Visit Buckeye Link to register for classes.
Course Catalog and Schedule of Classes
View the Schedule of Classes & Course Catalog. Most academic departments also have course listings on their website as well.
Undergraduate students
You will finalize your class schedule with the help of your academic advisor. If you have received transfer credit for courses taken at another college, be sure to have all courses transferred to Ohio State as general credit evaluated by the transfer credit coordinators of the appropriate departments. The list of coordinators can be found online. Take copies of the final evaluations with you when you register for classes.
Graduate students
Call or visit your academic department to schedule an appointment with your academic advisor once you arrive on campus. Your advisor will either enter your course requests for you or will send you to the Graduate School (located at 250 University Hall) to receive registration materials so you can enter your course requests.
Role of an academic/faculty advisor
Advisors partner with students to explore educational and professional opportunities, set appropriate goals and determine strategies to achieve them. They help students register for courses, understand degree requirements, change or add majors and minors, and can address other academic issues.
Enrollment requirements
You must enroll full-time each semester to maintain your immigration status. For undergraduates, full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours per term, 9 of which must be in-person credit hours (not online). Graduate students must typically take 8 credit hours per semester to be full-time, but those on university fellowship are required to enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours.
Summer term is considered an “annual vacation term,” when international students are not required to enroll full time. However, students beginning, returning after a leave of absence, or graduating in summer term must enroll full time unless otherwise approved for a Reduced Course Load.
View the Academic Calendar and list of Important Dates.
At Ohio State, students are expected to participate in classroom discussions with instructors and fellow students and ask questions.
During the first class, professors will give you a syllabus that details what is expected of you throughout the course, lists when assignments are due, and includes your instructor’s office hours and contact information. If you have a problem with the material presented in class, you should visit the teacher during office hours and ask for help.
Participation
In most of your classes, there will be an expectation that you raise your hand to answer questions, ask questions and share your ideas about the course material. Participation is often a certain percentage of your overall grade for a course. Professors want to hear your voice in class, so they know you are actively engaged with the course material.
Missing class
You are expected to go to class on time each session and to notify your professor in advance if you will be absent. If you must miss class due to illness, you should obtain a doctor’s note. Attendance will often factor into your grade, and if you do not attend regularly, you will receive the failing grade of “EN” for the course.
Grades
Like most schools in the United States, Ohio State uses an A-E letter grading system. An A is the best grade you can achieve, and an E is a failing grade.
Some colleges and majors require a certain minimum GPA. To remain in good academic standing, undergraduates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, and for graduate students, 3.0 or higher. Students who fall out of good academic standing are placed on academic probation and are at risk of university dismissal.
If you are struggling in a class
Do: Continue going to class and completing all assignments. If you stop attending without officially withdrawing from a course, you will be given a failing grade. Meet with your academic advisor and an immigration coordinator at OIA to determine if you are able to drop the class and still maintain your immigration status.
Do: Talk to your instructor. Discuss your concerns openly and request guidance on the best study strategies for the course material. Don’t hesitate to ask questions to get clarification on assignment expectations.
Do: Seek help from university resources. For any type of academic problem, there is always someone you can reach out to for guidance.
Don’t: Drop a course that would put you below full-time enrollment unless you have first obtained approval from OIA. Dropping below full-time without advance permission could lead to your loss of legal status in the United States.
Don’t: Be overly reliant on friends for academic help; instead, visit campus resources.
Don’t: Take shortcuts, such as copying from a friend or copying information you find on the internet without attribution, which would be considered plagiarism.