Course Registration Instructions

First Steps Before Registering:

  • ISD students have the flexibility to elect each term whether to take courses as an online student or as an on-campus student (but not as both in the same term). 
  • If you are switching course delivery modes for the next term, please consult with your ISD Graduate Coordinator to make sure you are designated correctly to enroll in the mode of courses you desire.
  • Students designated as online may only register for online courses, and students designated as on-campus may only register for on-campus courses. Therefore it is important to pay attention to the course section number when registering, as online and on-campus courses have different section numbers.
  • In addition, the Mode of Instruction for online course sections is Distance (D); the Mode of Instruction for on-campus course sections is In Person (P) or Hybrid (M).
  • Refer to your ISD program Plan of Study and course descriptions to identify which courses to register for each term.  Note that your Plan of Study must be approved before you can register.
  • If you are in the dual-degree ISD Manufacturing + MBA program, please contact your ISD Graduate Coordinator for registration directions.
  • Permission to register for ISD capstone/practicum courses (503) is provided by your Graduate Coordinator once your proposal has been approved.  ISD students do not Backpack or directly register for capstone/practicum courses.

Steps to Register in Wolverine Access:  (for both online and on-campus students)

  • Identify the Correct Course Section: ISD courses sometimes have multiple sections, and the section for which you should enroll depends on your ISD program and whether you are electing to be an on-campus or distance learning student for that term. Refer to the Enrollment Information columns on the right side of ISD Projected Course Schedule document to identify the correct section.
  • Visit the university’s Wolverine Access website.
  • Log in using your uniqname and password.
  • To create a schedule, refer to the Wolverine Access instructions for the Backpack and Schedule Builder sections of the Student Business Help Menu.
  • You will first use the Backpack function to review the official course offerings for a given term, and then save the course and sections in which you are interested.  This process is required before you can register.
  • Next you will be issued an enrollment appointment, which indicates when you are able to officially register. (Note this is not a physical appointment – registration is done entirely online.)
  • Once your enrollment appointment time occurs, you will be able to go back into Wolverine Access and formally enroll.  This can be done until the term’s drop/add deadline.
  • To view your class schedule, refer to the Class Schedule page in the Student Business Help Menu.

Important Tips

  • We recommend that if you are a new full-time student, you should enroll in no more than 9 credits and ensure that you focus on courses that meet your degree requirements.
    • Students who take 9-12 credits a semester toward degree requirements will complete a 30-credit master’s program in 12-18 months.
  • If you are not a dual Manufacturing + MBA student and are taking courses at the Ross School of Business, please refer to our Taking Courses at Ross School of Business page.
  • You must be enrolled in at least one course before the first day of classes or you will be charged a late registration fee.
  • If you are a recently graduated U-M undergraduate, do not use your undergrad enrollment appointment time; you must wait for your new graduate enrollment appointment.
  • For important registration dates, including deadlines on making changes to your schedule, see the Office of the Registrar’s calendars.
  • For on-campus students: It is possible to have classes on North Campus and Central Campus on the same day. Buses frequently run between the two campuses. Allot an hour of time between classes on North and Central Campuses.
  • A credit hour (semester hour) generally represents one hour of lecture per week for a term, or two for a half term. Preparation for each credit hour normally requires a minimum of three hours of study per week. Generally, one period of laboratory work is considered equal to one credit hour.

Waitlist, Override, and Audit Policies

  • Note that every department has different policies and procedures for class permissions, and ISD shares many classes with other departments.
  • If you wish to audit (visit) a class, you must receive instructor permission. We encourage you to keep audited courses to a minimum. Audited courses will not count towards your program requirements.
  • It is common for some classes to be full and to require you to register for the waitlist. Be certain to attend the first day of class in the event that a space opens for you. Spaces often do become available, but it is not guaranteed.
  • ISD students may not have priority for non-ISD classes. If you would like to take a non-ISD class that requires instructor or department permission, we encourage you to reach out to the department and politely ask for further instructions.
  • You may need to find and enroll in alternative classes while you are waiting to find out if you may take a restricted or waitlisted class.
  • You are not guaranteed an override.
  • More information on the waitlist and override processes may be found here.

Important Deadlines

Backpacking (picking out classes and creating a tentative schedule)

Fall and Spring/Summer Terms

  • New students: May
  • Returning students: late March

Winter Term

  • Mid-November

Enrollment (officially registering for classes)

Fall and Spring/Summer Terms

  • New students: early June
  • Returning students: late March/early April

Winter Term

  • Late November

Add/drop deadlines (deadlines to make changes to your schedule)

See the Office of the Registrar’s calendars