Normal Course Load

A full-time graduate student is one registered for 9 semester credit hours in a fall or spring semester, 6 semester credit hours during a ten-week summer semester. No graduate student may enroll in more than 15 semester credit hours during the fall or spring semester or 12 credit hours during the summer semester. Enrollment in Graduate Research Project 5305 or Thesis 5306 (proposal or defense) constitutes a full course load.

Enrollment status affects a student’s eligibility for financial assistance. Students who are enrolled at least half time may be eligible for financial aid. Rules applying to veterans’ benefits are available under Military Affairs.

Graduate Student Enrollment Status

Enrollment Status	Semester Credit Hours Required
Full-time	Fall or Spring term = 9 hours Combined 10-week summer term = 6 hours
Three-quarter-time	Fall or Spring term = 7 hours Combined 10-week summer term = 5 hours
Half-time	Fall or Spring term = 5 hours Combined 10-week summer term = 3 hours
Less than half-time	Fall or Spring term = Fewer than 5 hours Combined 10-week summer term = Fewer than 3 hours

Certain financial aid programs may require specific enrollment levels:

• Federal student loans require at least half-time enrollment.
• Other financial aid awards for graduate students may be prorated based on enrollment status