For information specific to Music and Drama students, see the bottom of this page.
A normal course load consists of 4 or 5 courses of three or more credit hours each. A student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours to be considered a full-time student. If a student has either a cumulative 3.0 grade point average, or, in the immediately preceding semester, has received a 3.0 grade point average and completed 15 credit hours, he or she may elect to take a sixth course.
Any senior whose average is below 3.0 and is not on academic probation may take a sixth course in either semester of the senior year but not in both (a total of eleven courses for the year). This is commonly referred to as the "Senior Privilege."
A student who meets one of the above criteria can complete the Google Form here.
In any other circumstances, taking more than five courses requires specific approval by the Dean, prior to registering for the sixth course.
A student whose qualification for over-electing is uncertain may not register for a sixth course until after the preceding semester's grades have been recorded and the qualification met.
NO STUDENT MAY TAKE SEVEN COURSES (OF 3 OR MORE CREDITS EACH) IN A SEMESTER. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.
Should you have questions please contact the Undergraduate Dean's office by sending an email to as-ugprogramsoffice@cua.edu.
Summer sessions: During CUA summer sessions, a student may enroll for a maximum of one credit more than the total weeks in that session. (Overlapping sessions are treated as one for purposes of this regulation.) Ordinarily, this means a student may take no more than two courses simultaneously, and no more than four courses total in all summer sessions combined. Students taking two 3-credit accelerated foreign language courses may not take any additional courses during that 6-week period.
For summer sessions at other institutions, transfer is limited to two courses per year. See Residency Requirements.
Music Students and BFA Musical Theater Majors:
- A Junior or Senior music major who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better or who achieves a 3.5 grade point average at the end of a semester may request to enroll in the following semester for one additional credit beyond the allowable maximum of 21.
- These majors may request in one semester of the Senior year a one-credit overelection without achieving a 3.5 grade point average.
BFA Theatre, Film, Television (TFT) Students:
- A BFA TFT student takes between 15-18 credits a semester. If a student has a cumulative gradepoint average of 3.5 or better at the end of the semester, they may request to enroll for up to 3 additional credits for a maximum of 21 credits.
BA Drama Students:
- A typical course load is 15 credit hours per semester however if a student has either a cumulative 3.0 grade point average, or, in the immediately preceding semester, has received a 3.0 grade point average and completed 15 credit hours, he or she may elect to take a sixth course.
- A student whose qualification for over-electing is uncertain may not register for a sixth course until after the preceding semester's grades have been recorded and the qualification met.
- NO STUDENT MAY TAKE SEVEN COURSES (OF 3 OR MORE CREDITS EACH) IN A SEMESTER. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.
Reviewed September 15, 2025