Incoming Student Tasks
Students who have confirmed their intent to enroll and submitted their enrollment deposit have several further tasks to complete over the spring and summer months leading up to the start of the academic year. The information shared here is designed to assist you in completing these important steps. You can also contact your assigned admissions specialist with specific questions you might have.
WashU Key and Systems Access
As you begin completing the enrolling student tasks, the first step is to retrieve and activate your WashU Key 鈥 which includes your assigned email address/username and a password you will select.听 This key will allow you to log in to and access university systems and resources.
Once you have completed all required steps to confirm your intent to enroll your record will be passed to Workday (our new student information system), and听you will receive an email from WashU IT with your assigned email/username听along with specific instructions and a link to access Workday.听 This communication is typically sent within 7 days of you completing your intent to enroll and will go to the email address you included in your admissions application.听 Your WashU Key should be set up and activated no later than the date listed in your email.听 Be sure to check your spam or junk folder, as well as your inbox, for this message.
Having trouble setting up your WashU Key?听 Contact WashU Workday Support at 314-935-5707 and select option #1.
New Student Onboarding Tasks
Once your WashU Key has been activated, you will log into听Workday听to access a series of new student onboarding tasks that must be completed to prepare for your first semester.听 Some tasks will be completed directly in Workday, like providing an emergency contact, and some will take you to the appropriate website or system outside of Workday where you need to complete a specific task, like providing a health form or completing a required training.听 Some tasks are required for all WashU students, and some tasks apply only to Brown School students, but听it is essential that all required tasks in your Workday dashboard are completed in a timely manner before the start of the academic year.听 Failing to complete required tasks may result in a hold being placed on your account, which may prevent you from proceeding with future activities, such as course registration.
You will see these checklist items in your听My Tasks听inbox and the听Awaiting Your Action听section of the Workday dashboard when you log in as a new student.听 Keep in mind these items will not all show at once but will populate over time as you complete the previous tasks.听 We recommend enabling notifications from Workday and creating a habit of checking Workday often for additional assigned tasks.
Workday is the primary system you will use as a WashU student, so we recommend spending time learning how to use it.听 There are many resources, tutorials, and webinars available to you as you become familiar with navigating this powerful platform:
Academic Tasks
MSW and MPH Students: Proficiency Exams
The Brown School offers proficiency examinations for select foundation courses in the MSW and MPH programs.
These exams are available to students entering a full-time program who have confirmed their intent to enroll and submitted their advance-tuition deposit.听 Proficiency exams are recommended but not required.听 Students are encouraged to take any available exams in which they have background knowledge or prior coursework.听 Interested students can review considerations, policies, and eligible courses below and register using the link provided.听听Registration begins May 1 and courses will be available to take from May 19 鈥 July 13.
MSW Eligible Courses:
- SWFN 5001-Research Methods with Statistical Applications 鈥
- SWFN 5002: Human Behavior 鈥
MPH Eligible Courses:
- PHRS 6000-Research Methods 鈥
- PHRS 5001-Biostatistics 鈥
MPH Students: Human Biology Course Requirement
Students admitted to the Master of Public Health program must satisfy a human biology course prerequisite.To meet this requirement, applicants must receive a grade of 鈥淏鈥 or higher in a college-level human biology course.听 The admissions office will review transcripts for all MPH admitted students and notify you via email if you have fulfilled this requirement. Admitted students who have not met the prerequisite must satisfy the requirement prior to the end of the first academic year in the MPH program.听 The Brown School has pre-approved the听听course as an affordable and convenient option to fulfill this requirement.听 Should you wish to enroll in a different course, please email the course syllabus to the Office of Admissions prior to enrolling.
Bridge to Brown is a required nine-day in-person intensive course for all incoming Advanced Standing MSW students.听 The course will take place on the Brown School campus August 4 鈥 8 and August 11-14.听 Later this summer, you will be required to confirm your registration for Bridge to Brown using the assigned form that will be available in your WashU Graduate Admissions Portal.
International Students: English Language Placement Assessment and Support Course
Prior to the start of the fall semester, the Global 番茄视频 Office will review each incoming international student鈥檚 admission materials (including TOEFL, IELTS, or Gateway scores) to assess each student鈥檚 academic English language skills.听 Based on this review, students may be required to complete an additional language proficiency exam and be required to enroll in a 0-credit and no cost English Language Support course in their fall semester. The Global 番茄视频 Office will reach out individually to students who are required to take the additional exam or enroll in the support course.*Please note听that exemption from providing English language proficiency exam scores as part of the admissions process听does NOT听exempt you from this process if you receive notice that you must complete it.
All Students: Final Official Transcripts
Incoming students must provide a final official transcript from the institution at which your previous degree was conferred.听 The final official transcript must include the following:
- Degree(s) earned
- Conferral date
- Coursework completed to fulfill degree requirements
- Official institutional seal, stamp and/or embossed marking
Final official transcripts must be sent in electronic or hard copy format to the Brown School directly by the issuing institution or its authorized agent. We will not accept final transcripts issued to the student or sent from the student to the Brown School.听 All final official听transcripts must be received no later than听July 31.听
Electronic Delivery: Certified electronic transcripts can be sent directly to brownadmissions@wustl.edu from the institution or an academic credential service.
Delivery by Mail: Official paper transcripts must be mailed by the issuing institution to:
Washington University in St. Louis
Brown School Admissions
MSC 1196-251-46
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
All Students: Laptop Requirements
The Brown School requires听that all students own a laptop.听 This personal technology allows students to be productive and connected as they participate in academic coursework.听 Laptops are used during classes both on campus and online, in group projects and collaborative work, and for general information access and processing needs.听 Students should have their laptop with them when they arrive for the fall semester. If you own a laptop that was purchased in the last two years, it should be sufficient for your time at the Brown School. If your system is older than two years old, we strongly suggest you purchase a new system.
Course Registration and Sequencing
Incoming student registration will begin in Workday on Tuesday, July 22.听 PhD, MSW Advanced Standing and all 3-2 students will be able to register starting at 8:30 am CST. 听All other students will start registration at 12:30 pm CST. 听Part-time MSW students will be pre-registered for first semester courses and notified by their Academic Advisor regarding their schedule.
In order to participate in course registration you must establish your WashU key and systems access, log in to Workday and complete all required tasks in your inbox, and address any that may exist on your account.
Planning for Registration in Workday
Once all tasks have been completed and holds have been lifted, incoming students must complete the following steps to prepare for registration:
- Look over the provided Course Sequencing Guidelines for your program to understand which courses you should register for during your first semester.
- Review the guide for step-by-step information to assist you with the registration process in Workday. This guide covers topics such as academic planning, finding course sections offered this fall, creating saved schedules, addressing holds, and troubleshooting registration issues.
- with the courses you want to take based on your Course Sequencing Guidelines. With your saved schedule, you will quickly be able to register on registration day with only two clicks.
- who must review your saved schedule, confirm your course selections, and lift the registration hold on your account. This review process can take up to five business days, so please plan accordingly.
Once Registration Open in Workday
When it is time to register, incoming students should complete these steps:
- 听for multiple classes at once.
- Review your enrolled classes; use the听听to make any edits.
- For any unsuccessful registrations, use the听听tool to diagnose and resolve issues.
- Review any听听classes and do not panic!听 Class registrations will fluctuate as advisors review enrolment and additional seats may open in any waitlisted courses.听 Keep in mind:
- If a seat becomes available, you will get a 鈥淐onfirm Waitlist Advancement鈥 notification in Workday, via email and/or the mobile app, based on your notification preferences.
- You will have 72 hours to accept or decline an open seat from the time of notification. If you do not respond, you will be moved to the end of the waitlist.
- If you are registered for a course section at the same time as a waitlisted section and a seat becomes available, you must first drop or swap that time-conflicted section to register for the waitlisted one. This can be quickly done within the听鈥淐onfirm Waitlist Advancement鈥澨齨otification.
As you complete the registration process, there are several ways to get help:
- Read through the related to registration
- Contact your (found in Workday)
- Review support materials on the 听website
- Attend virtual Workday ,听, or call 314-935-WDAY (9329)
Additional information, specific dates and times, and registration reminders will also be shared with students via email in the weeks leading up to registration.
New Student Orientation
New student orientation sessions give incoming scholars the opportunity to connect, learn, and engage within the Brown School and the wider WashU community.听 Many events are mandatory and require a registration.听Orientation event dates and registration links will be shared as they become available.
- August 16听鈥 WashU鈥檚 OISS International Student Orientation for International Students
- August 18 鈥 Brown Schools International Student Orientation for International Students
- August 20 鈥 22 鈥 Brown School Orientation for all Incoming Students
Meet Your Academic Advisor
As you begin the transition to the Brown School you will be assigned an academic advisor who will work with you to create and finalize your student schedule each semester. Academic advisors will be available to work with you starting in late May and are required to review and approve your saved schedule prior to course registration later this summer.

Melissa Arnold
MSW Program Manager

Elise Harvey
Academic and Student Services Advisor

Jonesey Johnson
MPH Program Manager

Tammy Orahood
Director of Global 番茄视频

Chloe Risto
Academic Advising Coordinator

Zizi Shillig
Manager of Global 番茄视频

Enrollment Dates and Deadlines
May 19 鈥 Proficiency exams begin
July 1 鈥 Deadline to submit a deferral request
July 13 鈥 Proficiency exams end
July 17 鈥 First day for international student arrival for students on a new F1 visa
July 22 鈥 Incoming student registration begins
- 8:30 am CST 鈥 PhD, MSW Advanced Standing and 3-2 students
- 12:30 pm CST 鈥 All remaining students
July 31 鈥 Deadline to submit final official transcript
August 1 鈥 Visa appointment deadline for international students
August 16 鈥 WashU OISS International Student Orientation
August 16 鈥 Last day for international student arrival for students on a new F1 visa
August 19听鈥 Brown School Incoming MSW and MSP International Student Orientation
August 20 鈥 22 鈥 Brown School Incoming MSW and MSP Student Orientation
August 21 鈥 22 鈥 School of Public Health Incoming MPH Student Orientation
August 25 鈥 First day of classes Fall 2025