Academic Load and Full-Time Status

Up one level:

A student must be enrolled for a minimum of nine hours of graduate courses to be considered a full-time resident student. However, 12 or more hours are required in some programs to meet the special regulations under which some students attend; these cases will be considered individually by the department chair and the appropriate dean. A graduate student registering for a total of six semester hours during the three summer terms will be considered a full-time graduate student.

If a student has successfully completed all coursework, including thesis and dissertation hours and lacks only the thesis or dissertation completion, he/she must be engaged in full-time research and enrolled for a minimum of one hour of thesis or dissertation credit during any fall or spring semester in which the student is working with his/her committee or using University facilities. A student working with the committee or using University facilities during the summer must enroll for at least one thesis or dissertation hour during one summer session. In addition, the student must enroll for at least one hour of thesis or dissertation in the semester during which he/she plans to complete the thesis or dissertation and take the final oral examination.

A student holding a full-time teaching assistantship or a fellowship may, upon consultation and approval of the department chair and the appropriate dean, be regarded as a full-time student if enrolled for a minimum of nine hours of graduate work for credit or its equivalent in a combination of coursework and research and/or teaching.

A graduate student doing no outside work may carry a maximum of 15 semester hours during each of the fall and spring semesters.

The University reserves the right to suspend or restrict the re-enrollment of any student who demonstrates that he/she is suffering an emotional, nervous or mental disorder or impairment that renders the student unable to profit from or contribute to the educational program of the University or that is harmful or disruptive to others.