Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses

Graduate Programs

Guidelines for Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses

University of Michigan-Flint courses numbered 500 and above require graduate standing.  Under exceptional circumstances, qualified* University of Michigan-Flint undergraduate students may elect a graduate-level course.

1. Students with bachelor’s degrees who are enrolled in the final year of their teacher certification program may, with special permission, elect a graduate course.  The course will not count toward their TCP requirements.
2. Students within nine (9) hours of completing the requirements for their bachelor’s degree, who, in addition to electing their undergraduate coursework, wish to elect a graduate course, may do so with special permission.  The graduate credit earned may not count towards their undergraduate degree requirements.
3. Students who have attained senior status may, with special permission, elect a graduate course to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements.  Upon successful completion of the course, a memo will need to be sent from the student’s academic department/program to the Office of the Registrar stating that the course counts towards the student’s undergraduate degree requirements.  A notation will be placed on both the undergraduate and graduate transcripts indicating that the course counts towards fulfillment of undergraduate degree requirements.  The course will physically remain on the graduate transcript.  Graduate courses used to meet undergraduate degree requirements may not be used to meet graduate degree requirements.  (This does not apply to students enrolled in a joint undergraduate/graduate degree program.)  Graduate courses taken to meet undergraduate degree requirements may not be re-elected at the graduate level.

*Students must be in good academic standing.

Processes for Requesting Approval

1. Students must complete a Request for Approval to Elect a Graduate Course Print-Only Form and provide a rationale as to why they wish to elect a graduate course, and obtain instructor’s approval on the form.  Students submit the form to the chair/director of the academic department/program out of which they wish to elect the graduate course.
2. The chair/director reviews the request and indicates on the form whether s/he approves or denies the request.  If the chair/director approves the request, s/he will send the Request for Approval to Elect a Graduate Course form to the Director of Graduate Programs for review.
3. The Office of Graduate Programs will notify the student and academic chair/director whether or not approval has been granted via email.
4. If approval is granted, the university Registrar will be notified and sent the Request for Approval to Elect a Graduate Course form for processing.
5. Transcripts for students who elect a graduate course to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements, will reflect the following:
   • Both the undergraduate and graduate transcripts will have a notation indicating the course was used to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements.
   • The course will remain on the graduate transcript however; the graduate credit hours will be zeroed out.

Students, granted approval, will be limited to electing a total of two graduate courses. 

Financial aid is not available for the graduate-level courses until the student is officially admitted to the graduate program after completing a bachelor’s degree. 

Please note the form below is intended to be downloaded, printed, filled out and sent to [email protected]