Course Load/Credit-Hour Overload

A student taking at least 12 credit hours of undergraduate work during the course of a regular fall or spring semester will be considered a full-time student. The average load for undergraduates is 15 to 18 hours. Graduate students taking at least 8 credit hours per semester are considered full time for federal student aid purposes. Full time for undergraduates during summer session is 5 credits per each of the summer 1 or 2 sessions, or 10 hours for the summer 12-week term. Graduate students are considered full time at 3.25 credits per summer 1 or 2 session, or 6.5 hours for the summer 12-week session.

To be eligible for a course overload (more than 18 credit hours in the fall or spring semester or 9 hours in an individual summer session), a student must have a “BC” average (2.5) cumulative GPA and be enrolled full time at the time of the overload request. Overloads will not be allowed for students on Academic Probation (cumulative GPA below 2.0).  Be aware that there are minimum graduation requirements in both the major and cumulative GPA. 

Credit hours taken over 18 during a regular semester will be assessed a charge at the per-credit rate. Summer session credits are charged at a per credit rate. The maximum overload is 22 credit hours in the fall or spring semester or 12 credit hours in an individual summer sessions (excluding MayTerm). Overloads will not be allowed during winter/summer intersession or MayTerm. Exceptions will be made only for institutional pre-approved study abroad trips requiring travel during the winter/summer intersession or MayTerm.

Education students in the Final Student Practicum are limited to 18 credit hours.