ASU Class Search: How to Find Open Classes Fast
ASU Class Search holds every section the university offers, but the default view buries the one thing you care about: which classes still have open seats. Here is how to cut through it and find the sections you can actually register for.
Short answer
Go to ASU Class Search, pick your term, type the subject and course number, then turn on the “Open” filter so only sections with seats show up. Each result has a 5-digit class number you paste straight into MyASU to register.
Key Takeaways
- 1ASU Class Search is public, no MyASU login needed to browse
- 2Set the term first, then filter by Open seats to hide full sections
- 3The 5-digit class number is the fastest way to register in MyASU
- 4Seat counts lag, so a class marked open can fill before you register
- 5When every section is full, track it and let an alert catch the opening
Table of Contents
Where to Find ASU Class Search
There are two doors to the same room. The public one is catalog.apps.asu.edu/catalog/classes. Anyone can use it, no sign-in required, and it has the same class data you see inside MyASU. Use it to plan before your enrollment window opens.
The second door is the class search inside MyASU. It looks a little different, but it pulls from the same source. The only thing MyASU adds is the ability to register, which you can only do once your appointment time arrives.
The Filters That Actually Matter
Most students type a course name and scroll. You will move faster if you set these first:
- Term. Pick the right semester before anything else. Searching the wrong term is the most common reason a class “does not exist.”
- Subject and catalog number. Search “CSE 240” instead of the full course title. It is more reliable.
- Campus or location. Filter to Tempe, Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, West, or ASU Online so you are not scrolling past sections you cannot attend.
- Session. Fall and Spring have A, B, and C sessions. If you only want full-semester classes, set it to C.
How to Show Only Open Classes
This is the filter that saves the most time. Turn on “Open” (sometimes shown as “Open seats”) before you run the search. ASU then drops every full and reserved section, so you only see sections you can register for right now.
One catch: seat data is a snapshot, not a live feed. A section can read open and be gone by the time you click into MyASU. Refresh the page right before you register, and have the class number ready to paste.
What the 5-Digit Section Number Means
Every section has a 5-digit class number, like 12345. It points to one exact section: this instructor, this time, this campus. When you register in MyASU, typing that number is faster than searching again, and it removes any chance of adding the wrong section.
Copy the class number for every section you are considering, including backups. If you are tracking a full class, this is also the number you will hand to a seat tracker so it watches the right one.
What to Do When Every Section Is Full
Sooner or later the “Open” filter returns nothing. Every section of the class you need is full. Searching again every hour is a losing game, because seats open and close in minutes and you cannot watch all day.
This is where PickMyClass helps. Add the full section to your watchlist and it checks ASU Class Search every 30 minutes, then emails you the second a seat opens. You stop searching and just wait for the alert. For the bigger playbook, read our guide on getting into full ASU classes and how the ASU waitlist actually works.
Found a full class you need?
PickMyClass watches ASU Class Search and emails you the moment a seat opens. Free for every Sun Devil.
Start Tracking FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What is the ASU class search website?
The official ASU Class Search lives at catalog.apps.asu.edu/catalog/classes. It is open to everyone, no login required, and it lists every class section ASU offers each term, including seat counts, instructors, meeting times, and campus.
Do I need to log into MyASU to search for classes?
No. You can browse the public ASU Class Search without logging in. You only need MyASU when you actually register, which requires your enrollment appointment to have started.
How do I see only classes with open seats?
Set the "Open" filter (sometimes labeled "Open seats") before you search. ASU then hides full and reserved sections. Keep in mind a class can fill again between page loads, so refresh before you commit.
What does the 5-digit number next to a class mean?
That is the class number (section number). It uniquely identifies one specific section of a course, including its time, instructor, and campus. You enter it directly into MyASU to register, which is faster than searching again.
Why does ASU Class Search show a class as open when it is actually full?
Seat counts update on a delay and other students register at the same time you do. A section can read "3 open" and be full by the time you hit register. Acting quickly and tracking the section both help.
Can I get notified when a full class opens up in ASU Class Search?
Yes. PickMyClass watches the ASU Class Search for you and emails you the moment a seat opens in a section you are tracking, so you do not have to keep searching manually.
Built PickMyClass after missing registration for a required class. Now helping thousands of Sun Devils find and get the classes they need.