Open University
San José State University's Open University program lets you enroll in regular curriculum university classes on a space-available basis.
Welcome to Open University!
What is Open University?
San José State University’s Open University program allows non-matriculated students to enroll in university courses on a space-available basis. Open University is a way for non-matriculated students to attend San José State University to take individual courses. It also allows students to earn credits while waiting for admission. Open University students can grow professionally, enrich their lives, prepare for a career change, or give university life a try.
OU Calendar, Forms and Registration Process
Pay for your Open University courses online.
Who may attend Open University?
Former San José State University students, SJSU alumni, members of the general community and disqualified students from SJSU or elsewhere may take courses. Currently-enrolled, matriculated (admitted) SJSU students or those who have been admitted for the current term are not eligible to enroll through Open University.
Check out our updated Course Schedule! →
If you are not able to view any PDF (
) content on this site, download Adobe Reader.
Forms
Open University Forms
- Forms
- Financial Petition Form PDF
- Registration Form PDF
- Petition for Course Drop
- Maintained by Academic Advising & Retention Services
- Petition for Course Drop PDF
- Petition for Course Drop (Spring 2012)
- Petition for Withdrawal Form
- Maintained by Academic Advising & Retention Services
- Retroactive Add Petition Form PDF
- Financial Petition Form PDF
- Late Enrollment Petition and Retroactive Request
Class Schedule
Open University Schedule Information
- Class Schedule
- Open University Schedule Information
- Women's Studies
- Vietnamese
- Urban and Regional Planning
- University Studies
- Theatre Arts
- Technology
- Teacher Education
- Statistics
- Speech Pathology
- Special Education
- Spanish
- Software Engineering
- Sociology
- Social Work
- Social Science
- Science
- Science Education
- Religious Studies
- Radio - Television - Film
- Public Relations
- Public Administration
- Psychology
- Portuguese
- Political Science
- Physics
- Photography
- Philosophy
- Persian
- Packaging
- Occupational Therapy
- Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging
- Nursing
- Nuclear Science
- Music
- Music Education
- Middle East Studies
- Microbiology
- Mexican American Studies
- Meteorology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mathematics
- Materials Engineering
- Mass Communication
- Marine Science
- Linguistics
- Linguistics and Language Development
- Library Science
- Latin
- Kinesiology
- Justice Studies
- Journalism
- Jewish Studies
- Japanese
- Italian
- Interior Design
- Intercollegiate Athletics
- Industrial Design
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Humanities
- Humanities and the Arts
- Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism Managment
- History
- Hebrew
- Health Science
- Health Professions
- Graphic Design
- Global Studies
- Gerontology
- German
- Geology
- Geography
- General Engineering
- French
- Forensic Science
- Foreign Languages
- Environmental Studies
- Entomology
- English
- Elementary Education
- Electrical Engineering
- Educational Administration
- Education
- Economics
- Design
- Dance
- Creative Arts
- Counselor Education
- Computer Science
- Computer Engineering
- Comparative Literature
- Communication Studies
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Chinese
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Business: Organization and Management
- Business: Marketing
- Business: Management Information Systems
Frequently Asked Questions
Open University FAQs
- Are international students eligible to take OU courses with an international visa?
- Are transcripts and a SJSU application necessary?
- Can I add a course after the deadline?
- Can I drop my classes and receive a refund?
- Can I take OU classes if I am a matriculated student?
- How can I pay?
- How do I access my grades?
- How do I audit or take an OU course for credit/no credit?
- How do I know if the course I am taking through OU will count toward my degree/program?
- How do I obtain a student ID if I take an OU class for the first time?
- How do I withdraw from OU classes?
- How many units taken through OU apply toward my bachelor/master's degree?
- How much does it cost?
- Is financial aid available?
- What are “alternative arrangements” for individual studies and directed reading courses?
- What do I need to register via MySJSU?
- What if I am not on the class roster?
- What if the course(s) I have selected have been cancelled?
- What is a retroactive course add or drop?
- What is Open University?
- Where do I go if I need more help?
- Who can I contact if I have additional questions?
- Why is it necessary to provide my contact information?
- FAQs
- Open University Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I drop a course?
- How can I obtain a transcript?
Registration
Open University Enrollment
- How to Register for Open University Classes
- Registration for Students with Disabilities
- International Students
- Access to Your Records
- Ethnic Origin
- Use of Social Security Number
- "AU" - Auditing a Class
- Credit/No Credit Option – (CR/NC)
- Undergraduate Credit
Academic Information
Open University Academic Information
- "I" (Incomplete)
- "AU" - Auditing a Class
- Credit/No Credit Option – (CR/NC)
- Undergraduate Credit
- Individual Study/Directed Reading Courses
- Graduate/Credential (200-Level) Credit
- Master’s Thesis and Special Studies Courses
- Course Applicability
- Grade Forgiveness (Formerly known as "Academic Renewal")
- Disqualified Students
- Grading System
- Grades
- Transcripts
- Counseling Services
Student Resources
Open University Student Resources
- SJSU Student ID Card
- User ID and Password
- Library
- Student Health Center
- AS ECO Pass
- Counseling Services
General Education Requirements
The requirements and courses described in this section are approved for General Education for all students beginning continuous enrollment in Fall 1991 or later. Students who have maintained continuous enrollment from an earlier date and are completing earlier GE patterns should refer to the substitution list at the end of this section. Questions on GE requirements should be directed to the major adviser, who will refer the student to the Student Services Center if further clarification is needed.
- General Education Requirements
- The requirements and courses described in this section are approved for General Education for all students beginning continuous enrollment in Fall 1991 or later. Students who have maintained continuous enrollment from an earlier date and are completing earlier GE patterns should refer to the substitution list at the end of this section. Questions on GE requirements should be directed to the major adviser, who will refer the student to the Student Services Center if further clarification is needed.
Required Tests and Placement
Required Tests and Placement for Open University Courses
- SJSU Testing Office
- Calculus Placement Exam
- Credit by Examination
- English Placement Test (EPT) and Entry Level Mathematics (ELM)
- English Placement Test (EPT) and Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Exemptions
- Foreign Language Placement Exams
- Music Placement Examinations
- Physics Placement Test