Knowledgebase: Class registration and scheduling

You have flexibility to log in and work on coursework when it’s convenient for you with respect to assignment deadlines.

Online courses offered in 8-week sessions take on a more accelerated pace compared to a full semester (16-week) course. Your instructor offers structure and guidance on how to navigate the material and learning resources as well as information on assignments and/or exams (if required).

Before your session begins, you will participate in SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising and Registration) during which you will meet with an academic and career advisor to review your degree audit report (which shows how your transfer credit maps to your degree requirements) and plan out which courses you will take.

After you are admitted, watch for an email from your advisor about next steps. You can also check out Course Enrollment & Planning resources for more information.

Most UW–Madison Online courses offered in the fall and spring sessions are 8 weeks long. Summer session course lengths vary. Learn more about 8-week session courses on the Office of Online Student Success page.

Each fall and spring term can have two 8-week sessions. Some students take one course (3 credits) per 8-week session while others take up to three courses (9 credits) per session. Many students have found that taking 6 credits per term – one course per 8-week session – works well. 

Summer term enrollment varies as there are different sessions available within the summer term. The number of courses you take each term depends on course availability and course sequencing (i.e., Are there any prerequisites you need to satisfy?), as well as your capacity for school work. If you plan to use financial aid, you may be required to complete a certain number of credits each term to maintain eligibility.

You may enroll in up to 9 credits per 8-week session. At minimum, you may enroll in 3 credits (one course) per session. If you plan to use financial aid, you will want to verify the number of credits required to maintain financial aid eligibility. Learn more about how financial aid works for UW–Madison Online students.

The amount of time required to complete your coursework depends on the course and its required activities as well as your comfort level or prior knowledge of the course material.

On average, you should expect to spend 45 hours per credit on coursework over the length of a course.

Here is an example based on taking a 3-credit course in an 8-week session:

3-credit course x 45 hours = 135 hours/8 weeks = about 17 hours per week

While many courses are offered each session, some courses are only offered during certain sessions. You will work closely with your academic and career advisor to carefully plan out which courses you will take in future sessions to ensure you plan strategically for course availability and your degree requirements. You can also find upcoming course offerings listed on the Office of Online Student Success (OSS) website.

Start dates for classes vary by session. Take a look at our Application Deadlines page to confirm when classes start for your session.