Nondegree/Visiting Advising

Students who study at American University without formal admission are referred to as nondegree students. PLEASE NOTE: "Continuing Education" is now referred to as nondgree.

Nondegree students should request enrollment through the college or school at AU that offers the course(s). PLEASE NOTE: the form found on this page is only for courses offered by a department in the College of Arts & Sciences. For a list of departments that are in the College of Arts & Sciences, click CAS homepage. If you have any questions regarding the nondegree process in the College, please email Mike Galaviz at mgalav@american.edu or call 202-885-2439 or view the CAS Advising staff page for more information about a specific major.

For courses offered in one of the other 4 schools at American University, contact a graduate or undergraduate advisor at the following links:

School of Public Affairs
School of International Service
School of Communication
Kogod School of Business

Many nondegree students take advantage of the following AU programs:

• Alumni Audit
• Institute for Learning in Retirement

Eligibility

You are eligible to study at American University at either the undergraduate or graduate level as long you meet all prerequisites or restrictions for the course as noted in the Schedule of Classes. Students admitted into a degree program at any other Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area schools are not permitted to take classes as a nondegree student. You must also be in good standing with any other college or university in which you are currently enrolled. Students dismissed from another institution during the past year are not eligible to enroll as nondegree students at AU. International students are not eligible for student visas under nondegree status.

Instructions for Nondegree Student Enrollment

For the Summer 2013 semester:
Classes begin on Monday, 13 May. The Summer semester has many sessions of various length all of which are listed for each course on the Schedule of Classes. You can get more information and register for a summer course at AU's Summer Sessions.

For the Fall 2013 semester:
Priority registration is in effect for the Fall semester which will begin on Monday, 26 August. Nondegree registration for graduate courses (5xx, 6xx, and 7xx course numbers) will start 15 April and on 1 August for undergraduate courses. It's a good idea to wait until late July to submit your request for Fall undergraduate classes as you'll have a better idea of which classes remain open.

See the Schedule of Classes for a list of available courses. Once you find an available course offered by the College of Arts & Sciences and you meet any listed prerequisites, please submit the nondegree information form located in the right margin. The Academic Calendar lists important dates and deadlines for your course so you should review it thoroughly.

• RETURNING STUDENTS: If you have taken a class as a non-degree student in the past, please email Mike Galaviz at mgalav@american.edu. Be sure to include your full name, AUID, complete course number you're requesting and note whether or not there are any prerequisites. If there are any prerequisites listed on the Schedule of Classes, note how you meet it by including the course information we would see on your transcript such as the complete course title and number, date taken, school and the grade you received.

Cost

Nondegree students pay the tuition as admitted students and this includes whether your take the course for a grade or whether you audit the course. Please see the AU Registrar for current tuition and fees.

The credit hours for each course is listed on the Schedule of Classes but most courses are 3 credit hours. A typical 3 credit hour course will be about $4100. For purposes of nondegree study, any course numbered 500 or above is considered graduate level. Payment is made at the time you register for the course and can be done online. Financial aid is not available for nondegree study. American University does not accept credit cards as payment for tuition, however, you may pay in-person, by mail or online using your bank account.