Undergraduate Bulletin 2012-2013 - Alabama A&M University

ACADEMIC POLICIES & REGULATIONS, AAMU, 2012-2013 ~ 30 ~
Academic Policies and Procedures
Units of Credit
The unit of credit is the “semester hour.” It is defined as one hour of regular class work or two or more hours of laboratory work per
week for each credit hour. Semester hours translated into contact hours are calculated by multiplying the credit hours by the number of
weeks in the semester. A three-hour course taken during a 15-week semester will have 45 contact hours.
Converting quarter hours to semester hours –
Quarter Hours Semester Hours
5 3.33
4 2.67
3 2.00
2 1.33
1 0.67
Structure of Academic Year
Alabama A&M University is organized on the semester system. The year is divided into two semesters and one summer term.
Summer Sessions – The summer term usually covers a period of eight weeks, typically beginning the first week in June. Regardless of
the length of the term, summer classes, which may be offered in shorter sessions, e.g., four weeks, are so scheduled that the amount of
time allotted for class instruction is equivalent to that provided in the regular semester. Classes held during the summer term usually
meet daily.
The University may offer interim sessions between the regular semesters or the spring semester and summer term or summer term and
fall semester. All accelerated courses must meet the minimum contact hours based on the course credit hours.
Classifications of Students
Persons other than special students are grouped in four classes according to total credits earned in semester hours as indicated below:
Classification
Cumulative Hours Earned
Freshmen 0 – 30
Sophomores 31 – 63
Juniors 64 – 94
Seniors
95 or more
Course Loads
Full-Time vs. Part-Time: A full-time student is one who enrolls in at least 12 semester hours of scheduled course work during a
semester or who enrolls in at least six semester hours during a summer term. Any student enrolled in fewer than 12 hours in a regular
semester or fewer than six semester hours in a summer term is a part-time student.
Maximum Course Loads: The maximum student load is 19 semester hours per regular semester and 10 hours per summer session. A
student may not register for more than 19 semester hours for any semester. Students who desire to register for more than 19 hours
should submit a completed Course Overload Request form signed by the academic advisor to the Office of the Registrar for approval.
Permission for an overload is restricted to students with a GPA of 3.0 or above.
The maximum load for the summer session is 10 semester hours. With permission, two additional semester hours may be allowed
providing the student will be eligible for graduation the same semester by virtue of the additional hours. Under no circumstances will a
student be allowed to earn more than 12 credit hours during a summer session.
Class Attendance Policy