Registration Error Messages
Find explanations for common registration error messages at Drake University, with guidance on how to resolve issues and complete course registration.
Error Messages Explained
CLASS RESTRICTION: Your class (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate, L1, L2, L3, P3, P4, etc.) does not satisfy the class restriction associated with this section.
When computing a student's class for registration purposes, the system considers the total number of credit hours the student has earned as well as the number of hours for which he/she is currently registered. For example, if a student has already earned 50 hours (sophomore) and currently is registered for 15 hours, the system will consider all 65 hours.
Find student classification details in the Academic Catalog under Academic Regulations.
Explanation: You received this message because your classification does not match the classification restriction of the course.
What to Do: Find a different section that does not have such a restriction (if available) or complete a registration waiver request. Select "Student Classification" as the waiver type.
CLOSED SECTION: This section is full. There is no electronic wait list. Choose a different section.
Only some (not all) courses employ an electronic wait list.
Explanation: You received this message because the section of the course for which you attempted to register is full, and there is no electronic wait list for it.
What to Do: Find a different section that has available seats or contact your dean's office for assistance.
COLLEGE RESTRICTION: Your college or school (Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Journalism, Law, or Pharmacy) does not satisfy the college/school restriction associated with this section.
Explanation: Some courses are available to only students who belong to a certain college/school. You received this message because your primary college/school does not match the college restriction of the course.
What to Do: Find a different section that does not have such a restriction (if available) or complete a Registration Waiver Request. Select "College Restriction" as the waiver type.
COREQUISITE ERROR: A corequisite (such as an associated lecture or lab section) exists for this class. Register for the corequisite at the same time that you register for this class.
Note: Two classes are corequisites of each other when both must be registered for at the same time. An example is BIO 012 and BIO 012L. In some cases, a specific section of one course must be taken with a specific section of the other course. In such cases, the matching CRN will be displayed in the error message.
Explanation: You might have received this message because you did not attempt to register for both sections at the same time. Or, you were unable to add one of the sections (perhaps one of the sections was full) and were consequently prevented from registered for the entire set.
What to Do: Ensure that seats are available in both of your desired sections of the course and ensure that you have met all prerequisites and other registration restrictions, then try registering for both sections again. Contact your dean's office for assistance.
Explanation: Students who wish to register for this course must receive the primary instructor's approval before being allowed to register.
What to Do: Complete a registration waiver request. Select "Instructor Approval Required" as the waiver type.
LEVEL RESTRICTION: Your level (undergraduate, graduate, pharmacy, or law) does not satisfy the level restriction associated with this section.
Explanation: Some courses are available to only certain levels of students, such as pharmacy students, law students, graduate students, etc. You received this message because your level does not match the level restriction of the course.
What to Do: Complete a registration waiver request. Select "Override Level (Career)" as the waiver type.
LINKED SECTION ERROR: This course has lecture, lab, and/or discussion components, all with the same subject and course number. You must register at the same time for one of each of the components.
Note: Classes that are linked must be registered for at the same time. An example of a linked set of classes is PHY 011 (lecture), PHY 011 (lab), and PHY 011 (discussion).
Explanation: You might have received this message because you did not attempt to register for all sections at the same time. Or, you were unable to add one of the sections (perhaps one of the sections was full) and were consequently prevented from registered for the entire set.
What to Do: Determine all CRN's involved in the linked set. Ensure that seats are available in all of your desired sections of the course and ensure that you have met all prerequisites and other registration restrictions. Then try registering for all sections at the same time. Contact your dean's office for assistance.
MAJOR/MINOR/CONCENTRATION ERROR: Your field of study (major, minor, or concentration) does not satisfy the field-of-study restriction associated with this class.
Explanation: Some courses are available to only students who have declared a certain major, minor, concentration, or endorsement. You received this message because your level does not match the field-of-study restriction of the course.
Note: Some field-of-study restrictions are in effect only during the initial registration period (approximately the first two weeks of registration) and may be removed from the section after the initial two weeks of registration.
What to Do: Be patient, or find a different section that does not have such a restriction (if available). You can also complete a registration waiver request. Select "Major Restriction" as the waiver type.
MAX HOURS EXCEEDED: You have attempted to register for more hours than you are allowed. Contact your dean's office if you have questions.
Explanation: You received this message because the class for which you attempted to register would cause your hours to exceed the maximum. By default, undergraduate and pharmacy students (except those in their P4 year), are capped at 18 hours per semester.
What to Do: You may consider reducing your hours by dropping a different class. You may also complete a credit overload request. Special permission is required before registration from the Associate Dean of the student’s college to register for more than 18 hours in a fall or spring semester.
An overload fee is charged to any student who exceeds 18 hours of registration in a semester.
PREREQUISITE ERROR: You have not satisfied the prerequisite(s) associated with this section.
Explanation: The class for which you are attempting to register has a prerequisite that you have not met. Check the course catalog to determine the prerequisite for the class.
What to Do: Find a different section that does not have such a prerequisite (if available) or complete a registration waiver request. Select "Override Pre-Requisites" as the waiver type.
SECTION UNAVAILABLE: This section currently is not available for registration. Choose a different section.
Explanation: This section may have been cancelled for this semester.
What to Do: Find a different section that has not been cancelled or contact your dean's office for assistance.
TIME CONFLICT WITH CRN XXXX
Note: The "xxxx" in the error message corresponds to the CRN in conflict.
Explanation: You received this message because the class for which you attempted to register would create a time conflict with a class for which you are already registered.
What to Do: Find a different section of the class that would not conflict with any of your other classes or complete a registration waiver request. Select "Time Conflict Override" as the waiver type.
WAIT-LISTED SECTION: This section has seats available. However, its wait list is full. Seats that open will be distributed to waitlisted students.
Explanation: The section for which you attempted to register has at least one available seat. However, it is being reserved for a student who is on the wait list. It's wait list also is full, so you may not add yourself to the wait list.
What to Do: Find another section that has available seats or contact your dean's office for assistance.
Explanation: You are attempting to register before you become eligible. Your registration time is calculated based on your total earned credit hours. This number includes Advanced Placement and transfer credits that Drake has accepted from other institutions but does not include the number of hours for which you are currently registered.
What to Do: Determine your total earned credit hours. If you believe your record is not up to date, please contact your dean's office.