forth in the Residence Agreement which is found on the Residence Agreement website.

      3. Effective date(s) of leave. A student must leave the University within the timeframe set forth by the Dean of Students. The leave will remain in effect until (1) it is determined after an individualized assessment that the student is able to return to the University with or without reasonable accommodations and (2) the student has complied with any University requirements applicable to all students returning from a leave and all of the conditions mandated by the Dean of Students and/or the Vice Provost.

      4. Notification. At any time during the leave process, the Dean of Students may notify a

         student’s parent, guardian, emergency contact, or other individual, consistent with the law, if notification is deemed appropriate.

      5. Association with the University while on leave. Unless expressly permitted by the Dean of Students in writing, students on an involuntary leave of absence are not permitted to be present at the University and are not permitted to engage in any University-related activities, including on-campus employment.

      6. Coursework taken while on leave. Consistent with Stanford’s policies and procedures, academic credit for work done elsewhere may be allowed towards a Stanford degree. Students should refer to the “Transfer Work” section of the Stanford Bulletin and consult with the Registrar’s Office and their department prior to taking any coursework while on an involuntary leave of absence.

      7. SUnet ID privileges. Unless expressly prohibited by the Dean of Students in writing, students on leave generally may retain their SUnet ID privileges, including their Stanford email account.

      8. Transcript notation. Students on a leave of absence will have a notation on their transcript that reads “Leave of Absence.”

      9. Tuition and fees. Consistent with Stanford’s policies and procedures, students who leave the University before the end of a term may be eligible to receive refunds of portions of their tuition. See the Registrar’s Tuition Refunds page for a schedule of refunds.

      10. Meal Plan. Consistent with Stanford’s policies and procedures, a meal plan refund is based on the date when a student moves out of University residence and is approved under conditions as specified in the Residence Agreement. Students with questions about residential meal plan refunds should contact the central office of Stanford Dining.

      11. Visa Status. International students (F-1 and J-1 Visa holders) placed on an involuntary leave of absence must speak with a Bechtel International Center advisor regarding their visa status.

2. Request for Return

   1. For general requirements applicable to all students returning to Stanford after a leave of absence, undergraduate students should refer to the Returning to Stanford website. Graduate students should consult with their academic department and a Graduate Life Office Dean. In addition to the general requirements all students must meet when returning to Stanford after a leave of absence, as well as any conditions mandated by the Dean of Students and/or the Vice Provost for return from an involuntary leave of absence as outlined below in section II.C, students seeking to return from an involuntary leave of absence for reasons of personal or community health and safety may be required to submit additional documentation related to the factors set forth in section I.A.6 as part of an individualized assessment. OAE will work with the students to provide reasonable accommodations in the return process as necessary.

   2. A student must make a written request to the Dean of Students to return to the University. Generally, a student will not be allowed to return until one full quarter has elapsed or until the leave period in the involuntary leave of absence notification has elapsed, and all conditions and/or requirements are met.

   3. The Dean of Students may require the student to provide evidence that the student, with or without reasonable accommodations, has sufficiently addressed the issues that previously established the criteria for imposing an involuntary leave of absence as set forth in section I.A.6, above. The Dean of Students may also ask, confer with, or seek information from others to assist in making the determination. The information sought may include:

      1. At the student’s discretion, documentation of efforts by the student to address the issues that led to the leave

      2. With appropriate authorization, release of academic records to inform treating clinicians

      3. With appropriate authorization, release of treatment information to the extent necessary to determine if the student has sufficiently reduced the risk or disruption that led to the need for the involuntary leave

      4. With appropriate authorization, consultation with Vaden to the extent necessary to determine if the student has sufficiently reduced the risk or disruption that led to the need for the involuntary leave

      5. Consultation with OAE

   4. All returning students must meet the essential eligibility requirements and any technical standards of the University and, if applicable, the relevant school or department, with or without reasonable accommodations. If the Dean of Students is not satisfied that the student is ready to return to the University, the student will be notified in writing of the decision, including the reason for the decision, within a reasonable time after the student has submitted a request for return and required documentation.

   5. A student not permitted to return may appeal the decision to the Vice Provost for Student Affairs following the procedure in section I.A.9.

3. Scope of the Policy and Relationship to Other University Policies

   A leave of absence is an administrative process; it is not a disciplinary process. This policy and these procedures are not intended to be punitive and do not take the place of disciplinary actions that are in response to violations of Stanford’s Fundamental Standard or other policies or directives, nor do they preclude the removal or dismissal of students from the University or University-related programs as a result of violations of other University policies or school or departmental protocols. This policy does not limit the University’s ability to place enrollment holds on students for reasons beyond the scope of this policy and nothing in this policy relieves a student of any financial obligations to the University that were in place at the time the involuntary leave of absence was imposed.

   Nothing in this policy limits the power of the University to take administrative action to ensure the safety of the Stanford community. In exceptional circumstances, where the health or well-being of any person may be seriously affected, or where physical safety is seriously threatened, or where the ability of the University to carry out its essential operations is seriously threatened or impaired, the President or the President’s designee, may summarily suspend, dismiss, or bar any person from the University or University-related programs. In all such cases, actions taken will be reviewed promptly, typically within one week, by the appropriate University authority.

   In situations involving an imminent or ongoing threat of harm to the student or any other member of the University community, the Dean of Students, in the exercise of his or her reasonable judgment, may require a student to be immediately prohibited from entering Stanford’s campus or facilities utilized for University programs or activities while the individualized assessment and review described in section I.A. are taking place. Such students will receive the written notice described in section I.A.2 as quickly as possible.

4. Requests for Reasonable Accommodation

   Stanford is committed to providing equal access to all participants in University processes, including students with disabilities. Students with disabilities should contact the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) to request accommodations. Information about the support services OAE provides, types of accommodations offered, and appropriate documentation for accommodations, can be found on the OAE website: https://oae.stanford.edu/.

5. Related Resources

As noted herein, students placed on an involuntary leave of absence may have additional conditions and/or requirements they must meet prior to returning to the University, in addition to any University requirements applicable to all students returning from a leave.

• Undergraduate Students should consult the Returning to Stanford web page for generally applicable deadlines, information and resources.
• Graduate Students should consult with a Graduate Life Office Dean and their department for generally applicable deadlines, information and resources.

Students who are placed on an involuntary leave of absence may want to consult with the following offices, where appropriate:

• Office of Accessible Education (OAE)
• Financial Aid
• Student Financial Services
• University Housing
• Vaden Health Center (Vaden)
• Academic Advising
• Graduate Life Office
• Bechtel International Center

The Process Resource will be available to assist all students who are placed on an involuntary leave of absence with their questions about the process to return and resume their studies and life at Stanford.

Conferral of Degrees

Upon recommendation to the Senate of the Academic Council by the faculty of the relevant departments or schools and the Committee on Undergraduate Standards and Policy, degrees are awarded four times each year, at the conclusion of Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer quarters. All diplomas, however, are prepared and distributed after degree conferral in accordance to the distribution dates listed on the Registrar's Office web site.

Students must apply for conferral of an undergraduate or graduate degree by filing an Application to Graduate through Axess by the deadline for each term. The deadlines are published in the Academic Calendar. A separate application must be filed for each degree program and for each conferral term.

Requests for conferral are reviewed by the Office of the University Registrar and the student's department, to verify completion of degree requirements. Registration is required in the conferral term. Students with unmet financial or other University obligations resulting in the placement of a hold on their registration cannot receive a transcript, statement of completion, degree certificate, or diploma until the hold is released. An academic record where no other degree objective is being pursued is permanently frozen after the final degree conferral, and all subsequent grade change requests or changes to the student record are not permitted.

Students are typically expected to apply to graduate when they have completed their degree requirements. The University, however, reserves the right to confer a degree on a student who has completed all of the requirements for a degree even though the student has not applied to graduate; such an individual would then be subject to the University's usual rules and restrictions regarding future enrollment or registration.

Students who wish to withdraw a request for conferral or make changes to their Application(s) to Graduate can do electronically in Axess by the late application to graduate deadline on the academic calendar. Students who withdraw their graduation applications or fail to meet degree requirements must reapply to graduate in a subsequent term.

Stanford University awards no honorary degrees.