2005-2006 - Volume 80, No. 1

The maximum recommended course load is 18 semester hours of credit in Terms I and II and 12 semester hours of credit in Express Sessions or Term III. Under extenuating circumstances, students may, with the consent of a counselor or advisor, take additional credit hours.

All credit courses show a specified number of credits that generally indicate the amount of work required. A 3 credit lecture/discussion course normally meets 3 clock hours per week during the 16 week terms. More clock hours per week are required during the abbreviated terms such as the Express and Summer terms. Despite some variation in the out-of-class work required to succeed in individual classes, 2 hours outside of class for every hour in class is the normal expectation. That means that a student taking a 15 credit hour course load (during Terms I or II) will need to devote a total of 45 hours each week to his/her academic effort.

Dedicated students who are working half-time often succeed with a 12-17 hour load but few students are able to work full-time and succeed in a full-time course load. Students who are working, or have other similar obligations, should consider the following scale as they make decisions about their schedules:

Employment	Recommended Academic Load Express
No More Than Hours Per Week	Term I or II 16 Weeks	Express Term 12 Weeks	Summer Term III 10 Weeks	Express Term 6 Weeks
20 Hours	12-15 Credits	9-12 Credits	6-10 Credits	4-6 Credits
30 Hours	9-12 Credits	6-9 Credits	3-6 Credits	3-5 Credits
40 Hours	6-9 Credits	3-6 Credits	3-5 Credits	2-4 Credits

For further information see BOT Rule 6Hx23-4.161.

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Last revised Jan 31 2006
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