2025-2026 Catalog

Academic Calendar

The academic year at Occidental College consists of two 16-week semesters and one 10-week online summer session, each includes breaks and a final examination period.

The final exam schedule is updated on a semester-by-semester basis and can be reviewed here.

Fall 2025

Event Day Date
New Student Move-in Monday Aug. 18
Orientation for New Students Entering Fall 2025 Tues - Mon Aug. 19 - 25
Transfer and Exchange Student Registration Friday Aug. 22
New First Year Student Registration  Saturday 

Aug. 23

Returning Student Move-in Saturday  Aug. 23
Convocation
Monday Aug. 25
First Day of Classes
Tuesday Aug. 26
Clearance Tues - Thurs

Aug. 26 - 28

Labor Day -- No Classes Monday Sept. 1
Final Day to Withdraw for a 75% Tuition Proration Tuesday Sept. 2

Last Day to Add Four- and Five- Unit Courses

Friday Sept. 5
Applied Music Add Deadline Friday Sept. 5
Census Date Wednesday Sept. 10
Final Day to Withdraw for a 50% Tuition Proration
Wednesday Sept. 10
Applied Music Drop Deadline  Friday Sept. 12
Final Day to Change to Part-Time Status with a Tuition Adjustment Tuesday Sept. 30
Last Day to Drop Classes without a "W" Friday Oct. 3
Late Drop Period Begins Monday Oct. 6

Mid-Semester Progress Report Submission Period

Mon - Sun Oct.6 - 19

Last Day to Add Zero-, One-, and Two- Unit Classes

Friday
Oct. 10

Last Day to Audit a Class

Friday Oct. 10
Mid-Semester Friday Oct. 10
Fall Break -- No Classes Mon - Tues Oct.13 - 14
Advising Week
Mon - Mon Oct. 20 - 27
CR/NC Forms Due Monday Oct. 27
Registration Week for Spring 2026
Tues - Fri Oct. 28 - 31
Thanksgiving Break -- No Classes Wed - Fri Nov. 26 - 28

Last Day of Classes

  • Last Day to Late Drop from Classes
  • Petitions for Incomplete Due

Monday

Dec. 1

Reading Days Tues - Wed
Dec. 2 - 3
Final Exams Thurs - Fri Dec. 4 - 5
Reading Days
Sat - Sun Dec. 6 - 7

Final Exams Resume

Mon - Thurs Dec. 8 - 11
End of Semester Thursday Dec. 11
Student Move-Out 24 Hours after Last Final
Exam or by Hall Closing
(whichever comes first)
Residence Halls Close 10 am Friday Dec. 12
Grades Due by 12 pm Tuesday Dec. 16

Spring 2026

Event Day Date
Orientation for New Students Entering Spring 2026 Thurs - Fri Jan. 15 - 16
Returning Students Move-in 10 am Saturday Jan. 17
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday -- No Classes Monday Jan. 19
First Day of Classes Tuesday Jan. 20
Clearance Tue - Thurs Jan. 20 - 22
Final Day to Withdraw for a 75% Tuition Proration  Monday 

Jan. 26

Last Day to Add Four- and Five- Unit Classes Friday Jan. 30
Applied Music Add Deadline
Friday Jan. 30
Final Day to Withdraw for a 50% Tuition Proration Tuesday Feb. 3
Census Date Wednesday Feb. 4
Applied Music Drop Deadline Friday Feb. 6
Presidents' Day Holiday -- No Classes Monday Feb. 16
Final Day to Change to Part-Time Status with Tuition Adjustment Tuesday  Feb. 24
Last Day to Drop Classes without a "W" Friday Feb. 27
Late Drop Period Begins Monday Mar. 2
Mid-Semester Progress Reports Submission Period Mon - Sun Mar. 2 - 22
Mid-Semester Thursday Mar. 5
Last Day to Add Zero-, One-, and Two- Unit Classes  Friday Mar. 6
Last Day to Audit a Class
Friday Mar. 6
Spring Break -- No Classes Mon - Fri Mar. 9-13
Advising Week Mon - Mon Mar. 23 - 30
CR/NC Forms Due
Monday Mar. 30
Registration Week for Fall 2026 Tues - Fri Mar. 31 - Apr. 3
Senior Comps Grades Due to Registrar
Monday
Apr. 20
Founders Day -- No Classes
Tuesday
Apr. 21
Honors in the Major Due to Registrar  Monday Apr. 27
Last Day of Classes
  • Deadline to Petition to Participate in Commencement if Not Eligible by Policy
  • Last Day to Late Drop from Classes
  • Petitions for Incompletes Due
Tuesday April 28
Reading Days Wed - Thurs Apr. 29 - 30
Final Exams Friday May 1
Reading Days Sat - Sun May2 - 3
Final Exams Resume Mon - Fri May4 - 8
End of Semester Friday May 8
Student Move-Out 24 Hours after Last Final Exam or by Hall Closing (whichever comes first)
Residence Halls Close for Non-Graduating Seniors at 10 am Saturday May 9
Senior Grades Due at 12 pm Tuesday May 12
Commencement Sunday May 17
Non-Senior Grades Due at 12 pm Monday  May 18
Residence Halls Close for Graduating Seniors at 10 am Monday May 18

Summer 2026

Occidental College offers a very limited number of courses during the summer as well as the opportunity to engage in independent studies and internships. Only current and incoming first-year and transfer Occidental College students are eligible to enroll in the summer session. Eligibility for individual courses may be further limited based on your enrollment status (admitted versus current student), timing of your admission, and verification of all matriculation requirements. All courses, including examinations, are offered remotely.

 

Event Day Date
Registration Begins Monday Apr. 20
Memorial Day Holiday Monday May 25
First Day of Classes Tuesday May 26
Last Day to Submit Internship (INT) Paperwork to the HCC Wednesday May 27
Last Day to Add Friday May 29
Juneteenth -- No Classes Friday June 19
Last Day to Drop Classes without a "W" Tuesday June 23
Mid-Session Progress Reports Submission Period Tues - Thurs June 23 - July 2
Mid-Session Friday June 27
Independence Day Holiday -- No Classes
Friday July 3
CR/NC Forms Due Thursday July 9
Last Day of Classes              Friday July 31
Reading Days Sat - Sun Aug. 1 - 2
Final Exams Mon - Tues Aug. 3 - 4
End of Session Tuesday Aug. 4
Grades Due 12 PM Friday Aug. 7