Why take Evening and Weekend classes at the Graduate School, USDA?
We schedule almost 300 courses each calendar year, ranging from Accounting to XML! We offer you:
Many credit courses have been evaluated for transfer credit by the American Council on Education (ACE) Credit Recommendation Service (link to ACE Reviewed courses)
Who takes Evening and Weekend classes?
Evening and Weekend Programs is a very diverse community of learners. Our participants have ranged in age from 18 to 85 and come from all over the greater Washington, D.C. metro area. Many are working professionals, some are college students, some are seeking a new career path, and some are looking for the opportunity to meet new people and explore new ideas or fun activities! Some of our participants have never attended college and some already have advanced college degrees. All our participants are united by a desire for rewarding continuing education and personal enrichment experiences. Everyone over the age of 18 is welcome to take our classes. No admissions application or fee is required.
What types of courses are available?
We offer general studies courses for those who are interested in continuing or returning to college. Courses in business and management; communications, editing and writing; foreign languages; photography; information technology; mathematics and statistics; natural sciences; paralegal studies; social sciences; and test preparation. You may learn a language for personal or professional use or enroll and complete a Certificate of Accomplishment program in areas such as A+ Certification, Accounting, Administrative Procedures, Collegiate Studies, Computer Programming, Editorial Practices, Federal Government Accounting Procedures, Horticulture, Landscape Design, MCSA on Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), Natural History Field Studies, Network+ Certification, Paralegal Studies, and Personnel Administration. Go to Courses and Programs and click on the drop down for Evening and Weekend Programs to look up the scheduling details for any specific course
Who are the instructors?
Our instructors are working professionals with both expertise and experience in the subject matter for the courses they teach. Most have full-time jobs and teach at the Graduate School because they enjoy working with adult learners. See our Instructors link for more information on individual instructors.
What is the typical term schedule?
We schedule courses during four terms each calendar year: Fall (starting mid-September), Winter (starting early to mid-January), Spring (starting mid-April), and Summer (starting late-June/early-July). Our credit courses typically involve 30 contact hours completed through weekly three-hour sessions over a ten week period, but may meet twice a week over five weeks during the Summer term. Some of our courses involve less than 30 contact hours, and a few include field trips as part of the required class experience. The Graduate School, USDA does not schedule course meetings on federal holidays. See Courses & Programs – Click Evening and Weekend to look up the scheduling details for any specific course.
Where are the class locations?
Nearly all our classes are offered in our downtown D.C. location:
Capital Gallery, 600 Maryland Avenue S.W., L’Enfant Plaza Metro Stop –Blue, Red, Orange, and Yellow lines
A few specialized classes may meet at other locations. See Washington, D.C. Class Locations for a listing of all our locations, along with directions.
Is there an admissions process?
The Graduate School, USDA has an open enrollment admissions policy and does not require an admission application or fee.
Who can take classes?
Our classes are open to anyone 18 years of age or older.
Is there financial aid available? No, the Graduate School, USDA does not make any financial aid available. Participants are responsible for paying the full tuition for their course at the time they register. Some participants are able to have their course tuitions pre-paid or reimbursed by their employer.
Are the evening and weekend courses different than those taught during the daytime?
There is no difference in the quality of our daytime courses versus our evening and weekend courses. The difference is in the course content and methodology for some of the courses. Most Evening and Weekend courses follow the academic model and are graded experiences awarded semester credit upon completion. The course content and methodology of our daytime courses typically focus on immediate job-related needs for subject matter knowledge and/or skills acquisition.
Are any classes offered online?
We do offer distance education, online, and blended learning (i.e., combination of online and classroom) courses. The Graduate School also offers an online paralegal certificate program in partnership with the Center for Legal Studies. Our Accounting, Human Resources – Level I, and Federal Government Accounting certificates can be earned through a distance education format. Visit www.grad.usda.gov/certificates for more information.
Finding and Registering for a Class
How can I learn what courses are being offered each term?
From our home page, select Courses & Programs and click on the drop down for Evening and Weekend Programs. Click on Register and View Courses by term to make your selection. You can also Request a catalog from our Customer Service Center and/or submit your contact information to get on our Evening and Weekend mailing list.
Can I search for a specific course I'm interest in?
The Advanced Search option on our home page allows you to search for courses by title, keywords, course codes, etc.
How can I learn about prices, locations and times?
Locate the course title you are interested in and click on it. You will then see specific information on the course session(s) being offered for the current term.
What are my options for registering and paying?
The Graduate School, USDA accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club, as well as agency purchase orders, training forms, personal or corporate checks, cash and money orders. The following registration options are available for Evening and Weekend participants. Each method re
uires full payment to accompany the registration (there are no deferred payments).
Online. Register with a credit card via the Web by selecting the desired course from the online course catalog, and then clicking the "Register/Inquire" link at the top of the course description page.
By Phone. Call (202) 314-3320 or toll-free (888) 744-GRAD to register with a credit card payment.
By Fax. Fax a completed training authorization or course registration form to (202) 475-6843 or (866) FAX-GRAD.
By Mail. Mail a course registration form, or a completed training authorization, to the Graduate School, USDA Registrar, Suite 120, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024-2520.
In Person. Visit our Customer Service Center Registration Desk at 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 120 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday - Friday.
Participants must be officially registered before being allowed to attend any class.
For classes in the Capital Gallery location, participants must register at least one hour prior to the start of the first class period. For all other class locations, participants must register at least one work day prior to the course start date to allow time to make all administrative arrangements; also, due to security considerations, participants missing this deadline may not be admitted to the building where the class is conducted.
Can I attend a class without being registered?
No. Interested participants may not "sit-in" on a course to determine its suitability (there are no exceptions to this policy). All participants must officially enroll in a course prior to attending the first class meeting. Instructors are given rosters with the names of those officially registered.
If you are interested in taking a course and are unsure if it's the right one for you, please call the Customer Service Center at (202) 314-3320 or e-mail them at customerservicecenter@grad.usda.gov and they will direct you to an appropriate Graduate School staff member to answer your questions and help you select an appropriate level course.
Can I contact the instructor prior to registering?
No. Our instructors are not full-time employees of the Graduate School and are not available to answer questions prior to registering for a class. If you do have questions regarding placement or about the course itself, please call our Customer Service Center at (202) 314-3660 or e-mail us at evenings@grad.usda.gov and your inquiry will be answered by an appropriate staff member.
How do I know what level of a foreign language class to register for?
You have several options to help you determine the best level for you. (1) Check our “Guide to Level of Language Courses.” (2) See a brief description of the target audience for each language course at this link - language offerings. (3) Click on the link for the specific language course you are interested in, and scroll down to the bottom of the page, where a detailed description of the grammar and vocabulary covered in the course will appear. (4) Contact the Evening and Weekend program office at (202) 314-3660 and we will be glad to help determine the best course title and level for you.
Is there any way to get into a closed class?
Closed classes have achieved their enrollment maximum. Participants interested in a closed class can be placed on a standby list. You can call the Customer Service Center to be placed on the standby list or can do it online as part of the registration process from any course link on the Web site.
Standby participants cannot attend closed courses — only officially registered participants can attend our classes. Registration is only handled through the Customer Service Center and instructors cannot give permission to enter into any course.
How does the standby policy work?
Participants are placed on a course's standby list according to the date added to the standby list, either via the website or by phone. You do not pay to be placed on the standby list. If space should open up and participants can still be added to the course, Graduate School staff will contact standby participants in priority order based on date added to the list. We make every effort to work participants into any slots that become open.
If a slot does open up, participants on the standby list can decline the opportunity to register for the course when contacted by the School. The next participant on the list will then be contacted and so on until all seats are filled. There is no penalty or obligation if you put your name on a standby list.
Anyone choosing to register for a class after its start date should be familiar with our refund and transfer policies. Late registration does not alter any required deadlines.
What if I need ADA accommodations?
The Graduate School, USDA makes every practical effort to ensure that our programs are accessible to physically challenged students and students with special needs. You must be officially registered in a course to initiate an ADA Request with us. After enrolling, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (202) 314-3320 at least four weeks before the course begins to discuss your specific needs and arrangements. You may also submit ADA requirements online at the registration page for your course. We can arrange for special materials, for readers or interpreters for students who are visually or hearing impaired, provided we receive adequate notice. There is no guarantee we can provide accommodations for late Requests.
How do I find out what books are needed for my class?
The Graduate School, USDA partners with Specialty Books, Inc. to provide participants with access to textbooks and other materials for our courses. The Evening & Weekend booklist for an upcoming term will be available through the link to Specialty Books, Inc on our website approximately four weeks prior to the start of the term. To find out what books are needed for your course, check the Specialty Books, Inc. website at www.specialty-books.com/GSUSDA/GSevening or call them toll free at 800-466-1365.
Specialty Books has several convenient ordering methods:
ONLINE - www.specialty-books.com/GSUSDA/GSevening. Click on “Purchase Evening and Weekend Programs Textbooks.” Select the subject area and course to see the list of materials for that course. Then click on the Buy button next to the desired textbook(s) for your course and then follow the directions to checkout.
PHONE (toll free)
Call 800-466-1365
uare">
7:00 am to 11:00 pm Eastern Time, Mon – Fri
11:00 am - 5:00 pm EST Saturdays
FAX (toll free)
Fax in an order form to 800-466-7132
MAIL
Mail an order form to
Specialty Books, Inc.
6000 Poston Road, Athens, OH 45701-9051
Payment must accompany your order. Specialty Books, Inc. accepts personal checks, money orders, major credit cards (American Express, VISA, MasterCard, and Discover), wire transfers, and debit cards, but not purchase orders. Participants desiring to use purchase orders to purchase textbooks should contact the Graduate School at (202) 314- 3341.
Make sure your course has been confirmed to run prior to purchasing any textbooks. You can check the status of any class by looking up the course on the Graduate School website at www.grad.usda.gov/catalog and seeing if it is flagged as “guaranteed to go”. You can also call our Customer Service Center at (202) 314-3320 to check on the course status. As soon as a course is confirmed, it is posted on our website and participants also receive a letter of confirmation from the School.
You can also View Bookstore for more frequently asked questions concerning our online bookstore.
Do I need to do any work prior to class?
We do not typically expect participants to complete coursework prior to the start of classes. However, please note that a number of our courses (e.g., some foreign language and accounting courses) have prerequisites listed in their descriptions and all participants are expected to have the prerequisite knowledge and/or skills prior to taking the course. Not having the prerequisites may make it impossible for you to successfully complete a course as these classes assume participants have a solid understanding of a previous course level's material.
What if I must miss the first class meeting?
It can happen that a participant must miss attending the first class meeting. Any registered participant that is absent the first class will not be withdrawn. Please attend the second class meeting and Request a copy of the syllabus from the instructor. It is your responsibility to make up missed work. Enrolling in a course, if you know in advance, you will miss 20% or more of the course may result in receiving a lower grade as class attendance and participation are integral factors taken into consideration by the instructor in grading.
How many Absences are permitted?
Given the large number of participants and instructors each term, we cannot notify instructors regarding your absences. Your nonattendance does not imply you have withdrawn from any course.
Any participants missing the first class meeting of their class are responsible for knowing our refund and transfer policies. Exceptions are not made to these policies due to lack of attendance by a participant.
What if I've enrolled in the 'wrong' course?
We will gladly transfer your registration to an open class or refund your tuition if you comply with our published deadlines. You will not receive any refund if you wait to make your decision after the refund deadline has passed. Our instructors have no responsibilities in these registration matters.
questions that may arise after your class has started
How will I find out if my class is cancelled due to inclement weather or a local emergency?
Participants can check the Graduate School website where an announcement will be posted on the main page or call our Customer Service Center at (202) 314-3320 to learn if classes have been cancelled that day due to inclement weather or some other event. Typically, we follow the policies of the federal government for evaluating inclement weather and other conditions, but we do ask our Evening and Weekend course participants and instructors to check-in with us if it is likely our operations may be affected, e.g., our evening classes might be cancelled due to late-breaking weather conditions even if the federal government was open that day.
What if I must miss a class meeting?
It is your responsibility to let your instructor know about your situation in a timely manner. If you must miss a class meeting, you should contact your course instructor to inform the instructor of the absence and to get any class work or homework assignments that might have missed. You are responsible for all work missed. Our instructors are not obligated to conduct any make up sessions for participants who miss a class meeting.
See also: What if I must miss the first class meeting?
Is there an attendance policy?
Enrolling in a course, if you know in advance, you will miss 20% (2 classes in a ten-week term) or more of the course may result in receiving a lower grade as class attendance and participation are integral factors taken into consideration by the instructor in grading. Participants are responsible for all missed work. Please refer to the class syllabus for the specific course requirements for the class. The course requirements govern all grade disputes. No refund will be made for any classes missed after the published refund deadline and nonattendance after the refund deadline will not lead to a refund.
What are my options for earning credit and grades?
Credit Courses: Credits are earned when the participant completes the course with either a letter grade (i.e. "A", "B", "C", or "D") for a course based on, for example, class attendance, participation, homework assignments, tests, quizzes, and other exams to evaluate your overall course performance or register to “audit” (AU) the credit course. An audit designation shows the participant attended the class but chose not to fulfill the course requirements to receive a grade. Credit for a credit course is only earned if a grade of "C" or better is recorded for the class. A "D" is not a passing grade at the Graduate School, USDA. Incompletes are assigned if the participant has not completed required course assignments—e.g., final exam, final paper or computer program.
Continuing Education Unit courses (CEU) are evaluated on a complete or no credit earned basis.
Are there tests, quizzes and homework?
Most courses incorporate class attendance, participation, homework assignments, tests, quizzes and other exams to evaluate your overall course performance. Please read your individual class syllabus to determine whether your specific class will have tests, quizzes, homework, book reports, group projects, computer assignments, field trips, etc. Participants are responsible for fulfilling the requirements as outlined on the course syllabus.
How do I contact my instructor?
Instructors will notify participants of their preferred method of contact (e-mail, phone, etc.) during the first class meeting. You will not be able to contact an instructor prior to the first class meeting. It is your responsibility to maintain direct contact with your instructor.
Can I transfer classes?
Transfers from a credit course to another credit course are permitted prior to the third class meeting, provided space is available. Transfers cannot be made to future terms, or into closed classes. Please contact our Customer Service Center at (202) 314-3320 if you are interested in transferring to another course.
What is the refund policy?
Official refund deadlines for all Evening and Weekend courses are:
100% at least one day prior to the start of the first class meeting
90% at least one day prior to the second class meeting
80% at least one day prior to the third class meeting
No refunds are made after the day prior to the third class meeting.
Nonattendance does not imply that you have been withdrawn from a class. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Graduate School Customer Service Center at (202) 314-3320 or e-mail registrar@grad.usda.gov to Request a refund. Please allow up to 30 days to receive your refund.
MayI withdraw from my class after the refund deadline?
Any participant who cannot complete a course, and needs to withdraw from a credit course after the refund deadline, must officially withdraw or risk earning an "F" grade for the course. Ceasing to attend a class does not constitute an official withdrawal. To officially withdraw from a class and earn a "W" for the class, participants must contact our Customer Service Center at (202) 314-3320 or e-mail the registrar@grad.usda.gov prior to the seventh class meeting. A "W" will appear on the grade report. No refund is given for withdrawals after the official refund deadline.
What do I get after completing a class?
At the completion of a course, participants will receive a grade report with the credits and final grade earned for the course. Any participant can Request a Transcript from the School listing all classes taken at the Graduate School.
What is the policy for “Incompletes”?
Incompletes are assigned if the participant has not completed required course assignments—e.g., final exam, final paper or computer program.
To remove the incomplete from your record and receive a final grade and credits for the course, the coursework must be finished prior to the end of the next academic term. Failure to complete the necessary coursework before the established deadline will result in paying for and repeating the course to receive credit.
What is a CEU?
The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a nationally recognized standard unit of measurement, which the Graduate School has adopted for post-secondary programs and educational courses not carrying semester credits. CEUs are not equivalent to semester hours. Courses carrying CEUs may be used to satisfy some of the requirements for Graduate School certificates of accomplishment. CEUs also provide a nationally recognized permanent record of your life-long learning experiences.
What is ACE credit?
Any Graduate School course that meets the academic standards set by the American Council on Education (ACE) Credit Recommendation Service is noted in the course description and on our website (Wayne add here). ACE evaluates course content and makes credit recommendations that are intended to guide colleges and universities as they consider accepting ACE credits transferred from educational programs and courses sponsored by noncollegiate organizations that are nondegree granting – like the Graduate School, USDA. Participants interested in transferring Graduate School, USDA course credits to another educational institution must contact that institution’s admissions office directly to inquire about acceptance of the ACE Credit Recommendation courses as transfer credit. See also the Graduate School, USDA's Partners in Education for more information on specific degree and college credit transfer opportunities.
How will I receive my grade?
Final grades are due into the Registrar’s Office no later than one week after the end of course. Once the grades are received, the Graduate School Registrar mails a final grade report to each participant enrolled the course. It is very important that you keep your contact information current with the School's Customer Service Center so that you can receive your grade report.
If you do not receive your final grade, please contact our Customer Service Center at (202) 314-3320 or e-mail registrar@grad.usda.gov to Request that another grade report be sent to your home address.
Certificates and Ordering Transcripts
What is a certificate?
A certificate program is an ordered series of courses specially designed to enable its participants to master a particular subject matter in order to advance professionally or personally. Certificates are typically composed of core requirements and electives that offer intensive class experiences designed around proven career content; targeted knowledge sets and competency building; integrated approach to demonstrate skill mastery, or; preparation to take specific professional certification exams. A certificate is meant to expose you to the fundamentals of a particular subject matter. Once you have completed all the certificate’s requirements, you will receive a certificate from the Graduate School, USDA.
What certificate programs are available?
The certificate programs at the Graduate School, USDA are varied and encompass many subject areas such as A+ Certification, Accounting, Administrative Procedures, Collegiate Studies, Computer Programming, Editorial Practices, Federal Government Accounting Procedures, Horticulture, Landscape Design, MCSA on Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), Natural History Field Studies, Network+ Certification, Paralegal Studies, and Personnel Administration. Click here to view a complete list of certificate programs and the completion requirements.
How do I register for a certificate program?
To register for a certificate program, a participant must complete the online Certificate Program Application form and submit it or complete and print the form and fax it to (202) 479-2500. It can also be mailed to
Office of the Registrar - Graduate School, USDA
600 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20024-2520
Participants will receive their certificate from the School only after all requirements have been completed and grades submitted. The School also conducts an annual graduation ceremony for its certificate graduates.
How can I find out my progress toward certificate completion?
Each participant enrolled in a certificate program can direct questions about their course of study and progress toward completion to the School's certificate counselor. You can contact the certificate counselor through the Registrar's Office at (202) 314-3320 or at certificates@grad.usda.gov.
How do I Request a transcript?
A transcript is a report of all courses, grades, and credits earned taken at the School. The Office of the Registrar maintains the official record of all students. All information is held in confidence and released only in accordance with the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended in 1995.
Transcripts are $5.00 each and may be obtained by writing to:
Office of the Registrar - Graduate School, USDA
600 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20024-2520
The Request must be signed. Payment should be in the form of Visa, MasterCard, American Express, personal check, money order or cashier's check made payable to Graduate School, USDA; allow two weeks for processing. You may fax your signed Transcript Request Form (view form here) for an official transcript to (202) 479-2500. You may e-mail your Request for a student copy transcript to registrar@grad.usda.gov. Transcripts are not released to students who have outstanding financial obligations to the school.
Although the Registrar's Office maintains each student's permanent records, it is the student's responsibility to conduct all transactions affecting his or her status, including registration, transfers, withdrawals and credit/audit changes, through the Registrar's Office. Reporting a change of status to the instructor is not sufficient to accomplish the change and may result in inaccurate or incomplete records.
Contacting the Graduate School
How can I recommend a new course for consideration?
All suggestions for new courses can be sent to evening@grad.usda.gov.
How can I get on the catalog mailing list?
Complete the Catalog Request Form.
You can also call the Customer Service Center on (888) 744-GRAD (-4723) or (202) 314-3320 and tell them you would like to be placed on the mailing list for the Evening and Weekend catalog.
What if I have a complaint about an instructor?
Any complaint you have about instructors can be placed through the Customer Service Center by calling our toll-free line (888) 744-4723) or (202) 314-3320, or by sending an e-mail to evening@grad.usda.gov.
Who do I contact to withdraw from a class?
To officially withdraw from a course, participants must contact our Customer Service Center by calling our toll-free line (888) 744-4723 or (202) 314-3320, or by sending an e-mail to registrar@grad.usda.gov. Not attending a class does not imply you have withdrawn nor does it mean that a refund will be issued.
Who can I contact with other questions?
All questions regarding any of our courses or policies can be directed to the Customer Service Center at (202) 314-3320 or by sending an e-mail to evening@grad.usda.gov and we will provide the needed information or transfer you to an appropriate staff member.
