Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a permission number?
The process to obtain permission numbers varies by the department that offers the course. If you are trying to get a permission number for a course offered outside the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics, we recommend contacting the instructor and/or department offering the course (use the Cal Poly directory or search their website to find contact information).
Below are the best permission number contacts for the departments in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics. When reaching out about a permission number, be clear in what you are looking for and include the following information:
- Your name
- Cal Poly Email
- Empl ID
- The reason you are requesting a permission number and whether you have met any prerequisites (especially outside of Cal Poly)
- Preferred Course
- Preferred Section Number (location in Schedule Builder)
| Departments & Course Prefixes | WHO TO CONTACT | DEPARTMENT EXCEPTIONS | CONTACT INFORMATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Sciences (BIO, BOT, MCRO, MSCI) | Instructor FIRST. Contact Department office in special circumstances, though the Department defers to the instructor in general. Change of major to BIO students should contact their change of major faculty advisor. | biosci@calpoly.edu | |
| Chemistry and Biochemistry (CHEM) | Department FIRST. Department has access to the permission codes before faculty. Contact the faculty for a permission number once the term starts. | chem@calpoly.edu | |
| Kinesiology and Public Health (KINE, HLTH) | Instructor FIRST. Department if no response. | kph@calpoly.edu | |
| Liberal Studies (LS) | Department FIRST. Department has access to permission numbers before faculty. Starting on the 5th day of instruction students may contact faculty to request permission numbers. |
|
libstud@calpoly.edu |
| Mathematics (ESM, MATH) | Department FIRST. Department has access to permission codes before faculty. Starting on the 5th day of instruction students may contact faculty for permission numbers. | Math 95 and Math 115 will need department consent at all times, instructors do not have access to those permission codes. | math@calpoly.edu |
| Physics (ASTR, GEOL, PHYS, PSC) | Department FIRST. Department has access to the permission numbers before faculty. Starting on the 5th day of instruction contact the faculty. |
Permission numbers for independent study/senior projects can be acquired from the department office or the faculty associated with the course after the 5th day of instruction.
PHYS 125/PHYS 2200 is a 1-unit lab that corresponds to PHYS 121 or PHYS 141. Bailey College Student Services maintains an internal, ongoing waitlist for PHYS 125/PHYS 2200. Outreach and permission numbers are prioritized based on students’ health profession interest and expected graduation term. Please note that placement in the course is not guaranteed, even for students on the waitlist.
To get on the waitlist email bcsmadvising@calpoly.edu:
Animal Science Majors: Contact Laura Young at lyoung03@calpoly.edu for PHYS 125/PHYS 2200 permission numbers. |
physics@calpoly.edu |
| Statistics (STAT and DATA) | Instructor FIRST. Department if no response or if special circumstances: Students can fill out permission number form (https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/yKBn7fR1in) found on department site (https://statistics.calpoly.edu/) under student resources if no response from instructor. | statisticsdepartment@calpoly.edu | |
| School of Education (EDUC, SPED) | Instructor FIRST. Department if no response is received. | For general SOE permission number inquiries contact soe@calpoly.edu. For Liberal Studies and prerequisite permission inquiries contact Brittany Blunk, bblunk@calpoly.edu. | soe@calpoly.edu |
| CESAME (SCM) | Program Coordinator | cesame@calpoly.edu |
What is a permission number?
Permission numbers are special “codes” departments or class instructors may choose to issue so you can enroll in the class that the system may be preventing you from enrolling in on your own.
Why do I need a permission number?
Permission numbers are needed to do the following:
- Add a class during the last 4 days of the add/drop period, check the Student Planning Calendar for specific dates
- Override the prerequisite(s) of a course
- Enroll in a full class with or without a waitlist
- Enroll in a class without enrolling into its component (e.g., lab, activity, corequisite etc.)
How do I use a permission number?
If you receive a permission number, you will want to follow the steps outlined in the "Add a Class- with Permission Number demo" on https://registrar.calpoly.edu/student-center/#AddClass to officially enroll in the course.
Who is my faculty advisor/mentor?
Each student in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics is assigned a faculty advisor in their major. Check with the your department office to find out who your advisor is and how to best contact them.
In some departments, faculty advisors/mentors are assigned randomly to students at the time of entrance into Cal Poly. If you meet with your mentor and find that your interests are not the same, you can change your faculty advisor by asking a professor of your choice to be your advisor. Please make sure to inform your department of this change.
How do I declare a concentration?
Many majors in the Bailey College allow or require students to declare a concentration. A concentration is an area of emphasis within your field of study.
To declare, make sure the concentration is available for the catalog you are following. Then, submit this form to the Office of the Registrar.
Please note that it will take some time for your concentration to be applied to your degree progress.How do I declare a minor?
The minor declaration process depends on the minor you are declaring. Some minors (e.g., BIO minor) may have major exclusions and/or GPA requirements. A list of all minors can be found in the Cal Poly catalog. University Advising also maintains a list of minors that includes declaration information.
Please note that it may take some time for your minor to be applied to your Degree Progress Report and Poly Profile after you have declared it.
Does Cal Poly have a "pre-med" major or concentration?
No, we encourage students to choose the area of study they are most passionate about and add in the necessary prerequisites as applicable. We do offer a full range of support services and resources for students interested in the health professions. These include: pre-health professions advising (both peer and professional), career profiles with course prerequisites required for health profession programs, a health professions newsletter, various health profession-oriented clubs, mock interviews, assistance with the application process and critique of personal statements.
How do I change my major?
In general, the change of major process is consistent across colleges. However, ICMA requirements vary according to major. If you have reviewed the resources below and still have questions, please speak with the appropriate advising center for the major you are interested in.
- Changing your major within (or into) the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics
- Changing your major outside of Bailey College of Science and Mathematics
- Note: you do not need to meet with a Bailey College advisor if you are considering leaving the college, but you are welcome to if you have questions
How do I drop a class, take a semester off, or take multiple terms off?
What is the minimum passing grade for a course?
A "D-" is the minimum passing grade in order to earn units for a class. However, this does not always mean that a D- grade will satisfy a given requirement. A good example of this is the Calculus series (MATH 1261-1262 in the 26-28 Catalog):
In order to be eligible for MATH 1261, you must have a grade of C- or better in MATH 1005 or 1007 or have the appropriate Math Placement.
MATH 1261 Calculus I (4 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP, SU
2026-28 or later catalog: GE Area 2
2020-26 catalogs: GE Area B4
Prerequisite: Appropriate Math Placement, MATH 1005 with a grade of C- or better, or MATH 1007 with a grade of C- or better.
Additionally, MATH 1262 requires that students earn a C- or better in MATH 1261 or obtain consent from the instructor before enrolling:
MATH 1262 Calculus II (4 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP, SU
2026-28 or later catalog: GE Area 2
2020-26 catalogs: GE Area B4
Prerequisite: MATH 141B with a grade of C- or better, MATH 142 with a grade of C- or better, or MATH 1261 with a grade of C- or better, or consent of instructor.
Remember: while a D- may be considered passing, your major GPA, CPSLO GPA and Higher Ed GPA must be at least 2.0 (a C Average) in order to graduate.
What classes can I take as Credit/No Credit (CR/NC)?
The University policy for Credit/No Credit grading is the following:
Undergraduate students may elect a maximum of 12 units of Credit/No Credit grading under certain conditions:
- If approved by the student’s major program, department, or equivalent unit, no more than one course in the Major may be taken for CR/NC grading.
- Courses in the "major" include all major courses, support courses, concentration courses, and all types of elective courses listed within the major curriculum: e.g., technical electives, approved electives, concentration approved electives, etc.
- If a course double-fulfills a major/support/concentration requirement as well as a GE requirement, the units would apply as both Major CR/NC units and GE CR/NC units.
- Most majors do not allow Credit/No Credit grading in major courses (see "Degree Requirements and Curriculum" for each major to determine if Credit/No Credit grading is allowed. "Degree Requirements and Curriculum" can be found under "Programs" at the top of this page).
- No more than one course may be taken in General Education (those GE courses which are required for the bachelor's degree) for CR/NC grading.
- One unit lab courses, not embedded with a lecture course, taken to satisfy the 5C GE requirement may be taken CR/NC without counting against the one course limit for a GE course taken CR/NC.
- The remainder can be taken as free electives.
- Note: these unit maximums apply to the selection of credit/no credit grading basis, regardless whether a student earns a grade of CR or NC.
| Major | Policy |
|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | No major, support, or concentration courses may be selected as CR/NC. |
| Biochemistry | No major, support, or concentration courses may be selected as CR/NC. |
| Chemistry | No major, support, or concentration courses may be selected as CR/NC. |
| Kinesiology* | Up to 4 units of CR/NC grading may be selected for courses in major, support, or concentration. |
| Liberal Studies* | Up to 4 units of CR/NC grading may be selected for courses in major, support, or concentration. |
| Marine Sciences | No major, support, or concentration courses may be selected as CR/NC. |
| Mathematics | No major or concentration courses may be selected as CR/NC. |
| Microbiology | No major or support courses may be selected as CR/NC. |
| Oceanography | No major or support courses may be selected as CR/NC. |
| Physics (BA & BS) | No major courses with a lab component may be selected as CR/NC. |
| Public Health* | Up to 4 units of CR/NC grading may be selected for courses in major, support, or concentration. |
| Statistics | No course with a STAT prefix may be selected as CR/NC. |
*Take caution when selecting CR/NC. If the course double-counts in the major & GE, it will count as using 3 units of CR/NC grading for both major AND GE. Please refer to the full policy in the catalog.
What if I need to cancel my advising appointment?
As a courtesy to our office and your peers, if you need to cancel or reschedule your advising appointment, please use the links in your confirmation email. We prefer at least 24 hours advance notice, but we know last minute things come up. Bailey College Student Services will notify students by email if they have missed an appointment.
Where can I find answers if my question isn't listed here?
Great question! University Advising maintains a comprehensive website of general tips and resources for all Cal Poly students. If you've looked there and you still have questions, please meet with us!
