Academic Load

These definitions are for university use.  Programs regulated by external agencies may have other criteria for academic load.  Financial aid programs, in particular, may use other definitions.

Credit
Courses offered under the early semester calendar at the university are computed in units of credit.  One unit is equivalent to four semester credits or six quarter credits.

Units Per Term (Load)

Full-Time:

1. A student enrolled for three or more units of coursework per semester.
2. An undergraduate student enrolled in a .50 unit cooperative education course during a semester; or an undergraduate student enrolled in a .25 unit cooperative education course plus at least 1.50 additional units.
3. An Occupational Therapy student registered in a Fieldwork Experience is full-time for the duration of the semester; or a Physical Therapy student registered in a Clinical Internship is full-time for the duration of the semester.

Half-time:

1. An undergraduate student enrolled in 2.00 or more units, but less than 3.00 units per semester.
2. A graduate student enrolled in 1.50 or more units, but less than 3.00 units per semester.
3. An undergraduate student enrolled in a .25 unit cooperative education course during a semester.

Less than Half-Time:

1. An undergraduate student enrolled in fewer than 2.00 units per semester.
2. A graduate student enrolled in fewer than 1.50 units per semester.

Overload: The normal undergraduate courseload is four academic units per semester and the student may enroll in an additional activity course.  Coursework above four and one-quarter units is an overload and is subject to approval.  Academic performance frequently suffers when an overload is taken.  Overloads above four and one-quarter academic units and one-half activity units incur additional tuition charges.

Summer Session
Students may not register for more than two units in a single summer session.  The load definitions above for regular semesters also apply to summer when units are totaled across sessions.  In addition, for each six-week session a student is fulltime if registered for two units, 3/4 time if registered for 1.5 units, half-time if registered for one unit, and quarter-time if registered for one-half unit.

Study Abroad
Students participating in a Puget Sound sponsored or affiliated study abroad program for either a semester or an academic year are enrolled fulltime.  See the Study Abroad section of this Logger for a list of these programs.