Courses with Limited-Access for Special and Guest Students

The following list includes courses and departments that have limited access or may require additional steps prior to enrollment for Special and Guest students. There may be other courses and/or departments with limited access than those listed below, and courses in any department may be closed due to high enrollment.

If you are a Special or Guest student and would like to take classes in the any of the following schools, colleges, or departments, please contact them directly. Tell them you are a Special or Guest student interested in taking their courses. 

Business, School of

Business Administration, Masters in

  • Special students are typically not eligible to enroll in MBA courses. Exceptions may be made if student needs to finish one course for their MBA degree or by request of employer for a specific professional development topic.
  • Questions may be directed to Mark Matosian, Director of Student Services, mba@bus.wisc.edu, 265-5078.
  • Department homepage: www.bus.wisc.edu/mba/

Computer Science Department

  • It is generally easier to enroll in courses at the 300-level or below; students must meet relevant prerequisites for any class.
  • For more information contact the department at 608-262-1204.
  • Department homepage: www.cs.wisc.edu/

Education, School of

Law School

  • If interested in taking courses in the Law School, contact Jane Ford-Bennett, jmford@wisc.edu, or 608-262-8564. Special Student status is generally not approved for Law School courses.
  • Non-degree students who are authorized to take courses in the Law School may typically only do so as Guest Auditors (not for credit); permission must be obtained from the instructor, and all relevant conditions met.
  • Licensed attorneys or others who believe they have a compelling professional need to take a law course as a Special Student must first contact Jane Ford-Bennett, jmford@wisc.edu, or 608-262-8564. Permission is rarely granted for Special Student status.
  • First-year law courses are only open to Law 1 students, not Special Students or Guest Auditors.
  • Course descriptions are available online.
  • Department homepage: www.law.wisc.edu/

Library and Information Studies (SLIS), School of

Math Department

  • Questions about prerequisites or placement exams should be directed to the professor or the undergraduate advisor at placement@math.wisc.edu
  • Take a placement exam if you have not taken a math course in the last five years AND you are unsure of your skill level through Math 221.There are no placement exams for courses above Math 221.
  • See Sharon Pittman if you have questions or need any other assistance, pittman@math.wisc.edu, 103 Van Vleck Hall, 608-263-6374.
  • Department homepage: www.math.wisc.edu/

Medicine and Public Health, School of

  • Courses are listed by department in the Timetable. Check eligibility in prerequisites column under each department.
  • Department homepage: www.med.wisc.edu/

Music, School of

  • Music performance courses are generally filled by music majors. The School of Music offers private music lessons (not for university credit and with separate costs) for non-music majors through the Student Teaching Division at 608-263-1923.
  • Band, choir and orchestra courses are open to Special students on a space-available basis. Auditions and/or permissions may be required.
  • Information about auditions is posted early in the summer: www.music.wisc.edu
  • Chamber and studio ensembles and opera performance courses (Music 256 & 257) are reserved for music majors and are not open to Special students.
  • Contact the Music office if you have questions: 608-263-1900; music@music.wisc.edu
  • Department homepage: www.music.wisc.edu/

Nursing, School of

  • Special students are typically not eligible to take courses in the School of Nursing.
  • Exceptions may be made (especially for electives) if a student needs to take a course on a specific professional development topic.
  • For more information contact the Admissions Office at 608-263-5202.
  • Department homepage: www.son.wisc.edu/

Pharmacy, School of

  • Courses are often limited by space and Special students may take only lecture courses (not courses with a lab).
  • Instructor permission is required.
  • Direct questions to Student Services, pharminfo@pharmacy.wisc.edu
  • Department homepage: www.pharmacy.wisc.edu/

Spanish and Portuguese Department

  • Spanish classes are in high demand. If classes are full, get on a waiting list for courses specified on the Web site or speak to the instructor for other courses.
  • Department homepage: http://spanport.lss.wisc.edu/