First-Year Guide to Enrollment & Registration

You will register on the second day of your New Student Orientation, during your 4 hour enrollment window. 

Note: It is recommended that you have your shopping cart ready before your enrollment window. 

Go to Buff Portal→ Click New Student Welcome Card → Register for Classes → Select an Enrollment Window.
 

Make sure you’ve completed the ‘Advising’ and ‘Enrolling in Classes’ challenge questions in the Online Orientation Experience on Canvas.

Most first-year Psychology & Neuroscience students are pre-enrolled in one class (3 credits). This class will be automatically added to your schedule in early June. You can make changes to your pre-enrolled major class(es) during your enrollment window. Your goal is to sign up for 3-4 more classes (9-12 credits) during your enrollment window for a full-time schedule. 

PSYC majors are pre-enrolled in PSYC 1001: General Psychology. You can drop this class during your enrollment window if you received:

• 4 or 5 on your AP Psycholgy Exam
• 4 or higher on IB Higher Exam Level
• Transfer credit for PSYC 1001

If you have credit for PSYC 1001 then it is recommended to choose either PSYC 2606: Social Psychology or PSYC 2145: Intro to Cognitive Psychology. 

Note: It is not required that you take a PSYC class in your first semester, in fact many incoming freshmen who have credit for PSYC1001 do not take a PSYC class in their first semester. Due to the nature of registration for current students you may find that many of the 2000 level PSYC classes are full and having to add yourself to a waitlist is normal. 

NRSC majors are pre-enrolled in MCDB 1150: Intro to Cellular & Molecular Biology 

Note: Connect with your Residential Academic Program (RAP) or other special program coordinator to adjust your pre-enrolled RAP or other special program class(es). 

More info about RAP 

14-16 Credit Hours = Recommended amount. You need to be enrolled in at least 12 credits for full-time status. Being part-time could impact residence life, financial aid, tuition and more.  

• Full-time= At least 12 credits.
• Part-time = Less than 12 credits.

Note: For the typical 4 year graduation timeline you will need to take an average of 15 hours a semester. 

Note: These must be completed at least two weeks before your enrollment window opens.

Complete You Placement Assessments

1. Log into Buff Portal
2. Click Menu tab (3 lines icon, top-left)
3. Click on Registration & Advising or use the Search tool
4. Select: Degree Audit   Run a Degree Audit   Run Declared Programs   View Audit

   How to Run A Degree Audit 

Your Degree Audit is the best way to track your degree progress, including Gen Ed, major requirements, and transfer credits. It is an essential tool that you will use throughout your time at CU Boulder. It can also be used to explore major/minor/certificate interests. 

A&S Major/Minor/Certificates

Use Class Search to browse courses and build your shopping cart before your Enrollment Window opens.

• Shopping Cart
  • Serves as an organizational & planning tool for registration.
  • Adding a class to your cart does not save you a seat.
  • If you see a blue shopping cart icon, that means you have the class in your cart.
• During Your Enrollment Window
  • Build your shopping cart (you can build it before your enrollment window)
  • Click Continue to Enrollment    Submit Registration to register.
    •   Black check mark icon = officially enrolled in the class 
    •   Blue shopping cart icon = the class is still in your cart

Class Search

 How to search for classes

✔ Complete Pre-registration in your shopping cart located in the Class Search page

✔ Complete the Online Orientation Experience on Canvas

✔ Sign up for New Student Orientation (this is when you will register for classes)

✔ Complete placement tests

✔ Submit AP/IB Dual Enrollment credit

✔ Resolve any holds in Buff Portal

✔ Check pre-enrolled classes

✔ Build your shopping cart with backup options

You can adjust your class schedule during your Enrollment Window. If needed, you can also make changes during the Add/Drop Period at the start of the semester. See the CU Academic Calendar for specific dates. 

Academic Calendar

• Academic Advising – Help with schedule planning and degree progress
• Financial Aid Office – Info on scholarships, grants, and student loans.
• Housing & Dining Services – Housing assignments, meal plans, and move-in details.
• Office of the Registrar – Enrollment, course withdrawals, and academic records.
• Career Services – Help with internships, job searches, and career planning. 

• PSYC 1001 – General Psychology (3 credits) pre-enrolled
• Diversity Gen Ed – (3 credits)
• Social Science Gen Ed (3 credits)
• Arts & Humanities Gen Ed (3 credits)
• Additional Gen Ed or elective (3 credits)

✅ Total Credits: 15 

• PSYC 1001 – General Psychology (3 credits) pre-enrolled
• Biology: EBIO 1210 or MCDB 1150 (3 credits)
• Biology Lab: EBIO 1230 or MCDB 1152 (1 credit)
• Diversity Gen Ed (3 credits)
• Social Science Gen Ed (3 credits)
• Arts & Humanities Gen Ed (3 credits)

✅ Total Credits: 15-16

• PSYC 1001 – General Psychology (3 credits) pre-enrolled
• World Language (5 credits)
• Social Science Gen Ed (3 credits)
• Arts & Humanities Gen Ed (3 credits)

✅ Total Credits: 14

• MCDB 1150 – Intro to Cellular & Molecular Biology (3 credits) pre-enrolled
• MCDB 1152 – Optional support seminar for MCDB 1150 (1 credit)
• NRSC 1020 – Intro to Neuroscience (1 credit)
• World Language Gen Ed (5 credits)
• Arts & Humanities Gen Ed (3 credits)
• Diversity Gen Ed (3 credits)

✅ Total Credits: 14-16

• MCDB 1150 – Intro to Cellular & Molecular Biology (3 credits) pre-enrolled
• MCDB 1152 – Optional support seminar for MCDB 1150 (1 credit)
• Diversity Gen Ed (3 credits)
• Social Science Gen Ed (3 credits)
• Arts & Humanities Gen Ed (3 credits)
• Additional Social Science Gen Ed (3 credits)

✅ Total Credits: 15-16