ACCESS

Take CU Boulder courses as a guest student

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Access undergraduate and graduate courses for personal or professional development as a non-degree student.

Take CU Boulder courses as a guest student.

Available Credit Courses for Eligible Special Students (ACCESS) enables non-degree students, who are not in formal degree programs at CU Boulder, a pathway to take undergraduate or graduate courses on both main campus and at Continuing Education. You can enroll in courses through ACCESS to work toward enrolling in a degree program either at CU Boulder or another institution, or take courses to earn credit while enrolled at another institution.

Come take that CU Boulder course you’ve been thinking about. Test out the University. Learn from some of the best faculty in the country. Whatever your goals may be, let us help you “access” the University of Colorado Boulder.

How ACCESS Works

Non-degree enrollment is offered by University of Colorado Boulder for fall, spring, and summer. In the fall and spring, you can enroll in main campus classes through a pathway called ACCESS one week before classes begin each semester. If you are interested in summer class enrollment as a non-degree student, please visit the Summer Session website. 

Non-Degree Course Information

Academic departments determine which courses are available each term to non-degree students based on course prerequisites and course capacity. If a class is full and you meet our course requisites, you can add yourself to the waitlist. Registration into Continuing Education courses starts earlier than ACCESS enrollment. Be sure to review the information below for specific types of courses.

Linked courses are lecture courses that have required recitations and/or labs. If you choose a course that has a required recitation or lab, you cannot enroll in the lecture only. You will be prompted to choose a required recitation or lab. You will automatically be enrolled in the lecture if you choose an open section of a recitation or lab.

Some courses are restricted to students within a specific major or class standing. Non-degree students wishing to enroll in restricted courses must first request permission from the appropriate department to override the restriction (see ACCESS Academic Calendar for enrollment dates). Please keep in mind that overriding any type of restriction (prerequisites, major, etc.) is at the discretion of the professor and/or department. If the professor feels you do not meet the prerequisites for the course or if the course is full they can deny your request for an override.

You may be enrolled in a restricted class in one of the following ways:

1. The department will enroll you.

2. Once you have obtained instructor approval, you can complete the course request form and attach the instructor/department approval. If Enrollment Services receives your request prior to ACCESS enrollment opening, Enrollment Services may attach a class permission note in the comment section of your account confirming the permission is in place and that you may manually register yourself as soon as your enrollment window arrives.

Most upper-division and graduate-level courses have restrictions or prerequisites. If you have a question about whether a course has a restriction or prerequisite, please make an appointment with a Continuing Education academic advisor.

Please note that BCOR (business core) classes are restricted to majors only during the fall and spring semesters. Graduate classes require permission from the instructor to enroll.

Controlled enrollment sections and independent study courses are ones that have specific restrictions placed by the department that offers the course. They have a section number between 700 and 999. To find out if you qualify for a controlled section or an independent study, contact the department that offers the course. If you are eligible, the department will either enroll you in the course or send permission for you to enroll to the Continuing Education registration office.

Non-Degree Course Availability

View CU Boulder course offerings through the class search.

  Visit classes.colorado.edu to find courses

Use the subject field to search by course subject or department. Complete course descriptions are provided in the University of Colorado Boulder Catalog.

When you enroll, keep in mind that there are different types of courses, wait lists, and restrictions.

Waitlists

The CU Boulder Class Search will identify whether a course is open or closed and if a waitlist exists. If you find that a course is full, you may be able to put your name on a computerized waitlist during your appointed enrollment window. Each department determines if a waitlist will be offered for a course and what type of waitlist will be used.

For detailed information regarding wait lists refer to the Office of the Registrar’s website.

Important: Placing your name on a wait list does not guarantee that you will be enrolled in that course, even if you’re first on the waitlist. Treat a waitlisted class as if you were enrolled — go to class and drop it if you are no longer interested in enrollment.

It is your responsibility to find out if you have been enrolled in a course from the waitlist. If you do not attend a course you have been enrolled in, you will receive an F for that course.

We’re here to support your journey

Academic Advising Through Continuing Education

Our academic advisors can help you navigate the CU system and develop a plan to meet your academic goals.
 

Non-Degree Advising

Find advising information specific to non-degree students on the Non-Degree Advising page.

No matter the situation, we are committed to helping you explore your educational goals.

Schedule an appointment with a CE academic advisor 

You can also call us at 303-492-5148 or email us at ceadvise@colorado.edu.

Financial Support Advising Also Available

Continuing Education also has a financial support advisor to assist you in exploring available options. Learn more.