Course Loads, including Overload

The unit of academic credit awarded by the University is the semester hour, which represents the equivalent of a one-hour period of class work or at least one two-hour period of laboratory work each week of the semester. The normal full-time student academic load is 14-16 semester hours per week, 13-16 for a first-year student, exclusive of physical education activity courses. Lighter loads are sometimes required or recommended based on a student’s previous academic record. Students must register for at least 12 semester hours to be considered full-time. Students who elect to take fewer than 12 hours are classified as part-time, which carries financial aid implications. Students who wish to take more than 18 hours may do so by completing an Overload Request form with appropriate signatures and final permission granted by the Provost. To take an overload, the student must have a 3.0 GPA or above. Additional overload fees apply. The Office of Academic Affairs monitors student class loads.