All you need to know about registering for Fall 2025 classes

 

Dear Students,   We are roughly two weeks away from the start of registration for fall classes.   I hope you were able to successfully try out the Vergil Course Search and Planner after reading my email last week.    This week, to prepare yourself for registering for fall classes in the new Vergil registration system, you can do the following things: •    Log into Vergil. •    Complete the Financial Responsibility Statement. Important: You will not be able to register for fall classes until this is completed. •    View your Registration Appointments for the fall. Be sure the Term in the upper-right is set to Fall 2025.   •    Rising seniors register on Tuesday April 15, rising juniors on Wednesday April 16, rising sophomores on Thursday April 17. •    If you think your registration appointment in Vergil is incorrect, please contact us immediately at registrar@barnard.edu. •    Use the Vergil Course Search to Add classes to your Planner. •    TIP: Be sure to change the Term to Fall 2025 in the upper right corner. •    Search by subject, by department, by Foundations/Gen Ed requirement, by classes with open seats, etc. See screenshots here. •    Schedule a meeting with your academic adviser.   You can find more information about how to register in Vergil here.   If you have questions about Vergil or registration more generally, please contact my office at registrar@barnard.edu so that we can assist you.   If you have questions about the Financial Responsibility Statement or payment arrangements more generally, please contact the Bursar’s Office at bursar@barnard.edu.   Best wishes, Jennifer Simmons Registrar

Departmental Program Planning Meetings

Department Name	Meeting Date and Time	Meeting Location
Philosophy	April 7, 6pm-7pm	326 Milbank Hall
Computer Science	April 8, 5:30pm-7pm	Milstein 514 (CSC Social Space)
Sociology	April 9, 4pm-5pm	332 Milbank

Barnard Bold Conference | April 3-4

Barnard Bold Conference | April 3-4 (various time), RSVP here

Interested in student-faculty pedagogical partnership? Curious about what makes academic freedom possible? Eager to make your voice heard in conversations on teaching and learning with Barnard students, faculty, and staff? There is still time to RSVP for the annual Bold Conference. Check out the full line-up and RSVP for all conference sessions here.

Bold is not just any pedagogy conference; it’s a rare space for the whole Barnard community–students, faculty, and staff–to come together to consider the urgent questions impacting our teaching and learning culture. This year, we went back to our roots to emphasize student-designed sessions–like our Centering Disabled Voices panel discussion and our Prioritizing Student Learning, Centering Community Needs community conversation, both of which were pitched and designed by Barnard students and members of the CEP Student Advisory Committee. 

Barnard's Urban Teaching Program - Applications due April 1

Are you a sophomore with an interest in teaching?  Please consider Barnard College's Urban Teaching program. 

There are two tracks - childhood and secondary. The flyer links to Barnard's Education program website, which has detailed info on how to apply. 

Many majors combine well with this minor.

Feel free to email Amy Shire with any questions: ashire@barnard.edu. 

 ACADEMIC MAJOR - ALIGNMENT WITH URBAN TEACHING TRACKS

Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) works with any major. Most students who do this track major in psychology or sociology, but we have had students major in dance, theater, history, English, math, computer science, urban studies, and many others.

Please note - all Childhood Education candidates are required to take courses in the following:
● U.S. History and/or Government [1 course]
● World History [1 course]
● Natural Sciences with lab (psychology does not count as a natural science) [2 courses]
● English literature and writing [2 courses]
● Art (can be theoretical or practical, and includes all performing and visual arts) [1 course]

Adolescent Education (Grades 7-12)
English Language Arts (ELA) really only works with the English major. Students can have any focus within the major, but need to have at least one writing course and one literature course. 30 of the 36 credits required must have the course code of ENGL. 36 credits are required.

Foreign Languages requires a major in the modern language that the student is seeking certification for - French, German, Italian or Spanish - or in Classics for Latin or Greek. Culture and literature courses count, but the courses must be taught in the language, not in translation. Courses should have the code for the department of the language. 36 credits are required.

Math requires a major in Mathematics or Mathematical Sciences. Students majoring in Applied Mathematics should plan to take more than 50% or more of their courses with the code MATH. 36 credits are required.

Sciences
30 credits in the science of choice below, plus 6 credits, which may be in another science.
● Biology works best for students who major in Biology, but can work for students who major in Biochemistry or Environmental Biology.
● Chemistry works best for students who major in Chemistry.
● Earth Science works for students who major in Environmental Science. Courses should focus on science rather than social science. Students should be prepared to take some courses in astronomy. The Environmental Science and Sustainability major does not work well with this track.
● Physics works with the Physics major.

Social Studies works with a variety of majors including: History, American Studies, Economics and Social History, Sociology, Socio-Cultural Anthropology or Political Science. Please note, regardless of the major, the student will need 6 credits in U.S. History, 6 credits in European or World History, and 3 credits in Non-Western History, as well as a course in economics and U.S. government. The remainder of the 36 credits required can be from any of the social sciences. 36 credits are required.

When planning for their major, all students should plan to student teach in their final (spring)
semester. Student teaching requires that students be in schools Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Are you considering taking a class this summer?

There are several options for Barnard students who want or need to take classes this summer.  Note, however, that financial aid does not tend to cover summer study, although students who receive financial aid during the academic year may be eligible for limited financial assistance for Barnard summer classes (option 1, below).  Please come see your Sophomore Class Dean if you have any questions about what follows. 

1. Barnard is offering classes this summer, in two summer sessions. They are now listed here and on Vergil. 

When can I register for them?

Now!  Please see the Summer Course site FAQs for details. 

How can I register for them?

On Vergil. 

How will I be billed?

Costs will be listed on the Summer website, and you will be billed by Barnard on a per-credit basis.

How will these courses be counted?

Summer courses will automatically appear on your Barnard transcript, just like classes taken during the year. Courses taken for a grade will factor into your Barnard GPA. 

What if I need CARDS accommodations in summer?

Learn more here.

Any other questions? 

Email summersession@barnard.edu

2. As in past years, Columbia will be offering summer courses, which Barnard students may take.

When can I register for them?

Registration is now open for Columbia Summer courses.

How can I register for them?

On Vergil. Be sure to adhere to rules about summer transfer course registration, listed on the registrar's website

How will I be billed?

Columbia will bill you directly.

How will these courses get onto my transcript?

Note that Columbia summer courses are considered transfer credit, so in addition to registering, be sure to submit the Summer Course Approval Form. Once you complete the course(s), Columbia will automatically send transcripts to the Barnard Registrar.  Columbia Summer courses will appear as transfer credits on your Barnard transcript and will not be factored into your Barnard GPA.

What if I need CARDS accommodations in summer?

Learn more here.

 

3. You may also take courses at another accredited college or university and transfer them back to Barnard.

How do I get those approved?

Look for courses that adhere to the rules about summer transfer course registration. Register for them directly through the host university, and be sure to submit the Summer Course Approval Form and to request that a final, official transcript be sent directly to the Barnard Registrar when your courses are finished. External summer courses will appear as transfer credits on your Barnard transcript and will not be factored into your Barnard GPA.

The Deadline to Withdraw from a Spring 2025 class is Thursday, March 27

 

How do I withdraw from a class (now that the drop deadline has passed)?

The deadline to withdraw from a spring 2025 class is Thursday, March 27. Withdrawn classes will not affect your GPA and you will not earn credit for them, but they will remain on your transcript, and a W will be entered place of the final grade. 

Note: You may not withdraw from a class if doing so would leave you with fewer than 12 credits.

 

To withdraw from a class, use this online form, following these steps:


1. Consult with your adviser.

2. Get an email from your adviser confirming they approve you to withdraw from this specific class.

3. Download that email as a PDF or save a screenshot of it.

4. Complete and submit the online W form, uploading your adviser’s confirmation email when prompted to do so.

5. You will receive an email confirmation once your W request is processed, ordinarily within two business days. 

Note that the W will not appear on your record until the end of the semester when final grades are entered.

How to track the status of a Slate form you have submitted

 Did you submit one of the online forms that are available via the Slate for Students website? 

Wondering how to track its progress, i.e. to see if/when it was received, approved, processed, etc.?

Here's how to check.

1. Log into Slate directly or find it on the Barnard Portal under the Academics tab

 

 

 2. In the Home tab of Slate, scroll down to the bottom of the page, to Forms Submitted. There you'll see any forms you have submitted and can track them along their route from submitted to approved and processed. The legend below explains any symbols

3. That's it!

Departmental Program Planning Meetings/Open Houses - Spring 2025

 

Department Name	Meeting Date and Time	Meeting Location
WGSS	Feb 26, 2pm-3pm	CCIS Conference Room, Barnard Hall 205
Cognitive Science	Feb 26, 6pm-7pm	Sulzberger Parlor
Spanish & Latin American Cultures	March 4, 12:00 PM	Sulzberger Hall, North Tower
Anthropology	March 5, 4pm-5:30pm	Milstein LL001
Jewish Studies	March 25, 9am-10am	218 Milbank