Full-Time Graduate Student Status/Course Load

Full-Time Graduate Student Status

Certification of full-time status, when needed, is provided by the Office of the Registrar.

The Graduate School recognizes nine semester hours during a long session semester and three hours during a summer session as a minimum full-time course load. Individual graduate programs may require more. The three semester credit hour minimum course load for the summer session may be satisfied in one six-week term, or in the nine-week or twelve-week terms. Students enrolled in Affiliated Studies are considered full-time students.

Under various circumstances, graduate students must be registered for and must remain registered for a full-time load, including: holders of Graduate School administered fellowships and scholarships; Assistant Instructors, Teaching Assistants, Academic Assistants, Assistants (Graduate), and Graduate Research Assistants; students living in university housing; students receiving certain student loans; and international students.

Agencies that grant loans or provide for educational funding may establish different definitions of full-time status. Students should be familiar with the regulations of any agency to which they have an obligation.

Course Load

The maximum course load for a graduate student is fifteen semester hours in a spring or fall semester, or twelve semester hours in a twelve-week summer session. Students who wish to exceed the maximum course load must submit a petition letter from their graduate adviser to the graduate dean for approval.

Questions regarding full-time status should be referred to the Office of the Registrar or the Graduate School.