Course Planning Overview
Table of Contents
PSEO Courses & Enrollment Guidelines
Which courses can I take?
Course Level
Classes at the University are divided into 1xxx, 2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx, and 5xxx levels. You will be taking mostly 1xxx-level and sometimes 2xxx-level introductory classes.
PSEO students are not permitted to take 3xxx level or higher classes without express approval from their PSEO advisor. This includes 8xxx-level as well; see more information under the Restricted/Closed Courses section below.
Typically these are approved when the student has the prerequisites for the course or has taken a college-level course in that subject area before. For example, if a student wanted to take a 3xxx-level ENGL course, and they already had taken Engl 1001W. This would be approved.
The skill level of the class is normally determined only by the first digit. For example, a freshman-level English class, EngL 1001W is at the same skill level as a different freshman level course, EngL 1201W. There are a few instances, however, where class numbers do indicate a sequence. For example, Phys 1221 is the first course in a two-part sequence, with Phys 1222 as the second part.
Transfer Credits / Prior Coursework
Review the AP/IB/Transfer Credit page to understand how previous coursework can serve as prerequisites for U of M courses. For example, Math 1272 Calculus 2 requires Math 1271 Calculus 1, AP Calculus AB exam score of 3 or higher, or Calculus 1 taken at a different college or university. PSEO students must meet any stated prerequisites including those that are recommended.
Restrictions & Additional Guidelines
For a listing of restricted and closed courses, see the Restricted/Closed Courses section below.
For information on placement tests, see the Placement Tests/Auditions page.
Course Availability
Keep in mind that the courses you will be taking are also ones in demand for degree-seeking students at the University. While the PSEO advisors will help you as much as possible, being admitted to the PSEO program does not guarantee that you will be able to register for courses.
How many courses can I take?
These are general guidelines. A 3-4 credit course requires about 9-12 hours of homework outside of class.
Part-time: 1-2 classes
Full-time:
1st PSEO semester without many prior college credits: 12-13 credits max
Otherwise: 12-16 credits is common
Unless you've had prior college STEM courses, no more than 1 "major-track" STEM class for your first term. Here are a few examples:
Major-track STEM classes: Math 1271 (Calc 1), Biol 1009 (General Biology),
Non-major-track STEM classes: Stat 1001 (Intro to Statistics), Phys 1001W (Energy & Environment), Biol 1012 (Human Biology), Biol 1001 (Ecology and Evolution)
STEM Guidelines & Enrollment Limits
Deviation from these guidelines will only be allowed in rare and exceptional circumstances and with the PSEO student understanding that low grades in these courses might prevent them from being admitted into their college and/or major of choice at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. PSEO advisors take an extremely cautious approach when advising students on their enrollment in prerequisite sciences and math courses for STEM and pre-med (medicine, pharmacy, etc.) majors and career paths. Admission to these programs at the U of M is very competitive, and many programs have technical GPA requirements for admission, such as the U of M's College of Science and Engineering (CSE) majors.
Enrollment Limits
Additional information on enrollment policies is listed on the Policies page.
Only 1 math or science course during the first U of M Twin Cities PSEO semester when taking:
Math 1271 or higher
Chem 1061/1065 or higher
Phys 1221/1301W or higher
During the second or third PSEO semester at the U of M, students combining 2 tough math/science courses must limit their credit load to 12 credits AND be cautious of extracurricular activities that may limit study time
STEM Sequences
You must receive a C or higher to advance to the next course in a sequence (e.g. to register for Math 1272: Calculus II, you need a C or higher in Math 1271: Calculus I)
Students who receive a W or withdraw in a math/science course may be prevented from repeating the course the following semester.
Major & U of M Liberal Education Requirements
Your PSEO advisor will first make sure you are using U of M courses to meet your high school graduation requirements, but some of those may also meet both your major and liberal education requirements if you continue here at the U.
Review the U of M majors page by academic theme to find major requirements.
In addition to major requirements, all U of M students are held to liberal education requirements regardless of major or college. Therefore, if you are a history major in the College of Liberal Arts, you will have the same liberal education requirements as an Aerospace Engineer in the College of Science & Engineering. Review the U of M liberal education requirements.
Your PSEO advisor will do their best to help you maximize the number of requirements (high school, major, and liberal education) satisfied by each U of M course. However, it does not always benefit students to quickly meet all of their liberal education requirements if they are a STEM bound major. Liberal education courses often balance out a STEM bound major's semester course schedule by providing a non-science course. It's often challenging for STEM bound students to have a full course load (12-16 credits) of only rigorous and demanding science/math courses. Liberal education courses help to balance these demanding schedules.
Explore U of M graduation requirements using Pathfinder.
Track your progress in meeting the liberal education requirements using the Liberal Education Worksheet.
In Schedule Builder, you can view courses that meet these requirements by clicking on Liberal Education Requirements link in the right-hand navigation.
Where can I find suggestions for classes?
First, read through the Meeting High School Requirements page, which can help you complete all your required courses before graduation. Then visit the subpages on subjects you're interested in for a list of commonly taken courses in that subject area.
You can also search for courses using Class Search or Schedule Builder (recommended).
Your advisor will help you select possible courses during orientation (for new students) and during your pre-registration appointment prior to each semester (for continuing students).
Restricted/Closed Courses
8xxx-level Courses
Courses numbered 8xxx-level are for graduate students. PSEO students can only take these courses under exceptional circumstances, such as a U of M instructor has recommended it to a PSEO student based on their academic preparedness. Students cannot seek instructor permission for these courses if the course has not been expressly recommended to them by a U of M instructor (e.g., you happen upon an 8xxx-level course in Schedule Builder that sounds interesting and would like to take it). Consult with your PSEO advisor before adding a course like this to your class schedule.
If you do get permission to add one of these courses, it will only count for undergraduate credit and not likely to transfer to a graduate program since the course has been added to your undergraduate U of M record.
Freshman Seminars (courses numbered 1901-1910)
Courses numbered 19xx are generally freshman seminars and are unavailable to any nonfreshman without an instructor-provided permission number. These permission numbers are often granted very late in the summer (August) or during the first week of class.
Honors (any course ending in H or V)
(e.g. ENGL 1001V; PSY 1001H)
Seats in honors courses are reserved for students admitted into the University Honors Program (UHP). Rarely, PSEO students may request permission into these courses on a space-available basis.
PSEO students must follow a PSEO-specific procedure to access an honors course. Complete the Request to Enroll in an Honors Course form to begin the process. DO NOT contact the instructor or department for permission.
Note: PSEO students are not allowed in HSEM-designated courses; no exceptions.
LANG Courses
(e.g. LANG 1061: Beginning Persian I)
These are part of the CLA CourseShare program and are not intended for PSEO students.
Major Courses
PSEO students are restricted from taking some U of M major courses. In Schedule Builder, if the course is restricted to a certain student population, it will be listed in the prerequisite section for the course (e.g. prereq: CSE student). PSEO students should not e-mail the instructor to gain access; contact your PSEO advisor if you have questions.
College-Specific Restrictions
As a general rule, most College of Science and Engineering (CSE) engineering major courses are not open to PSEO students. Additionally, some courses in the College of Design (CDes) (e.g. graphic design and upper-division architecture courses), and Carlson School of Management (CSOM) (upper-division curriculum) are closed to PSEO students.
UNITE Distributed Learning Section
If you're interested in the College of Science and Engineering courses listed as UNITE Distributed Learning Sections, reach out to your PSEO advisor for more information. PSEO students cannot automatically add these sections AND they require students to find a testing proctor for the exams during the term. Your PSEO advisor will reach out to the UNITE department staff to begin the process.
Study Abroad and Experiential Courses
The fees for study abroad and experiential learning options are not credit-based, but rather calculated as a package that includes tuition and books, room and board, transportation, and other miscellaneous items. As such, the PSEO program cannot cover these costs. Students can pay out of pocket for this experience. Additionally, students must be 18 years of age by the time they go abroad.
If you are considering coming to the University as an undergraduate and want to explore your Study Abroad options, visit the Learning Abroad Center.
Writing Studies
WRIT 1201 Writing Studio is not available to PSEO students, even if seats are open.
WRIT 3562W Technical and Professional Writing is not available to PSEO students, even if seats are open.