Course Options

There are a number of different types of courses and different registration types.

Auditing

Students who audit courses are required to meet the course prerequisites/restrictions, register by the deadlines and pay the same tuition as those who take the course for credit. No credit is received for audited courses. Audit registrations are on a space-available basis. Auditors may be dropped from a class to make room for credit-seeking students. Requirements for auditing the course are determined by the instructor. Instructors may withdraw auditors if they fail to comply with the agreed-upon terms.

Audited courses are not included in the computation of study load for full-time or part-time status. In addition, students may not request local credit by examination for an audited course until the following academic year.

Students who want to audit a course can choose that grade mode option in the UAOnline Register/Add/Drop page when registering for a course or they may fill out the bottom section on the Add/Drop Form before the credit-to-audit deadline. Check Registration Dates and Deadlines for more information.

Waitlisting

When a class is full, it is listed as "closed." Some courses offer a waitlist option. Students may join a waitlist via UAOnline until the date on which instructor approval is required to add classes. Being on the waitlist does not guarantee a seat in the class. If a seat becomes available in the class the first student in line will receive an e-mail in their preferred e-mail account and will have a period of time to register for the available space. Students may also choose to receive waitlist notifications by text message. After 48, 24 or 12 hours (depending on how close the semester start date is) the next student will be notified.

How to Forward Waitlist Notification Emails as a Text Message

You can set up your alaska.edu email account to forward waitlist notification emails to your cell phone as a text message. Your alaska.edu account must be your preferred email address in UAOnline because that is where waitlist notifications are automatically sent. If your preferred email is set to a non alaska.edu account, this option is not available to you.

Disclaimer: Students are responsible for setting up this optional feature. The Office of the Registrar and IT Services are unable to assist with setup or troubleshooting issues. Text messaging and data rates may apply and are the student’s responsibility.

On a desktop computer, log in to your alaska.edu email account. Select the "Settings" option from the gear icon (upper right corner of the page), then select the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab within Settings.

  1. In the "Forwarding" block near the top, select "Add a Forwarding Address."
  2. Enter your 10-digit cell number with no dashes and the "email to text" format followed by your cell provider (see the list at the bottom for the formats used by common providers). Example: XXXXXXXXXX@mms.gci.net
  3. Click "Proceed" and Gmail will send a confirmation text to your phone including a code. Enter the confirmation code you are sent via text in the "Confirmation Code" box and click "Verify."
  4. The "Forwarding" block will show "Disable Forwarding" selected. Leave this option as-is and click the link "…creating a filter."
  5. In the pop-up box, type "Waitlist Notification" in the subject box, leaving all other boxes empty.
  6. Select "Create a filter with this Search" in the bottom right corner.
  7. In the next box, select "Forward it to:" and select your cell email-to-text address from the choices in the drop-down menu.
  8. Click "Create a Filter."
  9. On the "Forward and POP/IMAP" main tab, leave the "Disable Forwarding" selected. If you change it to "Forward a copy of incoming mail," then all of the emails sent to your alaska.edu email address will be forwarded to you as a text message.

On the "Filters" tab you can confirm or modify the filter you created. You can test this filter by having someone email your alaska.edu address with the subject line "Waitlist Notification".

Please remember that this only serves as a method of notification that there is a spot in the class for you. You will still need to log into UAOnline to register for the class after receiving the notification.

Here is a list of common cell phone providers (subject to change without notice). If your provider is not listed or you want to verify the email-to-text extensions, please contact your provider.

  • GCI: mms.gci.net
  • Verizon: vtext.com
  • TMobile: tmomail.net
  • AT&T: txt.att.net

To Disable Waitlist Notifications by text:

  1. On a desktop computer, log in to your alaska.edu email account. Select the "Settings" option from the gear icon (upper right corner of the page), then select the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab within the Settings.
  2. In the "Forwarding" block near the top, select "Remove Address" next to the forwarded email.
  3. Confirm forward address removal by selecting "OK".

Waitlisting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is waitlisting?
    When a class reaches its maximum enrollment, it is listed as "closed." Many courses offer a waitlist option; students may sign up to wait for a seat in the class if a space becomes available. Please be aware that not all courses offer waitlisting.
  • How do I get on a waitlist?
    To be added to the waitlist for a closed class:
    • Enter the CRN into the Add/Drop/Withdraw Classes page in UAOnline. Click "Complete Registration Changes".
    • Select "Waitlist" from the drop-down menu and click the "Complete Registration Changes" button again.
    • Drop from the waitlist by choosing "Drop -Web" in the Change drop-down menu on the Add/Drop/Withdraw Classes page.
  • Can I waitlist for a course using the class schedule search in UAOnline?
    Yes. When you view the class in Schedule Planner, you will see there are zero seats open, but there is space available on the waitlist. Click "send to shopping cart," "complete registration changes," and "register." You will be notified that you have errors. Click "OK." Click the drop-down arrow under "change," then select "Waitlist." Click "Complete registration changes," read the acknowledgment, and accept. You are now on the waitlist for the class.
  • What happens next?
    If a seat becomes available in the class the first person on the waitlist will receive an e-mail in their preferred e-mail account. (Check or change your preferred e-mail address in the "My Profile" tab in UAOnline.) The class space will be available to that individual for 48, 24, or 12 hours (depending on how close to the semester start date) after the e-mail is sent to register for the class.
  • What if I miss the email or cannot register within the time allowed?
    If registration for the waitlisted class is not conducted within the time indicated in the notification email, the system removes the student from the waitlist and proceeds to the next student who is given the opportunity to register. It is possible to be re-added to the waitlist and get notified again by email if a space becomes available.
  • What are the restrictions on waitlisting?
    It is not possible to waitlist for a class if:
    • the waitlisted class would exceed the maximum allowed credits.
    • there are holds on the student's account.
    • prerequisites or other restrictions for the class are not met.
  • Am I charged tuition for a waitlisted course?
    Tuition is not charged for a waitlisted course until enrollment. In the meantime, complete registration and pay tuition and fees for other enrolled classes.
  • How do I know where I'm placed on the waitlist?
    You can view your position on the waitlist in UAOnline under Registration > Post-Registration > View Your Semester Schedule.
  • Should I attend the first day of my waitlisted class(es)?
    Yes. Attend the first day of class for any class for which you are waitlisted. Let the instructor know you are on the waitlist but not enrolled in the class.
  • What if I'm on the waitlist for an eLearning/distance class?
    If you are on the waitlist for an e-learning/distance education class, email the instructor to find out what you should do. Please contact the department for additional information or assistance.
  • How long should I wait for a space to open in a class?
    Being on the waitlist does not guarantee you a seat in the class. You can add yourself to a waitlist until the date on which instructor approval is required to add classes. Waitlists are purged when the instructor approval period begins.
  • What about fee payment and financial aid for waitlisted classes?
    You are not charged tuition and fees for waitlisted classes. Charges apply only after you are enrolled in the class. Waitlisted classes are not included in the total number of credits used to calculate your financial aid. If financial aid has already been applied to your account and you subsequently register for a class from the waitlist, tuition and fees are due by the payment deadline. You must pay tuition and fees before the payment deadline to avoid late charges.

Maximum Credits Enrolled

Undergraduate students may register for a maximum of 19 credits during the fall and spring semesters, and a maximum of 15 credits during the summer session. Graduate students may register for a maximum of 16 credits during the fall and spring semesters, and a maximum of 12 credits during the summer session. See more information about course load in the UAA Catalog.

Special Course Types

  • Directed/Independent Study Courses

    • Directed study courses are permanent catalog courses delivered on an individual basis when the course is not offered during a semester. Directed study courses must have the approval of the department concerned, supervision by a regular or term instructor, and final approval by the dean/director.

      Independent study courses consist of topics or problems chosen by the student, with the approval of the department concerned, supervision by a regular or term instructor, and final approval by the dean/director. Independent study courses may not be duplications of and must differ significantly from any catalog course.

      Directed or Independent Study forms must be signed by the student, the instructor, the department chair and the dean of the school or college. Forms must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the Directed/Independent Study deadline. Students will be automatically enrolled in the course and will be responsible for all tuition and fees. Allow three business days for processing. Students may verify registration through UAOnline.

  • Variable Credit Courses
    • If registered online for a course that has variable credit, select "Change Class Options" on the Register/Add/Drop page in UAOnline and enter the desired credit amount. The deadline to change is the add/drop deadline. If the add/drop deadline has passed, please contact registration at uaa.registration@alaska.edu.

Partial Term Courses

In Schedule Planner, once you've chosen the term and campus, go to "Classes by Category and/or Length." Click on "Change." Deselect the option that says "Select All Classes by Category and/or Length." Instead, select "Short and Late Starting Classes" and save your changes. 
 
Now, when you click on "Add Course," the search results will show only classes that have different start and end dates compared to the regular semester dates. Add the course to your schedule and then click "Go back to Generate Schedules." To view the specific start and end dates of a class, click on the "Sections" button for that course. 
 

For classes that have irregular start or end dates, students may add the class up to five business days after the published class start date. After the semester add/drop deadline, dropping or withdrawing from classes with irregular dates cannot be done via UAOnline. Students may submit an Add/Drop/Withdraw Form at the Enrollment Services Center or use the online Drop/Withdraw Form. Check Dates and Deadlines for specific semester add/drop deadlines.

Courses that have been graded are not eligible for withdrawal. Withdrawal from any class will produce a designation of W for that class on the student's transcript. This designation does not carry grade points and is not used in the calculation of GPAs. Students are responsible for all fees and tuition if they choose to withdraw from any course, and financial aid could be affected.

Zero Textbook Cost Sections

Current students may search for Zero Textbook Cost Sections of Courses in the University of Alaska self-service portal, UAOnline. From the landing page, students may select Search for Classes, then Schedule Planner. Schedule Planner will prompt students to choose the campus courses they would like to view.

From the home page, students can begin their search by clicking Add a Course, then Search by Section Attribute. Students may select the UAA Zero Textbook Cost Section in the Attribute drop-down menu. Schedule Planner will display Subject and Course Number Options for courses with Zero Textbook Cost Sections.

Prospective students may also search for Zero Textbook Cost classes without University of Alaska Login credentials. Using our Mobile Friendly Class Schedule Search, anyone may view available classes. To view Zero Textbook Cost Sections of courses: click Search, filter for courses with free or low-cost book(s) or material(s), and select Search again. All Zero Textbook Costs Sections of Courses will be displayed.