ITI - Request Special Permission Numbers (SPN)
SPN requests are available for certain (but not all) IT & Informatics courses.
IT & Informatics SPN Rules and FAQ
IT & Informatics courses fill quickly during preregistration. Follow these important general rules and review the following FAQ for more information.
- Requesting an SPN does not guarantee admission into a closed course, regardless of class year or time to graduation.
- Do not request an SPN for a course that is still open.
- SPNs are not issued on a first-come-first serve basis. Requests will only be reviewed after all other options have been exhausted.
- SPNs will not get you into a course you do not have a prerequisite for. Requests for prerequisite overrides will be denied.
How do I request an SPN?
Access the SPN request system here
How do I use an SPN when I receive it?
Once you receive your SPN, add the course via Webreg and enter your SPN when prompted. All granted SPNs must be retrieved and used within 48 hours. Unused SPNs will expire and be returned to the pool to be redistributed. Students may not hold on to SPNs for later use or transfer them to other students.
Who can request an IT & Informatics SPN?
Students must be accepted IT & Informatics majors or be declared Data Science majors or minors at the time of requesting an SPN to submit a request. Requests submitted prior to admission into your major or minor will be denied.
How are IT & Informatics SPN requests evaluated?
SPN requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, typically with these priorities:
- Graduation timeline. Priority may be given to seniors with immediate graduation plans.
- Major status. Priority may be given to students with IT & Informatics as their only major.
- Course necessity for degree completion.
Requesting an SPN does not guarantee admission into a closed course, regardless of class year. Accommodations may be made when space is available and may not be into your first-choice course or section.
Will more sections be added when there are no SPNs?
Additional sections may be opened prior to the beginning of the semester, so it is very important to monitor Webreg for new sections. The Program Director will announce any plans for new sections through the IT & Informatics Student Mailing List. All IT & Informatics majors are included in this email list, so make sure you are regularly reading your Rutgers email.
How do I get an SPN for Certification Practicum?
Students are admitted to IT & Informatics Certification Practicum by application only. Read more about Certification Practicum here. Students interested in Certification Practicum must complete these steps:
- Complete this application during pre-registration: https://go.rutgers.edu/iti-exp
- Complete an SPN request (link below) after completing the application above. Requests submitted without an application will not be reviewed.
- SPNs for Certification Practicum will be issued on your registration date.
- Once all available SPNs have been distributed, your request will be added to our waitlist.
- You will hear back from someone by the end of the add/drop period if you are admitted to Certification Practicum.
How do I get an SPN for Independent Study?
Students must work with a full-time member of the LIS Faculty on a detailed Independent Study proposal document. If you do not have a faculty advisor, consider reaching out to your past professors to work with you on a proposal. Applications submitted without a final proposal document and written approval from an LIS faculty member will not be reviewed. Read more about Independent Study here.
Students interested in Independent Study must complete these steps:
- Complete a detailed Independent Study proposal document with an LIS faculty member.
- Apply during pre-registration with your proposal document and written agreement using the form at this URL: https://go.rutgers.edu/iti-exp
- If accepted, your application will be approved by the IT & Informatics Director and an SPN will be issued to you.
Please email spns@sci.rutgers.edu if you have any questions.