Non-Traditional Student Information

Non-Degree seeking

Non-degree student must first have been admitted as a special non-degree seeking student before registering. Undergraduate non-degree seeking students are restricted from registering for classes until the first day of the semester and may do so through the assistance of either the Pre-major Advising Center or the Registrars Office. A student desiring to switch to a degree candidacy status must apply through the Office of Admissions. Students desiring to switch to degree-candidacy are cautioned that hours earned while in the special non-degree student status may or may not apply to a major program, depending on the degree requirements. Students who have been in a degree seeking status and have been suspended from the university may not apply for readmission as a special non-degree student.

Tuition Waiver (RU Staff and Faculty)

If you plan to take a course at Radford University please submit your Tuition Waiver Form to the Department of Human Resources for approval.  After approval is received, please bring a copy of the Form to the Registrar's Office during Schedule Adjustment in order to be registered for the class. Employees who have taken classes must follow the same procedures as regularly enrolled RU students and maintain continuous enrollment in order to register for classes each semester.  If an employee chooses not to take a course at RU during a regular semester he or she will need to apply for readmission to the University in order to continue to take classes in subsequent semesters.  For more information on the readmission process, please see the Withdrawal and Readmission webpage.

Senior Citizens

Under the terms of the Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974 as amended, eligible Virginia residents over 60 years of age with a taxable income of less than $15,000 are entitled to enroll in courses offered for academic credit on a space available basis without payment of tuition and fees. Tuition, however, may be charged for courses designed exclusively for senior citizen groups. Please contact the College of Graduate Studies and Extended Education for more information.

Guided Study

Guided Study courses provide an alternative way to earn college credit if you are unable to attend regular weekly classes, or if your regular attendance is difficult due to work schedule, family responsibilities, distance from campus, or limited mobility. Guided Study courses increase your choice of courses and often solve scheduling problems.  The central feature of Guided Study courses is the use of self-instructional materials, usually corresponding with a course textbook. Study guides are designed in a self-instructional format enabling you to work through the course requirements independently! Courses offered in the Guided Study format will typically require at least three class meetings, or workshops, each semester. Each workshop is three hours long and will be held on a Saturday morning, afternoon, or weeknight. Workshops will be held on the Radford University campus and are scheduled near the beginning, middle, and end of each semester.  You will be required to attend workshops as you would attend on-campus classes. These workshops give you the opportunity to interact with the instructor and other students who are taking the class. They will be used for a variety of learning experiences including films, panel discussions, simulations, lectures, and other activities that complement at- home/work study. Guided Study courses are demanding, but rewarding!  Studying on your own is difficult. Students must have the initiative and self reliance to develop good study habits and maintain a regular schedule of study to be successful in these courses. Who is eligible for Guided Study? Anyone who is accepted to Radford University and meets the minimum course prerequisites as listed in the University catalog, may register for these courses.