Course Load

Full-Time and Part-time Study

A student is considered full-time if they take at least 12 credit hours per semester. Otherwise the student is considered part-time.

Normal Course Load

A normal course load is program specific and varies by department. Most programs within the School of Engineering require in excess of 15 credit hours each semester. Students and advisors should refer to tracking sheets for their respective programs.

Overelecting

A student may elect to register for more than the maximum credits allowed in a semester (19 credits) with the approval of the advisor if they have a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or has received a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the immediately preceding semester with a course load of at least 15 semester credit hours. Only students with a cumulative GPA exceeding 3.5 may elect, with advisor approval, to register for more than 22 credits, and no student may register for more than 25.  The dean must approve any exemption from the rules of over-electing.

In the Summer semester only, undergraduate students may not take more than 4 courses and no more than two at a time if taking courses in the 6 week sessions (Summer sessions 16 or 26)

Undergraduate Students in Graduate Level Courses

In general, undergraduate students are expected to take undergraduate-level courses (course numbers 100-499). In order to enroll in a graduate level course (course number 500+), a student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, receive approval of their academic advisor, and submit the Undergraduate in Graduate Level Course Request Form to request permission from the Dean of Engineering. Note that all students taking graduate-level courses are subject to the graduate-level grading basis (C is minimum passing grade).

Failure to Meet Prerequisites

Since registration for upcoming semesters occurs prior to the completion of the current semester, students are permitted to register for courses that have a prerequisite in which students are currently enrolled. Upon completion of the course, should the student fail (or receive a D in courses that require at least a C- to continue to the next course in the sequence), it is the student’s responsibility to contact their Engineering faculty advisor to discuss options and drop the course for which they do not have the prerequisite.  

If a student has not dropped a course for which they do not have the prerequisite, they will be removed by the end of the add/drop period.

Repeating Courses

A student may repeat a course in which a grade of “D” or “F” was earned. The course must be identical in listing and cannot be taken at another institution. The repeated course may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Both the original and repeated course and their corresponding grades will be recorded on the student’s record and transcript. However, for calculating the cumulative GPA and for the fulfillment of curriculum requirements, the credit and grade of the repeated course will be used.

In all other cases in which a student repeats a course, the original grade remains part of the GPA. For example, if a student earns a “C” grade and retakes the course later, both the “C” and the new grade contribute to the calculation of the cumulative GPA. If a student earns a “D” or “F” grade and then takes an equivalent course at another institution, the “D” or “F” grade remains part of the cumulative GPA even if the equivalent course is approved for transfer credit and allowed to satisfy the curriculum requirement.