Educational Work Load

Educational Work Load

Student Educational Work Load

A student’s educational work load generally consists of fifteen (15) units of work per semester in order to make normal progress towards the Associates Degree and/or transfer requirements. For students receiving a Cal Grant award, note that a Cal Grant award is limited to four total years of payment.

Students desiring to take an overload of more than 19.5 units but less than twenty-two (22), in fall and spring terms, must have a counselor’s approval. Students desiring to take twenty-two (22) units or more must have the approval of the appropriate Dean or designee in addition to the counselor’s approval.

Students desiring to take an overload of more than 12 units and less than 15 units, in summer term, must have a counselor’s approval. Students desiring to take more than 15 units must have the approval of the appropriate Dean or designee in addition to the counselor’s approval.

Full-Time Student - A student is defined as full-time if carrying 12 or more units in a regular Fall or Spring semester or 4 units in a summer session.

Students, especially those who work or participate in extracurricular activities, should consider the following guidelines for planning their courses and unit load:

Units Class/Study Hrs Per Week Work/Extra-Curricular Hrs Per Week
15 or more 30-36 0-8
12-14.5 24-29 8-15
9-11.5 18-24 15-20
6-8.5 12-18 20-30
5.5 or fewer 6-12 30-40