Courses and registration
When does registration open?
Registration for the summer and fall terms generally opens in March. Registration generally opens for J Term and Spring terms in October. Specific dates will be posted in the MyMitchellHamline portal.
How do I know if a course has prerequisites?
Course information can be found in the courses section of this catalog.
What is the difference between a regular class and a survey class?
Survey courses are a shorter version that focuses on topics covered on the bar exam.
How can I see my waitlist position?
Log in to the MyMitchellHamline portal. Open My Academics and your waitlist position will be listed on My Course Waitlist at the bottom right of the screen.
Does the section numbers of a course identify the enrollment option?
The section number does identify the course modality. However, it is best to check the meeting type for the course modality and description registration restrictions.
If I am on a waitlist for a course, how will I know when space is available?
If you are placed on a wait list for a course, you will receive an automated email when a seat becomes available. To accept the seat, follow the directions in the email by the deadline listed. If you miss the deadline, the available seat will be offered to the next person on the waitlist. If you miss a deadline or remove yourself from the wait list at any point, and are still interested in the course, you will need to add yourself to the wait list again.
The course I am interested in is full; how do I get on the waitlist?
If a course is waitlist eligible, there will be an option to add yourself to the wait list. Some important things to know ahead of time are: the system will not allow you to wait list for a course if it causes a conflict with another course in which you are registered; you are not able to wait list for a course if it will cause you to exceed the credit limit for that term.
I am not a blended student, but I want to take online and/or Blended courses. Alternatively, I am not an on-campus student, but I want to take in-person courses. Can I?
Yes, Students not in their first year may freely take a course in any modality they wish as long as they are able to abide by the course modality meeting type, e.g., in-person courses must be taken in person, Blended courses require an in-person Capstone. Students are not limited to courses based on modality simply because of their program type.
What's the difference between a HyFlex and online course? Aren't they the same thing?
HyFlex courses will have some mix of on-campus and remote participation with regular class meeting times. You can choose whether to participate in these classes entirely remotely or to participate on-campus to the extent possible. There will be two cross- listed sections, fully remote and on-campus. Register for the remote section (HR) to participate remotely and synchronously, and in the in-person section (HC) to attend on-campus. Participating remotely in this option does count as distance education courses. Participating in-person in this option counts as in-person courses. Whichever section you select, you will participate in that modality for the duration of the course.
Online courses are asynchronous, fully online courses that count as distance education courses. There are no set meeting times, but there are regular assignments and optional office hours.
I'm an on-campus student. Can I take a single blended course?
Yes. However, it is important to note that blended courses are offered in a specific format -1/3 online and 2/3 in person. Students come to campus once or twice a semester (depending where they are in their program), to participate in a synchronous schedule for that class. When students are not meeting synchronously for the blended course, the work is completed asynchronously, online. If you choose to register for a Blended course, you must attend the required in-person Capstone week. Further, you cannot register for any other course that conflicts with the Capstone week.
What if the blended section of a course is the only one that fits my schedule?
Blended courses-those that meet 1/3 online and 2/3 on campus-may be taken only when the capstone week does not conflict with your other scheduled courses. Be sure to review the course schedule.
Are online classes self-paced?
No, they are not.
What's the difference between skills and experiential courses?
We use "skills" as an umbrella term encompassing all courses with a skills component. "Experiential" covers the three types of courses that can count toward the ABA's requirement that JD students earn six credit hours in experiential courses: simulations, clinics, and externships. It's a more specific term.
Advocacy, Negotiation, and Transactions & Settlements are all simulation courses, and count toward the ABA's six credit requirement in experiential courses.
When does the term start?
Term dates can be found on the academic calendar in the catalog. .
How can I find out when my class meets?
The Course and Room Schedule page shows the day of the week a course meets. You will find the start dates for the term on the academic calendar.
Is there a limit to the number of credits I may take each semester?
Yes, the number of credits a student can take varies by term.
- Fall and Spring: students may register for a maximum of 15 credits and are billed based on the corresponding tuition bracket:
- 12 – 15 credits: full-time tuition
- 8 – 11 credits: part-time tuition
- 1 – 7 credits: pay per credit.
- Summer: 8 credits is the maximum, though students may petition to take up to 10 credits. Having a petition approved is not a guarantee. In the case of a student doing a residency during the summer, the maximum credit limit is 12, though all 12 credits must be in the residency. Tuition is pay per credit.
- J-Term: students may take up to 3 credits, and tuition is pay per credit.
How many online credits may I earn?
Students may take up to 43 credits under the 86-credit requirement (41 under the 83-credit requirement) toward their J.D. degree through courses that are designated "distance education courses." A distance education course is one in which students are separated from all faculty members for more than one-third of the instruction and the instruction involves the use of technology to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and all faculty members, either synchronously or asynchronously. Source: ABA Standards Definition (7) and 306.
How many credits do I get for my long paper?
The long paper is not worth any credits. If you complete the long paper in a seminar course, you earn 3 credits rather than 2 credits. If you write a long paper as part of any other course, there are no additional credits associated with it. In limited circumstances, students may satisfy the ARW requirement by writing an independent long paper. Guidelines for the Advanced Research and Writing Requirement (long paper) can be found here.
Transcripts
Do you offer electronic transcripts with electronic payment?
Mitchell Hamline Office of the Registrar has partnered with Parchment to provide academic transcripts.
Students will be able to order and pay for MHSL transcripts online by creating an account with Parchment. Students will finally be able to pay with a credit card and receive a secure, official PDF transcript. The new functionalities come with a cost-transcript prices will go up as follows:
| Transcript Type and Delivery Method | Fee | Shipping & Handling | Total Cost per Transcript |
|---|---|---|---|
| eTranscript-Secure PDF Delivery | $7.50 | N/A | $7.50 |
| Paper Transcript-Mailed (Standard USPS) | $7.50 | $2.75 | $10.00 |
| Paper Transcript-Mailed (USPS-International) | $7.50 | $5.75 | $13.25 |
| Paper Transcript-Mailed (FedEx Overnight Domestic)* | $7.50 | $33.00 | $40.50 |
| Paper Transcript-Mailed (FedEx International Priority)* | $7.50 | $60.00 | $67.50 |
*Available through online ordering only
Why do I have to create an account with Parchment?
We don't have the resources for online payment or secure PDFs in-house. We explored multiple vendors and selected Parchment for service, simplicity, and cost. One of the steps in setting up a Parchment account is entering a code number you will receive via email. If you do not immediately receive this email, check your spam or junk box.
I am an alum of Hamline University School of Law. How can I order a transcript?
Academic files and coursework for students who completed enrollment at Hamline University School of Law prior to December 2015 are recorded by Ham line University. Hamline University Registration and Records Office can be reached at 657-523-3000 or via email at
registrar@hamline.edu.
Graduation, commencement, and bar information
What's the difference between graduation and commencement? Aren't they the same?
Graduation refers to the conferral of your degree. Commencement refers to the ceremony only. Participation in commencement does not equate to conferral of your degree. The Office of the Registrar manages graduation. The Dean of Students Office manages commencement.
I have questions about the commencement ceremony. Who should I contact?
Commencement ceremony questions should be directed to the Dean of Students Office.
How do I get a Bar certification completed?
We have Minnesota dean certification forms in house. For all other jurisdictions, you must provide the required forms to us.
How can I get a letter of good standing or general enrollment verification?
Request for Letter of Good Standing and general enrollment verification forms are found on the Forms P-£9§, in the Enrollment Forms section.
How can I request a standard degree audit?
Students can access their degree audit on the MyMitchellHamline portal under My Academics, then Academic Advising. The audit can be found under the My Degree Progress section.
What degree conferral date will appear on my diploma?
If you complete your degree requirements in Fall or Spring semester, the degree conferral date on your diploma will be the date in which grades are due to the Office of the Registrar from the faculty. If you complete your degree requirements in J-term or summer, the degree conferral date on your diploma will be the last day of the term.
Exams, grades, and misc.
Where can I find information about exams?
The Exams page contains policies, exam schedule, information and forms. Courses with scheduled exams can be found at the bottom of the Final Exam Schedule page.
When are grades posted?
Grades are posted when they are received by the Office of the Registrar. Click here for more information about grades.
What's the pass option?
The basics:
- It can be used once in your JD career, and once used, you cannot change your mind to use it on a different course or in a different term.
- It can't be used on clinics or required courses.
- The deadline is five calendar days from the date of your last grade posting for the term. As a practical matter, the earliest possible deadline is five days after the last on-time grade is posted because we don't expect students to constantly check their records to ascertain when their last grades for the term were posted. For instance, if grades are due June 8, we would expect all on-time grades to be posted June 9. In this case, the pass option deadline for most students will be June 14. Students with a late grade will get a later deadline, but students with all early grades won't have an earlier deadline.
- We start processing them on the due date, not earlier.
- To exercise your pass option, use the form on the Forms webpage.
You can learn more about the deadline and rules for the pass option in the handbook.
Is there a limit on the number of Pass credits I can earn?
No, there is no limit.
When are class ranks posted?
Class ranks are computed at the end of a student's first two semesters and every fall and spring semester thereafter and appear on the transcript. Only those students who received all their semester grades receive a class rank. Our goal is that non-senior ranks are calculated one week after the last non-senior grades are processed. Senior ranks are calculated when all senior grades are processed. Students are ranked with other students who are proceeding through law school at approximately the same pace, except for the final ranking, in which students are ranked with their graduating class. Students who graduate in August are ranked with the subsequent January graduation class. A student's class rank is not changed once ranks are computed. For grade security, students are not given their class ranks over the telephone. Students may request an official transcript without the rank listed by contacting the Registrar.
Help! I can't remember my password!
Helpful information to reset your password can be found on the Technology Services webpage.
Where can I find financial aid and tuition information?
Information can be found in the Financial Aid Office se ction of this catalog.