Undergraduate Overrides
For INFO, COMPSCI, and CICS courses
The Fall 2026 override request form will open Monday, April 6 by noon.
In some cases when SPIRE incorrectly excludes students from enrolling in courses, they need to be enrolled by staff via an override. Overrides are for students in special circumstances, not to bypass requirements or get into full courses. The CICS override request form is for Informatics and Computer Science courses (abbreviations INFO, COMPSCI, and CICS). Check the Registration Updates page for current issues affecting enrollment.
For information about the override process for Five College students go to Five College Student Enrollment in CICS Courses.
Table of Contents
Directions For Students With Alternative Prerequisites
Who this form is meant for
Before using the request form, read the following carefully and only make a request if you’re sure an override is possible for your situation. Of the 1,000+ requests our team processes each semester, several hundred are ineligible, and we hope to save everyone some time by outlining who we can and can't assist.
Situations in which students can use the override request form:
- Transfer students who are juniors/seniors by credits requesting a course for freshmen/sophomores
- Transfer students whose transfer coursework isn’t in their SPIRE record yet
- CICS majors completing pre-approved transfer courses between terms, like taking a summer prereq for a fall class
- Students who have a waiver for a prerequisite, such as students with an ENGLWRIT 112 waiver requesting a seat in CICS 305
- Course requires department or instructor permission: the honors colloquia (ex: COMPSCI H311), COMPSCI 429, or undergrads requesting a COMPSCI 600-level
- Completed the prerequisites listed in the course notes
- Completed an approved alternative prerequisite
- Non-CICS majors requesting an elective option
- Non-UMass students such as exchange students, Five College students, or non-degree students
In these cases, students should not use the override request form:
- If the prerequisite grade is below the requirement. Retake the prerequisite and replace the low grade.
- Taking a prerequisite during the same semester as the course that requires it. Complete the prerequisite first. Prerequisites need to be completed before the start of the class so that all students are fully prepared.
- Missing a prerequisite and don’t have a viable substitute course. Take the prerequisite listed on SPIRE. Prerequisites cannot be waived.
- Students whose only barrier to enrolling is that the course is full (those who meet both the eligibility and prerequisites). Continue checking SPIRE and attempt to enroll yourself if a seat opens.
- Freshmen/sophomores requesting courses for juniors/seniors. Don’t submit override requests and instead wait to take the class until you’re a junior/senior. A few COMPSCI 300-level courses (including COMPSCI 311, 320) may open to sophomores if there are available seats closer to class start; check the course notes and the Registration Updates page for more information.
Override Dos and Don’ts
Do
- Request a CICS course by using the override request form when it is open. Override requests cannot be processed via email.
- Read this webpage or talk to your advisor if you have questions about enrollment. If you're still uncertain, you can email questions to overrides [at] cs [dot] umass [dot] edu (overrides[at]cs[dot]umass[dot]edu), including your SPIRE ID number, name, major, academic level (junior, senior, etc.), and relevant course numbers.
- This email address can only help with Informatics and Computer Science courses (INFO, COMPSCI, and CICS). If you are seeking enrollment with a different department at UMass Amherst, please contact that department.
- Submit your request early, especially if you have alternative prerequisites that need to be reviewed. Late requests sent during the add/drop period cannot be guaranteed.
- Please have understanding for our small team processing a high volume of requests. Thank you!
Don’t
- Don’t email course instructors to ask permission to enroll. CICS staff process enrollment, not the faculty.
- Don’t submit an override without first completing the required prerequisite courses. Students without the listed prerequisites must provide alternative courses for review.
- If a course is full and you are eligible to take it (as in, SPIRE will allow you to enroll yourself), don’t request an override for that course. Eligible students should check SPIRE to see if a seat becomes available and attempt to enroll themselves.
- Don’t submit duplicate requests for the same course.
Issues Preventing Enrollment
Staff have many of the same enrollment limitations as students. SPIRE will not allow staff to enroll you in a course if there is a time conflict with another course on your schedule, if your total enrollment would exceed the maximum credits allowed per semester (typically 19 credits), if you are requesting a third attempt of a course, or if there is a registration hold on your account. If we encounter a problem, we'll contact you to adjust your schedule or to seek permissions such as a Credit Overload Petition. Your prompt response is necessary as we can't reserve seats and can't guarantee a seat will remain available if there is a delay.
Directions For Students With Alternative Prerequisites
In cases where students are missing a course’s prerequisites, they must have an alternative prerequisite approved. Prerequisites can't be waived and minimum grade requirements must be met. Please use the Alternative Prerequisite Appeal Form, a new procedure as of April 2025. Students using this appeal form should also fill out the override request form.
Timeline & Priority
The override request form typically opens at the end of the registration period and closes at the end of add/drop week (first week of classes). Override requests may take between days or months to be processed, depending on the course and the student priority. Late requests submitted during the add/drop period cannot be guaranteed. Requests sent at least one month before class start are more likely to be successful.
Priority for seats in CICS courses is as follows. See FAQ below for special circumstances.
| Student Requesting Override | Review Timeline |
|---|---|
| Computer Science and Informatics majors | Requests will be reviewed, but decisions may be delayed. In general, CICS majors should not be requesting overrides unless there is a legitimate barrier. |
| Non-CICS majors with CICS course requirements | After CICS major requests are processed. Decisions may be delayed until closer to class start. If the course is not specifically required (i.e. is one of multiple courses that could fulfill a requirement) then a lower priority will be applied. |
| Computer Science and Informatics applicants | After grades are posted for the current semester, if seats are available. Overrides cannot be guaranteed before acceptance into the major and may be delayed until closer to class start. |
| Computer Science Minors (on Minor Intent List) and IT Minors | After grades are finalized for the current semester. Decisions may be delayed until closer to class start. |
| Non-CICS majors requesting courses that don’t fulfill degree requirements | After the above groups are processed. |
| Five College students | Requests will be reviewed as quickly as possible but could be delayed until closer to class start. |
| University+ (formerly UWW) | Decisions may be delayed until closer to class start. |
Override Request Forms for COMPSCI, INFO, and CICS Courses
Summer 2026 Override Request Form
Fall 2026 Override Request Form [opens Monday, 4/6/26 by noon]
Frequently Asked Questions
When can a non-CICS major enroll in introductory courses (CICS 110, 160, 210)?
After newly admitted students have registered, the major restriction on these courses will be released, if there are available seats.
In the Fall semester, this typically happens around August 1. In the Spring semester, this typically happens sometime in January.
How do I register for an Honors Colloquium on SPIRE (e.g., COMPSCI H320)? I tried to enroll myself but got a "Department Consent" error.
Check the course notes in SPIRE to confirm that you have completed the prerequisites, then submit an override request. Students cannot enroll themselves in the Honors Colloquia and need to be enrolled by staff.
I'm an OIM major pursuing my Business Data Analytics Certificate and I want to take COMPSCI 119, but I can't enroll because I'm a Junior. Do I use the override request form?
Yes, Juniors/Seniors (57+ credits earned or projected after current semester) will need to request an override. Be sure to note 'Business Data Analytics Cert' in the comments on your request. Decisions about override requests from Juniors/Seniors will be delayed until Freshmen/Sophomores are allowed to enroll. We do our best to accommodate requests from all students, giving priority based on graduation date whenever possible.
I want to take CICS 110, but I'm not a Freshman/Sophomore so I can't enroll on SPIRE. Do I use the override request form?
Yes, Juniors/Seniors (57+ credits earned or projected after current semester) will need to request an override. Decisions about override requests from Juniors/Seniors will be delayed until Freshmen/Sophomores are allowed to enroll. We do our best to accommodate requests from all students, giving priority based on graduation date whenever possible.
Should Five College students use the override request form?
Yes, please submit an override request form and, if applicable, the Alternative Prerequisite Appeal Form. Once Five College students' override requests are approved, our office can arrange permission to enroll with both UMass and the Five College Registrar's Offices.
Submit your override requests for CICS classes early to ensure there's enough time to review them. Late requests submitted during the add/drop period (the first week of classes) may not be processed.
Should University+ students use the override request form?
Yes, University+ students should request overrides via the online form so we know of interest when making enrollment decisions. We communicate permission to enroll with the University+ Registrar's Office when seats are available.
I don't meet the prerequisite but I have a transfer course that could. Do I use the override request form?
Yes. You also need to complete the Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE) process to have the Computer Science prerequisite course reviewed. It is important to attend to this as early as possible so as not to miss out on a seat as courses fill.
I haven't completed the prerequisites as listed on SPIRE but I have a UMass course that I think should be considered as an alternative prerequisite. Do I use the override request form?
Students with alternative prerequisites should check if their coursework is on the list of approved classes on the Alternative Prerequisite Appeal site; there are many ECE alternatives to CICS courses.
If the coursework is an approved alternative, only fill out the override request form. In the comments, write which approved alternative courses you have taken, for example, "I completed ECE 241 which is an alternative to CICS 210."
If the coursework is not on the approved alternatives list, fill out both the override request form and the alternative prerequisite appeal form to have the course reviewed. Please note that approval of an alternative prerequisite appeal does not guarantee enrollment in the override course.
I'm an Informatics / Computer Science major and the course I want is full. I'm told not to submit an override request. Why not?
If the only barrier to enrollment is that a course is full (meaning that you meet both the eligibility and prerequisites), please do not submit an override request. Instead, add yourself to the SPIRE waitlist if available and/or check SPIRE and if a seat opens you can attempt to enroll yourself.
In some cases there are saved seats for Informatics students, but please talk with your academic advisor about this first.
Can undergraduates take 1-credit 600+ level COMPSCI seminars?
Undergraduates with exemplary course performance may request an override for a 1-credit 600+ level CS seminar with permission from the instructor, so students should submit an override request.
Can CICS undergraduates take 3-credit 600+ level COMPSCI courses?
Undergraduates with exemplary course performance may request an override for a regular 3-credit 600+ level CS course under the following conditions:
- Students must have at least a 3.7 GPA
- Students must be in good standing with the university
- Students must have completed all 200-level COMPSCI courses, and
- Students must have completed at least one COMPSCI 300+ course.
Undergraduates meeting these minimum requirements may submit an override request. Some 600+ level courses also require a specific prerequisite/background; please check course notes to ensure you fulfill this before submitting a request. The student's request will be evaluated by both the Instructor and the Undergraduate Program Director (UPD) and requires the approval of both. All decisions are final.
Can non-CICS undergraduates take 3-credit 600+ level COMPSCI courses?
Non-CS undergraduates with exemplary course performance may request an override for a regular 3-credit 600+ level Computer Science course under the following conditions:
- Students must have at least a 3.7 GPA
- Students must be in good standing with the university
- Students must have completed at least one COMPSCI 300+ course or one advanced course in a related area such as computer engineering or math
Undergraduates meeting these minimum requirements may submit an override request. Some 600+ level courses also require a specific prerequisite/background; please check course notes to ensure you fulfill this before submitting a request. The student's request will be evaluated by both the Instructor and Undergraduate Program Director (UPD) and requires the approval of both. All decisions are final.
Can undergraduates audit 600+ level COMPSCI courses?
Undergraduates may not audit 600+ level courses in CICS.