Credits

In accordance with accreditor and regulatory guidelines enforced by the Department of Education, students must start and complete all coursework within the published start and end dates of the term of enrollment as defined on the college Academic Calendar. Students may not extend coursework beyond the term, except under the explicit guidelines outlined in the Incomplete Grade Policy. In addition, the college is not permitted to enroll students in over lapping coursework or truncate the required enrollment period for any student, so all students are required to participate in their registered coursework from day 1 of the term through their exam week obligations. Students must enroll for coursework during the term the work is started and completed. This includes all credit-bearing and non-credit bearing, graded and ungraded, senior inquiry, internships, service learning, study away and all modalities and instructional delivery methods. Similarly, transfer credits are awarded according to the maximum credits displayed on an official transcript. See Policies on Awarding Transfer Credit. Credit will not be earned if they fall outside of these parameters. In accordance with these regulations, changes in enrollment for student error must be requested within the same academic year, students may not add coursework from prior academic year. For information on limitations on section registration and seat time see also Registration and Attendance.

ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø understands that the foundation of our exceptional curriculum is rooted in the relationships developed in the classroom through meaningful dialog between students and faculty. Therefore, in accordance with our accreditation status, ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø does not currently offer online programs. With rare exception, courses taught during the academic year are assigned a physical classroom and are taught in a face-to-face modality. However, ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø students are expected to have regular access to technology and the internet in order to be successful, and ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø faculty make use of progressive, hybrid pedagogy which blends in-person with other modes of instruction. All ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø courses will make use of Moodle, our online learning management system. Some courses may only use Moodle to post the syllabus, assignments and grades, while other courses may use it more broadly to engage students with supplemental reading, videos and/or discussion groups. Students should contact the faculty member to learn exactly how online resources and modalities will be used in the class. Starting in the summer 2015, ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø began offering a few summer-only online courses. These offerings have increased each year, but continue to be offered largely in summer session. These courses use Moodle and other course-specific technologies to deliver the course content.

NOTE! In March of 2020, ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø was granted a temporary exception by the Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission to offer courses online as a response to the Covid-19 global pandemic. In spring 2020, the second half of the semester (7 weeks) was taught 100% online for all courses. During the 2020-21 academic year approximately 7% of our courses were offered in an online modality and some students elected to be a remote learner for one or two semesters. ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø cannot validate which courses or students were taught in a remote modality. Please contact the individual student or instructors for this information if it is needed. 

The college defines an enrolled student as an individual enrolled in 1 or more credits during the academic year (fall, J-term, Spring) or in a minimum of one 0 credit experience in the summer. A full-time student carries 12 or more credits per semester. Audit hours do not count toward full-time status, but are included among tuition charges. A part-time student carries fewer than 12 credits per semester.

The following classi?cations apply to students working toward a degree either full-time or part-time:

• A sophomore has 29 credits
• A junior has 61 credits
• A senior has 91 credits

Students not working toward a degree, such as post-baccalaureate students, are classi?ed as special students.

ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø¡¯s degree is designed to be completed in four years (eight semesters). Full-time tuition per academic year covers up to 34 credits, which includes Fall, Spring, and one January term (J-term).

Full-Time Enrollment

• Full-time status requires at least 12 credits in a semester.

• J-term credits do not count toward full-time status for Fall.

Maximum Enrollment Per Semester

• Students may enroll in up to 18 credits per semester. To enroll in more than 18, see the Registration Surplus Policy.

Part-Time Enrollment

• Part-time students pay per-credit hour. See the Schedule of Student Charges.

• Not eligible for J-term if part-time in Fall.

J-Term Enrollment

• Students registered full-time in Fall may take one J-term course per year at no extra tuition cost (program/travel fees may still apply). Most are 4 credits, but some may vary.

• J-term credits count toward the 34-credit academic year limit.

• Students cannot enroll only in J-term. 

• No student may start enrollment in J-term.

Overload Fees

Overload fees apply if students go over the credit limits covered by full-time tuition. Limits vary depending on how many semesters the student has attended and their enrollment pattern. The following limitations apply for students enrolling in just one semester:

  1.  Students who have completed fewer than 8 full-time semesters who enroll in just one semester:

• Fall only: Up to 17 credits 

• Fall + J-term: Up to 17 credits total (13 in Fall + 4 in J-term)

• Spring only: Up to 17 credits

Transfer students may count prior credits toward the 8-semester total. Contact the Registrar¡¯s Office for clarification.*

  2.  Students with at least 8 full-time semesters who enroll in just one semester:

• Fall only: Up to 18 credits 

• Fall + J-term: Up to 20 credits total (16 in Fall + 4 in J-term)

• Spring only: Up to 18 credits

Credit Reuse and Overload Fee Deadlines

• Credits dropped before the reuse deadline (see Academic Calendar) do not count toward the 34-credit limit.  

• Credits dropped after the reuse deadline still count toward the 34-credit limit.

• Students studying away are held to the same limits.

• Courtesy overload warnings may be sent, but students are responsible for monitoring credit limits and paying any fees.

Special Exceptions

• Students hired as campus tutors in credit-bearing training will not be charged overload fees.

• MULS private lessons do not count in overload.

• Certain zero or .25 credit internships may also be exempt (see Internship Policy).

Payment and Appeals

• Overload and per-credit tuition rates are published in the Schedule of Student Charges.

• Overload fees are billed in week 8 of the spring semester.

• Questions about payment plans should go to the Business Office.

• Unused credits cannot roll over to summer or future years.

• Students who wish to appeal must submit the Overload Appeal Form at least one week before the credit reuse deadline. Appeals must be submitted by the student; appeals from parents, instructors, or advisors will not be accepted. Students should carefully consult the eligibility qualifications page before submitting an appeal. 

*Transfer students have special considerations based on the credits earned prior to enrollment to determine if they have met the 8 semester minimum. Overload fees will be charged for students who exceed these limits. 

updated 7.28.25

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY: While the senior audit, program evaluation, academic support resources, as well as academic guidance from faculty and advisors are all available to every student at no additional cost, these resources are provided for use in planning only. It is the responsibility of the student to maintain an accurate schedule at all times and pay for all tuition and fees associated with their registration in accordance with all published fees and deadlines. Students must report any printed schedule error to the Office of the Registrar within two semesters. The responsibility for understanding and meeting degree requirements rests entirely with the student.

Students are making normal progress toward the Bachelor of Arts degree if they earn at least 29 credits after two semesters, 61 after four semesters, 91 after six semesters, and 120 after 8 semesters of enrollment.

To maintain normal progress toward the degree, students must ?le a Declaration of Major form after earning 61 credits. These forms are available on the Of?ce of the Registrar forms page. Students who fail to meet this requirement will be restricted from registration at the point when they have earned 61 credits but have not declared a program of study.