Registering for Classes

Welcome to the registration information site for the University of Michigan, Master of Social Work Program. The information found in this site will provide students with valuable information regarding the registration process. These items are necessary for facilitating upcoming course registration.

All students will register for fall term 2009 courses during the summer. Once students have paid their enrollment deposit, they should contact the Office of Student Services at 734-936-0961 to schedule a registration appointment time and web-based group advising session with an academic planning coordinator. Students may also schedule an individual planning session if they would like after completing the web-based advising session.

Prior to registering for courses, students need to become familiar with the rules, processes, and procedures regarding the curriculum and course scheduling at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Registration occurs on the Wolverine Access website, therefore students are strongly encouraged to completely review Wolverine Access. Registration occurs on the Wolverine Access website. Course information, course planning worksheets, and registration-related forms including the petition to enter a closed course all are found on the School’s website. Additionally, all students must completely read the 2009-2010 Student Guide, which includes the academic rules and procedures for this year’s incoming class.

Students should read the following information carefully, prior to the planning appointment:

Course Planning Worksheets

Students should review the course planning worksheet for their specific practice method and practice area concentrations and curriculum schedule. These worksheets set out the course selections for the dual concentration and schedule. Please note: there are special course planning worksheets for dual degree MSW/MPH, International/National Field Placements, and Geriatric Scholars. Students should discuss with their academic planning coordinator how exemptions or national or international field placements may alter their schedule.

Exemptions

Some students may be exempt from one or more foundation course(s) based on course work completed in the past six years. Be sure to thoroughly read the section on exemptions in the Student Guide. All students will receive an email prior to registration letting them know of their exemptions.

Wolverine Acess

Student Business on the Wolverine Access site is where students view their personal and academic information as well as conduct numerous electronic transactions with the University. It is where students check/confirm registration appointment times as well as register for courses. Students can view registration appointment times by looking in the section called Student Center and selecting Enrollment. Students should verify that their appointment time appears on Wolverine Access a week prior to the date of their appointment. Contact the Office of Student Services at 734-936-0961 if the appointment time does not appear one week prior to the date of the appointment.

To prepare for registration:

  1. Log in to “Student Business” via Wolverine Access
  2. Enter into “Student Center”
  3. Select “Search” under the Academics section


    4. Here students can set up (backpack) their proposed course schedule prior to actual registration for courses. Backpack is the process of selecting classes a student intends to register for. Students can place more classes in the backpack than they intend to register for but will be limited as to how many they can actually enroll in. This backpack process is required in order to register.
  4. When the appointment time arrives, students will move their courses from the backpack in order to register for the courses.


    5. Note: Be sure to complete the backpack prior to the registration appointment time and become familiar with the process of registration.

Wolverine Access runs on both Windows and Macintosh platforms. The supported web browsers and operating systems are as follows:

  • Windows 2000 or XP - Internet Explorer version 6 or 7
  • Macintosh OSX - Safari 3.0, 3.1.1 or Internet Explorer via Citrix

Tips

  • Keep cookies enabled
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Field Instruction Enrollment

Students who are starting their field placements in fall 2009 must register for field instruction courses. Students registering for foundation field must register under both SW 515 section 888 and SW 531 section 888. Under no circumstances should a student register for more than 2 credit hours under SW 515 section 888 or more than 1 credit hour under SW 531 section 888. In addition, please note the following:

  • Advanced standing students and students with an exemption from foundation field should register all field credits under SW 691 section 888.
  • Students without advanced standing and without exemption from foundation field instruction who need to register for more than three credit hours of field should register for two credit hours under SW 515 section 888, one credit hour under SW 531 section 888, and all additional credit hours under SW 691 section 888.
  • For Foundation Field Seminar (SW 531)—Enroll as SW 531, Section 888. The section will be updated to the appropriate instructor section later by the School registrar. Additional information will be provided by the Office of Field Instruction prior to or at the first class meeting.

Closed Courses

Students enrolling in advanced classes and students with one of the later registration appointment dates should keep track of the open/close status of classes in which they are interested. This information is available via the class search function in the Student Center of Wolverine Access. Students can obtain social work class, subject, catalog, and section information from the course schedule on the SSW website. Acquiring this information before conducting a search is recommended. The information is also available in Wolverine Access.

Social work classes that are closed during registration may have openings during the drop/add period (initial registration through September 28). Students can register for classes previously closed (which may open up due to students dropping) on a first come first served basis. No “wait-list” is maintained in the School of Social Work. Students may try to obtain entry to a closed social work course by filing a Petition to Enter a Closed Course via the SSW website.

When a student must enroll in that particular class in order to meet graduation requirements, a petition is given primary consideration. Other major considerations for petition approval include required 3-day field placements and enrollment in a dual degree and/or certificate/specialization program. Students should submit petitions immediately following registration as petitions will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Petitions received after 9/14/09 have a very limited chance of approval.

Important: Do not contact faculty regarding their closed class, as only the associate dean for educational programs may grant entry into closed courses.

Special/Independent Studies

Students who elect to register for special/independent studies must submit the Special/Independent Studies Recording Form to the School Registrar’s Office (1772 SSWB). These forms require signatures from a student's advisor, from the instructor, and, in some instances, from the associate dean and must be submitted before registration for the course can occur.

Petition to Register for More Than 18 Hours

Students may enroll in up to 18 credit hours in a term without special permission. Full-time students who enroll for more than 18 credit hours must submit the Petition to Register for More Than 18 Hours to the School Registrar’s Office (1772 SSWB). This form requires the signature of the student's advisor and, in some cases, the approval of the associate dean.

Students Electing Cognate (Non-Social Work) Courses During Registration

Students may enroll in many courses offered by departments or schools outside of the School of Social Work. If the cognate course is open and the home department (school, college, or department offering the course) has not placed restrictions on the course, students can register for it. If the course is closed or the department requires special approval, students must select another course or contact the department to inquire about obtaining the proper permission to add the class. Students should refer to the SSW website for information on courses offered outside of the School of Social Work that may be of interest.

Current Dual Degree Students

If at any point following enrollment, SSW students decide to drop one of their dual degrees, they must inform both schools in writing immediately.

Potential Dual Degree Students

If at any point following enrollment in the MSW program, students are accepted into another U-M graduate school program with the intent of pursuing a dual degree, they must inform the School of Social Work in writing immediately.

Term Enrollment

Students must enroll in the semester in which they are doing their coursework and/or field instruction. Under no circumstance is a student allowed to register for credits in a term in which those credits are not being earned. For example, a student cannot enroll for fieldwork performed between May and August in the preceding winter or the following fall term.

Late Registration, Drop/Add, Withdrawal Dates for Fall Term

Students may drop/add via Wolverine Access any time after initially registering, up until the drop/add deadline (through September 28, 2009). Any time students make a change to their original registration after the beginning of the academic year, it is their responsibility to notify their advisor of these changes. For the benefit of other students, anyone planning to drop a course should do so as soon as possible so that space is available for those students wishing to take these courses. Once the drop/add deadline has been reached, a student must obtain the signature of the course instructor, the faculty advisor, and the School’s registrar on a drop/add form. The student should then take the form to 1207 LSA building for processing as web registration will not be possible beyond the drop/add deadline. It is the responsibility of each student to register for the appropriate courses to fulfill MSW degree requirements.

Withdrawal Prior to Fall Term

If, after completing registration, a student is unable to return to school for the fall term, the student must contact Assistant Dean Tim Colenback, Student Services, Admissions, and Recruitment Coordinator Erin Zimmer, or Director of Career Services Michelle Woods in the Office of Student Services (OSS), notify the School in writing, and contact the University Registrar’s Office to disenroll. Students who disenroll after September 7, 2009 will be subject to the $80.00 registration and $50.00 disenrollment fees.

Late Registration

Students who register after September 7 for the fall 2009 term will be required to pay a $50.00 late registration fee. This fee will increase by $25.00 at the beginning of each subsequent month.

Note: Fees are subject to change without notice by the regents of the University. Students are also subject to the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of their individual school or college. Students who register and subsequently withdraw after the term begins will be responsible for the registration and disenrollment fees regardless of their class attendance.

For official information on registering, refer to registration deadlines on the Office of the Registrar website.