Return to UNITE Page

New to UNITE?  Follow these Steps to Success!

UNITE Distributed Learning is dedicated to providing continuing educational opportunities for engineering and science professionals, utilizing streaming video and web-based technologies for local and distant students worldwide.  

Step One: Know Your Program of Study

You are enrolling in courses through UNITE.

However, UNITE is not an academic program, only a way for students to take courses from off-campus locations. These are courses from the College of Science and Engineering at the Univeristy of Minnesota and may be combined with on-campus courses toward a degree (though many of our students complete all program coursework without taking on-campus courses).

If you are taking courses toward a degree, know your program's policies and procedures. To best place for you to get the most complete and up-to-date information about your program is at the Graduate Program pages of the departmental web site:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Step Two: Know How UNITE Works (an overview)

• UNITE offers a variety of graduate and undergraduate University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering courses using the Internet for streaming video and podcasts.
• UNITE courses are accredited CSE courses and may be combined with face-to-face courses toward your degree. 
• UNITE students typically never need to visit campus because UNITE uses online tools.  Exceptions do exist, such as for an undergraduate course with a lab. Exceptions are noted in the course descriptions on the UNITE course descriptions page, so check the course description when registering for a course.
• Exams and quizzes are taken synchronously with the on-campus offering, but at an appropriate location near the learner's home or at their work site. This program is designed to afford any-time, any-play delivery of courses to on-campus and distance learners across the country and worldwide.
• UNITE is a self-supporting unit within CSE, so there is an additional UNITE fee per credit for all UNITE courses in addition to standard tuition and other fees (UNITE fee is $100 per credit for the 2010-11 academic year). See Tuition and Fees for more details.

For greater detail, visit our UNITE Programs and Courses, How UNITE Works and UNITE Advantages page.

Step Three: Check the UNITE Course Schedule

Check our Course Schedule for course offerings.  Please check course descriptions carefully as some courses require on-campus meetings.  The course schedule is always subject to change, so check back for new course offerings. 

If you don't see a course you want listed, request it with our Course Request Form - we are always looking for more CSE courses to offer through UNITE.

Step Four: Register for Courses

Unlike other University courses, all UNITE course registration is coordinated through the UNITE administrative office on the twin cities campus.  You cannot register for UNITE courses online through One-Stop.

You must be admitted to a University of Minnesota academic division as a degree student (the Graduate School, the College of Science and Engineering of other colleges of the University) or be a non-degree student, such as Non-Degree Undergraduate or Non-Degree Graduate status.  Learn more about degree and non-degree status .

Use our Registration Forms to register for courses and to request graduate credit as a non-degree student with our online forms.  Other UNITE forms are .pdfs to be faxed to our office when necessary. 

Note that if you are planning to enroll in two or more courses in a semester, you will need to complete the immunization form.

<Return to Top of Page>

Step Five: Download Software, Test Your Computer and Know the UNITE Policies

You will access UNITE streaming video and downloadable podcasts with a computer, Internet connection and appropriate free software.  You can test your computer, connection and software with our course demonstrations anytime so that you know everything works before the first day of the semester. 

For system requirements, links to free, safe software downloads and UNITE demonstrations, check out our Streaming Video and Podcasts page .

UNITE will send a UNITE Student Handbook to your mailing address.  This handbook covers the policy and guideline materials you need to be familiar with as a UNITE student.  This UNITE Student Handbook ( .pdf, 776k) is also available as a downloadable .pdf file from this web site. Work with the UNITE Administrative office to approve your exam proctor before the first scheduled exam and familiarize yourself with homework, exam and quiz procedures and download the UNITE Homework Coversheet and UNITE Proctor form on our Homework, Examinations and Quizzes web page.

Step Six: Start the Semester

On the first day of courses, log in to the UNITE Media Portal with your University Internet ID (also known as an x.500 ID) and access course materials. 

Students who have no affiliation with the University (i.e., past student, previously applied to a program, etc.) will receive their Internet ID from the UNITE office before the start of semester (you need to initiate your University Internet account at https://www.umn.edu/initiate before using).  If you are returning to the University and have forgotten your University ID, please contact the UNITE office.

Also, take advantage of free and discounted resources available to you as a University of Minnesota student.  You pay for these resources through various University and College fees. 

Step Seven: Pay Your Bill

You may pay your bill through the UM Pay online electronic billing and payment option. 

• Non-degree students are required to pay tuition and other charges in full by the first due date. 
• Degree-seeking students are eligible for the University's installment plan.
• Be aware of University payment deadlines to avoid registration cancellation or additional fees

<Return to Top of Page>