Registration Help
Course Sections for Registration
Follow your New Student Registration Agreement emailed by your Academic Advisor. Some courses require you to register for multiple sections. Common sections include:
- Lecture: overview of concepts and theories
- Discussion/recitation: smaller class to talk about and practice what you learned in lecture
- Lab: hands-on practice
- Lecture-discussion: combines lecture and discussion into one section instead of two sections
Expand the course type below to see what sections to register for.
ENG 100 Engineering Orientation
- 1 credit hour
- Required for all new first-year students in their first semester on-campus
Led by an upper-class student in your department, this is where new first-year students build community with fellow first-year students in their department, learn and engage with resources and opportunities, and develop skills to propel your success.
Your Major | ENG 100 Section To Register For |
Aerospace Engineering | Any 1 section that begins with "AE" |
Agricultural and Biological Engineering | AB1 |
Bioengineering | Any 1 section that begins with "BI" |
Chemical Engineering | Any 1 section that begins with "CH" |
Civil Engineering | Any 1 section that begins with "CE" |
Computer Engineering | Any 1 section that begins with "EE" |
Computer Science | Any 1 section that begins with "CS" |
Computer Science + Bioengineering | Any 1 section that begins with "BI" |
Computer Science + Physics | Any 1 section that begins with "EP" |
Electrical Engineering | Any 1 section that begins with "EE" |
Engineering Mechanics | Any 1 section that begins with "ME" |
Engineering Undeclared | Any 1 section that begins with "UD" |
Environmental Engineering | Any 1 section that begins with "CE" |
Industrial Engineering | Any 1 section that begins with "IS" |
Materials Engineering | Any 1 section that begins with "MS" |
Mechanical Engineering | Any 1 section that begins with "ME" |
Neural Engineering | Any 1 section that begins with "BI" |
Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering | Any 1 section that begins with "NU" |
Physics | Any 1 section that begins with "EP" |
Systems Engineering and Design | Any 1 section that begins with "IS" |
ENG 300 Engineering Transfer Orientation
- 1 credit hour
- Required for all new transfer students in their first semester on-campus
Led by an upper-class engineering student, this is where you'll build community with fellow transfer students across engineering majors, learn and engage with resources and opportunities, and develop skills to propel your success.
Register for any 1 section that begins with "TR".
Students registering for a Merit section should go to the "Merit for Mathematics (MATH), Chemistry (CHEM), or Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE)" section. The below table consists of non-Merit sections.
Course(s) | Section(s) To Register For | Credit Hours |
MATH 112 Algebra |
1 lecture section "EL1" or "EL2" |
3 credit hours |
MATH 115 Preparation for Calculus | 1 lecture section "AL1" or "AL2" + 1 discussion section "ADF, ADD, ADN, or ADQ" |
3 credit hours |
MATH 220 Calculus |
1 lecture section "AL1" or "AL2" OR 1 lecture section "BL1" or "BL2" |
5 credit hours |
MATH 221 Calculus I |
1 lecture section "EL1" or "EL2"
|
4 credit hours |
MATH 231 Calculus II + MATH 299 Topics in Mathematics |
As an engineering student, your MATH 231 lecture includes content that requires meeting more frequently and additional assignments. You are required to register for a specific section of MATH 299 depending on which MATH 231 lecture you register for in order to receive another credit hour in acknowledgment of the additional time you will put in. MATH 231: lecture section "EL1" OR MATH 231: lecture section "EL2" |
4 total credit hours (3 credit hours + 1 credit hour) |
MATH 241 Calculus III | Any 1 lecture section + any 1 discussion section that both begin with the same letter |
4 credit hours |
MATH 285 Intro Differential Equations | Any 1 lecture-discussion section | 3 credit hours |
MATH 257 Linear Algebra with Computational Applications* | Any 1 lecture section + any 1 discussion section |
3 credit hours |
*transfer students only
Students registering for a Merit section should go to the "Merit for Mathematics (MATH), Chemistry (CHEM), or Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE)" section. The below table consists of non-Merit sections.
Course | Section(s) To Register For | Credit Hours |
CHEM 101 Introductory Chemistry | Any 1 lecture section + any 1 discussion-lab combo section that both begin with the same letter |
3 credit hours |
CHEM 102 General Chemistry I | Any 1 lecture section + any 1 quiz section that both begin with the same letter |
3 credit hours |
CHEM 103 General Chemistry Lab I | 1 lecture section "A" + any 1 lab section |
1 credit hour |
CHEM 104 General Chemistry II | Any 1 lecture section + any 1 quiz section that both begin with the same letter |
3 credit hours |
CHEM 105 General Chemistry Lab II | 1 lecture section "A" + any 1 lab section |
1 credit hour |
Course | Section(s) To Register For | Credit Hours |
PHYS 100 | Any 1 lecture section + any 1 discussion section |
2 credit hours |
PHYS 211 |
Any 1 lecture section + any 1 discussion section + any 1 lab section |
4 credit hours |
PHYS 212 |
Any 1 lecture section + any 1 discussion section + any 1 lab section |
4 credit hours |
PHYS 213 |
Any 1 lecture section + any 1 discussion section + any 1 lab section |
4 credit hours |
PHYS 214 |
Any 1 lecture section + any 1 discussion section + any 1 lab section |
2 credit hours |
PHYS 225 |
Any 1 lecture section + any 1 discussion section + any 1 lab section |
2 credit hours |
Merit for Mathematics (MATH), Chemistry (CHEM), or Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE)
Merit courses are specialized courses that integrate engaging, team-based problems. Approval is required to register for a Merit course. Students that received an email invitation to join MERIT are pre-approved to register for a Merit course. Students that did not receive an email invitation to Merit but are interested in joining should discuss with their Academic Advisor during their New Student Registration date. For more information, visit the Merit website (https://merit.illinois.edu/course-schedules/).
Course Registration Numbers (CRNs), 5-digit unique identification numbers for sections of courses, are provided in parenthesis for convenience.
Mathematics (MATH)
Course(s) | Sections To Register For | Credit Hours |
MATH 115 Preparation for Calculus + MATH 199 Merit for MATH 115 |
MATH 115: any 1 lecture section + any 1 discussion section + MATH 199: 1 discussion section "PC1 (22099), PC2 (39026), PC3 (51989), PC4 (65503), or PC5 (72045)" |
4 total credit hours (3 credit hours + 1 credit hour) |
MATH 220 Calculus + MATH 199 Merit |
MATH 220: 1 lecture section "AL1" or "AL2" OR MATH 220: 1 lecture section "BL1" or "BL2" |
6 total credit hours (5 credit hours + 1 credit hour) |
MATH 221 Calculus I + MATH 199 Merit |
MATH 221: 1 lecture section "EL1" or "EL2" + 1 discussion section "ED1 (48293)" or "ED2 (48296)" + MATH 199: section "JM1 (22231)" |
5 total credit hours (4 credit hours + 1 credit hour) |
MATH 231 Calculus II + MATH 199 Merit |
MATH 231: 1 lecture section "AL1, AL2, or AL3" + 1 discussion section "AD1 (49232), AD2 (46907), or AD3 (49238)" + MATH 199: section "JM1 (22231)" |
4 total credit hours (3 credit hours + 1 credit hour) |
MATH 241 Calculus III + MATH 199 Merit |
MATH 241: 1 lecture section "BL1" or "BL2" + 1 discussion section "BD1 (50384), BD2 (47042), or BD3 (51991)" + MATH 199: section "JM1 (22231)" |
5 total credit hours (4 credit hours + 1 credit hour) |
Chemistry (CHEM)
Courses | Sections To Register For | Credit Hours |
CHEM 101 Introductory Chemistry |
CHEM 101: Lecture section "AL1" OR CHEM 101: Lecture section "BL1" OR CHEM 101: Lecture section "CL1" |
4 total credit hours |
CHEM 102 General Chemistry I |
CHEM 102: Lecture section "EL1" OR CHEM 102: Lecture section "FL1" |
4 total credit hours |
CHEM 104 General Chemistry II |
CHEM 104: Lecture section "AL1" OR CHEM 104: Lecture section "DL1" |
4 total credit hours |
Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE)
Courses | Sections To Register For | Credit Hours |
ECE 110 Intro to Electronics + ECE 199 Merit for ECE 110 |
ECE 110: any 1 lecture section |
4 total credit hours (3 credit hours + 1 credit hour) |
ECE 120 Intro to Computing + ECE 199 Merit for ECE 120 |
ECE 120: any 1 lecture section + any 1 discussion section + ECE 199: section 120 (CRN 69258) |
5 total credit hours (4 credit hours + 1 credit hour) |
Common Registration Errors
You may receive errors as you register for classes. Expand each section to learn what the errors mean and how to troubleshoot them.
If you are attending New Student Registration in-person, raise your hand for an Assistant to help you. If you are attending New Student Registration online, follow the email instructions to join the online registration help room during your assigned registration time window.
Problem: The section you are trying to register for is full.
Solution: Select a different section. If a different section is not available and you are trying to register for a Mathematics (MATH), Chemistry (CHEM), Physics (PHYS), Engineering (ENG), or a major-specific course, please contact a New Student Registration Assistant during your assigned registration time. If you are trying to register for a general education elective, select a different course.
Example: A student is trying to register for a MATH 241 discussion section that is full. To search for open sections, select "Open Sections Only" under Advanced Search while registering for classes.
Problem: The university does not have record of the your fulfilled prerequisite or test score required to take the course.
Solution: Visit Course Explorer (https://courses.illinois.edu/schedule/DEFAULT/DEFAULT) to view the course prerequisite information. If your Academic Advisor recommended a course in your New Student Registration Agreement and you receive a prerequisite/test score error, please contact a New Student Registration Assistant for help during your assigned registration time.
It is the student's responsibility to ensure all prerequisites/co-requisites are satisfied and AP/IB/A-level credit processed within the first week of the semester.
Special Notes:
- Mathematics (MATH) 115, 220, and 221 require a minimum ALEKS placement test score described at https://math.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/aleks-ppl-mathematics-assessment-exam.
- Physics (PHYS) courses enforce all prerequisites and co-requisites. Predicted AP, IB, or A-level MATH scores may be temporarily acceptable as approved by your Academic Advisor. Predicted AP, IB, or A-level PHYS scores are NOT acceptable. All prerequisites/co-requisites must be fulfilled within the first 10 days of the semester.
Example: A student is trying to register for ECE 205 and receives the below error.
When checking Course Explorer, the course description shows that PHYS 212 is a prerequisite. The student does not have credit for PHYS 212 but their Academic Advisor recommended taking the course in their New Student Registration Agreement. The student is attending New Student Registration in-person so raises their hand for a New Student Registration Assistant to help.
Problem: You are not registered for the co-requisite of a course and the university does not have record of you having earned prior credit for the course. A co-requisite is a course that must be taken at the same time as the desired course or credit must be earned before registering for the desired course. For example, MATH 231 Calculus II is a co-requisite for PHYS 211 University Physics Mechanics. MATH 231 must be taken simultaneously with PHYS 211 or prior credit must be earned for MATH 231 in order to register for PHYS 211.
Solution: Visit Course Explorer (https://courses.illinois.edu/schedule/DEFAULT/DEFAULT) to view the course co-requisite, section, and restriction information. If you are not the intended audience for the course, pick a different section or course. If you are the intended audience for the course, first register for the co-requisite course and then register for the course. If your Academic Advisor recommended a course in your New Student Registration Agreement without the co-requisite or without prior credit for the co-requisite course, please contact a New Student Registration Assistant for help during your assigned registration time.
Example: A student is trying to register for MATH 220 Calculus and receives the below co-requisite error.
When checking Course Explorer, the section information shows that this section is only for MERIT students. The students is not in MERIT so they must select a different non-MERIT available section.
Problem: You are not registered for all required sections of a course.
Solution: If you are registering for a Mathematics (MATH), Chemistry (CHEM), Physics (PHYS), Engineering (ENG), or MERIT course, refer to "Course Sections for Registration" on the Grainger First-Year Experience (GFX) website to see what sections you must register for. Otherwise visit Course Explorer (https://courses.illinois.edu/schedule/DEFAULT/DEFAULT) to view the course information.
Example: A student is trying to register for CHEM 102 and receives the below error.
When checking "Course Sections for Registration" on the GFX website for CHEM 102, the student sees that the lecture and quiz sections must both begin with the same letter. If the student selects a lecture "DL", the quiz section must start with the letter "D".
Problem: You are already registered for a class during that day and time.
Solution: Select a different section that does not conflict with your existing scheduled classes. You may need to switch sections of one or more courses in order for all the courses to fit in your schedule without conflicting times.
To avoid time conflict errors,
- It can help to register for any classes that have limited section options first and register for classes with many section options last. A New Student Registration Assistant can help you determine which course(s) to prioritize registering first.
- Check the bottom left weekly schedule visualization to ensure you do not have overlapping courses. The below screenshot is an example of a time conflict between two courses.
Example: A student is trying to register for a section of PHYS 211 and receives the below time conflict error.
When looking through additional section options in the registration portal, the student selects a different section that does not conflict with their other courses.
Problem: You are not the intended audience for a course.
Solution: Visit Course Explorer (https://courses.illinois.edu/schedule/DEFAULT/DEFAULT) to view the course section and restriction information. If you are not the intended audience for the course, pick a different section and as necessary, a different course. If you are the intended audience for the course or if your Academic Advisor recommended the course in your New Student Registration Agreement, please contact a New Student Registration Assistant for help during your assigned registration time.
Example: A student is trying to register for a section of TE 200 and receives the below student attribute restriction error.
When looking through Course Explorer, the section description shows that the section is only for students in specific Living Learning Communities (LLCs). If the student is not in the listed LLCs, they will need to select a different section.
Departmental or Major Restriction Error
Problem: You are not the intended audience for a course.
Solution: Visit Course Explorer (https://courses.illinois.edu/schedule/DEFAULT/DEFAULT) to view the course section and restriction information. If you are not the intended audience for the course, pick a different section and as necessary, a different course. If you are the intended audience for the course or if your Academic Advisor recommended the course in your New Student Registration Agreement, please contact a New Student Registration Assistant for help during your assigned registration time.
Example: A student is trying to register for a section of ENG 100 and receives the below major restriction error.
In order to register for the correct ENG 100 section designated to your major, you will need to refer to the table above under ENG 100 Engineering Orientation.
Problem: You are not the intended audience for a course.
Solution: Visit Course Explorer (https://courses.illinois.edu/schedule/DEFAULT/DEFAULT) to view the course section and restriction information and pick a different section or as necessary, a different course.