Register

The CLA community.

When does registration open?

Summer 2026
Registration is currently open.

M123 registration deadline is May 21
M123 classes begin Monday, May 18, 2026 and end Friday, August 7.

M1 registration deadline is May 18
M1 classes are May 18-June 12

M23 registration deadline is June 15
M23 classes are June 15-Aug 7

 

Fall 2026
The schedule of classes is published on Monday, March 16
Registration opens on Monday, March 23
Please complete your Fall 2026 registration by Wednesday, April 1

Classes will begin on Monday, August 24 and end on Saturday, December 12

Here is the current Add/Drop Deadline Calendar:  https://www.purdue.edu/registrar/calendars

Here is useful information from the Registrar including frequently asked questions.

 

How to register for standard courses:

  • Go to your myPurdue page and click on the Registration tab located along the top in myPurdue. 
  • Under Register for classes, click on Use Scheduling Assistant. A new window will open. 
  • Click “new course”, enter the course number, and select your class.
  • Enter the courses in which you wish to register. All of your planned classes will appear in your Course Requests list of the Scheduling Assistant. 
  • After your courses are entered, click on Build Schedule in the bottom right corner

 Please visit the registrar's website for further instructions

 

How to register for a variable title course (POL590):

  • Please see this YouTube video for instructions. 
    TLDR: Choose the "add variable title course" button, rather than entering a CRN.
  • Note the PWL is Purdue West Lafayette.
  • Complete an Agreement on Deliverables 590 form, obtain your instructors signature, and submit the form to the graduate coordinator.
  • Only one POL590 course may be taken each semester.


How to register for research credits (POL699):

  • First, work with your major professor to complete the Agreement on Deliverables 699 form.  When it is signed, submit it to the Graduate Coordinator.
  • Next, locate the CRN for your major professor
  • Then use the scheduling assistant to register for POL699 with your major professor.
  • Then you'll go back into the system to select the correct number of credits.  The initial entry will be for only 1 credit, so you will manually request the correct number.


How to avoid problems
- Complete your registration early (before the previous semester ends)
- Fix any holds (see below for examples)
- After entering your course(s) wait a day and take another look at your schedule to confirm that it is correct
- Don't mark yourself as "Candidate" unless you want to be on the graduation list! A late graduation fee of $200 will be charged to students who are on the graduation list for more than two consecutive semesters but do not graduate.

 

 

Requirements for Graduate Students:

Only courses taken for a grade will appear on a Plan of Study (P/NP and Audit are excluded).
All courses taken for a grade will appear on one Plan of Study (either MA or PhD, not both).

During the Fall and Spring semesters, the Political Science Department requires 9 credit hours for full-time graduate students.  Who must be a full-time student?  If you are funded quarter-time or higher for research, teaching, a graduate professional assistantship or a Purdue fellowship, then you are required to register for courses or research full-time.

Summer enrollment is generally not required, except for students who TA/RA and they must enroll in at least 3 credit hours.  Students can take a summer course without working if they TA'd in the Spring semester immediately prior and will TA in the Fall semester immediately after.  As of 2026, students who will be taking Federal loans are required to take 4 credits during the summer semester.

Note that International Students have additional registration requirements regarding course credits, last-semester credits, distance classes, auditing, residency, CPT, OPT, and hours worked.  For example, international students who are enrolled in a course (regardless of credits) that is required as part of their degree program may not work more than 20 hrs/week while the course is taking place.  Please refer to the ISS website for more information, and see the Graduate Coordinator for assistance.

 

 

Off-Campus Research:
All domestic & international PhD students who have NOT completed their Preliminary Oral Exam and POS coursework and are conducting research off-campus for greater than 22 days must complete the electronic G.S. Form 19 and submit it to the grad school. If you are also in an RA position, a Change of Duty Station request will be generated in the business office and forwarded to you for signature.  

PhD students who have already completed prelims and coursework, are not funded by Purdue, and will be conducting research off campus need to file a Research in Absentia form: G.S. Form 12.  They must also register for at least 3 research credits (POL699) that semester and each semester going forward.

Please talk to the Political Science Graduate Coordinator about completing GS Forms 12 and 19. 

 

Some standard holds, and what to do about them:

These holds will prevent you from registering, so please take a few minutes to complete these two very important tasks. 

Action needed – Acknowledge Your Financial Obligations:

Review and update your annual agreement by visiting the Bills & Payments page via My Purdue and click the link “Acknowledge Your Financial Obligations” found within the Student Account section.  Doing so will automatically release the hold on your account.  Lack of compliance will result in your inability to register for classes, including the ability to drop or add courses.

Action needed – Emergency Contact:

Add or validate an existing emergency contact by visiting the Academics page via My Purdue and click the link “Emergency Contacts” found within the Personal Information section.  Doing so will automatically release the hold on your account. Lack of compliance will result in your inability to register for classes, including the ability to drop or add courses. If an emergency contact exists, you must click the Verify/Submit Changes button at the bottom of the page even if there are no changes made. This will trigger the automatic release of the hold.   

Need more detailed instructions? No problem.