The unit of credit used in Rutgers registration is based in part upon a measure of time, with 1 credit equal to one class hour a week through a 15-week semester. For a 3-credit course, a qualified and competent student should require, on average, nine hours a week (in and out of the classroom or lab) to carry out satisfactorily the work expected. One credit of laboratory requires three class hours of work per week. A full-time graduate program is defined by the university as 9 credits a semester. The maximum program is normally 15 credits, although under some circumstances registration for a maximum of 18 credits is permitted with approval of the program director. Fellows and assistants also must register their appointments according to directions provided by the registrar at the time of registration and submit form RT100 to the Office of Student Accounts.
To help ensure a student's success in meeting the rigors of university study, it is recommended that any student holding employment outside the university that averages 16 or more hours per week not register for more than 9 credits per semester. Any student employed for 30 or more hours per week should not register for more than 6 credits per semester.
Academic Policies and Procedures 
