Semester credit hour requirement

All graduate students must register for credits during each fall and spring semester they are in the graduate program. The Graduate School requires students without an assistantship (RAs or TAs) to register for a minimum of three (3) graduate credits each fall and spring semester until graduation. Students employed as graduate assistants must be enrolled in at least six (6) graduate credits, and they must maintain this registration throughout the assistantship period. Grants-in-Aid for assistantships are now capped at nine (9) credits per semester. Students who register for nine (9) graduate credits or more in a semester are considered full-time. For graduate assistants, six (6) graduate credits or more constitute full-time.

If you are unable to take courses, you must apply for a Leave of Absence using the appropriate form, available on the Graduate School web site. Many students who are completing their dissertations/theses, but don’t wish to take a course with regular meeting hours, will enroll in Thesis or Dissertation credits; a minimum of three (3) are required per semester, and six (6), if you continue on an assistantship. A fee will be assessed for reinstatement to graduate standing.