Adding or Dropping a Course
If you need to drop a course, you must contact our office  before the add/drop date. Failure to attend the scheduled course, or failure to participate in an online course, does not constitute a drop.

For additional information, view the University Policy on Change of Schedule.

Withdrawal from Courses (After Add/Drop Date)
Please be advised that you are financially responsible for withdrawn classes. University Policy requires that all email correspondence must come from your Duquesne University Email Address, or the withdrawal will not be processed. The procedure to officially withdraw from a class is as follows:

1. Using your Duquesne email address, notify your instructor of your intention to withdraw and request their approval in writing. Your instructor should reply to your email to acknowledge your request. You must have the approval from your instructor in order to process a course withdrawal.
2. Forward the entire email exchange directly to your academic advisor. Please note that your advisor must receive your request along with faculty approval prior to the final withdrawal date in order to process your request. 
3. Your academic advisor will then process the withdrawal form.

Academic Advisor emails:
Meg Barefoot – barefoot@duq.edu
Ann Martin – martina@duq.edu
Kathy Rebholz – rebholz@duq.edu
Marianne Leister – leister@duq.edu

*Please be advised that you are financially responsible for the class/classes if you withdraw.*

For additional information, view the University Policy on Withdrawal from a Course.

Cancellation of Course Offering
The University makes every reasonable effort to offer courses as announced. It reserves the right, however, to make changes or cancel courses in the academic schedule because of insufficient enrollment or for any other equally valid reason.

Closed Course Offering
A course that has been enrolled to capacity is considered a closed course. Students may opt to be placed on a waitlist for a closed course. If you put yourself on a waitlist for a closed class, you will receive an email notification sent to your Duquesne University email address when a seat becomes available and you will be able to register. You will have 72 hours from the time you receive the notification to register for the class; after that time, you will be removed from the waitlist, and the seat will be offered to the next student. During the add/drop period, you will have 24 hours to register for the class after receiving notification that a seat has become available. If you have put yourself on a waitlist for a class, please check your Duquesne email address regularly so you do not miss the opportunity to register for your class when a seat is offered to you!

Repeating Courses
Students ordinarily are permitted to repeat courses in which "D" and "F" grades were received. All grades are retained on the permanent academic record (transcript). The result of the final attempt in a repeated course is, however, the student's status in the course with regard to attempted credits, earned credits, and the completion of requirements.

Writing Intensive Courses
It is universally recognized that the ability to write clear, correct, and effective prose is an indispensable component of being an educated person. It is, therefore, entirely appropriate that Duquesne includes among its central objectives the development of the abilities to write clearly, correctly, and effectively. Every graduating student must have completed a minimum of four writing intensive courses beyond the two core writing courses. At least two of the courses must be taken in the student's major field. The other two courses may be taken in either the major field department or in the student's school or college. Writing intensive courses are offered in every department at the 200 level and above and emphasize the principles and practices of writing unique to the respective field.

Earning Additional Credit

Graduate Courses for Undergraduate Credit
Qualified seniors may be permitted to register in certain graduate courses at the 500+ level for undergraduate credit on the recommendation of the advisor and approval of the dean of the graduate school involved. All 500+ courses are described in graduate school catalogs.

Military Credit Transfer
Students who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America may be eligible for academic credit at Duquesne University depending upon the type of coursework completed and the program in which they are enrolled at Duquesne.

The purpose of the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service is to help people obtain academic credit for formal courses taken outside of a college or university (i.e., military training). It does this by providing educational institutions with reliable information to use in making decisions on credit awards. Duquesne University accepts the recommended evaluation of credits for transfer into the elective area. Restrictions apply based on program of enrollment.

For additional information, view the Military Students page.

Advanced Placement
Students who have followed the College Entrance Examination Board college-level program in secondary schools and have performed satisfactory in the advanced placement examinations are eligible for advanced placement in certain subjects.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
The PLA Seminar provides an opportunity that allows undergraduate students to define, organize and document their prior demonstrated college-level learning and earn course credits through a faculty evaluation process. Prior learning that may qualify for college-level credit must be conceptual as well as practical and must relate to subjects traditionally taught at the University. A student in the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement may earn up to 15 credits, but credits earned cannot be counted as part of the 30 in residence required for graduation. In most cases, credits earned will count toward electives. Additional information is available on the program website. It is recommended that you discuss this option further with an advisor.

Transfer Credit
Students may transfer college credits from other regionally accredited schools. Certain rules apply: no more than 60 credits can be transferred from a two-year institution, at least one-half of the major must be completed at Duquesne University, and a total of 30 credits must be completed in residence. Please meet with an academic advisor to discuss your transfer credits. Only course grades of "C" or better will be considered for possible transfer. (Note: We transfer only the credit, not the QPA). Other restrictions may apply depending on the program of enrollment.

Audited Course
Courses may be audited. However, audited courses are not eligible to be converted to matriculated units. Auditors must declare at registration that the course it being taken for audit and must pay the full-course tuition.

Refund Policy

100%  -  Prior to the beginning of the first week of class
90%  -    Prior to beginning of the second week of class
75%  -    Prior to beginning of the third week of class
50%  -    Prior to beginning of the fourth week of class
0%    -    After the fourth week of class

Withdrawal
For termination of attendance in courses after the 4th week of class, a “W” will appear on the transcript. Students are financially responsible for all withdrawals. Withdrawals must be processed before the 5^th week of the term.

Transfer Policy
Although transfer credits are typically not accepted into the paralegal program, each request will be evaluated on an individual basis. In most cases, courses being considered for transfer must have been earned from an ABA approved program within the immediate 5 years. Students must have earned a minimum grade of "B" and the program must have been ABA approved at the time the course was taken. The "505 Professional Responsibility" course must be taken at Duquesne's Paralegal Institute. No more than 2 paralegal courses will be considered for transfer.

Class Attendance Policy
Since the course materials are of a technical and intensive nature, students are required to attend all classes. Students must inform their instructor if they will be unable to attend a particular class.

For additional information, view the Paralegal Students page.