How to Take Credit Courses

Most people returning to school elect to start with a single course, especially if they are balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. But how do you find that course? Here are some tips to help you make your selection.

Things to consider when choosing a course

• Undergraduate credits, regardless of how old, may still count; avoid taking courses similar to anything you have already taken.
• Choose a course at the appropriate level, according to the 4-digit course number that follows the departmental abbreviation. Example: Psy 1001: "Psy" is the departmental abbreviation and "1001" is the course number.
• Pay close attention to the course prerequisites. Some prerequisites are guidelines; others are required. If you think you have the equivalent status or background to succeed in the course, or if the course requires a class permission number, contact the appropriate department and inquire about that department's procedures.

What to take if you are considering a degree

Undergraduate degree:
Pursue admission as soon as possible. If you are a former U of M student and are returning to your previous school or college, you will apply for readmission. If you are applying to a different campus, school, or college, you will apply for an undergraduate change of college. See the full list of programs and majors for more information and requirements. Keep the following in mind when choosing courses:

• Most undergraduate degrees require completion of Liberal Education (LE) requirements and first-year writing requirement. Completing the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MTC) will fulfill most of these requirements; but if you have previous credits and have not yet completed the MTC, consult the LE transfer guides for more information on transfer requirements. You may also want to consult the U of M-Twin Cities undergraduate transfer credit policy.
• Complete some of your prerequisites or lower-level degree requirements ahead of time.
• If you are considering one of the applied majors offered by CCE through the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in Construction Management, Manufacturing Technology, or IT Infrastructure, you can take admission course prerequisites for your desired program.

Graduate degree:
If you are considering a graduate degree, pursue admission as soon as possible — see Graduate and Professional schools for links to specific admission criteria, procedures, application, etc. This is especially important, as most graduate and professional programs require that a certain number of required credits be completed after admission. Keep the following in mind when choosing courses:

• It may be possible complete a required major course before you are admitted. Contact the academic department offering your intended graduate or professional program to discuss this possibility.
• Many graduate programs do not have prerequisites. Consult the academic department offering your intended graduate or professional program for information.
• Students who are not yet admitted to a graduate program but wish to earn graduate-level credit for a course must use the Registration Request for Graduate Credit for Non-Degree Students Form which requires that you obtain a signature from the department's authorized signer. Do not use the "Registration and Cancel/Add Form."
• If you register for a graduate-level course for graduate credit as a non-degree student, your assigned college will depend on the course you are taking.

What to do if you are unsure about what you want to study

If you are interested in taking a course, but not sure what you want to study, consider:

• Taking the opportunity to enroll in a course purely to learn what interests you.
• Networking with people in your field (or potential field), and ask what education/course work they recommend.
• Making an appointment with a career counselor. The College's Career and Lifework Planning Service, for example, serves professional adults who are in career transition and/or considering going back to school.

When to register

• Non-degree (or non-admitted) students are eligible to register any time during "Open Enrollment," which starts after admitted student registration. Open enrollment dates are:
  • Spring 2012 term: Anytime on or after December 2, 2012
  • Summer 2012 term: Anytime on or after April 17, 2012
  • Fall 2012 term: Anytime on or after May 4, 2012
• See the academic calendar for other important dates, such as when the term starts and ends, finals week, deadlines for changing your registration, future term registration dates, and holidays.
• If your initial registration for that term occurs on or after the first day of the term, you are subject to a late registration fee.

Before you register

• One Stop: Take a moment to familiarize yourself with One Stop, the main source for all up-to-date registration policies and procedures, deadlines, course offerings, and financial aid information.
• Student ID numbers:
  • If you have a number already (from previous course work), use the ID already assigned to you. If you do not remember it, use your social security number.
  • If you do NOT have a number, you do not need a student ID # to register. One will be assigned to you when your registration request is processed.
  • Your student ID is different from your Internet ID (also X.500 or user ID). Your Internet ID is assigned when you initiate your University online account and is the prefix to your University e-mail address.
• Important information for non-degree students:
  • Non-degree students must pay tuition and fees, in full, by the billing due date and are not eligible for the installment plan.
  • Some U of M policies do not apply to non-degree students. Non-degree students are not required to:
    • Show proof of immunization
    • Pay the U of M Student Services Fee
    • Purchase or provide proof of health insurance
    • Carry a minimum number of credits per term
• Important information for students taking a graduate-level course for graduate credit:
  • If you are planning on eventually enrolling in a graduate or professional program, check with your prospective program before registration to determine if the course is transferrable and, if so, the maximum allowable transfer credits.
  • You will be charged the graduate or professional school tuition rate for all credits you take during the term, regardless of whether all classes in the term are taken for graduate credit.
• If the course you are interested in is closed (or needs permission) visit the closed classes Web page
• Registration form tips:
  • See Abbreviations and Terms if you have questions.
  • You will usually need to select your grade basis to determine how you will be graded unless a course is specified "A/F-only" (letter grade A-F) or "S/N-only" (satisfactory or no credit).
  • Courses required for a major must be taken for a letter grade (A-F) unless the course is specified as S-N.
  • If consent (permission) is required to register for a course, contact the department offering the course for specific information and procedures.

How to register

Undergraduate-level courses (usually course number 5000 and below):
If this is your first time registering for classes at the U of M, or if it has been two or more terms since you last registered, you will need to register via e-mail, postal mail, fax, or in-person; you cannot register via the Web registration system.

• Registering by E-mail
  1. Complete the online form for the term for which you are registering. Your request is sent via e-mail to One Stop.
     E-mail Registration Form
  2. You will receive an e-mail notification when your e-mail registration request form is processed.
• Registering by Postal Mail
  1. Print and complete the PDF version of the Registration and Cancel/Add Request form for the term for which you are registering:
     Registration and Cancel Add Form
     
  2. Fax or mail the form to One Stop as directed on the form.
• Registering In Person on campus
  1. Register at any one of the three One Stop Student Services Centers
• Registering on the Web (One Stop)
  1. You will need your Internet ID (also called User ID or X.500) to use the Web registration system.
  2. After completing your registration, you will receive an e-mail notification with a link to your online Enrollment Summary.
• If you register via e-mail, or postal mail, you will receive postal mail notification confirming your registration in about five days. This "study list" will also contain your student ID number and instructions on how to activate your online student account. Verify that your registration and personal contact information are correct.

Graduate-level courses for graduate credit (course number 5000 and above):

Follow these procedures every time you register as a non-degree student.

• Use the Registration Request for Graduate Credit for Non-Degree Students Form. to obtain written approval (signature) from an authorized signer in each department offering the course(s) you plan to take. Contact the academic department offering the course you are interested in to obtain permission and an authorized signature to register for graduate credit.
• Submit the completed form containing the authorized signature, to One Stop either by fax, e-mail or in person (e-mail and Web registration are not options):
  • Postal Mail or Fax: Fax or mail to One Stop as directed on the form.
  • In Person: register at any one of the three One Stop Student Services Centers
• If you register via postal mail or fax, you will receive postal mail notification confirming your registration in about five days. This "study list" will also contain your student ID number and instructions on how to activate your online student account. Verify that your registration and personal contact information are correct.

Changing your registration

All changes to your registration must be officially made by published deadlines.

• If you decide not to take a course after you have registered, cancel it immediately. You are responsible for applicable tuition and fees up to the date your official cancellation is received.
• There is a limited period of time at the beginning of every term during which you can change your grade basis. Grade basis changes after the deadline are rarely approved.
• There is a limited period of time at the beginning of every term during which you can add a course. Late registrations often require instructor permission and may require college approval.
• Refund amounts are issued according to the refund rate in effect on the date of cancellation. See Cancellation and Refunds for more information.
• Registration changes after published deadlines usually require college permission.
  • Once during your undergraduate career, you may withdraw from a course without college approval, if you meet applicable deadlines.
    • You must first contact the CCE Information Center regarding one-time withdrawal procedures.
    • You may use this one-time option at any time after the eighth week of the term, up to and including the last day of class. Deadlines vary during summer term.
    • You will receive a grade of W on your transcript. For more information see, complete grading policies
  • To request a change after the published deadlines, fill out a College of Continuing Education (CCE) Petition Form.
    • Obtain an approval signature from the instructor, if required.
    • Submit your completed petition form to the College of Continuing Education Information Center.
    • The College of Continuing Education Scholastic Committee will review your request and you will receive written notification via e-mail of the Committee's decision within seven working days.
• For additional information see Change registration or contact the College of Continuing Education Information Center to discuss applicable policies, procedures, and deadlines.

Initiate your University online account

• When you register, you will be assigned a University e-mail account. Initiate your account as soon as possible after you receive your student ID number; your student ID number is required to initiate your University online account. Your student ID number is listed on your Enrollment Summary or Study List.
• Your U of M online account allows you access to many resources, including your online record, UM Pay (the online payment system), and more. Also, all official U of M communication including class changes, billing, and other important information will be sent to this account. Check your U of M e-mail account regularly.
• If you have problems with Internet access or e-mail, call the University's Help Line at 612- 301-4357.

Pay your bill

• You will not receive a paper bill for your tuition and fees. An e-mail notice will be sent to your University e-mail account when your online billing statement is ready.
• Your billing statement shows all charges (tuition and fees, bookstore charges, etc.) to your Student Account and due dates. (Note: non-degree students are not eligible for the installment plan.)
  You must pay all charges, in full, by the billing statement due date. Full payment must be received (not postmarked), by the billing due date or your courses will be canceled. Students whose courses are canceled due to non-payment may have a hold placed on their record to bar future CCE non-degree registration.
• You can pay the University via:
  • UM Pay (the online payment system)
  • postal mail
  • a campus drop box
  • in person at a Bursar Office
• For complete information about billing and payment, see Pay the University.

Familiarize yourself with University policies

All students must follow University policies concerning academic work and student life.

• Attendance at the first class meeting is required or you may lose your seat.
• All students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Progress is reviewed following every fall and spring semester, and is considered satisfactory when both your term grade point average (GPA) and your cumulative GPA are 2.0 or above.
• Students who fail to meet satisfactory academic progress will be:
  • Placed on probation if either term or cumulative (GPA) is below 2.0, and remain on probation until both term and cumulative GPA are 2.0 or above.
  • Suspended from access to registration if term and cumulative GPA remain below 2.0 during their probation period.
• Other important policy resources
  • Undergraduate policies
  • Graduate School policies
  • Enrollment policies and procedures

Decide if you want a U Card

Student ID cards, or U Cards, are not required, but you will need one to access many things on campus, such as the libraries, computer labs, and recreational facilities.

Explore U of M services and resources

Review all U of M services and resources to become familiar with all the tools, services, and resources available to you.

Tuition is dependent on several factors, including student classification and program, residency status, and reciprocity status. In addition to tuition, you will be charged fees based on a variety of criteria.

Tuition

• You pay the undergraduate resident tuition rate if you receive undergraduate credit and you are not registered as a graduate or professional degree student.
• You pay the graduate resident tuition rate if you are registered for a graduate-level course. The amount per credit depends on your college or program.
• You pay professional school tuition if you are registered for a course from one of the professional schools (Carlson School; Nursing; Dentistry; Pharmacy; Public Health; Medicine; Veterinary Medicine) or are working on a departmental master's.
• If you take a graduate-level course for graduate credit, you will be charged the resident graduate or professional school tuition rate for ALL credits you take during the term, regardless of whether all classes in the term are taken for graduate credit.

Fees

Some fees are assessed universally; others depend on your course or program. For complete information on tuition and fees, see Tuition and Fees.

Financial Aid resources

Scholarships and grants and a number of other financial resources are available to help College of Continuing Education students further their education and reach their goals.

• Use the Financial Resources Wizard, an online, interactive tool, to explore a wide range of resources that may help you pay for your education.
• CCE scholarships and grants provide funding for more than 200 students a year. Awards average $500 to $2,200, and do not need to be repaid. Don't assume you will not qualify; we encourage you to apply.
• Download Paying for Your Education: Financial Aid and Other Resources, a comprehensive list of financial aid and other resources also included in the Financial Resources Wizard.