A typical course load for a full-time student is 15 credits. Students who wish to register for more than 17 credits must meet the cumulative grade-point average listed below and have the required permission(s). Students in their first semester at the college may not register for more than 17 credits. For each hour of class time, students are expected to do a minimum of two hours of out-of-class study. Students should plan their course loads accordingly.
Overload.
A student who takes more than 17 credits in a semester has an overload. To take an overload of 18 credits, a cumulative grade-point average of 2.75 or better is required. To take an overload of 19 or 20 credits, a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better is required; to take an overload of 21, 22, 23, or 24 credits, a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or better is required. All overloads must be approved by a student's departmental adviser or department chair (if the student has declared a major), by the director of the Honors College (if the student has not declared a major and is a member of the Honors College), and the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Students who have not declared a major need the approval of the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Any student seeking approval for an overload must complete the Permission for an Academic Course Overload form, which can be found on the advising website, and submit it to the appropriate adviser. Students should take an overload only for compelling reasons. Each student who has the required cumulative grade-point average and is considering taking an overload should discuss carefully with his or her adviser whether an overload is in the student's best interest. Exceptions to these rules can be made only through the approval process noted above.
