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Variable Credit Courses in French: explanation and guidelines:

The Department of French and Italian offers a variable credit option in French 228 and 271. The intent of that option is to intensify learning. The purpose of this memo is to explain: a) what work for the 4th credit typically entails; b) how to register correctly for the 4th credit in a variable credit course; and c) what deadlines you should keep in mind regarding your registration for variable credit courses.


A. What sort of work is involved for the 4th credit option?

Within the French section, the format for the 4th credit option generally follows one of two models:

1) A program of extra reading and other assignments given in conjunction with approximately seven extra class meetings (known as discussion sections) which students are required to attend on top of the regular weekly 3-credit lecture sections. Depending on the instructor, these seven extra meetings may take place every other week, or they may be clustered in successive weeks at selected points in the semester.

2) A directed independent research project, designed and carried out by each student in consultation with the instructor. Such projects often include a program of individual meetings with the instructor; occasionally, they also entail group meetings with other students taking the course for 4 credits.

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B. How do I register for the 4th credit?

1. Using Web Enrollment via MY UW Madison, select Add a Class under enrollment options. Select the term for which you wish to enroll. Either search and select the class that you wish to add or enter the class number (the 5 digit number for the lecture section) that you wish to add; click Enter.

2. The Related Class Sections page will now appear. To take the course for 4 credits, select the desired section (discussion) by clicking in the circle to the left of this option. If you wish to take the course for only 3 credits, select no selection by clicking in the circle to the left of this option. Now, click on the Next button.

3. The Enrollment Preferences page will now appear (if a choice exists). This is where you indicate the number of units for which you wish to register and whether you wish to take the course for Honors. Select the number of Units/Credits for which you wish to enroll in this course: select 4 if you have enrolled in the lecture section and optional discussion section; select 3 if you have enrolled only in the lecture section. If the honors option is available and you want to take the course for honors credit, choose Yes, take for honors (see instructor for honors credits course work). Click on the Next button.

4. The Select Classes to Add page will now appear. Review the note in the green box to see if the course has been added to your enrollment Shopping Cart. Verify that the course you selected has been added to your Enrollment Shopping Cart. Click on the Proceed to the Step 2 of 3 button.

5. The Confirm Classes page will now appear. Look for additional directions to help you finish adding a class. If you enrolled correctly for 4 credits, the lecture AND discussion will appear here. If you enrolled for 3 credits, only the lecture will appear. If you are enrolled correctly, select the Finish Enrolling button.

6. The View Results page will now appear. The message will indicate in what class you have enrolled. Click on the My Class Schedule button to review your schedule and confirm your enrollment.

7. The My Class Schedule page will now appear. To review your class schedule in a weekly calendar format, select the Grid Radio button. Your class schedule will appear in a grid format, allowing you to see whether you added the course correctly. Again, if you enrolled correctly for 4 credits, the lecture AND discussion will appear here. If you enrolled for 3 credits, only the lecture will appear. Print your schedule. Use the drop down box to return to the Student Center.

If you realize that you've made a mistake, redo the entire process: delete the course and start over (some of our variable credit courses fill up quickly during Registration, so be sure to correct mistakes promptly to avoid being shut out of a course). If you need on-line help, remember that the steps to follow in registering for the 4th credit are also provided in the footnotes to all variable credit courses offered in the Department of French and Italian.

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C. Deadlines to keep in mind if you are enrolled in a course for 4 credits:

1. During week 1 of classes, the instructor will tell you what the 4th credit involves for that course.

2. Before Wednesday of week 2 of classes, you should decide whether or not you are going to stick with the 4th credit option. This will allow you to drop the 4th credit, if you elect to do that, BEFORE the Registrar's deadline for dropping courses without notification on your transcript, and also BEFORE the deadline for adding courses. You will have to drop the entire course and then re-add it for 3 credits to be properly registered. If the course is closed at the time you attempt to re-add it for three credits, you will have to see our Undergraduate Coordinator, Sue Grass (<mailto:sgrassri@wisc.edu>sgrassri@wisc.edu, 618 Van Hise Hall) to get permission to add the course.

3. By the end of week 4 of classes, you must commit to taking the course for either 3 or 4 credits. The department will not accept any changes of credit after that date; and if you remain registered for 4 credits in a course but fail to do the work for the 4th credit, you will be at risk of receiving a grade of "F" for 25% of your overall grade in the course.

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