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 Students. 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.
Full-time matriculated students may not drop below 12
credits during the fall or spring semesters.
Part-time Students. SAS students who wish to register for fewer than 12 credits must have their request for part-time or nontraditional student status approved by the Office of Academic Services prior to the beginning of the semester.
Seniors who need less than
12 credits in their final semester to graduate may register only for the number
of credits required to complete the degree; there is no need to seek formal
approval for this.
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 a request for part-time status. Students with Nontraditional 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 and refund deadlines.
*A student may be eligible for SAS nontraditional status if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
has been out of high school for 4+ years at the time of first undergraduate registration;
has had at least a two-year interruption in their undergraduate education;
is a veteran or active duty military service member;
is enrolled in a Rutgers–New Brunswick off-campus or online bachelor's degree program;
is pursuing postbaccalaureate studies, primarily in undergraduate courses; and/or
must take less than 12 credits due to significant nonacademic commitments.
In order to obtain nontraditional student status, applicants for admission to Rutgers–New
Brunswick should check the nontraditional student box during the online
application process. Requests for nontraditional status will be reviewed by the University College Community (UCC) and admitted
students will be notified that they are approved. Significant nonacademic commitments may include: being self-supporting, being required to work
full-time (34 hours a week or more based on need), or having financial
dependents. Matriculated students
whose circumstances change and wish to obtain nontraditional status should
contact the UCC to initiate the application process. Tuition Refund Dates for Credit Load
Reduction. Beginning
with the first day of the semester, eligible students may reduce their course
load via Webreg only on the published add/drop dates. After these dates, students
must visit the Office of Academic Services. Part-time students will receive a
100% refund of tuition for the reduced credits until the second week of
classes. After the end of the second week, there is no refund
for credit reduction.
No
reductions are granted after the add/drop period to undergraduate
students who withdraw from one or more courses but remain registered in others.
No adjustment from full-time to part-time status is made after the add/drop period. If withdrawal from one or more courses amounts to complete
withdrawal from a program, the provision for full withdrawal applies.
Failure to attend class is
not equivalent to a withdrawal. Students will not receive an
adjustment of charges unless a formal withdrawal is filed with and approved by
the Office of Academic Services, regardless of whether the student actually
attended classes or took examinations.
