Nondegree-Seeking Services FAQ

If you are not seeking a degree, and you wish to take a credit class or two, we can admit you to Missouri State University as a “nondegree-seeking undergraduate” or a “postbaccalaureate” student. There is no admission fee for the nondegree status. Generally, financial aid is not available.

Nondegree-seeking student who has earned a bachelor's degree and wishes to take additional courses but not pursue an additional undergraduate degree or a graduate degree at the present time. A sub-category of PB is the teacher certification student – who admits and obtains transcript evaluations through a separate process.

As a nondegree postbaccalaureate student you may take unlimited numbers of undergraduate classes. You are limited to graduate level classes to a total of 9 credit hours before an encumbrance will be put on your record preventing your registering for more graduate hours. You have a total maximum of 16 hours per fall or spring, and 10 hours per summer.

Postbaccalaureate students may take either undergraduate or graduate courses. Graduate courses taken as a nondegree-seeking graduate student (postbaccalaureate or graduate-undecided status) may be used toward a graduate degree if later admitted, but this use is limited to 30% of the required hours in the degree.

Or

Postbaccalaureate students must make satisfactory progress in graduate courses and any student receiving more than 9 hours of “C+” grade or below will not be allowed to enroll in further classes.

Students who are 18 years of age or older and who have graduated from high school, and who wish to take courses but do not plan on pursuing a degree program at the present.

Nondegree undergraduates are limited to 8 credit hours per semester (fall, spring or summer).

You can apply using the Nondegree-Seeking Admission-Enrollment Form up to the start date of the class, since you are nondegree-seeking. This, of course, does not guarantee that you will be able to register for the class, in the event that it is full, or that you have prerequisites to meet.

Students who have already obtained a bachelor's degree and are seeking Missouri state teacher certification should contact the Teacher Certification Office at TCO@MissouriState.edu.

Students seeking admission as a graduate student: contact the Graduate College at 417-836-5331 or apply online.

Students seeking admission as an undergraduate student: Contact Admissions at 417-836-5517 or apply online.

The Nondegree-Seeking Admission-Enrollment Form serves as both as an admission and enrollment form for nondegree-seeking undergraduate and graduate level students. Note: Results may vary on enrollment.

Search for classes online. You do not have to be a student to view the Public Web page version of the class schedule, which shows departments, course numbers, course titles, dates, etc. To see if classes are still open, have special enrollment requirements, have prerequisites or wait lists, you will need to have been admitted for that semester and have an active Missouri State account set up.

Prerequisites are indicated in the University Catalog and the web class schedule. When you try to register for a class, the prerequisite check will occur. Contact the academic department offering the course to determine if and how you might supply verification that you have met the prerequisite. If the academic department agrees that you have met it, the department can issue an electronic override.

Undergraduate degree-seeking nontraditional adult students may contact the Adult Student Services office to to make an appointment calling 417-836-6929. Traditional-aged undergraduate degree-seeking students at the freshman or sophomore level, with no major declared, start at the Advisement Center, telephone 417-836-5258. Students who have declared a major generally go to their assigned academic advisor.

Auditing is a grading option that allows completion of a course without receiving credit or a traditional grade. It costs the same as a regular graded class. An audited course cannot be used to fulfill a degree requirement.

Once you have been admitted, you can register for your courses in one of following ways:

• You can register yourself through your My Missouri State and navigating to the "Registration" card.
• Contact us at NonDegree@MissouriState.edu and request assistance. You can request your desired courses in the Nondegree-Seeking Admission-Enrollment Form. Be sure that you provide the necessary documentation (permissions, unofficial transcripts, etc.) for your course(s).

You are strongly encouraged to register yourself through your My Missouri State. You are subject to limitations of closed sections, or full sections, or sections requiring prerequisites or permissions.

Note: We recognize that not all students have immediate access to technology and the internet, and we understand that technical issues can and will occur. If you are having trouble registering once you've been admitted, please email NonDegree@MissouriState.edu and request for help.

Yes, if you wish to be nondegree-seeking, you may. Please answer the questions fully on the front of the Form, and provide the requested documentation. Upon receipt we will send the Course Enrollment Form with your documentation to the International Student Services office, which is the office that will admit you.

Be sure to log into your Missouri State email and check it often.Your instructor will communicate with you through your Missouri State email (NOT your personal email account). When the class starts (sometimes before the start date), you will get an email from either the instructor or the Brightspace course management system (or the MyMathLab system for Math online classes).

Typically, if a class is full, then you will not be able to enroll; however, some departments and instructors will allow students into a full course. You would be responsible for making the request via email. You should contact both the instructor and department head and you should provide your name and M-number in your request. Once you have been granted the permission to be registered, you can forward the written confirmation to NonDegree@MissouriState.edu and we will assist with registering you into your course.

Do understand that the department and instructor's decision to let you into the course is final.

You will get the normal registration error of “Closed Section” regardless of whether waitlisting is available or not. If available, “Waitlist Online” will be in the drop down under “Action.” Click on the drop down, choose this option, and click “Submit Changes.” You are now on the waitlist. Overnight, you will receive an email to your Missouri State email account confirming that you've been added to the waitlist for the class. Remember, you are not actually registered in the class yet.

Waitlisting is a feature in the registration system that allows a student to “get in line” (i.e., get on the waitlist) for classes that are filled/closed. This automated process notifies the first student on the waitlist via Missouri State email when a seat has opened up, prompting the student to register for the class. That student has exactly 24 hours after the notification is sent to register for the class. If the student does not register for the class, the next student on the waitlist is notified. The order of the waitlist is first come, first served; however, a department may reorder the list if they choose. Getting on the waitlist does not guarantee a seat in the class

You must contact the academic department (or in some cases, the instructor) and request approval in order to be able to register into that particular class. We recommend you contact the departmental office first, and follow their advice.

This is your campus portal (My Missouri State or My Grizzly Den), where you can register for classes, check your grades, access your email, visit Brightspace, and much more.

You will sign into My Missouri State with your Missouri State login account and password.

Set up your Mobile BearPass Card, or get a physical card by visiting the BearPass Card Office in Plaster Student Union room 128.

First, make sure you are using your Missouri State Account (NOT your email address) to log in.

If you are still having issues, contact the IT Help Desk at https://MissouriState.edu/LoginHelp.

Visit the https://MissouriState.edu/BearIT page for more about Missouri State technology services and guides.

Generally, when you are just contacting the University and are in process of becoming an admitted student, your personal email account is useful. After you've been admitted, you will need to set up your Missouri State email account. Official university communications, including correspondence with instructors, waitlisting emails, billing, and other academic information will only be sent to your Missouri State email. Set up your Mobile BearPass Card, or get a physical card by visiting the BearPass Card Office in Plaster Student Union room 128.

In My Missouri State, navigate to the "Billing - University Accounts" card. Select the Statement and Payment Portal link.

Detailed Tuition and Fees can be found on the Office of the Registrar webpage.

Generally financial aid is not available for PB or ND students. If you think you have special circumstances after registering for your classes (i.e., you are taking prerequisites for a graduate program or for teacher certification, for instance), please contact the Financial Aid Office.

Per-credit-hour tuition varies as does the amount of supplemental fees or student services fees.

There is no cost to apply as a PB or ND Student.

In My Missouri State, navigate to the "Registration" card. Select the Refund and Drop Deadlines link for personalized dates based on your actual schedule.

Classes can be paid for online, on campus and by mail. Please visit the Bursars Office webpage for further information.

You will be notified when your bill is ready to view. You can view and pay your bill in My Missouri State from the “Billing - University Account” card.