We encourage all University of Michigan students to participate in School of Information classes when there are seats available. The process to register and/or join the waitlist is detailed below.  If you have additional questions after reading through the information provided, please email [email protected]. 

Courses Unavailable to Non-UMSI Majors

While we welcome all students to take UMSI classes, there is a short list of courses that are specifically designed for students within UMSI programs and are not open to students in other programs. These courses are:

• Career/Internship Courses: SI 210, SI 300, SI 390/690, SI 505, SI 681
• Cohort Building Courses: SI 305, SI 307, SI 500, SI 701, and SI 705
• Undergraduate Capstone Courses: SI 485/487, SI 495/497
• Master's Thesis Option Program: SI 597, SI 697, SI 698
• SIADS Courses: SIADS courses are only available to students in the MADS program at this time

Undergraduate Students

PLEASE NOTE: The UMSI undergraduate curriculum underwent significant changes prior to the Fall 2025 semester. The numbers and titles listed here are the most current versions of the courses. For pre-Fall 2025 course equivalents, see the UMSI Course Catalog.

BSI Students

BSI students should fill out the UMSI Course Waitlist Form for any course for which they do not meet the enforced prerequisites, including any graduate level UMSI courses. The Waitlist Form will begin accepting responses for Fall 2025 courses on March 26, 2025.

For courses that have shadow sections (in Fall 2025, these are SI 201, SI 315, SI 338, SI 425, and SI 428) please be sure to register for 00X numbered sections (e.g. 001, 002). The seats in these sections are reserved and prioritized for BSI students. 

UMSI Minor Students

Students completing a UMSI minor should see additional registration details here: Registration Information for UMSI Minors   

Non-UMSI Students

The following courses are not available to any students outside of the BSI program:

• Career/Internship Courses: SI 210, SI 300, SI 390
• Undergraduate Capstone Courses: SI 485/487, SI 495/497

Courses without Requisites

Some UMSI courses are available to all students, regardless of program or previous experience. The following courses have no enforced prerequisites for enrollment:

• SI 101: Introduction to Programming with Python
• SI 110: Introduction to Information Studies
• SI 207: Introduction to UX Design for Non-Majors
• SI 261: Introduction to Statistics with Applications
• Most sections of SI 311: Special Topics in Information

Any student should be able to directly register for these courses in Wolverine Access, without needing to join our external waitlist or get an override from our team.

Shadow Sections

Fall 2025 undergraduate courses with shadow sections: SI 201, SI 301, SI 338, SI 425, and SI 428.

Shadow sections are sections of the class with 10X numbering (e.g. 101, 102, etc.) that are set up to reserve seats for non-UMSI students. Each shadow section corresponds to a standard section of the class with 00X numbering (e.g. 001, 002) - these sections meet together and are the exact same class. They are only different for enrollment purposes. 

Non-UMSI students who meet the enforced prerequisites for a course with shadow sections should be able to register or join the waitlist for one of the 10X numbered sections directly in Wolverine Access without an override permission and do not need to complete the additional waitlist form. 

Waitlist Form

Students who are unable to register or waitlist for a UMSI class directly in Wolverine Access can join an external waitlist by filling out our Fall 2025 Waitlist Form. The Waitlist Form will begin accepting responses for Fall 2025 courses on March 26, 2025. Students must submit a different form response for each UMSI course that they are interested in registering for. After BSI students have had a chance to register, any remaining available seats will be filled with qualified students on our external waitlist. 

Due to the high volume of submissions, we do not send status updates to students on the external waitlist. Watch your umich.edu email closely for any permission notification as action will be required to register within a limited timeframe. 

Graduate Students

MSI/MHI Students

UMSI students should fill out the Waitlist Form for any course for which they do not meet the enforced prerequisites. The form will give students the chance to explain their qualifications and relevant previous experiences that have prepared them to succeed in the course. The Waitlist Form will begin accepting responses for Fall 2025 courses on March 26, 2025.

For courses that have shadow sections (see list below) please be sure to register or waitlist for 00X numbered sections (e.g., 001, 002). The seats in these sections are reserved and prioritized for MSI/MHI students.

Non-UMSI Students

Fall 2025 graduate courses with shadow sections: SI 504, SI 506, SI 507, SI 544, SI 563, SI 564, SI 588, SI 608, SI 618, SI 649, SI 650, SI 670, & SI 671

Non-UMSI students who have completed the prerequisites for any of the above courses can register or waitlist directly in Wolverine Access using the 10X numbered shadow sections (e.g., 102, 103) without an override permission and will not need to complete the external waitlist form. 

Students who are unable to register or waitlist for a UMSI class directly in Wolverine Access can join an external waitlist by filling out our Fall 2025 Waitlist Form. Students must submit a different form response for each UMSI course that they are interested in registering for. After UMSI students have had a chance to register, any remaining available seats will be filled with qualified students on our external waitlist. The Waitlist Form will begin accepting responses for Fall 2025 courses on March 26, 2025.

Due to the high volume of submissions, we do not send status updates to students on the external waitlist. Watch your umich.edu email closely for any permission notification as action will be required to register within a limited timeframe.  

MDS Students - SI 699: Big Data Analytics

Students in the Master of Data Science program who are interested in enrolling in one of the Big Data sections of SI 699 must fill out the MDS Interest for SI 699 Big Data Analytics form to be considered for this course. Our Mastery courses have an extensive and strictly enforced prerequisite structure, and this form helps us to determine how students from outside our program will be prepared to succeed in this course. 

Please note that a limited number of seats are available each semester for students in the MDS program, and those who fill out our interest form are not guaranteed a seat in the course. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

I filled out the waitlist form. When will my override be processed?

Overrides will likely begin to be processed in late-July for the fall term and late-December for the winter term. This will continue through the add/drop deadline. Please be patient as the timing and availability for overrides is dependent on multiple factors for class, not just the data you may see. This process can happen very quickly for some classes and very late for others. 

I meet the enforced prerequisites for a course, but I received an error message when attempting to register. What does this mean?

Some UMSI courses are set up to only allow enrollment for UMSI students. If you receive an error saying that you do not meet the “UINF” or “School of Information programs” requisite, then you are likely trying to register for one of these courses. You may still be able to get a seat in the course by filling out our Waitlist Form. 

If the course is set up with shadow sections (see lists above) then you will need to select one of the 10X numbered sections of the course and attempt registration again. If you are still receiving error messages, please reach out to [email protected] for more assistance.

What is a shadow section?

Shadow sections are sections of the class with 10X numbering (e.g., 101, 102) that are set up to reserve seats for non-UMSI students. Each shadow section corresponds to a standard section of the class with 00X numbering (e.g., 001, 002) - these sections meet together and are the exact same class. They are only different for enrollment purposes.

Where can I find information about shadow section classroom assignments?

Shadow sections of UMSI courses meet together with their corresponding standard (00X numbered) section. For example, if you are registered for the 102 section, you will meet in the assigned classroom for the 002 section. The assigned classroom can also be found in the “Notes” section in Wolverine Access. 

I received permission from the instructor - how do I register? 

Please forward the instructor permission to [email protected]. We will record this and prioritize your override to register as soon as we are able. It is important to note that receiving instructor permission does not guarantee you will be able to register for the course. While instructors may grant an exception for the prerequisites or agree to allow a student to join their course if seats are available, there are many factors that impact registration management for each course. 

The term is starting and I’m still on the waitlist; what should I do now?

We encourage all waitlisted students to attend class and engage with course materials through the add/drop deadline. This will prevent students from having to catch up on missing content or assignments if they are able to secure a seat in the class. Some courses also prioritize students who have been actively participating to fill remaining seats after the term has begun. 

I was on the waitlist but now I’m not. What happened? 

When permission is issued to a student on the waitlist for a course, it is valid only for a limited time. The permission notification email will list the expiration date; you must take action to register for the class before the permission expires. If you do not register for the class while your permission is valid, the system will automatically drop you from the waitlist and the open seat will be offered to the next person on the waitlist.  

I didn’t register before the permission expired - what can I do?

If you received a permission override to register for the course but did not do so before it expired, you will need to join the waitlist again. We understand this may be frustrating, but in order to keep the process as equitable as possible, you will not be able to ‘jump the line’. We will re-issue your permission as quickly as possible if we are able. Watch your umich.edu email closely to ensure you do not miss the permission override a second time! 

I am interested in registering for a SIADS course, even though I am not a part of the MADS program. How can I register?

Registration in SIADS courses is strictly limited to students enrolled in the MADS program. If you are interested in other online learning opportunities at UMSI, you can find more information here.

What is the add/drop deadline for this semester?

The U-M Registrar’s Office maintains calendars for each semester. For the Fall 2025 semester, the add/drop deadline for full-term courses is Monday, Sept. 15. 

If you are taking a course that runs only in the first or second seven weeks of the semester, the add/drop deadlines will be different. Those dates can be found in the calendar linked above. 

How can I add or drop a class after the add/drop deadline has passed?

Learn more about submitting a late add, drop or swap. These requests will need to go through three rounds of approval before any changes are reflected on your student account. 

The official deadline for any late add/drop requests are set by a student’s home school. For more information, please connect with the Registrar for your department. 

What will happen if I drop a course after the add/drop deadline?

If you successfully drop a course after the initial add/drop deadline has passed, you will still be responsible for any associated tuition charges and the course will be listed on your transcript with a “W.” 

How do I register for an independent study course?

Learn more about independent study registration. Once you have found a faculty member willing to oversee your independent study, forward their approval to [email protected]. We will then create an independent study section for you and issue you an override to register for it. Students will need to take action to register for the section before their override expires.

What are my options for auditing a course or taking a course pass/fail?

Before choosing to audit a class or change to pass/fail grading, students should first connect with their Academic Advisor to ensure that they will continue to meet their degree requirements. 

To audit a class, students will need to register for the course, and then get approval from the course instructor to change their grade status to “visit.” The next step is to forward this approval to [email protected]. Please note that we will not approve the request to audit any course that has a waitlist. 

To change your grading status in a class to pass/fail or satisfactory/ unsatisfactory grading, you will need to email [email protected] stating your intent to make this change and confirm that this change has been approved by your academic advisor. Your grading status should be updated within a few business days. 

UMSI students may elect to change their grading status to audit a course or take it pass/fail through the last day of classes for any given semester. 

Policy may differ based on a student’s home school - it is always recommended that you connect with your academic advisor and/or Registrar about potential changes to your registration.