Course Loads

Fall and Spring: the average course load for a full-time matriculated student is 15-16 credit hours per semester. The minimum full-time load is 12 credit hours. The maximum load is 18 credit hours. Except where required by the academic program, students wishing to register for 19 or more credit hours must have the approval of the academic dean.

Summer: Students may take up to four courses (12-16 credits) during the summer semester. Students may only take two courses per summer session. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the academic dean.

Assisting a student in selecting appropriate courses in the correct order may be the most often performed task of the academic advisor. Tracking progress toward a degree and keeping in mind the basic skills required and the prerequisites for each course are at the core of the advisor’s responsibilities. The advisor should assist the student in determining how many credits is an appropriate load for each semester or session. Ideally, when a student and advisor meet to plan for a new semester or summer session, the student will make wise course choices with the advisor’s assistance.

The advisor can help the student determine how many credits should be taken each semester or session, given the other demands on the student’s time and energy such as:

Work
Volunteering
Activities
Athletics
Family responsibilities

The advisor should help the student understand that courses that run for five-week, seven-week, and summer sessions will demand out-of-class study time at a different rate from fifteen-week classes. Remind the student that he or she needs to have two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class, for assignments and studying. If a given class meets for three hours a week, the student needs to find six to nine hours each week to do the study and class preparation for just that course.

Many students will look to web sections of various courses as a way to deal with troublesome schedule limitations. For some students, this will be a successful choice, but for others less successful.

Please review the guidelines for online course selection before recommending web sections to a student.

Tompkins Cortland Community College

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	Standards for Academic Progress Earning Multiple Degrees Add/Drop/Withdraw Waivers of Required Courses Grading/GPA Definitions and Policies GPA Recalculation Policy Transfer Credits Dual Credit/AP Credit/CLEP Exams Financial Aid Regulations Course Loads Applying for Graduation Changing Programs Types of Degrees	Course Loads Fall and Spring: the average course load for a full-time matriculated student is 15-16 credit hours per semester. The minimum full-time load is 12 credit hours. The maximum load is 18 credit hours. Except where required by the academic program, students wishing to register for 19 or more credit hours must have the approval of the academic dean. Summer: Students may take up to four courses (12-16 credits) during the summer semester. Students may only take two courses per summer session. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the academic dean. Assisting a student in selecting appropriate courses in the correct order may be the most often performed task of the academic advisor. Tracking progress toward a degree and keeping in mind the basic skills required and the prerequisites for each course are at the core of the advisor’s responsibilities. The advisor should assist the student in determining how many credits is an appropriate load for each semester or session. Ideally, when a student and advisor meet to plan for a new semester or summer session, the student will make wise course choices with the advisor’s assistance. The advisor can help the student determine how many credits should be taken each semester or session, given the other demands on the student’s time and energy such as: Work Volunteering Activities Athletics Family responsibilities The advisor should help the student understand that courses that run for five-week, seven-week, and summer sessions will demand out-of-class study time at a different rate from fifteen-week classes. Remind the student that he or she needs to have two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class, for assignments and studying. If a given class meets for three hours a week, the student needs to find six to nine hours each week to do the study and class preparation for just that course. Many students will look to web sections of various courses as a way to deal with troublesome schedule limitations. For some students, this will be a successful choice, but for others less successful. Please review the guidelines for online course selection before recommending web sections to a student.
	Tompkins Cortland Community College P.O. Box 139 · 170 North Street · Dryden, New York 13053 1.888.567.8211 — 1.607.844.8211 Contact the webmaster for web site or accessibility issues.