Credit Load and Limitations for Graduate Students

You should register for credit any time you use the physical or personnel resources of the university to fulfill the requirements of your degree program. You can register on a per credit basis when you are doing research and/or working on a project, paper, or thesis at UW-Stevens Point. The instructor or graduate adviser determines the number of credits according to the scope of the project.

The normal graduate course load for a semester is 9 to 12 credits. If you register for 9 or more credits you are considered a full-time graduate student. Undergraduate credits count when determining your credit load. Once you have completed all degree requirements except for your thesis, we consider you full time for one semester while you work on your thesis.

You may register for no more than 15 credits during the semester and no more than 9 credits (6 credits in any four week period) for the summer session. If there are exceptional circumstances, you can appeal to the dean of your college for permission to carry more than the maximum load. To do this you will need to submit an overload form for your dean’s signature BEFORE you register for the overload. You will not be allowed to register unless your overload has had prior approval.

The normal graduate course load for the eight week summer session is 6 credits (3 credits in each four week term or 6 credits in the eight week term). If you register for 5 or more credits in the summer, you are considered a full-time graduate student. You may register for up to 9 credits in the summer. However, be aware that the concentrated nature of summer courses with the extra commitment of time and energy places a strain on your academic performance. Taking more than 6 credits in summer is not advised.

If you are supported by a full-time assistantship, we expect you to devote at least half of your time to your assistantship duties. Therefore, you should enroll for a maximum of 9 credits per semester.

You do not need to be registered during the semester of your graduation. However, some programs require you to be enrolled in thesis or project credits each semester in order to maintain your status as a degree candidate. If your last semester only involves completing your thesis, you may enroll in course with the approval of your graduate adviser and graduate program coordinator. This zero credit “course” will allow you to use email, retain graduate student library privileges, and postpone federal loan payments. Or if necessary, the registrar will write a letter certifying that your thesis work involves at least 50 percent of your time.