Program Overview
Our Exploration Courses provide you the opportunity to experience WashU from home. Through these online, noncredit courses, you are immersed in collegiate study with pre-college peers from around the world. You will learn to communicate clearly and thoughtfully on complex topics and build confidence in college-level coursework. Taught by WashU faculty, you will gain valuable insights from experts in their fields. If you are looking for the flexibility of an online experience and a way to supplement your academic portfolio then these courses are for you!
Exploration Courses are offered asynchronously. This means you will not have set required times to attend class which allows you to balance these courses with other school and extracurricular commitments. Class sizes are small (typically no more than 15 participants) to ensure you receive personalized feedback from instructors.
In addition to your coursework, you will have the opportunity to engage with undergraduate mentors, attend college advising workshops, and participate in social activities.
Eligibility
To be eligible to register for an Exploration Course you should:
- Be a current high school student.
- Be at least 13 years old by the start of course.
- Have a minimum 3.5 weighted cumulative grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.
- Meet any prerequisites listed for a course.
International applicants for whom English is a second language should provide documentation of their ability to complete coursework in English by providing an official TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Duolingo, or GATEWAY score report. Additional guidelines for international applicants are available here.
Enrollment
Individuals interested in enrolling should submit a registration form, copy of their transcript, and signed parent liability waiver and release. Registration requests are reviewed on a rolling basis until a course fills or the deadline indicated below.
Registration Deadlines
- Spring 2025: January 6, 2025 (registration closed)
- Summer 2025: May 12, 2025 (registration open)
- Fall 2025: August 18, 2025 (registration opens June 16)
Space is limited to no more than 15 participants in these courses, so we encourage you not to wait until the deadline to submit registration materials.
Fees and Scholarships
The 2025 Exploration Course program fee is $985. Need-based scholarship assistance is available. Children of WashU employees and returning students are eligible for a 10% discount. Details on need-based scholarships and discounts are available here.
Once we receive and review registration materials, we will send details on paying the balance due. The balance must be paid in full in order for a student to be enrolled in courses.
Grading and Evaluation
Participants are evaluated based on engagement in Canvas ("attendance"), completion of assignments by deadlines, and quality of work produced. Because Exploration Courses are noncredit, no transferable credit is earned. At the end of the course, participants will receive a transcript for the course indicating whether course expectations were met.
Enrollment in an Exploration Course does not imply or guarantee acceptance into a degree program at WashU. For questions about the undergraduate admission process, please contact Undergraduate Admissions.
Orientation
Once an individual has been enrolled, they will be invited to join the Arts & Sciences Pre-College Orientation in Canvas which includes additional information about policies, procedures, and available resources.