Taking Classes at MSU

Taking Classes at MSU

The Basics

While you are here, you will take 2 classes per semester, with at least one course taken on a for-credit basis (see below for more details). The program requires 2 courses per semester, but we recommend choosing several backup courses in case you discover that one of your first two choices clashes with a teaching assignment, or is a course that isn’t what you expected and you wish to drop it. Having a back up or two already chosen makes the process less stressful as the drop/add deadline is very short.

Course numbers are generally: 100 Freshman (first year), 200 Sophomore (second year), 300-400 junior and senior (third and fourth year), 800 graduate-level. You can generally take classes at any level, just recognize that the lower level classes are much larger and usually have much younger students. Higher level classes are smaller (and limited) and are more demanding in the work. For classes in your field, we recommend the higher level.

Important to note:

  • Fulbright does NOT allow online courses (or mostly online) or non-academic courses (such as dance, music, sports, etc.)
  • We urge caution when choosing a language course due to the heavy time demands. Many FLTAs here have found that it was difficult to keep up in these courses.
  • Each FLTA must take 1 American studies course out of the 4 courses they will take during their time here. We strongly recommend taking that course in the fall semester.
  • The other courses you take must be “professional courses,” related to language teaching in some way. 

The Process

  1. Review the courses you can choose from.
    • These courses have been reviewed and approved by Fulbright/IIE and should not cause any issues in having them approve the courses. If you wish to take a course that is not listed on the other page, please let the FLTA Supervisor know so that it can be submitted for approval as soon as possible. 
    • You must be sure that the courses do NOT overlap with each other or with your teaching duties.  (Some of you may not know your exact teaching/work schedule, but do the best you can.)
  2. We will try to have you self-enroll in the courses (instructions forthcoming). Alternatively, be ready to email the FLTA Supervisor with the courses that you are interested in taking within 2 -3 weeks of your match.

If you aren’t sure, just reach out to the FLTA Supervisor (Emily) with your questions, and she will try to help you choose.

 Choosing Between For-Credit and Audit Enrollment

All FLTAs must enroll in at least one for-credit course each semester. Your second course may be taken either for credit or as an audit, depending on your interests and workload. Regardless of how you enroll, you are expected to attend class regularly and participate fully.

Visual flowchart of for credit vs auditing courses.

For-Credit Courses

A for-credit course will appear on your official MSU transcript. You have two options for how the course is graded:

Option 1: Take the Course for a Letter Grade

  • Your transcript will show a standard letter grade, just like any other MSU student.
  • You are expected to complete the course requirements as outlined by the instructor.

Option 2: Take the Course as Credit/No Credit (Pass/Fail)

  • The course still appears on your transcript.
  • Instead of a letter grade, the transcript will show Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC).
  • You must earn at least the equivalent of a 2.0 in the course to receive credit.
  • Depending on the instructor, you may not need to complete every assignment, but you should discuss expectations with the instructor.
  • The Credit/No Credit option must be declared by the university deadline, typically around the midpoint of the semester.

Registering for a For-Credit Course

  • You should first try to register for the course yourself.
  • If you encounter problems (such as prerequisite restrictions or enrollment errors), contact the FLTA Supervisor for assistance.
  • If you plan to switch a course to Credit/No Credit, notify the FLTA Supervisor before the university deadline.

Auditing a Course

Auditing allows you to participate in a course without receiving academic credit.

  • You may audit a maximum of one course per semester.
  • Audited courses will either not show on your transcript or would only show as “AU” (audit) or “V” (visitor).
  • You are still expected to attend all class sessions and participate regularly.

Registering to Audit

  • Audit requests must be processed during the first week of classes, so it is important to communicate your plans early.
  • Try to register for the course yourself first.
  • If you would like to audit a course, notify the FLTA Supervisor as soon as possible.