IAP Independent Activities Period by, for, and about the MIT community
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REGISTRATION INFORMATION

This section contains information for students on registering for IAP credit subjects, including instructions on adding and dropping subjects, online pre-registration, taking fall subjects that extend into January, entering lottery subjects, the Physical Education Activity lottery, IAP subject grading, and cross-registration.


About IAP Credit

  • For-credit Subjects are listed exclusively in the online IAP Guide.

  • In terms of academic credit, IAP is different from spring and fall terms. Generally, students are not required to participate, and there are a few restrictions on adding and dropping subjects during this period. The IAP registration process is designed to preserve the more flexible nature of the Period while providing instructors with class lists before subjects begin.
  • Advisors are encouraged to discuss January plans with their advisees. However, they will not be signing paper registration forms as they do in the fall and spring terms.

  • Subjects continuing from fall term such as 8.01L, 18.02A, and 18.023A impact the amount of units a student may take during January. Freshmen should pay special attention to the credit restrictions on these subjects, particularly if they wish to participate in Second Summer Program.

Adding and Dropping Subjects

  • Because of the varied dates for subjects offered in IAP, there is no specific add or drop date. Once subjects have begun, students should check with instructors about adding and dropping.

  • Students will not have to file signed Add/Drop Forms. They will use WebSIS pre-registration (see below) to change subject selection up until (Date TBA).

  • Students may not drop subjects after submitting the final assignment or examination.

  • Students are responsible for making sure that their subject selection is accurate on WebSIS by (Date TBA) so that instructors will receive accurate grade sheets. If the grade sheet provided to the instructor is not accurate, an instructor may add or drop students as appropriate.


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Online Pre-Registration

  • Students use WebSIS to pre-register for credit subjects taken during IAP 2006, January 9-February 3.

  • Special topics, thesis, and UROP subjects: Students who are graduating in February and are continuing their theses through January must pre-register for thesis credit on WebSIS.

  • Due to the 12-unit IAP credit limit for students, departments extending subjects into IAP should note the distribution of units below (see IAP Units of Credit for Subjects that Extend Into/Beyond IAP). The Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) is unlikely to approve petitions to exceed this 12 unit limit.

  • All continuing students taking non-lotteried credit subjects pre-register on WebSIS starting (Date TBA). See lotteried subjects for more information.

  • The pre-registration system will stay open so that students may update the information in WebSIS to reflect added and dropped subjects. This option is available until (Date TBA), when Independent Activities Period pre-registration closes.

Subjects that Extend Into IAP

There is a strictly enforced 12-unit credit limit for all students during the Independent Activities Period. Credit earned for certain fall subjects impacts this 12-unit limit.

For 8.01L, 18.02A, 18.023A and 18.01 taken during IAP:

Subject (begun in Fall '05)

8.01L

18.02A

18.023A

18.01

Units Applied Towards IAP

6 units

6 units

6 units

6 units

Available units for IAP

6 units

6 units

6 units

6 units

Students taking one of the above subjects cannot receive credit for more than six (6) additional units in IAP.

Students taking two of these subjects cannot receive credit for any additional units in IAP.

Subject (begun in Fall '05)

10.491

Units Applied Towards IAP

4 units

Available units for IAP

8 units

Participating in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) for credit also counts towards the credit limit. For more information on UROP for credit during IAP, go to the UROP web page.

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Lotteried Subjects

  • Some credit subjects offered in the IAP are entered through lotteries. Students wishing to take lotteried subjects do not pre-register for them on WebSIS but instead follow the instructions posted by each subject's organizer.

  • Students must contact the organizers and enter the subject's lottery by the published deadlines. The organizers will notify students of the lottery outcome. Students who get space in a lotteried subject will automatically be registered by the department (this applies to lotteried subjects during IAP only).

  • Students who wish to drop lotteried subjects should immediately inform the instructors and delete the subjects from their pre-registration on WebSIS so that wait-listed students can take their places. After pre-registration closes on January 13, students should contact the instructors if they wish to drop the class.

Physical Education Lottery

Students choose Physical Education classes for the IAP by entering the Physical Education lottery at WebSIS December 1 through (Date TBA). Lottery results will be available the next day.

Grades

Faculty send final grades to the registrar by (Date TBA); grades become available on WebSIS later that month. Students should contact their instructors to make sure grades are submitted. Grades will appear on students' official transcript under the subject's official MIT Bulletin title.

Cross-Registration

As part of the Wellesley-MIT Exchange, MIT students may take credit subjects offered as part of Wellesley's Wintersession. Students should note that the 12-unit credit limit during IAP includes any subjects taken at Wellesley. Wintersession subjects and directions for cross-registering at Wellesley are available at the Student Services Center, 11-120.

Wellesley College students planning to register for subjects offered in the Independent Activities Period should see staff in MIT's Student Services Center, Room 11-120 to complete cross-registration. Students should do this once classes begin, but no later than (Date TBA). If the subject has a lottery, the subject organizer should be contacted directly.

Cambridge University students participating in the Cambridge/MIT Undergraduate Exchange may participate in IAP for-credit subjects and non-credit activities. Cambridge students wishing to enroll in a credit subject follow the registration procedures described for MIT students at the top of this page.

Aside from Wellesley College, there is no cross-registration with other colleges or universities during IAP.

Credit guidelines for the Independent Activities Period are approved by the Committee on Academic Performance and the Academic Resource Center. If you need more information, call the Registrar's Office at x3-4784.

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