Mizzou | Self-paced enrollment

Columns on the Quad on Mizzou's campus.

Self-paced courses are a type of course offered to Mizzou students. To learn more about enrolling in an online semester-based course at UMKC, Missouri S&T or UMSL, visit the semester-based enrollment page.

When you’re ready to enroll, we’ll help you with planning and timing. Since you’re looking at self-paced courses, you’ll have both flexibility and independence from having to meet at a specific time and place.

Find a self-paced course and enroll in your course

myZou lets you find the right course based on course type, session, subject matter and more. 

Course/account access

Log on to your course and sign in with your User ID and password.

Your student number is used to identify your records. You must include this number any time you contact the university regarding your records or courses.

Course materials and textbooks

You may purchase your textbooks after enrolling by visiting the Mizzou Store. If you wish to purchase your texts elsewhere, carefully check the textbook ISBN number and other information on the website in order to get the correct edition for the course.

If you would like to sell back your textbooks, please fill out the Sellback Form. Once The Mizzou Store receives your form, you'll receive an email with directions. You also may stop by the Textbook Desk located in the lower level of The Mizzou Store at any time to sell back your books.

Know the fees ahead of time

Online courses may involve fees. You may be required to pay additional fees based on the course.

Receiving financial aid?

If you are considering a self-paced course and are receiving aid, such as a Pell Grant, talk to the Student Financial Aid office first to make sure the timing of the course doesn’t affect the distribution of your aid.

Online courses and your financial aid

Self-paced guidelines

Once you have learned the basics and enrolled in your self-paced course, read these guidelines for accessing and completing your course.

Graded assignments

Unless your course indicates otherwise, you:

  • Must submit all lessons in numerical order.
  • May not submit more than three lessons in a seven-day period (unless course site states a different limit.)

For example: If you submit lesson 1 at 12:34 p.m. on Tuesday, you cannot submit lesson 4 until 12:35 p.m. the following Tuesday.

Proctored exam completion guidelines

  • If exams are required for your course, your options will be an online proctoring service or an alternative assessment determined by your instructor. See the proctored exams page for more information about how your exams will work with an online proctoring service or an alternative assessment.
  • A minimum of 6 weeks must elapse between the submission of the first assignment and the scheduling of the final exam. You may not complete a self-paced course in less than 6 weeks.
  • Exams must be taken in sequence, and there must be at least a one-week interval between each exam in the course.
  • If the assignment preceding your exam is faculty evaluated, you are required to wait either for your score or for 5 business days before requesting the exam.

Course completion (6 month)

  • You may not complete a self-paced course in less than six weeks from the day you submit your first lesson. You have up to six months from your course start date to complete a course.
  • If you drop a course within the first two months of enrolling there will be no notation of the course posted on your official transcript.
  • If you withdraw from a course, you will receive a "W." For more information, visit the Registrar's website.
  • The course or term (university) withdrawal should be received/dated no later than one week (seven days) prior to the 6-month course end date.
  • For final exams, the exam may be requested once all required lessons and exams are submitted. For all other exams, all preceding lessons must be scored or submitted for 5 business days before you may request the exam.

Course completion (16 week)

  • You may not complete a self-paced 16-week course in less than six weeks from the day you submit your first lesson. There are specific start and end dates for these courses.
  • If you drop a course within the stated drop period there will be no notation of the course posted on your official transcript.
  • If you withdraw from a course after the drop period (after the deadline to "Drop without Penalty") you will receive a grade of "W" from the instructor.
  • If you withdraw from all of your courses (withdrawing from the university) after the drop period, you will receive a grade of "W" from the instructor.
  • The course or term (university) withdrawal should be received/dated no later than one week (seven days) prior to the course end date.

Completion plans

Refer to the self-paced course planning sheet to plan your work. If you need this course to meet a personal goal (e.g., graduation), take that into account when you make your plan. If you need assistance with a course completion plan, please contact missourionline@umsystem.edu.

Credit for graduation or other requirements

If you need to earn credit in time for graduation, certification, financial aid, or another personal deadline, keep in mind that you should complete all of your work, including examinations, at least three weeks before you need to have your report of credit.