Academic Catalog

This policy is effective August 11, 2025.

See the previous policy in effect through August 10, 2025. NAU Policy 100324: Course Loads and Overloads, Graduate

The minimum credit hours/units required for the “full-time” designation for graduate students vary, depending on the term and the context. “Full-time” status, as stated in this policy, is generally limited to an academic designation and is typically applicable only to academic requirements for the University. Requirements established by lending agencies, government regulations (including those that rule federal financial aid), employing entities, and certain insurance policies may utilize criteria that differ from this policy on what constitutes “full-time” enrollment. Students are responsible for knowing these criteria and should contact the proper agency or department (such as the NAU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid) for questions and clarification on those criteria.

Full-Time Status

Graduate students are considered “full-time” during fall or spring terms if they are enrolled in nine (9) credit hours/units during that term. Graduate students are considered “full-time” during the summer term if they carry five (5) credit hours/units accumulated over any combination of summer sessions. Withdrawing from a course may reduce enrollment status to less than “full-time.”

In some situations, enrollment in fewer than nine (9) units during the fall or spring terms (or five (5) units for the summer) can be considered “full-time” by NAU and the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. These situations include but are not limited to graduate students in the final semester of their degree who are writing or defending a thesis or dissertation; graduate students who have completed all coursework and have only a thesis, capstone project, or internship to finish; and doctoral students who have been admitted to candidacy. In these instances, the Associate Vice Provost of the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies has the authority to approve a “full-time” status designation for semester loads below the units otherwise established in this policy.

Full-time status for graduate students does not necessarily satisfy the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies’ requirements for continuous enrollment. See NAU policy 100326: Continuous Enrollment, Graduate.

Enrollment Requirements for Graduate Assistants

Graduate Assistants employed during fall and spring terms are expected to enroll in at least nine (9) units of credit per semester, at least six (6) of which must count toward their degree requirements (excluding audit enrollment). All graduate assistants must enroll in a minimum of six (6) units of credit per semester, which must count toward their degree requirements (excluding audit enrollment). Graduate students enrolled in fewer than six (6) units of credit per semester are not eligible for graduate assistantships. The maximum full-time course load for graduate assistants during fall or spring terms is sixteen (16) units of credit per semester before an exception is required. Appointing departments may establish additional enrollment requirements within the parameters of this policy.

Term Overloads

The maximum number of credit hours/units allowed for enrollment by graduate students without an overload approval is sixteen (16) credit hours/units for fall and spring terms, six (6) credit hours/units for five-week summer sessions, and four (4) credit hours/units for summer pre-sessions or winter sessions. 

The maximum number of credit hours/units for mini-courses or dynamically dated courses varies depending on the length of the course. Contact the Associate Vice Provost of the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies to seek overload approvals on these types of courses. 

Approval for a Term Overload

Students may carry a term overload (exceed maximum credit hours/units in a term) only with the approval of their advisor, their department chair, and the Associate Vice Provost of the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. 

Overloads above twenty-one (21) credit hours/units for fall and spring terms, sixteen (16) hours for any summer term, or four (4) hours for winter term will not be approved for graduate students. 

Some graduate programs require a student to hold a minimum grade point average before an overload is approved. The Office of Graduate and Professional Studies recommends that a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA be achieved prior to carrying an overload.

To apply for enrollment in an overload, students must submit the appropriate approval form, with the required signatures/approvals, when they enroll. This form is available on the Registrar's website.

Graduate students may petition for an exception to any academic, non-grade-related, graduate regulation for which no specific appeal or petition process exists. Petitions should be submitted, in writing, to the Associate Vice Provost of the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. When applicable, the student’s advisor and department chair may endorse the petition letter. In some instances, utilizing the Academic Appeal Policy and UGCHP - Graduate is more appropriate. 

Students should contact the Associate Vice Provost of the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies for clarification on which process to initiate.