Rice-Specific Requirements

It is important to note that Rice University has some rules and graduation requirements that may differ from other institutions.

As of academic year 2007–08, all students can add courses up to the fourth week of classes and drop classes up to the end of the 10th week of classes. Any student in their first semester at Rice can drop a course up until the last day of classes. Fees for adding and dropping classes after certain dates is listed in General Announcements.

As of academic year 2007-08, all students can designate one course per semester as pass/fail for each full year of residence but not a course within the major department or major area. For example, a transfer student who stays at Rice for two full years can use two pass/fail designations. No student can take more than four courses total pass/fail, even if they stay five years. Specific rules are listed in General Announcements.

Distribution requirements often cause confusion for students from other institutions. Please be sure to read General Announcements for your matriculation year very carefully.

As of academic year 2007–08, each student must complete at least four full fall or spring semesters and at least 60 semester hours at Rice. Each student must complete at least 48 hours of upper-level courses (at the 300 level or higher), and each student must complete more than half of their required 48 upper-level courses at Rice. Each student also must complete more than half of their required upper-level courses in their major work at Rice (some departments may specify a higher proportion). For example, if a major requires a minimum of eight upperlevel courses for that major, five courses must be from Rice.

As of academic year 2007–08, each student must complete a Lifetime Physical Activity Program (LPAP) requirement. This general graduation requirement includes two zero-credit courses. Transfer students will need to obtain approval from the transfer credit advisor for LPAP and might need to forfeit general TRAN credit hours in order to satisfy the requirement for graduation if they received TRAN credit for a course from another institution.