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Force-add information

Hokie Spa Registration Screen

Spring 2025

Force-add request window for graduate-level courses will open Tues., January 14 at noon and close Sunday, January 26 at 11:59 p.m.

How-to Guide for Force-Add Requests 

Force-add request form - No longer accepting request for Spring 2025.

Force-add policy

(Last Updated: January 14, 2025)

Force-add requests are considered a request, not a guarantee. While every effort is made to process all force-add requests, some may not be accommodated due to course capacities, room size limitations, and pedagogical best practices.

  • Do not email course instructors for permission to force-add a course. Faculty members cannot and will not process force-add requests.
  • The force-add process is not a substitute for proper course request and enrollment during the add/drop period. Students who rely solely on force-add requests instead of utilizing the regular course request and registration processes may face significant challenges in finalizing their schedules.

There are circumstances when a student may need to submit a force-add request for a course. Please expand each section below to learn more.

If you have completed or are currently taking a prerequisite course outside of Virginia Tech, the university’s course request and add/drop systems will not recognize this. As a result, you may encounter an error when attempting to enroll in courses that require the prerequisite.
  • How to resolve: Submit a force-add request to address prerequisite errors.
  • What you need: Provide proof that you successfully completed the prerequisite course with a grade of B or higher.
  •  For more details on how credits transfer, refer to the transfer credits section on the university’s website.

Students who are not enrolled in the Computer Science department may request a force-add if space is available in the desired course.

  • Current CS students have priority over non-CS students.
  • Prospective students, commonwealth campus students, and non-CS students will not be prioritized over current CS students. 

Undergraduate students enrolled in the Accelerated 4+1 M.S. or M.Eng program must meet specific requirements to request a force-add.

Important Requirements:

  • Complete the  Course Designation Request (commonly called the "double-count form") before submitting a force-add request.
  • Force-adds for courses not listed on the double-count form will be denied.

For more details, visit the Accelerated BS/Master’s Program page on the CS website.

Some Computer Science courses may already be at their maximum enrollment capacity. In such cases:

  • Not listed on force-add form: Courses that are full will not appear on the CS force-add form
  • Check for openings: Students should regularly monitor the drop/add system for available spots.
  • Do not contact instructors: Instructors cannot override enrollment limits or force-add students into their courses.