Graduate Catalog (2026-2027)

Course Load

For graduate students taking required coursework leading to a degree, “full-time” at Southern Wesleyan University is defined as enrollment in nine (9) credit hours or more in either a fifteen-week period or within two consecutive seven-week periods. In the case of students who have completed all required coursework for a degree but are completing a dissertation or applied doctoral project, “full-time” is defined as enrollment in one (1) credit hour of doctoral continuation per term. A graduate student pursuing required coursework who is registered for six (6) credit hours for a semester is classified as a part-time student, and registration for five (5) or fewer credit hours for a semester is classified as less than half-time. To be eligible for financial aid, a graduate student must be registered for at least six (6) hours of required coursework for the semester.

To ensure students are successful in their academic endeavors, the University has placed a limit on the maximum number of semester hours students are able to take.

Graduate, Post-Graduate, and Doctoral Students

Graduate, post-graduate, and doctoral students have a maximum semester limit of 15 hours. Students must seek permission to take more than the maximum hours in a semester and will be required to pay additional tuition for each credit hour they take over the maximum semester limit.

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students are considered to be full-time with a semester load of 12 or more semester hours. Undergraduate students have a maximum semester limit of 18 hours. Students must seek permission to take more than the maximum hours in a semester and will be required to pay additional tuition for each credit hour they take over the maximum semester limit.