Registration

Register for the following credits each semester to be enrolled full time:

Overview

Prior to the start of each semester, students will receive an email from the Registrar’s Office inviting them to register. All non-dissertator students, those who have not yet passed the preliminary exam, must register for 8-15 credits each fall and spring semester and 2 credits during the summer session. All dissertator students, those who have completed the preliminary exam, are required to enroll for 3 credits each fall, spring, and summer semester.  Course selection can be determined from the Course Requirements, Core Curriculum, and Elective Courses sections of the CMB Handbook.  Students must register for at least 1 credit of 990 research during each semester (contact the CMB office for an exception).  For important registration deadlines, see the Registrar’s website.

Register for Courses

• For information on registering, please visit the following link: https://registrar.wisc.edu/howto-enroll/
• Visit www.wisc.edu, click on “My UW“
• Log into the “My UW” website using your UW NetID and password
• Click on the “Course Search and Enroll” application
• Enter the course number in the search field, choose the appropriate term, and search for the class
• Select “See sections” and choose the section
• Under “Select Credits,” choose number of credits and add class to cart
• In the cart, select the three-dot menu next to “Schedule” and select the “Enroll all” button that appears
• View your successfully enrolled classes in your Enrolled list in the My Courses tab to confirm that you have successfully enrolled in the correct section

990 Research Credits

• Register for 990 research credits with the Thesis Advisor’s home department
• During the fall and spring semesters, students add/delete 990 research credits to bring the total number of credits to 8-15, including course credits
• Contact the Thesis Advisor’s home department to become authorized to register for these credits
• First-Year Rotation students, see the New Student Information section of the CMB Handbook

Dissertator Status

• To achieve dissertator status, a student must complete all CMB course requirements and pass the Preliminary Exam
• Dissertators are required to enroll for three graduate credits directly related to their dissertation research in each fall, spring, and summer semester until graduation
• Enrollment is required for the eight-week summer session if the student holds a Research Assistantship (RA), Traineeship, or Fellowship
• Audits and pass/fail do not satisfy dissertator status requirements
• Additional courses taken as a dissertator will result in the removal of the dissertator fee status
• For additional information on dissertator status under the Graduate School requirements, see these links:
  • Dissertator Eligibility Guidelines
  • Continuous Enrollment Requirement
  • Guide to Preparing Your Doctoral Dissertation

Audit a Course

• A course auditor does not take examinations or submit course work, but is still expected to attend class on a regular basis as an observer
• To audit a course, the student must be authorized by both the professor and the department in which the course is taught
• If there is limited space, fully registered students will be accepted into the class before a student is eligible to audit the course
• In order for the course to be audited, the student must enroll normally in the class and fill out a Course Change Request
• To make a Course Change Request:
  • Visit www.wisc.edu, click on “My UW“
  • Log into the “My UW” website using the UW NetID and password
  • Click on the “Student Center” link in the top right corner (a new window will pop up)
  • Click Manage Classes – Course Change Request
  • Select Term, Continue and click the check box for the class you want to change
• An audited class will appear on the transcript as “S” (Satisfactory) but will not count toward the minimum credit requirement
• Audited classes will not satisfy the CMB course requirements