Registration Guide

This guide is for current/returning OWU students. If you are an incoming OWU student, you will go through a separate registration process managed by the Office of Academic Advising. Please see New@OWU for updates or contact academicadvising@owu.edu with questions.

Your Spring 2026 Registration Guide

Get ready for Spring 2026 registration! Preliminary course schedules have already been posted to Self-Service. You can begin adding courses to your cart ("Pre-Registration") on October 8th. [Jump to When Can I Register?]

Want a quick orientation to Self-Service? Check out this brief video guide [~3 minutes]!

Completely new to Self-Service? Check out this detailed video tutorial [~12 minutes]!

We urge you to follow these steps for a less stressful and more successful registration experience:

1. Contact Your Advisor.
   Reach out now to schedule an advising session with your faculty advisor. Don't wait - advisors get busy too! You will not be able to register for courses until you have been authorized to do so by your faculty advisor. [Jump to Academic Advising Resources]
2. Know Your Requirements.
   There is no better source than your Degree Audit to check your progress towards completing your OWU degree. Pay careful attention to your remaining requirements. If you haven't yet declared a major, you can use the What If feature to explore possibilities. If you see something that doesn't look right, make a note of it along with any other questions to bring to your faculty advisor. If the issue pertains to your major or minor, email the relevant department chair.
3. Draft Your Preliminary Schedule.
   Browse courses on Self-Service and add your preferred options to your cart starting October 8th. Aim for 4.25-4.75 units. Identify backup courses! Waitlists are an option, but it's a smart plan to have alternatives.
4. Meet With Your Advisor.
   Meet with your faculty advisor to review your Degree Audit and preliminary schedule. For matters specific to your major or minor, you should also confer with the relevant department chair. Based on their guidance, you may need to adjust the course selections in your Cart. At the conclusion of your advising session, your faculty advisor will update your record to indicate you are authorized to register during your approved registration window. If your faculty advisor has not completed this step, contact them directly as we cannot override it on their behalf.
5. Clear Holds.
   Check your Self-Service Profile for any holds (that would prevent you from registering (even if your advisor has given their authorization). For example, if you see an Account Balance Hold like this, contact the Office of Student Accounts at studentaccounts@owu.edu to resolve the hold at least one business day prior to your registration window. 
6. Register for Classes!
   Check your Self-Service Profile to review your Class Level (see here for example) and then use the table below to find your designated registration window. Mark your registration window on your calendar so you are prepared to register when the time comes! Since you worked in advance with your faculty advisor to load your preferred courses to your cart, your next step is to click "Register." If one of your first-choices is unavailable, add yourself to the waitlist, select an alternate course as a backup, and reach out to your faculty advisor for assistance. Do not panic if your initial schedule is not perfect. Schedules will often work out in one of three ways: joining the waitlist and contacting the instructor to enroll, taking the course in a future semester, or selecting an alternative course that also counts toward your degree.

A few notes concerning typical, minimum, and maximum units
Most students can complete their degree in four years (eight semesters) by earning 4.25-4.75 units each fall and spring to reach the minimum of 34 units required for graduation. You should register for 4.25-4.75 units during initial registration. Later in the registration period, students have the option to add additional courses up to a maximum of 5.5 units. You should only attempt five or more units after consulting with your faculty advisor and planning for what time, energy, and other opportunities you are willing to give up to successfully complete a heavier course load.

Exceeding the maximum of 5.5 units requires a petition to the Academic Status Committee and will incur additional tuition charges. (Conversely, taking fewer than 3.25 units requires a petition for part-time status.) For Summer terms, the maximum load is 2.5 units.

Remember: Although you will be able to add courses to your cart starting October 8th even before meeting with your faculty advisor, to actually register for the courses in your cart you must first confer with your faculty advisor. Your faculty advisor will then authorize (unlock) your registration, enabling the Register button in your Self-Service Cart. If your faculty advisor has not completed this step, contact them directly as we cannot override it on their behalf.

When can I Register?

Check your Self-Service Profile to review your Class Level. Note: figures below are based on cumulative credits earned / transferred (not including pending credits).

• 23 or more units earned (Seniors)
  • Opens Monday, October 27, 2025 at 7 a.m. EDT
• 15-22.99 units earned (Juniors)
  • Opens Monday, November 3, 2025 at 7 a.m. EST
• 7-14.99 units earned (Sophomores)
  • Opens Monday, November 10, 2025 at 7 a.m. EST
• 0-6.99 units earned (Continuing Freshmen)
  • Opens Monday, November 17, 2025 at 7 a.m. EST
• Optional: Add an Additional Unit (discuss with advisor first)
  • Opens Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 7 a.m. EST

Spring 2026 Registration closes Friday, December 5, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST

If you have further questions related to the registration process, please email us at registrar@owu.edu and we will be happy to assist you.

Best wishes for a successful semester,

Lee, Michele, Joni, Adrienne, and your 'RegiStar' Student Guides
Office of the Registrar
Ohio Wesleyan University