Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
The Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program through the University of Minnesota Morris allows motivated high school juniors and seniors to take classes at the University for both high school and college credit.
The cost of University tuition, fees, and required textbooks is covered by the Minnesota Department of Education.
Location: On the UMN Morris (UMM) campus and online
Housing: University housing, meal plans, and parking permits are available, but not covered by the PSEO program
Credits: Earn UMN Morris and high school credits simultaneously
Courses: Access to most UMN Morris first year student courses
Transferability: Courses often transfer; check with the individual college
Cost: Tuition, fees, and required textbooks for fall and spring semesters are covered by State of Minnesota
PSEO students may not take courses that include a course fee.
Is PSEO the Right Choice for You?
Attending PSEO at the UMN Morris is exciting, but it’s also a major change compared to high school. We recommend doing a self assessment to be sure PSEO is the right choice for you. If all of the descriptors below resonate, then you’re a great candidate for PSEO and the next step is application.
Are You Proactive in Your Education?
There are three main qualities every PSEO student should have: an independent learning style, good time management skills, and willingness to seek help when it’s needed.
UMN Morris PSEO students actively use peer tutoring services, the writing center, and instructor office hours to excel in PSEO.
PSEO students are solely responsible for their academic experience. Parents will not have access to your information due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Do You Have a Proven Track Record of Academic Success?
Admitted PSEO students who are successful in courses offered at UMN Morris usually meet more than one of the following criteria:
Have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Are in the top 10 percent of their high school class
Have an ACT composite score of 25 or greater
Pursued the most rigorous high school courses available to them.
Exemplify academic strength (B or higher) in courses taken
IMPORTANT: Grades earned in PSEO will remain on your U of M college transcript and can impact freshman admission to college.
Do You Fully Commit to Academic Priorities?
UMN Morris does not consider high school activities, such as band and sports, to be excusable activities. If these commitments conflict with an exam in a UMN Morris class, instructors may not accommodate you. See Makeup Work for Legitimate Absences policy.
The amount of outside work required in PSEO classes and significant commute times can make time management challenging. Typically for fall and spring semester classes, one credit represents three hours of academic work per week, so a 4-credit course represents 12 hours of academic work per week. Please see the Expected Student Academic Work per Credit policy.
Juggling your high school and PSEO courses can be tricky. Carefully consider your course load and extracurricular activities, and prepare for the investment.
Deadlines for Fall Start Date
Fall application period opens on February 15, 2023 and closes August 11, 2023.
Fall classes begin August 23, 2023.
Admitted students for fall attend one of the orientation and registration sessions in May, June, or July, or meet with the PSEO Adviser.
2023 New Student Orientation/Registration Program Dates:
On Campus (in-person): Wednesday May 24 afternoon session only
Online (virtual): Thursday, June 1 evening session
On Campus (in-person): Tuesday, June 6 morning or afternoon session
On Campus (in-person): Tuesday, June 13 morning or afternoon session
On Campus (in-person): Friday, June 16 morning or afternoon session
Online (virtual): Tuesday, July 18 afternoon session only
Fall 2023 enrolled students must attend the welcome week Academic Adviser meeting on Monday, August 21:
In-person at 11:00 AM (Location to be announced in Fall Welcome Letter)
Virtual via Zoom at 7:00 PM (Zoom link to be provided in Fall Welcome Letter).
Deadlines for Spring Start Date
Spring application period opens on October 2, 2023 and closes December 22, 2023.
Spring classes begin January 16, 2024.
Admitted students for spring meet with the PSEO Adviser for orientation and registration.
How to Apply
The application for the 2023-24 academic year will open on February 15, 2023 and close on December 22, 2023.
Application Requirements
Public, private, or homeschool 11th or 12th grade student (incoming junior or senior). Students in cultural exchanges programs are not eligible.
Meet the Minnesota Department of Education criteria (click on the "Postsecondary Enrollment Options Reference Guide")
If you will be under age 16 on the first day of the fall semester, you will not be eligible to apply for University housing (housing is not covered by the PSEO program and must be paid by the PSEO student).
See Admission Criteria information below
NOTE: If you are accepted into the UMN Morris PSEO program, it doesn't mean you are automatically admitted to the University of Minnesota as an undergraduate degree-seeking student. You'll want to apply for admission as a first year student if you decide to attend any University of Minnesota campus (Crookston, Duluth, M0rris, Rochester, Twin Cities) after high school graduation.
Step 1: Submit the electronic PSEO application
Complete this application whether you plan to attend in person or online, full time or part time.
2023-24 UMN Morris PSEO Student Application will be available beginning February 15, 2023.
Step 2: Assemble required documents
Assemble your additional documents.
Do this several weeks in advance of the deadline, and take into account your school’s spring or fall breaks. Most high school counselors are unavailable for most of the summer so plan accordingly.
Official High School Transcript (required)
Transcripts should include GPA and class rank, if available.
If using Parchment or another transcript service, send your transcript to admissions@morris.umn.edu.
Grade reports and report cards are not accepted.
Post-Secondary Notice of Student Registration (2023-24) Form (required)
The Post-Secondary Notice of Student Registration (NOSR) form is necessary for the state to reimburse the University for tuition costs. It is posted on the Minnesota Department of Education's website when it becomes available.
Complete and sign section 1 (a parent/guardian signature is required if you’re under 18).
Your high school counselor completes and signs section 2.
The PSEO adviser completes and signs section 3 after the last day to drop a class without receiving a W has passed.
This form must be completed each semester. It documents the courses you are taking and provides verification from the high school and college that you are eligible to receive PSEO program benefits.
A new form must be submitted if you switch high schools.
Public School Students: Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, subdivision 7, requires public school students to inform the school district by May 30 of each year of the pupil’s intent to enroll in postsecondary courses during the following school year to assist the district in planning.
High School Balance Sheet (required for full-time PSEO students)
The High School Balance Sheet lists your remaining high school graduation requirements; it will help guide your PSEO course registration in summer when your high school counselor may not be available.
We strongly recommend submitting the balance sheet, especially if you’re interested in taking more than one PSEO course, or if you’re not sure which courses to take. This form must be completed each year.
A new balance sheet must be submitted if you switch high schools.
UMN Morris PSEO Agreement (required)
The UMN Morris PSEO Agreement outlines UMN Morris PSEO student responsibilities.
It must be signed by the PSEO student, the PSEO student's parent/guardian and the PSEO student's high school counselor.
A new agreement must be submitted if you switch high schools.
Other College Coursework Transcripts (if applicable)
Submit official or unofficial transcripts if you took college credits outside your high school through a college or university (e.g., PSEO).
If using Parchment or another transcript service, send your transcript to admissions@morris.umn.edu.
Transcripts are required even if grades are in progress and no grades have been submitted.
Transcripts are not required for courses from any University of Minnesota campus (Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, Twin Cities).
College Entrance Exam Scores (ACT/SAT) and AP or IB Test Scores (optional)
Score reports must include your first and last name. We will accept photocopies of scores.
Accepted college entrance exams include ACT and SAT. The Morris ACT code is 2155 and the SAT code is 6890.
Send your AP & IB score reports to UMN Morris. The Morris AP code is 6890.
Request for Official UMN Morris Transcript (complete using your UMN internet ID after becoming enrolled)
Submit the electronic Request for Official UMN Morris Transcript (Google form) once registered using your University email account. This form allows UMN Morris to send a complimentary transcript to your high school or homeschool once grades have posted so that your UMN Morris credits can be counted in progress toward your high school graduation. Your credits will also be on your University of Minnesota transcript to use toward college graduation. This form must be completed each year.
A new form must be submitted if you switch high schools.
Additional information (optional)
Feel free to include extra materials like written statements, letters of recommendation, resumes, and portfolios that you feel would help get to know you better. We encourage written statements if there are any extenuating circumstances we should take into account when reviewing your application.
Step 3: Submit required documents
NOTE: Be sure that all forms include the required signatures. Forms with missing signatures will not be accepted.
New ON-CAMPUS PSEO STUDENTS:
Please send to UMN Morris Admissions
Admissions Office
University of Minnesota Morris
180 Welcome Center, 600 East 4th Street
Morris, Minnesota 56267
New ONLINE ONLY PSEO STUDENTS:
Please send to UMN Morris PSEO Office
Chlene Anderson
Online Learning Coordinator and PSEO Adviser
University of Minnesota Morris
314 Behmler Hall, 600 East 4th Street
Morris, MN 56267
Step 4: Receive decision. If admitted, confirm your decision by returning the confirmation card.
IMPORTANT: Information about confirming your decision to PSEO at UMN Morris, if admitted, will be included in your admission decision materials. Once we receive your confirmation card, you will be able to schedule an new student orientation and registration session, or an appointment with the PSEO Adviser, and complete the necessary steps to become a UMN Morris PSEO student. PSEO students do not pay the confirmation fee.
NOTE: Confirming does not obligate you to attend UMN Morris as a PSEO student. It allows us to get your student record ready so that you may schedule an orientation and registration session, or an appointment, with the PSEO Adviser.
Courses
Courses are offered on-campus and online. You may attend full-time (12 or more credits, 3-4 classes per semester), or part-time (11 or fewer credits; 1-2 classes per semester).
Choosing Courses
New PSEO students will sign up for classes June-August. Your class schedule may be fully in person, fully online, or combine in-person and online courses.
Limitations
PSEO courses not allowed are those determined sectarian in nature.
Some courses and topics may have limited accessibility for PSEO students.
Courses that include course fees are not available to PSEO students.
One 4-credit course is generally equivalent to one full-year course at the high school. Work closely with your high school counselor to make sure you fulfill your graduation requirements.
You will get support and guidance from the PSEO adviser when you register for classes.
You may review UMN Morris offerings by visiting Schedule Builder (use Class Search in the left-hand navigation). Using Schedule Builder you can determine how a course will be taught, if the course has prerequisites, if the course has open seats and if there is reserved seating. For more information, see Checking Course Mode, Prerequisites, Open Seats and Reserved Seating.
More information on online courses, including how to search for them, can be found in the PSEO Student Handbook.
Popular Courses
PSEO students have access to many courses. Here are some of the most popular:
English and Communication
Writing/Composition
Writing for the Liberal Arts * ENGL 1601 4 credits WLA GenEd
Topic in Writing: Introduction to Creative Writing* ENGL 1404 2 credits ARTP GenEd
Literature
Survey of British Literature to the 18th Century ENGL 1205 4 credits HUM GenEd
Survey of British Literature from the 18th Century ENGL 1206 4 credits HUM GenEd
Survey of American Literature to the Civil War ENGL 1211 4 credits HUM GenEd
Survey of British Literature from the Civil War ENGL 1212 4 credits HUM GenEd
Literary Studies ENGL 1509W 4 credits ARTP & WE GenEds
Speech/Commination
Public Speaking and Analysis * CMR 1042 4 credits E/CR GenEd
Intro to Theories of Comm, Media, and Rhetoric CMR 1101 4 credits HUM GenEd
*Access to these courses may be limited.
Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics
Computer Science
Introductory Programming Concepts I CSCI 1221 2 credits M/SR GenEd
Introductory Programming Concepts I CSCI 1222 2 credits
Computational Data Management & Manipulation CSCI 1251 4 credits M/SR GenEd
Problem Solving and Algorithm Development CSCI 1301 4 credits M/SR GenEd
Math
Elements of Algebra MATH 1010 2 credits prereq: 2 yrs high school math
Precalculus I: Functions MATH 1012 4 credits prereq: Math 1010 or placement
Precalculus II: Trigonometry MATH 1013 2 credits M/SR GenEd prereq: Math 1010 or placement
Survey of Calculus MATH 1021 4 credits M/SR GenEd prereq: MATH 1012 or placement
Calculus MATH 1101 5 credits M/SR GenEd prereq: 1012, 1013 or placement
Statistics
Introduction to Statistics STAT 1601 4 credits M/SR GenEd prereq: high school higher algebra
Philosophy
Introduction to Symbolic Logic PHIL 1102 4 credits M/SR GenEd
Social Studies
Anthropology
Introductory Cultural Anthropology ANTH 1111W 4 credits SS GenEd & WE GenEds
Economics
Principles of Economics ECON 1101 4 credits SS GenEd prereq: high school algebra
Environmental Studies
Environmental Problems and Policy ENST 1101 4 credits ENVT GenEd
Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies
Intro to Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies GWSS 1101 4 credits HDIV GenEd
Geography
Problems in Geography GEOG 2001 4 credits ENVT GenEd
History
Introduction to World History HIST 1111 4 credits HIST GenEd
Introduction to African History to 1880 HIST 1112 4 credits HIST GenEd
Introduction to African History since 1880 HIST 1113 4 credits HIST GenEd
Introduction to US History HIST 1301 4 credits HIST GenEd
Gender, Women and Sexuality in American History HIST 1402 4 credits HDIV GenEd
Intro East Asian History: China, Japan, Korea to 1880 HIST1501 4 credits HIST GenEd
Latin American History: A Basic Introduction HIST 1601 4 credits IP GenEd
Native American and Indigenous Studies
Introduction to Native American/Indigenous Studies NAIS 1101 4 credits HDIV GenEd
Political Science
Introduction to Political Theory POL 1101 4 credits E/CR GenEd
American Government & Politics POL 1201 4 credits E/CR GenEd
World Politics POL 1401 4 credits IP GenEd
Psychology
Introduction to Psychology PSY 1051 4 credits SS GenEd
Sociology
Introductory Sociology SOC 1101 4 credits SS GenEd
Science
Chemistry
General Chemistry I CHEM 1101 5 credits SCI-L GenEd prerequisite MATH 1010 or placement
General Chemistry II CHEM 1102 5 credits SCI-L GenEd prerequisite CHEM 1101
Geology
Environmental Geology: Geology in Daily Life GEOL 1001 4 credits SCI GenEd
Physical Geology GEOL 1101 4 credits SCI-L GenEd
Physics
The Solar System PHYS 1052 5 credits SCI-L GenEd
Introduction to Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology PHYS 1053 4 credits SCI GenEd
Introduction to Astronomy PHYS 1054 4 credits SCI GenEd
Principles of Physics I PHYS 1091 5 credits SCI-L GenEd prereq: high school higher algebra & trigonometry
Principles of Physics II PHYS 1092 5 credits SCI-L GenEd prereq: PHYS 1091
General Physics I PHYS 1101 5 credits SCI-L GenEd prereq: MATH 1101
Arts and Humanities
Art History
Introduction to the Visual World: Intro to Art History ARTH 1101 4 credits FA GenEd
Ancient to Medieval Art ARTH 1111 4 credits FA GenEd
Renaissance to Modern Art ARTH 1121 4 credits FA GenEd
Music
Popular Music and Social Justice MUS 1039 4 credits FA GenEd
Introduction to Music MUS 1041 4 credits FA GenEd
Fundamentals of Music MUS 1042 4 credits FA GenEd
American Jazz Styles MUS 1043 4 credits FA GenEd
Introduction to American Popular Music MUS 1049 4 credits HUM GenEd
Introduction to World Music MUS 1061 4 credits ART/P GenEd
UMM Symphonic Winds MUS 1300 1 credit ART/P GenEd
Chamber Winds MUS 1301 1 credit ART/P GenEd prereq: instr consent
University Choir MUS 1310 1 credit ART/P GenEd
Jazz Ensemble MUS 1330 1 credit ART/P GenEd
Philosophy
Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 1101 4 credits HUM GenEd
Introductory Ethics PHIL 1103 4 credits E/CR GenEd
Theater
The Theatre Experience: An Introduction TH 1101 4 credits FA GenEd
Fundamentals of Acting TH 1111 4 credits Art/P GenEd
Languages
American Sign Language*, Anishinaabe, Dakota, French, German, Italian, Latin, Spanish*
* Access to this beginning language course may be limited.
Health/Wellness
Health and Wellness
Reclaiming Happiness** PSY 1026 1 credit
Fitness for Life SSA 1051 2 credits
Societal Issues in Health and Wellness SSA 1052 2 credits
First Aid SSA 1101 1 credit
** This course is only available with a S/N (satisfactory/not satisfactory) grade basis. Please check with your high school before requesting this course.
Study Skills
Making Your Way: Developing Skills for Success in College** IS 1061 2 credits
** This course is only available with a S/N (satisfactory/not satisfactory) grade basis. Please check with your high school before requesting this course.
Information Sessions and Tours
We invite you and your family to meet with the PSEO adviser to receive an overview of the program and information about how and when to apply.
High School Visits
The PSEO Adviser may be available to attend high school events to share information about the UMN Morris PSEO program with students, parents, and guardians. To request a visit, please contact Chlene at anderchl@morris.umn.edu.
Campus Tours
The Office of Admissions offers campus tours for students who are interested in attending UMN Morris as a first year student. In-person and virtual options are available. For more information, see schedule a visit.
Students and Counselors
Current PSEO students and high school counselors can find more information and resources below:
MN Department of Education PSEO Resources (including the MDE PSEO Reference Guide)
Minnesota State 124D.09 POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS ACT
Contact Information
Chlene Anderson, PSEO Adviser
anderchl@morris.umn.edu | 320-589-6461*
314 Behmler Hall, 600 East Fourth Street, Morris, MN 56267
Monday− Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (except University holidays)
*currently working both in person and remotely so please email to arrange a meeting.
Maps and Directions
Getting to Behmler Hall (PSEO office-314 Behmler)
Questions?
The PSEO Adviser is happy to answer any additional questions you may have.