Skip to main content
University Closed for Juneteenth Holiday
The University will be closed Thursday, June 19 in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.

 

Enrollment Status

The Office of the University Registrar is responsible for compliance with standards for full-time and half-time enrollment. Your financial aid, degree completion, and other university services depend on your enrollment status. 

Audited courses are not included in the calculation of credits for full-time status.

On this page:



Undergraduate Students

Fall or Spring Semester

Enrolled Credits Enrollment Status
Enrolled Credits 12+ Enrollment Status Full-time
Enrolled Credits 9 - 11 Enrollment Status Three-quarter time/More than half-time
Enrolled Credits 6 - 10 Enrollment Status Half-time
Enrolled Credits 1 - 5 Enrollment Status Less than half-time

Undergraduate Agreements for Enrollment Status

  • UMEI Program: Students enrolled in UMEI 001-004 are considered full-time students. Students enrolled in UMEI 005 (semi-intensive) must register for an additional 6-8 credits, appropriate to their program, to meet the full-time requirement.
  • ENCO/COOP: Students enrolled in Engineering Coop (ENCO099) and Cooperative Education (UNIV099) programs are considered full-time students.
  • ADS Reduced Course Load Accommodations: Eligible students can work with Accessibility & Disability Service (ADS) to request a reduction in course load to meet full-time status.
If a student with a scholarship or grant falls below the required 12 credit hours, the scholarship or grant may be canceled. Students receiving financial aid are strongly encouraged to contact a financial aid counselor prior to dropping below full time status. Additional information may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Graduate Students

The Graduate School uses a unit system in making calculations to determine full-time or part-time student status. Please note that graduate units are different from credit hours. The number of graduate units per credit hour is calculated in the following manner:

Courses Units per Credit Hour
Courses 000-399 Units per Credit Hour 2
Courses 400-499 Units per Credit Hour 4
Courses 500-599 Units per Credit Hour 5
Courses 600-897 Units per Credit Hour 6
Courses 799 (Masters Research) Units per Credit Hour 12
Courses 898 (Pre-candidacy Doctoral Research) Units per Credit Hour 18
Courses HESP829 Units per Credit Hour 18
Courses 899 (Doctoral Dissertation Research) Units per Credit Hour 18

Fall or Spring Semester

Enrolled Units Enrollment Status
Enrolled Units 48+ Enrollment Status Full-time
Enrolled Units 25 - 47 Enrollment Status Three-quarter time/More than half-time
Enrolled Units 24 Enrollment Status Half-time
Enrolled Units 1 - 23 Enrollment Status Less than half-time

Graduate assistants holding regular appointments have full-time status if they are registered for at least 24 units in addition to the assistantship; holders of half-time assistantships are considered full-time if registered for 36 units. Courses taken with the grading method of Audit do not generate graduate units and will not be used in calculating full-time or part-time status.

Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer 12-week Term

Enrolled Units Enrollment Status
Enrolled Units 36+ Enrollment Status Full-time
Enrolled Units 19 - 35 Enrollment Status Three-quarter time/More than half-time
Enrolled Units 18 Enrollment Status Half-time
Enrolled Units 1 - 17 Enrollment Status Less than half-time

Graduate assistants holding regular appointments have full-time status if they are registered for at least 18 units in addition to the assistantship; holders of half-time assistantships are considered full-time if registered for 27 units. Courses taken with the grading method of Audit do not generate graduate units and will not be used in calculating full-time or part-time status.


International Students

International students on F-1 and J-1 student visas must maintain full-time status throughout each semester according to federal regulations governing F-1 and J-1 students. Please contact an advisor in International Student and Scholar Services at 301-314-7740 if you have any questions concerning full-time status.

  • Undergraduate international students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester to be considered a full-time student.
  • Graduate international students must be enrolled in at least 48 units each fall and spring semester to be considered a full-time student (Note: 20-hour assistantships are equivalent to 24 units; 10-hour assistantships are equivalent to 12 units)
  • Courses taken for "audit" or "incomplete" do not generate credits/units and cannot be used in calculating full-time status.
  • Only one online course/distance education can count towards full-time enrollment.
  • If you will be part-time in a semester due to illness, academic difficulties, or because you are in your final semester, you must receive permission for part-time enrollment from International Student and Scholar Services before the end of the drop/add period for that semester. To request permission, log in to iTerp and go to F-1 Student Services to complete the Part-Time Authorization e-form. Your academic advisor will need to confirm your part-time status.