How many courses should I take each semester?
To make appropriate progress toward graduation, students should take four courses (one course = 1 unit or more) per semester. Students must take 33.5 units in total to graduate. A normal courseload is 4 to 4.5 units in a semester.
The minimum course load to be considered a full-time student is 3.5 units; taking fewer than 3.5 units may endanger a student's financial aid and will make a student ineligible for NCAA athletic competition. However, a student who takes only 3.5 units per semester will fail to make adequate progress toward degree completion, which may endanger financial aid and athletic competition eligibility.
International students under F-and J-type visas and Division I student-athletes are required to carry and complete at least 3.5 units of work each semester. For the purposes of this calculation, a withdrawn course does not count toward this required 3.5 unit total.
- International students should contact the International Student Services Office to determine any effects on their student visa status.
| End of Term | Units Completed |
|---|---|
| 1 | 4.5 |
| 2 | 9.0 |
| 3 | 13.0 |
| 4 | 17.0 |
| 5 | 21.0 |
| 6 | 25.0 |
| 7 | 29.0 |
| 8 | 33.5 |
Note: If you take only 4.0 units every semester (after the first year), you will only earn 33.0 units, so remember to find time to add the 0.5 units to meet the graduation requirements.