How to use PATH Class Search
PATH Class Search allows you to plan a possible schedule before registration. You can use this tentative plan when registering for courses. After reviewing the Requirements and Credits section, browse classes on PATH Class Search and build a tentative course plan.
How to Build a PATH Plan
To build a course schedule for the spring or fall semester, students use the PATH platform to plan their schedules. Join Dr. Mahon, a first-year academic advisor at the University of Notre Dame, as she explains how to build a PATH plan with the integration of first-year student requirements.
How to Search by Attribute in PATH and NOVO
To find specific classes that meet specific requirements, using the attribute feature in PATH can help students create their optimal schedules. Join Madeline Infantine, a first-year academic advisor at the University of Notre Dame, as she explains how to search by attribute in PATH and how to upload a schedule to NOVO.
PATH Class Search Terminology
Attribute
An attribute indicates which degree requirement (a Core requirement, a college requirement, a major requirement, etc.) is fulfilled by taking a course. Core attribute codes are WKxx. For example, WKFT is the attribute for “Way of Knowing Foundational Theology.” To find courses that fulfill specific Core requirements, select the attribute you want to search for in the Any Core Requirements dropdown menu under Advanced Search in PATH Class Search
Corequisite
Some courses, such as lab sciences and calculus, have required labs, tutorials, or discussion sections that you must register for in addition to the main lecture component of the course. Check for corequisites in the Corequisites section of the course details in PATH Class Search.
Course Reference Number (CRN)
A randomly generated five-digit number, every course has its own unique CRN. You can search for courses by CRN in PATH Class Search by entering the CRN into the Keyword search field. The CRN is not the course number - for example, PSY 10000: Introductory Psychology has a course number of 10000 for all the Introductory Psychology sections, but one section is searchable using CRN 10868 and the other is searchable using CRN 10869.
Crosslisted Course
Some courses are listed under two or more course numbers, usually to make the course available to students in different majors, minors, or academic years. If you are interested in a course but it is full or you do not meet the restrictions, check for a crosslisted course option in the Crosslisted section of the course details in PATH Class Search.
Prerequisite
Some courses are only open to students who are currently taking or who have successfully completed another course. Prerequisites are most common for math, science, and language courses. For instance, you cannot register for MATH 10560: Calculus II unless you are taking MATH 10550: Calculus I or have AP or IB credit for MATH 10091: Calculus I. Check for prerequisites in the Registration Restrictions section of the course details in PATH Class Search.
Restriction
Many courses are restricted to students in certain groups, such as classification (first-year, sophomore, etc.), college, or major. You can only register for a course if you meet any restrictions listed. For example, PHIL 10111: God and the Good Life has an “Enrollment limited to students with a semester level of Freshman” restriction, meaning only first-year students are allowed to register for it. Check for restrictions in the Registration Restrictions section of the course details in PATH Class Search.
Seat Allocation
This is the maximum number of seats available for a select population (i.e. first-year students, sophomores, etc.) in a particular course. Seat allocations are listed at the top of the course details window for a course in PATH Class Search.
Ways of Knowing
This is the name given to categories of Core requirements and is abbreviated “WK.” For example, WKFT stands for "Way of Knowing Foundational Theology." This is why attributes for Core courses begin with “WK.”
Confused?
View additional First Year Guide to PATH Class Search Videos!