Getting Into Closed Courses
To get into any closed course at the U of M, please email your PSEO advisor BEFORE contacting the instructor or department.
Your PSEO advisor can provide the best guidance to get into a closed course.
How to Get Into a Closed Course
In general, if there is a class you want to try to register for, you have several options:
Always start with your PSEO Advisor
If you're considering a closed course, first start by asking your PSEO advisor for help.
Contact the Instructor
Contact the instructor via email and ask for a permission number. If granted, this number will override the enrollment cap and allow you to add yourself to the class. These are time sensitive, often expiring after 24 or 48 hours, so once you request a permission number, be diligent about checking your email. Remember to contact your PSEO advisor for guidance BEFORE asking permission from an instructor or department.
Some departments do not provide permission numbers, and some have special instructions for getting into closed courses.
See the information below about permission numbers and specific information by course/subject before you email an instructor.
Contact the Department
Contact the Department offering the course and request a permission number. You may have to do this because not all departments allow their professors to give out permission numbers.
Attend the First Day of Class
Attend the first day of class. If you are able to attend the first day of a class (do not skip a class that you are already registered for in order to do this) and a student who was registered does not show, you can be assigned their place in the class per the U of M's First-Day Attendance Policy.
Keep watching the Class Schedule every day, since students change their schedules and spots may open up. Departments may also add additional seats, release reserved seats, or open new sections.
Each department handles closed courses differently. Information about specific departments and courses is listed below.
Permission Numbers
Permission numbers allow you to enroll in a closed (full) course.
Permission numbers are NOT granted for the following:
Economics (ECON 1101 and 1102, 1165)
English (ENGL, ENGW)
Physics (PHYS)
Psychology (PSY)
Writing (WRIT)
Writing Intensive Courses (courses ending in "W")
DO NOT contact the instructor or department for a permission number for any of the courses above.
How do I use a permission number?
Specific Information by Course/Subject
Economics
Econ 1101/1102 are not available by permission number.
3xxx-level courses, if open at the time of PSEO registration, are available by permission from the Economics Department. Email them at econadv@umn.edu. Be sure to explain how you've met the prerequisites.
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.
Math & Statistics
Request Permission
To request permission to join a closed math course, email the following information to the math department only after your registration date.
Email subject: "Math XXXX Permission"
Email address: ugrad@math.umn.edu
Student name and University ID number
Course number (e.g. MATH 1271)
Discussion section number (e.g. DIS - 012)
Five-digit class number (e.g. 12345)
Explain how you meet the prerequisite for the course. (e.g. placed into the course via the placement test, received a 4 or 5 on the AP Calc AB/BC, or took Calc 2 at a community college) and attach documentation such as an AP score, transcript, etc.
Reason for requesting permission (this class works towards engineering, and it’s the only time that works with my schedule.”)
Notes
If you can provide multiple sections of a popular class that would fit your schedule, you will increase your likelihood of receiving permission. If you cannot demonstrate that you are unable to attend an open section, you may be asked to register for an open section.
Staff will try to respond to your request for a permission number within 48 hours. If you have not received an email reply within five days, please email ugrad@math.umn.edu.
If the math department grants you permission, they’ll set it up so that you can register for the closed section. This permission will have an expiration date, so keep a close eye on your email.
College of Science and Engineering (CSE) Calculus
(MATH 1371, 1372, 2373, and 2374)
CSE Math courses will remain closed with entrance granted only through permission numbers. Priority seating is for incoming CSE freshman and incoming CSE transfer students. However, you will be given consideration if you are not in either of these student groups if you send your request to ugrad@math.umn.edu. Be sure to choose a non-CSE math backup.
Sciences
Biology
The Biology Department uses the waitlists in ScheduleBuilder, and will not assign permission numbers until everyone has been registered from the waitlist or after the beginning of the semester.
Chemistry
Review the closed courses process document from the Chemistry department.
Physics
The Physics Department does not use waitlists, and students cannot email instructors for permission numbers.
Keep watching the Class Schedule every day since the department will randomly open one or two seats in their labs.
Other Sciences
During the first week of classes, attend as many lab sections as will fit in your schedule. Instructors will provide permission numbers to register for the class on a first come, first served basis.
Spanish
Span 1003-1004
Students can add themselves to 3 sections of a waitlist for either Span 1003 or 1004 based on their placement test or CIS course completion. If a spot opens, they will be automatically enrolled.
Span 3015W
A very limited number of PSEO students will be able to register for SPAN 3015W since it is a requirement for all Spanish majors and minors. Students interested in this course can add themselves to 3 sections of a waitlist. If a spot opens, you'll automatically be registered.