Registering for Classes
After corresponding with his or her advisor, graduate students register in their Student Center of PASS (Pioneer Administrative Software System).
Registration Policies
Numbering of Courses
5000-6999: Graduate courses. Open to undergraduate students who meet the specified criteria.
7000-7990: Graduate courses. Limited to graduate students.
Courses numbered 7000–7990 are open only to graduate students. Courses numbered 5000–6999 may be taken by graduate students for graduate credit, provided they have not taken the courses at the undergraduate level.
Because courses numbered 5000–6999 are open to both undergraduate and graduate students, students enrolled in the graduate-level portion of a cross-listed course will be exposed to similar content that the undergraduate students will be exposed to, except that: a) graduate students will be learning the content at a greater depth and b) there is an expectation of additional work or higher level activities on the part of the graduate students.
Academic Load
Graduate students are allowed to register for up to six credits during the summer sessions and up to nine credits during the fall/spring semesters. If a student wants to take more than six credits during summer sessions or more than nine credits during fall/spring semesters, the student must contact his or her advisor for approval. A graduate student who wants to appeal an advisor’s decision should contact the Provost Designee.
Note: If a graduate student does not have an assigned graduate advisor but is attending as a special (non-degree seeking) student, the Provost Designee’s approval replaces the advisor’s approval.
Full-Time Status
For fee purposes, nine credits constitute a full load during the fall and spring semesters and five credits during the summer session. Full-time status for other purposes, such as financial aid, may be defined differently.
Registration Fee
Students are charged a $35 registration fee per term.
Degree Assessment Fee
Students are charged a $75 degree assessment fee. This fee is is not associated with the completion of a degree and is automatically billed in the semester after a student has earned the following credits:
- Associate Degree Students – 42 credits earned
- Bachelors Degree Students – 90 credits earned
- Masters Degree Students – 21 credits earned
Course Changes
Normally students are not permitted to add or change courses after the fifth day of classes.
Adding Courses
Students may add courses using PASS through the 5th day of the semester. Courses may be added during the 6th – 10th day with approval of the instructor and department chairperson. Late adds after the 10th day will also require approval of the college dean’s office. Students who add courses after the 10th day will be charged a late add fee of $45 per course.
Per UWS Chapter 18.11(6b), persons present in any class, lecture, laboratory, orientation, examination, or other instructional session shall be enrolled and in good standing or shall have the consent of an authorized university official or faculty member to be considered legally present.
Dropping Courses
Dropping During Add/Drop Period
Students may drop a course prior to its beginning or during the drop/add period (see Academic Calendar) at the start of each semester without the instructor’s signature. The course will not be recorded on the student's transcript.
Dropping During Withdrawal Period
Students who drop a course after the drop period (e.g. 10th day of the fall or spring semester) will be charged a drop fee of $45 per course. Drop fees will be billed to the student's account. The course will be recorded on the student's transcript with a notation of withdrawn. Full-semester length courses may be dropped through the tenth week.
Dropping After Withdrawal Period (Late Drops)
Students who do not drop a course by the deadlines published on the Academic Calendar must either complete the course satisfactorily or receive the grade “F.” Late drops will be permitted only in extraordinary circumstances and only with the consent of the instructor and the dean of the college. In order to be allowed a late drop, students must provide a written explanation satisfying the instructor and the dean as to the special circumstances which prevented the student from dropping the course prior to deadline.
Independent Study
Students enrolling for independent study should contact their advisor for specific enrollment instructions. A student may register for more than the maximum number of independent study credits allowed by a department; however, the student may only apply the maximum number of independent study credits allowed by a department toward a master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.