There are two semesters at Mizzou: Fall semester runs August–December, and spring semester runs January–May. Refer to MU’s academic calendar for information about term start and end dates, holidays and breaks.
Courses at MU
All courses are identified by department and number. Courses with numbers 1000–4999 are for undergraduate credit. Courses 5000 and above are for graduate credit. More information about the course numbering system can be found on the University Registrar’s website.
Courses typically take place several times each week. Most courses meet Monday/Wednesday/Friday for 50 minutes or Tuesday/Thursday for 75 minutes. Check the course schedule in myZou for specific times.
You should attend every class session, as missing even one class can put you behind. If you are ill, you should inform your instructor via email and ask a classmate for the notes and assignments you missed. Many classes take attendance, and participation factors into your course grade. Some courses may include a discussion section in your normal schedule (e.g., lecture on Monday and Wednesday, discussion on Friday). This is a great way to earn participation and attendance points.
You will receive a syllabus for each course from your instructors. The syllabuses contain information about the course, including contact information for the instructor and a detailed overview of in-class activities, homework assignments and exams.
Use the Mizzou Store website to look up required book(s) for each course. It might be smart to attend a class before ordering the required books, in case the professor has any additional advice related to the course readings. When buying/renting books, look at a few different places/websites to find the best price.
If you want to improve your English writing skills, enroll in an English 1000 writing and composition course. This will help you learn to manage written assignments and papers for other courses more easily.
A course with “W” in the course number (e.g., HLTH_SCI 3900W) is considered writing-intensive, which means it must meet certain guidelines related to the amount and type of writing done in the class. A course with “H” next to it means the course is an honors course.
Some of your preferred courses could be closed, specialized or upper-level courses. You have “senior status,” so that should allow you into most courses. However, you must remember that certain departments will not permit you to take classes, because you are not considered a student majoring within their department. You are considered a non-degree seeking student. There is no guarantee that you will be able to take courses in some departments.
Class sizes vary depending on the level and type of class. Entry-level courses will generally be in a larger lecture hall with 100+ students, while upper-level courses are usually in smaller classrooms with 20-30 students.
Course types
- Lecture: Usually in big classrooms, sometimes with hundreds of students; taught by professors to give an overview of a subject. Typically graded based on a series of exams.
- Discussion or lab: Smaller groups of students within a lecture course. Meeting times are in addition to regular lecture meetings. Topics from lecture are discussed in more detail and active participation is encouraged.
- Seminar: Typically about 25 students and have more interaction between students and instructors. Most have reading and writing assignments and an attendance policy. Students are encouraged to actively discuss and express their own points of view.
Course assessments
Most courses will have three to four exams throughout the semester, with a final exam at the end of the semester. In addition, many classes will have quizzes and assignments due every week; therefore, it is important to utilize each course’s syllabus to stay on top of the requirements. In general, course assessments take place throughout the semester and may include any of the following:
- Regular homework assignments (readings, papers)
- Group projects
- In-class quizzes
- Pop quizzes (no notice given by instructor)
- Mid-term exams (after first half of semester)
- Final exam (at end of semester, often cumulative)
Course enrollment
The MU course catalog is available online through myZou. Additional information and instructions for enrolling in courses are available on the Registrar’s website. Be sure to evaluate how each course will fit into your schedule and transfer back to your home university. Use the Schedule Planner tool to create potential schedules. Be flexible and aware that some courses may change or become unavailable to you. It is beneficial to have multiple options for your schedule.
Course registration assistance will be available during International Student Welcome. Your course schedule should be finalized before classes begin. Your schedule must show enrollment in 12–18 undergraduate credit hours (9–12 for graduate students). You must take at least nine credit hours of in-person courses.
Attempting to enroll in certain courses may require meeting individually with professors (or emailing them prior to your arrival) to discuss courses you have completed at your home university that may serve as prerequisites for an MU course. Be sure to have alternate selections for each course you want to take. Some MU academic units may require you to seek permission once you arrive to enroll in their courses. You are responsible for obtaining those permission numbers.
As you continue to learn about MyZou, do not become discouraged! It takes some practice. Take the time to prepare your schedule and learn about registration, so that when your enrollment date comes, you’ll be ready to enroll in your courses.
Transcripts
After you leave MU, you will receive one official transcript from International Programs if you complete the required release prior to departure. The transcript will be mailed directly to your home institution; it is your responsibility to retrieve it from there once you have returned home.
All outstanding bills must be paid in full before you leave MU to receive your transcript. If you need more than one transcript, you must order additional copies from the University Registrar.