How Many Hours Must I Take?

Earn a minimum of hours each semester (except summer)

• 12 credit hours for Bachelor’s candidate
• 9 credit hours for Master’s candidate w/o assistantship
• 6 credit hours fro Master’s candidate w/assistantship

Exceptions to the full-time enrollment requirement are:

• The student has been advised to carry fewer credits due to English proficiency difficulties*.
• The student is unfamiliar with American teaching methods or reading requirements*.
• Improper course level placement.
• The student is enrolled in cooperative education, which is a part of the curriculum.
• The student has a documented medical condition necessitating fewer hours.
• The student will graduate at the end of the semester and needs only ____ hours to complete degree requirements.

* May only be indicated as a valid reason for a reduced course load within a student's first year in the U.S.

You must complete the ‘Authorization for Exception to a Full Course Load’ *form if for any reason you need to drop below the minimum number of registered credits as listed above.

*The form may also be obtained in the Office of International Education, Dempsey 146.

Audited classes do not count as earned hours.