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Hardin-Simmons University 2018-2019
Course Load
The normal course load for an undergraduate student is 15-
17 semester credits during a fall or spring semester. Any
student, however, may register for an overload (more than 17
semester credits) if he/she falls into one of the following
categories:
1. An entering freshman student graduating from an
accredited high school who has an ACT composite score of
27 or above or who has a total SAT score of at least 1790 or
RSAT 1280 may enroll for a maximum of 18 semester credits.
2. A student who has completed at least 15 semester credits
with a GPA of 3.00 or higher may enroll for a maximum of 18
semester credits.
3. A student who has completed at least 15 semester credits
with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher may enroll for a
maximum of 20 semester credits.
All of the above provisions for permitting overload enrollment
are contingent upon the approval of the student’s advisor.
In order to be considered full-time, an undergraduate student
must enroll in a minimum of 12 semester credits during a long
semester and four semester credits during any summer term.
The maximum course load for a student enrolled in May Term
is four credits.
A normal course load for a student enrolled in a five-week
summer session is six semester credits. The maximum
amount of credit a student may earn in a summer is 14
semester credits, not including credit earned during the May
term. These 14 semester credits may be distributed over the
two summer terms as deemed advisable by the student and
approved by his/her advisor as long as the load for a single
five-week summer term does not exceed a maximum of eight
semester credits. This policy applies to both day and evening
students and includes all course work, whether distance, or
residence. It is strongly recommended that students who are
working either full-time or part-time register only for the
number of credits they can reasonably expect to complete
successfully.
Exceptions to this policy on maximum student course load
must have prior written approval of the dean of the appropriate
school or the University Provost.
REGISTRATION
Advance Registration
Students are strongly encouraged to advance register for
classes during the Advance Registration period indicated in
the Academic Calendar and Schedule of Classes. Once the
semester begins students may make changes to their
advance registration schedules with a Change of Schedule
Form secured from the Office of the Registrar. This form must
have proper signatures and be returned to the Office of the
Registrar prior to end of registration period. See Academic
Calendar for dates.
Intercollege Enrollment
A student enrolled at HSU may also enroll in courses at
Abilene Christian University and/or McMurry University.
Courses taken through Intercollege enrollment count toward
degree requirements, provided approval has been secured in
advance from the advisor, the Business Office, and the Office
of the Registrar. Courses in a major, minor, or teaching field
must also be approved by the appropriate department head
or dean. Some programs are available only on an Intercollege
basis.
The student should work closely with the advisor in selecting
Intercollege work. Intercollege work is regarded as a special
transfer category and treated in the same manner as HSU
work with respect to the acceptance of credit and the
calculation of grade point averages. See also the sections on
Residence Work and on Post-Enrollment Transfer Credit in
this Catalog.
Schedule Changes
If it becomes necessary to make changes in the course of
study after the registration has been completed, the student
obtains from the Office of the Registrar a Change of Schedule
Form. Necessary approvals must be secured and the form
returned to the Office of the Registrar prior to the end of the
registration period. (Check Academic Calendar for date.)
A student may drop a course within the first five weeks of a
long semester or the first seven class days of a summer
session with a “W” as the recorded grade. After this time, a
student may officially drop a course for just cause with a
recorded grade of “WP” (Withdrew passing) or “WF”
(Withdrew failing) according to an estimate of the instructor in
the course.
Note:
No classes may be dropped after the last date for
withdrawal specified in the academic calendar.
Students may not change from credit to audit or non-credit (or
visa-versa) after the last date to register.
A fee is charged for any student-initiated drop after
registration.
Pass/Fail Grades
Hardin-Simmons University students may take a maximum of
six (6) credits on a pass/fail basis. This option allows junior
and senior students to explore fields of study outside of their
chosen majors and/or minors without the fear of competition
with students who have more extensive training in those
fields.
If a grade of “C” or better is earned, then the student will
receive a “P” (passing grade) which will not affect the grade
point average in any manner. A grade earned below a “C” will
result in the student receiving an “F”, which will be calculated
in the student’s GPA as any other failing grade. Repeating a
pass/fail course must be for a grade with that grade being the
official grade for the student’s GPA.
Eligibility regulations include:
Students must have completed at least 60 credits
with at least a 2.50 GPA;
Pass/fail courses may not be counted for a
student’s major, minor, or HSU foundational
curriculum;
A maximum of six credits may be taken with the
pass/fail option;
Pass/fail registration may not be changed after the
sixth class day;
Applies only to regular HSU on-campus courses.
Auditing of Academic Work
An auditor is an observer, not a participant, and is entitled to
sit in a class and benefit from the instruction, which is offered,
but not to participate in laboratory, field work, performances,
and similar activities. An auditor is not entitled to have work
evaluated by the instructor and receives no credit for
enrollment as an auditor. Individuals who wish to participate
fully and engage in all instructional activities must register for
credit and pay full tuition. Permission to register as an auditor
may be granted by the department head for appropriate
courses when space is available. Auditors are not entitled to
university library privileges or other activities normally funded
through student fees and may not audit courses requiring
laboratory credit without express consent of the instructor.
Form to request to audit a course is in the Registrar’s office.