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PAWS - Adding and Searching for Classes

There are two primary ways to search for classes when you are ready to enroll: the Schedule Planner and a PAWS Class Search. You may add sections to your Shopping Cart through either route, but see below to discover the best option for you. If you have questions about your schedule, contact your Academic Advisor. If you’re having trouble with PAWS, call the Help Desk at (414) 229-4040 or toll free at (877) 381-3459.

Contents 

Schedule Planner

The Schedule Planner is a tool designed to help you efficiently build your class schedule. The tool allows you to pick courses and build in break/busy times for work or other obligations. Then it automatically generates all possible class schedules and can validate your eligibility to enroll in your selected courses.

  1. Log in to PAWS
  2. Under the Academics header, click on the Schedule Planner link
  3. Click the OPEN SCHEDULE PLANNER button (make sure pop-up blocker is disabled)
  4. Use the onscreen options to select your term, filter and identify courses, add in break/busy times, then generate possible schedules
  5. When you identify the schedule you want, click Validate to make sure you’re eligible to enroll in all the courses on that schedule
  6. Click the Send to Shopping Cart button
  7. Return to your PAWS window to complete the enrollment process
  8. Click the NEXT button to set your class preferences for each course.
  9. Click the ENROLL button to enroll in courses.
  10. Click the I Agree button to agree to accept financial responsibility for your tuition and fees that apply to your enrollment. 
  11. Click the CONTINUE button to confirm your enrollment.

Still have questions? Check out our Schedule Planner FAQ (UWM login required) for more information. Advisors can also review additional information on the Schedule Planner Advisor View (UWM login required).

Please Note: Review Enrollment Checklist and Enrollment Appointment. Any stated prerequisites (enrollment requirements) also need to be met for the specific sections you select as part of your schedule before enrollment can be completed.

PAWS Class Search

  1. Log in to PAWS
  2. Under the Academics header, click on the Search link
  3. Enter one or more search criteria, such as Course Subject or Course Keyword
  4. Click the SEARCH button to view your results
  5. If you receive a message that your search will return more than 50 classes, click OK to continue or Cancel to enter more criteria
  6. The class status will be coded as Open (green circle), Closed (red square), or Wait Listed (yellow triangle)
  7. Click on the blue Section Number to view the Class Details page
  8. From the Class Details page, you can add a class to your Shopping Cart by clicking Select Class
  9. A new optional feature is the “Validate” button in your shopping cart. Clicking this will confirm whether or not you are eligible to enroll in the courses in your cart.
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Adding Classes in PAWS

Once you’ve identified classes for enrollment, there are steps you need to take to complete the enrollment process. And sometimes you aren’t able to complete the enrollment process in PAWS, and those situations are covered below, as well.
  1. Once all of your classes are in your Shopping Cart, check the boxes in the Select column and click the enroll button
  2. Review the Confirm classes page, then click the FINISH ENROLLING button
  3. A green check mark in the Status column confirms you have enrolled successfully
  4. If your request was not successful, a Red X with an error message will appear in the Status column
  5. When you finish enrolling, double-check your changes by reviewing the my class schedule sub-tab
If you have questions or need assistance adding classes, contact your Academic Advisor or UWM One Stop

Permission Needed to Enroll

If you are unable to add a course in PAWS, you may be able to gain permission to enroll in the course. Some permissions are granted by the instructor or department offering the course, while others are granted by your academic advisor – and some require approval from both.

There are two primary methods of gaining permission to enroll in a course:

  1. A paper-based Add/Drop Form - This form requires your signature as the student, and also has places for department/instructor and school/college (academic advisor) signatures, depending on the nature of the permission. Make sure to fill out the class information completely on the form before submitting it. Completed forms can be submitted to the Registrar’s Office via online form, in-person, or fax.
  2. A Class Permission in PAWS -  This is a permission assigned within PAWS that allows you to enroll in the class yourself via PAWS.

The following chart explains the typical reasons for permission, the approvals required, and the method of receiving permission:

 Reason  Approval Required  Method
 You want to take more credits than the maximum credit load allowed  Academic Advisor  Class Permission
 You want to repeat a course beyond the allowed limit (speak to the course instructor also)  Academic Advisor  Add/Drop Form
 The class status is closed, but you want to enroll anyway  Instructor or Department  Class Permission or Add/Drop Form
 You don't meet the course prerequisites but feel you're ready to take the class anyway  Instructor or Department  Class Permission or Add/Drop Form
 The course requires an instructor's consent to enroll  Instructor or Department  Class Permission or Add/Drop Form
 The "Add Deadline" has passed, but you want to enroll in the class anyway  Academic Advisor & Instructor  Add/Drop Form
 The "Drop With W Deadline" has passed, but you want to drop the class anyway  Academic Advisor & Instructor  Add/Drop Form
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Identifying Instructors or Departments for Approval

The instructor of a course is typically listed on the Schedule of Classes or the class listing in PAWS. If no instructor appears, or you are unable to contact the instructor, you can contact the academic department to seek permission to enroll. Contact information for departments typically can be found through a search on the UWM home page, although you also should be able to find that information listed in the Undergraduate Catalog.

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Identifying School/College for Approval

School/college approvals pertain to a your primary program of study or major.

  • For graduate students, school/college approvals are granted by the Graduate School.
  • For undergraduate students, school/college approvals are granted by your academic advising unit.
  • For non-degree (“university special”) undergraduate students, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions provides school/college approval.

Click on the My Academics link in the Academics section of your Student Center.

A section called My Program will appear on the right hand side of the screen.

  • If your Career is Graduate, your school/college is always the Graduate School. 
  • If your Career is Undergraduate, your school/college is identified in the Program listing (e.g., Business-Undergraduate). 
  • If the Program listing indicates University Special, see “Non-Degree Undergraduate Students” below. 
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Department Contact Information

 Graduate Students

Office of Graduate Education, Graduate School
Office: MIT 261
Email: gradschool@uwm.edu
Phone: 414-229-6569
Fax: 414-229-6967

 Degree-Seeking Undergraduate Students

Educational Opportunity Center
Office: MIT 173
Phone: 414-229-4696
Fax: 414-229-2863

School of Architecture and Urban Planning
Office: AUP 225
Email: sarup-advising@uwm.edu
Phone: 414-229-4015

Sheldon B. Lubar College of Business
Office: LUB N297
Email: uwmbba@uwm.edu
Phone: 414-229-5271

School of Education
Office: END 209
Email: oas@uwm.edu
Phone: 414-229-4721
Fax: 414-229-4705

College of Engineering and Applied Science
Office: EMS E386
Email: ceas-adv@uwm.edu
Phone: 414-229-4667
Fax: 414-229-2854

Center for International Education
Office: GAR 111/113
Phone: 414-229-6925 or 414-229-3042

Helen Bader School of Social Welfare
Office: END 1110
Email: ssw@uwm.edu
Phone: 414-229-4852
Fax: 414-229-5311

College of Health Sciences
Office: NWQ B 6451
Email: chs-info@uwm.edu
Phone: 414-229-2758

School of Information Studies
Office: NWQ B 3550
Phone: 414-229-4707
Fax: 414-229-6699

College of Letters and Science
Office: HOL 142
Email: let-sci@uwm.edu
Phone: 414-229-4654

College of Nursing
Office: CUN 135
Phone: 414-229-5047
Fax: 414-229-5554

Peck School of the Arts
Office: THR 120
Phone: 414-229-4763

 Non-Degree Undergraduate Students

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Office: Vogel Hall Visitor’s Center
Phone: 414-229-2222
Fax: 414-229-3788
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Keywords:
add, classes, search, planner, schedule, adding 
Doc ID:
98143
Owned by:
Help Desk K. in UW-Milwaukee Help Desk
Created:
2020-02-20
Updated:
2023-07-14
Sites:
UW-Milwaukee Help Desk