How to Register for Classes

Some holds prevent students from registering, so students should look under "Tasks" in Self-Service to see if they have any active holds. 

A hold can come from a number of departments (the Media Center, the Flaxman Library, Student Financial Services, etc.), and can be placed if you have not returned items, if you have outstanding payments to make, or you need to meet with your advisor. A hold can prevent you from using SAIC resources (e.g., checking out library books), and can also affect your ability to register for classes. 

When you click on the individual hold, you can see details such as who to contact to resolve the hold, and when the hold is active. You may see a hold on your account that is active on a future date. This hold will not prevent you from registering until that date. 

• Talk to your current faculty and SAIC colleagues about classes that may fit your needs and interests

• Review course evaluations 

• Look at course listings on the website or in Self-Service

• Before enrolling, make sure you know exactly what credits you need to complete your degree

• Download your Advisement Summary through SAIC Self-Service. Directions for how to find and read your Advisement Summary: 

Student Guide to Accessing Academic Information [PDF]

Login to Self-Service to check your course schedule, your unofficial transcript, and your degree audit. 

If you are a new student, you should work with SAIC Admissions prior to the start of your first semester. New transfer students should continue to work with SAIC Admissions through Add/Drop of their first semester enrolled at SAIC.

You should also:

• Read more about your degree requirements 

• Student Guide to Accessing Academic Information [PDF]

You may work with your advisor before classes begin to make sure you are comfortable with your course selection. We highly recommend you make any schedule changes before the semester begins. Adding and dropping classes after they begin can seriously impact your ability to receive credit. If you miss a course session because you added it after the first course meeting, this counts as an absence and can affect your standing in the course.

• If you try to enroll in a class, but receive a message saying "Requisites have not been met," this means there are classes you need to complete before taking this course. Prerequisite requirements indicate the class builds on skills learned in a previous course(s). You will need to enroll and receive credit for the course(s) listed as a prerequisite—which is listed under the course information in Self-Service. 

It's important to have two to three class options prepared in case your first choice is full. You should register for these back-up classes and check back to see if a place opens up in the class you wanted. You may also add yourself to a course’s waitlist. 

Check the school's academic calendar to make sure you know when classes begin. It is important to be on time and attend courses on the first day, and throughout the semester, because absences affect your ability to earn credit. If you register late for a class (during the Add/Drop period), you are still responsible for any participation or work you have missed. Enrolling late does not excuse you from the missed class time. We encourage you to carefully consider adding classes after the semester begins and ideally after a discussion with the instructor. See SAIC’s Attendance policy in the Student Handbook and the syllabus for each of your courses for more information. 

Every semester you should log in to SAIC Self-Service and review your schedule a few days before classes begin, as there are occasionally last-minute room changes. You can see your course schedule by visiting the Current Students dashboard and clicking the Self-Service link. You will find your course schedule under Manage Classes non-mobile, then select View My Classes.

Download the SAIC Campus Map‌ with the classroom locations listed by their abbreviation of your class schedule.

SAIC Campus Map [PDF]

Most classes, including studio, will provide you with a list of materials needed on the first day. Check both your email and the Canvas site (when applicable) for each of your classes prior to the start of the semester. Either way, plan on bringing notebooks and writing materials to the first class so you can take notes. You may also visit the DePaul University bookstore website to see if the courses you enrolled in have any required texts available for purchase there.