Because balanced section sizes in large lecture courses benefit everyone, we manage the registration in mathematics course sections through the setting of section limits. It may happen that a student will be unable to register for a particular course during some part of the pre-registration or registration periods. Don't worry -- we will almost certainly be able to find a place for you in the courses you wish to take, but you may have to be flexible about the section meeting time.
Our policy for students wishing to register for introductory mathematics courses is that they attend the class as if they were registered, while checking often with the registrar during the first two weeks of the semester to see if space has become available. Enrollment in our courses, especially in the fall, is extremely dynamic and there is a high degree of movement among the various courses, most notably due to placement considerations. If at the end of the first two weeks of classes a student has been unsuccessful in obtaining a place which fits his or her schedule from the registrar directly, he or she must come and see the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Mathematics to receive a section assignment.
Students may change courses or sections during the first two weeks of the semester without departmental approval -- freshmen will still need to get an advisor's signature for course changes, however. During this time, registration will be subject only to availability of space, provided that any prerequisites have been satisfied. After the first two weeks of the semester, departmental approval is required for any change in registration. For our upper-division courses (110.400 or above) this means approval of the instructor -- for introductory courses (110.399 or below), this means the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Mathematics. The signature of a TA or instructor for introductory courses does not constitute departmental approval, and will not be sufficient for the change. The only exceptions to this are the courses 110.211-212 Honors Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra, for which the instructor's approval is both necessary and sufficient at any time, including the first two weeks of the semester.