General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series – Admissions

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Admissions options

Degree-seeking enrollment vs. nondegree enrollment

Degree-seeking students provide transcripts of former coursework, meet OSU admission requirements, and declare a program of interest. As a degree-seeking student, you are on record as having a formal association with a program and academic department, which allows you access to an academic advisor, priority registration, financial aid and incorporation of previous coursework.

Nondegree enrollment is designed for students who wish to take courses, but do not plan to pursue a degree or specific credential. Nondegree students do not qualify for financial aid. Our Nondegree FAQ can answer many common questions and help you plan ahead.

Advantages of being a degree-seeking OSU student

1. Transfer your prior coursework to Oregon State

Coursework you have completed at other colleges or universities can be transferred to Oregon State to fulfill prerequisites that are required for entrance into specific courses, and to fulfill degree requirements.

2. Priority registration dates

Students follow a priority registration schedule at Oregon State. The priority registration schedule is based on the number of credits you have earned according to your OSU transcript. Postbaccalaureate students register according to the senior schedule; nondegree students register with all others in the last group.

Many courses fill each time they are offered, sometimes early in the registration period, which may prohibit students in the later registration periods from enrolling in the course. Ecampus is working to ensure adequate slots each term. However, availability is ultimately dependent upon individual departments, which may or may not be able to offer more sections of a course or to increase their class sizes.

3. Advising assistance

The main responsibility of academic advisors is to work with admitted, degree-seeking students. Because of the high demands on their time and expertise, advisors generally do not work with nondegree-seeking students. Your academic advisor can help you:

• Understand course prerequisites and plan appropriate sequencing of your course of study.
• Select courses to balance both immediate needs for position qualification and best positioning for pursuing a degree at a later date.
• Keep abreast of OSU reminders and notifications, such as pre-registration notices and changes in courses, programs or policies.

4. Long-term career options

Completion of the minimum courses required to meet the office of personnel management position requirements as a nondegree-seeking student does not necessarily provide a broad range of future possibilities for individuals. If you are certain you will never wish to change career positions, you need not worry about this. However, if you prefer the flexibility to accommodate mid-career changes in direction (voluntary or otherwise), you may wish to plan for the eventual completion of a bachelor’s degree.

How to apply

Degree-seeking enrollment

To apply for admission to OSU, you will work directly with the admissions office. The application process can take approximately four to six weeks after admissions has received all required documents to complete your application. OSU admissions will evaluate your transcripts to determine how many of your previous courses from other institutions will transfer to OSU and what the equivalent credits should be. You can apply for degree-seeking enrollment by completing the online application. Our how-to-apply guide can walk you through each step in the process as you prepare to enroll.

Nondegree enrollment

Nondegree enrollment does not require a formal admission process or formal entrance requirements. Enrollment as a nondegree student does not guarantee regular admission to Oregon State University if you later decide to apply as a degree-seeking student. You can apply for nondegree status by completing the application for nondegree enrollment, which is reviewed and finalized in three to seven business days.