Education Program Planning Schedule

Hello, First-Years!

Please see below for the Education Program faculty's drop-in appointment schedule for program planning next week!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Interested in studying abroad? Upcoming study abroad workshops and Oxford/Cambridge info session!

Interested in studying abroad? Check out upcoming events below!

Oxford/Cambridge Info Session:

Date: Thursday, November 19th at 12PM in 308 Diana

This is a session for Barnard students considering studying abroad at Oxford or Cambridge in the future. We will present information about the application process, the supervision/tutorial system, and you will be able to hear directly from Barnard students who previously attended these programs. 

Study Abroad Workshops:

Interested in making study abroad part of your Barnard experience? Come learn about how to choose a study abroad program and get an overview of the Barnard process. The Study Abroad Workshop will cover Barnard requirements, approved programs, finances, transfer credit, and more! This workshop will focus primarily on semester study abroad and is suited for first and second year students. First year students should attend a workshop before booking a study abroad advising appointment. 

Workshops will take place via Zoom; Register for the link below:

Monday, November 30th at 1pm

Friday, December 4th at 12pm

Wednesday, December 9th at 4pm

Friday, December 11th at 1pm

Upcoming Beyond Barnard Information sessions! ~ SIPA, IEOR, SEAS Computer Science, and Engineering 4+1 Pathways

Hello First-Years!

Please see the information down below for four upcoming Beyond Barnard information sessions. These sessions offer great guidance for students interested in the SIPA, IEOR, SEAS Computer Science, and Engineering 4+1 Pathways!

Best,

The First-Year Team

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SIPA 4+1 Info Session

Tuesday, 11/10 | 12pm | Register on Handshake

In this session, attendees will learn about the Accelerated 4+1 Pathway with Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). We'll discuss the overall application process, and what you need to know to plan your Barnard program to be able to fit in SIPA coursework beginning your senior year at Barnard and finishing the degree in year 5 at Columbia.

IEOR 4+1 Info Session

Friday, 11/20 | 1pm | Register on Handshake

Join us for an overview of the 4+1 pathway open to Barnard students considering a BA/MS through Barnard and Columbia Engineering. This info session will focus specifically on the IEOR pathway within the Engineering school.

SEAS Computer Science 4+1 Info Session

Tuesday, 11/17 | 1pm | Register on Handshake

Join us for an overview of the 4+1 pathway open to Barnard students considering a BA/MS through Barnard and Columbia Engineering. This info session will focus specifically on the Computer Science pathway within the Engineering school. 

Engineering 4+1: Chemical, Biomedical, Mechanical, Civil & Electrical Engineering

Thursday, 11/19 | 4pm | Register on Handshake

Join us for an overview of the 4+1 pathway open to Barnard students considering a BA/MS through Barnard and Columbia's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). This info session will focus specifically on the Chemical, Biomedical, Mechanical, Civil and Electrical Engineering concentrations within the SEAS 4+1 pathway.

Important reminders for Spring 2027 registration!

Hello First-Years,

We hope you had a good break! Here are some reminders for the coming weeks: 

Registration will take place the week of November 16th, with the first-year class registering on Thursday, November 19th.

  

Please make sure you meet with your Pre-Major Adviser by Friday, November 20th to discuss your Spring 2027 schedule. It is required that you meet with them. 

 

Please sign up for a section of First-Year Seminar (FYS) or First-Year Writing (FYW), depending on what you took this fall—you will switch into the other section for the spring. Please note that First-Year Writing Workshop is not offered during the spring semester, but there is an option for First-Year Seminar "Workshop." Please see this blog post for more information about the two sections being offered and fill out the application by Monday, November 9th at 5PM if you think you would benefit from the extra writing support FYS Workshop offers.

Thursday, November 19th is also the last day to withdraw from a class and receive the mark of W. Please note that you must remain enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits.

Dean Siegel and the Deans in the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support will hold extended walk-in hours leading up to and through registration and the November 19th W deadline from Monday, November 9th through Friday, November 20th. They will be available from 3:00-4:30PM, in 105 Milbank Hall and over Zoom.  

Finally, next Monday, November 9th, at noon, the Creative Writing Program is hosting this event for anyone contemplating a career in writing. Lunch will be provided! 

 

Questions, concerns, comments? Please feel free to reach out!

Best,

The First-Year Team

(Dean Siegel, Lauren Quach, & Sophia Brown)

2026-2027 Class Dean Daily Walk-In Hours! -- Extended hours running from 3:00-4:30PM (11/9-11/20 ONLY)

Got a quick question?

Need to talk to someone ASAP? You can meet with any available dean on call and speak with them either in-person or virtually over Zoom!

If you want to be sure you can talk at length, please make an appointment via our Slate online scheduler or contact us at doas@barnard.edu or 212-854-2024

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Every weekday (Monday-Friday) from 3:00-4:00PM Eastern Time -- Extended hours running from 3:00-4:30PM (11/9-11/20 ONLY)

• Enter waiting room via this Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank Hall
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

So You Want to Be a Writer?

Monday, November 9th at noon in Milstein LL001

Do you enjoy writing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction or just in your diary? Come meet other student writers, do a free-write, and eat some pizza and snacks. Associate Director Ken Chen will discuss spring workshops and the Creative Writing Program and answer all your writing questions! 

 

Meet with your adviser by November 20th for Spring 2027 registration!

Hello First Years,

Here is a flyer to remind you that all students are to meet with their advisers by Friday, November 20th to discuss registration for the Spring 2027 term! Please note that this meeting is required!

Best,

The First Year Team

Have a good November break & available resources!

 

 Dear First Years,

We most likely don’t need to remind you that there are no classes on Monday, November 2nd and Tuesday, November 3rd. We hope you all have a wonderful long weekend ahead of you! If you are staying on campus over the break, please refer to this website to find out operating hours for dining halls, the gym, and other campus offices. Note that the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support and other administrative offices will be open on Monday, November 2nd; On Tuesday, November 3rd, they will be closed for a University Holiday.

Here are a few important dates to be aware of later in November: 

Thursday, November 19th 

• Registration for Spring 2027 courses. Please plan to meet with your Pre-Major Adviser in advance of registration! 

• Last day to withdraw from a class and receive the mark of W

 

Wednesday, November 25th - Friday, November 27th

• Thanksgiving Holiday – No classes

We will write again next week with more reminders about registration. Have a wonderful break!

Best,

The First-Year Team 

(Dean Siegel, Lauren Quach, & Sophia Brown)

First-Year Seminar Workshop for Spring 2027

Hello First Years,

Please see the information down below about First-Year Seminar Workshop for the Spring 2027 term and are looking for extra writing support!

Best,

The First Year Team

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To students taking First-Year Seminar in Spring 2027:

This spring, the First-Year Seminar (FYS) Program is offering two sections of FYS "Workshop," a four-credit version of FYS designed for students who would like extra support with critical reading and academic writing skills. FYS Workshop fulfills the FYS requirement and is equally as rigorous as FYS. There are three main differences:

• In addition to regular seminar meetings twice per week, FYS Workshop students meet one-on-one with a Writing Fellow for one hour every other week, giving you an opportunity to get feedback from and discuss your ideas with a trained peer throughout the semester.

• Each section of FYS Workshop is worth 4 credits (instead of 3).

• Each section of FYS Workshop is slightly smaller (capped at 14 students).

If you think you would benefit from the extra writing support FYS Workshop offers, please fill out this short application by Monday, November 9th at 5PM. You will be notified (via email) about whether we can offer you a spot before the early registration period begins in November. You will receive special sign-up information at that time.

See course descriptions below.

If you have any questions about the FYS Workshop Program, feel free to email Professor Lie-Spahn at clie@barnard.edu.

First-Year Seminar Workshop Courses for Spring 2027:

Dead and Undead

TR 2:40-3:55pm

Professor Penelope Usher

What does it mean to be dead? Why the fascination—across time and culture—with conceiving of ways in which the dead can become un-dead? And how is being undead different from being alive? To investigate and trouble the boundaries between life and death (and un-death), we will analyze works from various genres and media, discussing near-death experiences, beating-heart cadavers, and a range of figures including zombies, ghosts, and other revenants.

Identity on the Move

TR 4:10-5:25pm

Professor Francesca Ochoa

In this Seminar, we will read literary texts where characters undergo profound change. For some, the change is surreal: bodies morph; a life is lived on simultaneous timelines hundreds of years apart. Others experience equally unsettling realist transformations, such as exile, migration, or shifting social power. These changes expose a chasm between self- perception and the perception of others, between belonging and non belonging. We will explore this chasm for truth, fiction, and possibility.

English Department Program Planning Meeting on November 5th!

Hello First Years!

Please see the flyer down below for an upcoming English Department Program Planning meeting on Thursday, November 5th from 3-5PM in 419 Barnard Hall. 

This is a great opportunity for you to attend if you are interested in learning about the English program/major! Light refreshments will also be served!

Best,

The First Year Team

One Poem At A Time on November 19th!

Hello First Years!

The Barnard English Department will be hosting an upcoming event called One Poem At A Time on Thursday, November 19th from 12PM-1PM in Sulzberger Parlor. Please see the flyer down below if you are interested!

Best,

The First Year Team

So You Want to Be a Writer? Creative Writing Program Community Event on November 9th!

Hello First Years!

Please see the flyer down below for an upcoming Creative Writing Program community event on November 9th that's open to all Barnard students!

Best,

The First Year Team!

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So You Want to Be a Writer?
Monday, November 9th

12PM in Milstein LL001

Do you enjoy writing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction or just in your diary? Come meet other student writers, do a free-write, and eat some pizza and snacks. Associate Director Ken Chen will discuss spring workshops and the Creative Writing Program and answer all your writing questions! All Barnard students are welcome, and no RSVP is required!

Upcoming Beyond Barnard Events for students!

Hello First Years!

Please see the information down below for two upcoming Beyond Barnard information sessions with majors and minors. These sessions offer great guidance for students interested in competitive funding pathways, graduate study, and research!

Best,

The First Year Team

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QMSS 4+1 Info Session

Wednesday, 10/28 | 12pm | Register on Handshake

Join us for an overview of the Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (QMSS) 4+1 pathway. Barnard students from any major are invited to learn more about this opportunity to earn a BA from Barnard College and an MA from Columbia's Graduate School of the Arts and Sciences: QMSS. Faculty and administrators from Columbia and Barnard will review the application process, areas of study within the QMSS program, and course planning to successfully complete your BA and MA. 

Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment MBA Program and MS Programs Info Session 

Wednesday, 11/11 | 12pm| Register on Handshake

Curious about Columbia Business School and what an MBA could mean for your career? Join us for an introductory session designed to help you explore business school options, clarify application prep, and evaluate how graduate business education fits into your goals.

How to elect the P/D/F option by the **Dec 14** deadline

The last day to elect or undo the p/d/f option is the last day of classes, Monday, December 14th, 2026 (unlike in past years, it is not the same as the W deadline -- W deadline remains November 19th).

Also, note that courses taken p/d/f this year are subject to the current rules. Read all about p/d/f on the Registrar's website.

• Barnard students can elect P/D/F grading in one course per term during the academic year (fall/spring). This is in addition to any courses with mandatory pass/fail grading. A class in which the P grade is uncovered is still counted towards the one course per term P/D/F limit.
• Classes taken for P/D/F grading can be applied to general education requirements. 
• You cannot elect P/D/F grading for any course that is needed to fulfill major or minor requirements. It is your responsibility to be sure that you understand this policy and to consult with your department if you have any questions. Please note that if you elect P/D/F grading in a class that your Department Chair determines is required for your major or minor requirements, the “pass” grade will be administratively uncovered by the Registrar’s Office at the point of graduation, which could affect both your term and cumulative GPA. Dean’ List status can also be affected by this.

Grading

The instructor is not informed when a student elects the P/D/F grading option. The instructor will assign a letter grade in SSOL, which will be converted to P/D/F on your transcript.

A letter grade of A+ through C- will appear on the transcript as a P, and will not count in the GPA.
A letter grade of D will appear on the transcript as a D, and will count in the GPA.
A letter grade of F will appear on the transcript as an F, and will count in the GPA.

 

To elect the P/D/F Grading option:

-If you are interested in electing Pass/D/Fail (P/D/F) grading for a particular course, we recommend that you speak with your academic adviser or class dean to discuss this decision and whether it will be beneficial for your specific situation and longer-term goals.

-This option is open in Vergil through the P/D/F deadline (see academic calendar).

-If you are already registered for the class, click the "manage" button and change the grading option to P/D/F.

-If you are newly registering for the class, you can select the P/D/F grading option while registering.

This form can be used to elect Pass/D/Fail for a course where that option is not available in Vergil.

 

 Pro Tip:

-If you drop or officially withdraw from a class that you had previously P/D/F'd, you should also revoke the p/d/f so that it won't count towards your p/d/f limit.

FAQ:

Q: My course doesn't have a P/D/F option in Vergil! Does that mean I can't take it p/d/f????

A: No! If you can't elect p/d/f in Vergil, you can use this Slate form to do it!

DEADLINE REMINDER: November 19th is the last day to withdraw from a class and receive a W

The deadline to withdraw from a Fall 2026 class is Thursday, November 19th. Withdrawn classes will not affect your GPA and you will not earn credit for them, but they will remain on your transcript, and a W will be entered in place of the final grade.

Note: You may not withdraw from a class if doing so would leave you with fewer than 12 credits.

 

To withdraw from a class, use this online form , following these steps:


1. Consult with your adviser.

2. Get an email from your adviser confirming they approve you to withdraw from this specific class.

3. Download that email as a PDF or save a screenshot of it.

4. Complete and submit the online W form on or before the W deadline, uploading your adviser’s confirmation email when prompted to do so.

5. You will receive an email confirmation once your W request is processed, ordinarily within two business days. 

6. Within a week or so, you will see a W next to the class on your transcript.

Education Program Fall Open House on October 27th!

Hello First Years!

Please see the flyer down below for an upcoming Open House for Barnard's Education Program on Tuesday, October 27th at 6:15PM in Milstein 113. 

This is a great opportunity for you to attend if you are interested in educational justice and learning about the Education Studies major and minor as well as their Urban Teaching special program! There will also be light refreshments!

Best,

The First Year Team

Neuroscience & Behavior (NSB) Program Planning Meeting on October 21st!

Hello First Years!

Please see the flyer down below for an upcoming Neuroscience & Behavior (NSB) Program Planning meeting on Wednesday, October 21st from 1-2PM on the 10th floor of RDSC. There will be Q&A sessions with faculty and students can meet in small groups with them. There will also be free pizza!

This is a great opportunity for you to attend if you are interested in learning about the NSB program/major! You can RSVP here!

Best,

The First Year Team

Law Focus: BU, GW, UCLA, and UT-Austin Law Schools Information Session today!

Hello First Years!

Beyond Barnard will be hosting a law school information session ("Law Focus: BU, GW, UCLA, and UT-Austin Law Schools Information Session") for students today, October 15th, 2026 from 12:00PM-1:30PM in Barnard Hall, Sulzberger Parlor (In person). There will be law school panel featuring representatives from four law schools

You can register here if you are interested in exploring law school and would like to attend this session!

Best,

The First Year Team

Journaling Workshop on October 16th!

Hello First Years!

Please see this message from the Writing Center and Journaling Club with information about an upcoming workshop this Friday at The Wellness Spot! 

Best,

The First Year Team

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Journaling Workshop 10/16, 4:00-6:00PM, The Wellness Spot 

The Writing Center is collaborating with the Wellness Center to co-host a Fellow-led Journaling Workshop at the Wellness Spot! Come by at 4PM to take a break from academic writing and indulge in an artful form of writing instead. The focus of this session will be on the wellness benefits of journaling and being a self-archivist! We will also be writing letters to our future selves! Art supplies and resources will be provided, so if you’re an avid journal user or a total newbie there will be something for you! Future Workshop sessions will highlight other forms of writing as well, so come by to let us know what you’d like to see in the future! 

RSVP here or contact ai2531@barnard.edu and amr2396@barnard.edu.

We hope to see you there!

Best,

Journaling Club

MPH 4+1 Info Session on October 20th!

Barnard’s accelerated 4+1 pathways give students the opportunity to combine a liberal arts education with a master’s degree at Columbia University. Over the course of the fall semester, we’ll offer info sessions about all of the 4+1 pathways, starting with the Mailman School of Public Health. 

Join this virtual session on Tuesday, October 20th at 12:00PM to learn more about public health education, the structure of the curriculum for 4+1 students, navigating financial aid for the MPH, and best practices for the application process. 

You can RSVP here for the info session if you are interested!

Summer Programs Interest Form now available!

Wondering about what to do over the summer? Thinking about internships? Considering working as an RA in a STEM lab? Want to serve your community? Barnard offers opportunities to obtain funding for research and internships, enroll in courses in NYC and abroad, and more. Read more about many of our programs here. 

To get the latest updates about future opportunities, please complete the 2027 Summer Programs Interest Form to add yourself to our mailing list.

Career Well-Being Certificate Program kicks off next week!

The Beyond Barnard Career Well-Being Certificate Program is designed for Barnard students and led by Peer Career Advisors, who support their peers through an interactive series of career development workshops. Whether you’re exploring career paths, preparing for an internship, or getting ready for your first full-time role, the program provides practical tools, guidance, and experiences to help you build confidence and strengthen your career readiness. The five core sessions will take place on Thursdays at 6:00PM between October 15 and November 19. Learn more and register for the first session now!