Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (archive)

Registration for classes sometimes can be a challenging experience. You must find the classes you need and then fit them together without creating time conflicts (Schedule Planner helps to eliminate conflicts). At Iowa State, you register for classes online via AccessPlus.

To prepare for registration, you may want to gather and review the following items:

• Your DARS audit
• The appropriate flowchart for your major and catalog
• Your program of study (created in CprE/EE 166)

Your advisor is an excellent resource for help with registration. Schedule Planner is also a very useful tool that will help you to create a schedule from your list of classes.

DARS Audits and Registration Access Numbers (RAN)

Most students may pick up their DARS audit and RAN each semester around the middle of October for spring semester or beginning of March for fall. You will be sent an e-mail reminder to get these. Students may pick up their DARS audit online through AccessPlus or from the ECpE Student Services office (216 Nuclear Engineering Lab). Students may pick up their RAN from ECpE Student Services.

Exceptions

• Students who will be graduating in the next term will meet with an advisor to review all final degree needs
• Students in Engr 101 or CprE/EE 166 will get DARS audits and RANs in class
• "New" students in their first two semesters at Iowa State will need to meet with an advisor to get their paperwork if they are not in Engr 101 or CprE/EE 166
• Students with a term or cumulative GPA below 2.0 or anyone on Academic Probation or Warning must see an advisor before registering for the next semester

Registration Start Dates and Holds

Your registration start date and holds information are available on AccessPlus under the Current Student Info link. They also are listed on your RAN sheet. You can log in to the AccessPlus registration system at or after your start date and time. 

Factors that aid in determining your start time can include classification (see below), honors status, and scholarships. The registrar's office determines your start date and time, so please contact them if you feel something is incorrect.

Certain campus offices might place a hold on your registration, which means you are unable to register online until you talk to those offices. Common holds for ECpE students include the treasurer's office, the health center, and registrar's office.

AccessPlus and your RAN sheet generally will list a phone number for the office you need to contact to take care of your hold. Take care of your holds as soon as possible, but do not wait until your holds are cleared to pick up your registration materials.

Classification

A student is considered a sophomore when 30 credits have been earned, a junior when 60 credits have been earned, and a senior when 90 credits have been earned.

Credit Limit

Most students are allowed to register for up to 18 credits (honors members can register for 21). You can only increase your credit limit with the permission of your advisor.

You must be prepared to tell your advisor the number of credits you want and which courses you plan to take. Your advisor usually will consider your request for more credits only if your cumulative GPA is at least a 3.0.

Registration Tools

• AccessPlus
• Registration and Advising (ISU Catalog)
• Schedule of Classes
• Schedule Planner
• Graduation Planner