ADMISSION OF SPECIAL (NON-DEGREE SEEKING) STUDENTS

Applicants who are not interested in working toward a degree and who wish to enroll for a particular course(s) of special interest may, under certain conditions, be approved to do so upon submitting an application for admission. Regular, degree-seeking students attending part-time or as an "undeclared major" should not confuse their status with this special, non-degree seeking category. The Office of Admission reserves the right to determine the proper category of admission and to determine what credentials may be required.

Classification as a special student permits enrollment in credit classes (or as an auditor) on a space-available basis; however, special students are not eligible for financial aid, and the University incurs no particular obligation to provide academic advisement.

Admission as a non-degree student is not intended to serve as a means of access to regular, degree-seeking status nor is it intended for a person who has earned unsatisfactory grades in previous high school or college course work. Students who have been denied regular undergraduate admission are not eligible for this status.

Special students are subject to the same regulations concerning scholastic probation, suspension, and dismissal as other undergraduate students. Students who have previously been assessed developmental course requirements, high school course deficiencies, or a conditional admission will retain that status as a special student.

Special students must meet course prerequisites, and should be prepared to verify to the department by official documentation that University course prerequisites have been met, if appropriate. Students planning to enroll in any upper-division education courses should verify admission to the Teacher Education Program prior to registration. Special students may not enroll for more than nine hours of courses in a term without approval of the student's academic dean.

Students in special status who wish to be admitted to regular status to pursue a degree at the U of A must apply for admission as a regular student prior to the beginning of the term for which the change of status is requested. All requirements for admission to regular status must then be met. No more than 24 semester hours earned while in a non-degree seeking status will apply to a degree at the University.

When to Apply

Special students must meet the same application deadlines as other students. However, exceptions will be made for students participating in the special Senior Citizens Registration. For further information concerning registration, request a Schedule of Classes from the Office of Admission (available in October for the spring term and March for the summer and fall terms).

How to Apply

The following students may be considered for special status:

1. Visiting students from other colleges or universities who wish to enroll at the University to earn credits which they plan to transfer back to their home institution. It is the student's responsibility to verify with his or her college that courses taken here will be acceptable as transfer credit.

Application procedure: Submit a completed application, a non-refundable application fee, and a letter of good standing verifying eligibility to return to the home institution.

2. Students who want to take courses of special interest for personal or professional development, but who are not interested in working toward a degree. Applicants in this category are normally expected to have been out of high school for three or more years.

Application procedure: Submit a completed application and non-refundable application fee. Students who have been out of high school less than three years should submit a transcript verifying that admission requirements have been met.

The application fee is not required for students 60 years and older.

3. Students who already have a college degree and who want to take credit classes, but not toward another degree at this time. Credits earned under this classification will not count toward a graduate degree.

Application procedure: Submit a completed application and non-refundable application fee. Students who wish to enroll for successive terms should submit a transcript showing the degree.

4. Concurrent enrollment. Outstanding high school students who wish to take selected University courses while enrolled in high school may apply to the Concurrent Enrollment Program. Applications are individually reviewed by the Committee on Admissions and Transfer of Credit. Requirements include a 3.50 grade-point average or above and ACT or SAT scores at the 80th percentile on national norms or above. Additional information and application materials are available from the Office of Admission.

Application procedure: Submit a completed application, a non-refundable application fee, ACT or SAT scores, high school transcript, letter of intent, and a letter of recommendation from the high school principal. Because applications require review by the Committee on Admissions, applications should be submitted at least one month in advance of the term, and must be submitted by the application deadlines.

Concurrently enrolled high school seniors who plan to enroll in the fall as a regular freshman must submit a separate application for regular admission for the fall.