Graduate Student Load, Registration, and Attendance

Full-time/Half-time Student Classification

A graduate student’s classification is determined by the number of graduate semester hours for which the student is enrolled in a given semester or term.

Following are the minimum graduate semester hours for master’s-level and EdS-level full-time and half-time student classification:

Student Classfication

Semester/Term	Full-Time	Half-Time
Fall	9	6
Spring	9	6
Summer (all summer terms combined)	9	6

Following are the minimum graduate semester hours for doctoral-level full-time and half-time student classification:

Student Classfication

Semester/Term	Full-Time	Half-Time
Fall	6	3
Spring	6	3
Summer (all summer terms combined)	6	3

These classifications apply to all financial aid programs, including VA benefits, and to other programs, such as insurance. For VA benefits only, three-quarter time for Master’s and Ed.S students is six hours and Doctoral students is four to five hours in the fall and spring semesters.

Financial aid classifications, including VA benefits, for the summer sessions are computed annually. For information about summer financial aid classifications, please contact:

Financial Aid Office
107 Angle Hall
(256) 782-5006

For classifications for VA benefits, please contact:

Military & Post-Traditional Student Services
117 Angle Hall 
(256) 782-8838

Maximum Student Load

The maximum course load for a graduate student is a total of 13 semester hours during the fall, spring, and combined summer terms. Any exception to this regulation must be approved by the department head/academic advisor and the Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.

Credit Hour Definition¹

Jacksonville State University's policies and procedures for determining the credit hours awarded for courses and programs conforms to the Office of Post-Secondary Education, US Department of Education's 2020 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 34 Section 600.2 credit hour definition², which states:

A credit hour is an amount of student work defined by an institution, as approved by the institution's accrediting agency or State approval agency, that is consistent with commonly accepted practice in postsecondary education and that -

1. Reasonably approximates not less than -
   1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit...or the equivalent amount of work over a different period of time; or
   2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1)(a) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours; and
2. Permits an institution, in determining the amount of work associated with a credit hour, to take into account a variety of delivery methods, measurements of student work, academic calendars, disciplines, and degree levels.

The institutional accrediting body for Jacksonville State University is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) who also recognizes and uses as a basis, the Federal definition of a credit hour in its Credit Hours Policy Statement.

More information can be found on Faculty Handbook.

¹

Revised 06/2023; 08/2024

²

US Department of Education (2020) § 600.2 Definitions - 

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-09-02/pdf/2020-18636.pdf#page=68

Registration for Coursework

All students must register for coursework before attending classes. Registration information is listed online. The appropriate academic advisor and other members of the faculty advise students regarding their programs of study as outlined in this catalog. Students may register online using their MyJaxState accounts.

Students registering after the day classes start will be charged a late registration fee. Students will be responsible for class work from the first class meeting and will incur absences for classes missed. After the add/drop date, the student will incur a reinstatement fee.

Class Attendance

The university expects every graduate student to attend all scheduled class meetings for courses in which the student is enrolled. Each instructor’s policies and procedures on absences and make-up work are announced at the beginning of the term. The student is directly responsible to the individual instructor for absences and for making up work missed.

Auditing Courses

To attend a class, a person must either be registered as a student taking the class for credit or registered as a student auditing the class. Auditors must apply for admission and pay the non-refundable application fee if they are not already regularly enrolled students. The cost for auditing a class and information on applicable course fees may be found on the Student Accounts Tuition & Fees website. 

A person may audit courses with the written approval of the instructor, department head, and dean of the subject. Certain courses may not be available for audit due to the nature of the work being done in the course or the capacity available in the course. 

The audit form can be found on the Registrar's website. Registration must be processed in the Registrar’s Office. Auditors are listed on the class roll, and the instructor will determine and establish the level of participation allowed for auditors in all activities. The auditors will receive a grade of "X" at the end of term. The grade of "X" does not apply towards any degree program. Auditors are not able to receive federal financial aid or tuition assistance for the audited course.