After reportedly consulting with advisors, faculty members, students, and the policies of peer institutions, the Columbia College and School of General Studies Committee has updated academic policy in the following ways to “enable all students [to pursue] deep and thoughtful engagement in their academici pursuits, adequate time for extracurricular… opportunities… and a healthy and fulfilling undergraduate experience”:

  • Students can only take a maximum of 18 credits per semester.
  • Students can only declare a maximum of two “programs of study” (e.g. two majors or a major and a concentration).
  • Students pursuing two programs of study can count certain courses towards both programs of study.

Students who have already declared more than two programs of study and/or have created plans for an academic schedule according to the previous policy can petition for exceptions after consulting their advisers and the Director(s) of their respective academic department(s).

The ~official~, detailed policy can be found here.

The policy will take effect this Fall 2017.