Graduate Courses

Stanford Center for Professional Development extends the teaching and research excellence of Stanford University faculty to working professionals. A wide range of graduate courses taught on the Stanford campus are delivered online and credit earned may later be applied toward a graduate certificate or master's degree.

Graduate courses are delivered asynchronously via streaming video and are posted to the Internet at the conclusion of the live class at Stanford
Each lecture is accessible for the entire quarter, allowing students to review lectures as needed
Online delivery makes it possible to take courses from anywhere in the world

Individual Graduate Courses for Credit: The Non Degree Option

You may wish to take a few courses in a specific subject area, or a variety of courses in a range of subjects, without having to be formally admitted to a degree program. The Non Degree Option allows you to enroll as a distance learner in regular Stanford University courses for credit on a course-by-course basis. You may take as many courses as you wish under the Non Degree Option. There is a limit of 18 units of graduate credit earned under the Non Degree Option that may be applied toward a degree program if you apply and are admitted. You may also elect to work toward a graduate certificate in a defined area of knowledge, achieved by successfully completing a set of graduate courses specified by the sponsoring department. Due to space limitations, students enrolled under the Non Degree Option are expected to complete courses entirely online.

How to Apply and Enroll

Step 1: Select Courses

Explore available graduate courses listed by department/subject to the right.
Decide which courses are right for you.
Ensure you meet any applicable prerequisites.

Step 2: Enroll and Apply

Add the selected course(s) to your cart and continue checkout.
You will be prompted to create an account. It is important to choose a username and password you will remember, because this is how you will view courses and update your information.
After filling in your account information, you will need to complete the Non Degree Option application form.
If you are employed by a member company, please submit the application form and wait to enroll in courses until after you have been notified that your record is attached to your company.
Your application is not considered complete until you have enrolled in at least 1 course, and we have received 1 official, sealed transcript from each institution listed on your application.

Step 3: Application Review

Once your application is complete, the department offering the course(s) will review your file to ensure you have the background to be successful in the course(s) for which you are enrolled.
Upon completion of the review of your submitted application and transcripts, the department to which you have applied will provide an approved or denied status notification. This notification will be communicated to you by the Stanford Center for Professional Development.

Audit Courses

Working professionals may update their knowledge by viewing graduate course lectures as observers, without interaction with the faculty, completing homework assignments, or taking exams. Auditors do not receive graduate credit and do not need to submit transcripts to enroll. Auditors view courses online with a video-only interface and do not have access to course materials. You may enroll by exploring graduate courses via the subjects to the right or by searching in the navigation to the left.

Graduate Student Handbooks

Handbooks are available which outline your rights and responsiblities as a Non Degree Option or Audit student. They have been designed as references to guide you in the distance-learning experience. We recommend that you review the handbook prior to admission.