Students in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) must maintain clear status as either a full-time or part-time student by filing appropriate applications to the dean of the school.
Full-time matriculated students typically register for 15 credits per semester. They may register for a maximum of 20.5 credits per semester and must register for a minimum of 12 credits to be considered full-time students under university regulations and federal law. Full-time students on academic warning for the first time may carry a maximum of 16 credits. Students on academic probation or who have been readmitted after dismissal may carry a maximum of 13 credits.
SAS students who wish to register for fewer than 12 credits must have their application for part-time status approved by the Office of Academic Services prior to the beginning of the semester. Students registered for fewer than 12 credits are considered part-time students under university regulations and federal law. Hence, the decision to register for less than 12 credits and become a part-time student often has significant implications for the student's financial aid, health insurance coverage, housing, scholarship eligibility, and the like. Students must consult with an academic adviser familiar with these issues before submitting an application for part-time status.
SAS students with nontraditional status* normally schedule two or three courses per semester, but may register for up to 20.5 credits per semester. SAS nontraditional status students who have demanding nonacademic commitments are advised not to schedule more than two courses per semester during their first year. Nontraditional and part-time students are subject to standard registration policies regarding adding and withdrawal deadlines.
* A student may be eligible for SAS nontraditional status if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- has had an interruption (typically five years or more) of formal undergraduate education either at Rutgers or before attending Rutgers
- has documented, significant nonacademic commitments pertaining to personal circumstances that would preclude or severely impede a student from obtaining a degree through traditional academic full-time study
- is not enrolled in a degree program (nonmatriculated)
- is pursuing postbaccalaureate studies primarily in undergraduate courses
- is pursuing an off-campus degree completion program through a Rutgers-New Brunswick school.
