Credits, Course Load and GPA
Q Will the credit value of courses change on the semester system?
A On the quarter system, most courses are five credit hours and meet
five hours per week. On the semester system, most courses are three credit hours and meet
three hours per week.
Q What is the typical semester course load?
A On the quarter system students probably took three 5-credit-hour
courses per quarter or 9 courses per year. On the semester system students will probably
take five 3-credit-hour courses per semester or about 10 per year.
Q How many credits will be required for full-time
status?
A Full-time status will remain at 12 credit hours for undergraduate
students. However, to graduate in four years, students will need to complete
satisfactorily a minimum of 15 credit hours of degree requirements each semester.
Full-time status for graduate students will change to 9 semester credit hours.
Q What semester load constitutes an overload which requires approval of one of the Academic Deans?
A Eighteen semester credit hours constitutes an overload requiring
approval of one of the Academic Deans.
Q How will credit hours convert?
A The quarter credits a student has earned for a degree will be
multiplied by two-thirds to convert them to semester credits. For example, if you earned
45 credit hours on the quarter system, that will convert to 30 credit hours on the
semester system. All advance-placement credits and transfer credits will also convert from
quarters to semesters on a two-thirds ratio. Click to see the Conversion Guide--Quarter Hours to Semester Hours.
Q How will the number of credits determine classification on the semester system?
A The new semester classifications require fewer credits:
| Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior |
fewer than 30 semester credits 30 to 59 semester credits 60 to 89 semester credits 90 semester credits and above. |
Q If a student begins on quarters and finishes on semesters, will the student lose credits?
A A student will not lose credits. Credits earned on the quarter system
will be converted to semester credits. However, the student may have to retake a course in
a sequence if the sequence is not completed at the time of the conversion. See Special Sequencing Charts.
Q If a quarter system course is phased out or no longer required on the semester system, will the credits earned in that course still count toward graduation?
A Yes. Advisors will determine the semester counterpart of those
courses that have been phased out.
Q How will the change to semesters affect a student's grade point average (GPA)?
A A student's GPA will not change because of the conversion to semesters. Hours attempted and hours earned will be multiplied by two-thirds to convert them to semester credits.