Academic Load / Excess Load Policy

Standard Load
 

Undergraduate

Undergraduate student should average 15 credits of work for 8 semesters for a total of 120 credits.  The maximum load for freshman students is 17 credits per semester.  The maximum load for sophomore, junior, or senior students is 18 credits per semester.  The maximum load for undergraduate students is 12 credits per summer session (with a credit per week ration or no more than one credit per week during the summer).  The maximum load for undergraduate students is one credit per week during J-term (typically no more than 4 credits per J-term).

Full-time students are designated as being enrolled for 12 or more credits. Students in the Honors Program may carry one honors course per semester in addition to the regular course load.

Graduate

Full-time graduate students status is defined by enrollment for at least 8 credits in the fall or spring terms, and for at least 4 credits in the summer.

When graduate students complete undergraduate courses, each undergraduate credit will count as a graduate credit in calculating load.

Graduate students who are working as graduate assistants must be either currently enrolled in a graduate course or admitted to a graduate program and enrolled in a course (either graduate or undergraduate). 

Excess Load
 

Undergraduate:

Any sophomore, junior, or senior who desires to enroll for more than 18 semester hours or a freshmen who desires to enroll for more than 17 semester hours must make an application for an excess load. 

Graduate:

The normal load for full-time students is 8-15 credits during a semester and 4-9 during summer session (but no more than one credit per week without the Director's permission). You may exceed these maximums once during your graduate program if you: 

• are not on academic probation;
• have successfully completed at least 16 graduate credits; and
• have filed written approval from your advisor with the Graduate Studies Office. 

If you take undergraduate courses, each three undergraduate credits will count as two graduate credits in calculating your load. Graduate assistants must take at least eight credits and no more than twelve credits.

The unit of credit is the semester hour, which is given for the satisfactory completion of a subject pursued for one semester and having one class period or two laboratory periods per week. 

There is a per-credit charge for an excess load over 18 credits.