Before You Register

Before You Register | How to Register | After You Register

Information and Academic Advising are available

Advising is available to students who are not admitted to the University and have questions about returning to learning. The College's Information Center schedules advising appointments by phone or in person, and offers registration assistance and financial aid information to all. Use the "Contact Us" line in the left column.

Are Independent and Distance Learning courses right for you?

  • Are you well organized and self-motivated?
  • Are you in your second year of college or beyond?
  • Do you have a solid A or B average?
  • Can you schedule several hours per week to work on your course?
  • Do you read and write well?
  • Do you get started on your course work right away and stick with it till it's done?

If you can answer "yes" to these questions, then you are a good candidate for Independent and Distance Learning. Check with your adviser before registering, and start out by taking a single course.

Before you register:

1. Select the course. If you are already admitted to a program or are planning to apply to a program, contact your adviser to be sure the course fits your needs.

2. Determine if you have completed the necessary prerequisites. Prerequisite courses (previous coursework you need to have) are included in the course descriptions.

3. Determine whether the course is offered in a term length that will work for you. Courses are offered in two "term lengths":

  1. Term-based. These courses are held during a specific semester. They begin and end at the same time as classes held on campus. Many online courses are held during the regular term.
  2. Extended-term. You can register for these courses at any time during the year. Your term will start the 15th of the month after you register. Work at your own pace and take up to nine months to finish the course work. You can complete your work sooner, but you should expect to spend at least three months on the course work.

4. Determine if you are eligible for financial aid.
If you are not a U of M student — visit the Financial Aid Wizard to find out your options.

If you are a U of M student, and are registering for:

  • A term-based course, there are no restrictions for financial aid that is administered by the U's Office of Student Finance.
  • An extended-term course, financial aid administered by the Office of Student Finance will not apply.

EXCEPTION: If you are eligible for Minnesota State Grant, the Office of Student Finance will count all Independent and Distance Learning courses you enroll in by the end of the second week of the semester. This includes both extended-term and term-based courses.

If you have financial aid from another source, contact the sponsor to make sure that your aid will cover courses that allow up to nine months for completion.

5. Determine if the format will work for you. Courses are offered in two formats:

  1. Printed. Students receive a detailed study guide and instructions for assignments. Students communicate with faculty primarily by mail and email. Some printed courses also include materials on the Web.
  2. Online. Instructions and course contents are posted on a course Web site. Students communicate with faculty through the Web site.

Both types of course formats require you to use conventional textbooks.

6. Make sure you have access to the appropriate technology if you plan to register for an online course or one that includes Web materials.

  1. If you plan to connect online from your employer's network make sure you have permission from your employer.
  2. Most online courses use software called WebCT Vista. Go to the University's WebCT Web site and click on "Brower Set Up." Follow the links to download and configure the right browser, adjust browser settings, enable Java and JavaScript, and check your system requirements.
  3. Some online courses have extra computer requirements such as a high-speed Internet connection for viewing videos. Check the course description.

7. Determine the semester in which your course will begin (even if it ends in a later semester). The term the course begins in is the one recorded on your transcript. Click on the appropriate link below to find out about important registration dates, starting and ending dates for the term, cancellations, refunds, and grade changes.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Before You Register | How to Register | After You Register