Students in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) must maintain clear status as either a full-time or part-time student by filing appropriate applications to the dean of the school.
Full-time Students. Full-time matriculated students typically register for 15 credits per semester. They may register for a maximum of 20.5 credits per semester and must register for a minimum of 12 credits to be considered full-time students under university regulations and federal law. Full-time students on academic warning for the first time may carry a maximum of 16 credits. Students on academic probation or who have been readmitted after dismissal may carry a maximum of 13 credits. Full-time matriculated students may not drop below 12credits during the fall or spring semesters.
Part-time Students. SAS students who wish to register for fewer than 12 credits must have their request for part-time or nontraditional student status approved by the Office of Academic Services prior to the beginning of the semester.
Seniors who need less than12 credits in their final semester to graduate may register only for the numberof credits required to complete the degree; there is no need to seek formalapproval for this. Students registered for fewer than 12 credits are considered part-time students under university regulations and federal law. Hence, the decision to register for less than 12 credits and become a part-time student often has significant implications for the student's financial aid,
health insurance coverage, housing, scholarship eligibility, and the like. Students must consult with an academic adviser familiar with these issues before submitting a request for part-time status.
Students with Nontraditional Status. SAS students with nontraditional status* normally schedule two or three courses per semester, but may register for up to 20.5 credits per semester. SAS nontraditional status students who have demanding nonacademic commitments are advised not to schedule more than two courses per semester during their first year. Nontraditional and part-time students are subject to standard registration policies regarding adding and withdrawal and refund deadlines.
*A student may be eligible for SAS nontraditional status if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- has been out of high school for 4+ years at the time of first undergraduate registration;
- has had at least a two-year interruption in their undergraduate education;
- is a veteran or active duty military service member;
- is enrolled in a Rutgers–New Brunswick off-campus or online bachelor's degree program;
- is pursuing postbaccalaureate studies, primarily in undergraduate courses; and/or
- must take less than 12 credits due to significant nonacademic commitments.
In order to obtain nontraditional student status, applicants for admission to Rutgers–NewBrunswick should check the nontraditional student box during the onlineapplication process. Requests for nontraditional status will be reviewed by the University College Community (UCC) and admittedstudents will be notified that they are approved. Significant nonacademic commitments may include: being self-supporting, being required to workfull-time (34 hours a week or more based on need), or having financialdependents. Matriculated studentswhose circ*mstances change and wish to obtain nontraditional status shouldcontact the UCC to initiate the application process.
Tuition Refund Dates for Credit LoadReduction. Beginningwith the first day of the semester, eligible students may reduce their courseload via Webreg only on the published add/drop dates. After these dates, studentsmust visit the Office of Academic Services. Part-time students will receive a100% refund of tuition for the reduced credits until the second week ofclasses. After the end of the second week, there is no refundfor credit reduction.
Noreductions are granted after the add/drop period to undergraduatestudents who withdraw from one or more courses but remain registered in others.No adjustment from full-time to part-time status is made after the add/drop period. If withdrawal from one or more courses amounts to completewithdrawal from a program, the provision for full withdrawal applies.
Failure to attend class isnot equivalent to a withdrawal. Students will not receive anadjustment of charges unless a formal withdrawal is filed with and approved bythe Office of Academic Services, regardless of whether the student actuallyattended classes or took examinations.
FAQs
noun. : the total of high school or college courses someone is taking. I have a light/full course load this semester.
What is the course load for Rutgers? ›
A typical course load for a full-time student is 15 credits. Students who wish to register for more than 17 credits must meet the cumulative grade-point average listed below and have the required permission(s).
Can you take 21 credits in a semester in Rutgers? ›
Requirement of Full-time Enrollment
Students in good academic standing are permitted to register for up to 18 credits during the preregistration period, and may increase their enrollment up to 20.5 credits during the add/drop period in the first week of the semester.
How many classes can you take at Rutgers? ›
Full-time matriculated students typically register for 15 credits per semester. They may register for a maximum of 20.5 credits per semester and must register for a minimum of 12 credits to be considered full-time students under university regulations and federal law.
How do I find my course load? ›
To find your course load percentage, you must divide the number of courses you are registered in, by the total number of courses for the semester (shown in the curriculum planner available on the website on your program page or through your academic department).
What is the recommended course load? ›
Recommended Course Load
Taking a recommended 3:1 ratio for the sake of illustration, a student carrying a 12 credit hour course load should plan to devote an additional 36 hours per week to course-related work.
Is 18 credits too much Rutgers? ›
Is that too much? A 17-18 credit course load is likely too demanding for your first semester. Aim to take 14-16 credits in your first semester at Rutgers. We left all courses on your schedule to allow YOU to decide which ones to keep and which to drop during the add/drop period.
What GPA do you need to graduate Rutgers? ›
Visit your major/minor departments to verify your progress toward completion of requirements. Check your online transcript for credits and GPA. You must have 120 credits and a 2.00 or higher GPA to graduate.
Is 14 credits a semester a lot? ›
While it might seem strange, for many students it's better to take about 15 credits in their first semester. This is recommended because 12 credits are usually the minimum to be considered a full-time student at the college. It can even affect tuition in some cases.
What is the Rutgers 10 year rule? ›
This is referred to as the “Ten Year Rule.” Prior to consideration for promotion, a candidate who has been an Associate Professor for ten years or more after the granting of tenure, may, upon written request, wish to be considered as a ten year case for promotion to Professor.
Each year, two full-tuition scholarships are awarded to incoming students who have demonstrated academic merit and financial need, though not necessarily by federal guidelines. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years.
Does Rutgers accept B students? ›
With a GPA of 3.73, Rutgers requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's.
Do colleges care about course load? ›
To answer your question, yes, colleges do care about the rigor of your course load, but it's not the only factor they consider.
What is course load in college terminology? ›
Course Load: The number of classes a student takes each term is known as their course load. Most full-time undergraduates take a course load of 12-16 credits per semester. Credit: A college credit is a metric used to determine the intensity/length of a course. Most classes constitute 2-4 credits.
How many college classes is a full load? ›
What Does It Mean to Be a Full-Time Student in College? Typically, undergraduates are considered full-time college students if they take at least 12 credits — about four classes — each semester. According to NCES, a majority of these students do not work.
How many hours is a full course load? ›
Full-time course load: A 12-credit hour load is the minimum required to be classified as a full-time student and may be necessary for students to receive financial aid benefits. Taking only 12 hours per semester would require additional classes (summer, for example) for students wishing to graduate in 4 years.
