University Credit
University credit is the term used to identify all credit offered by The
University of Arizona with the exception of correspondence credit and Special
Examination for Credit. Only the grades of courses taken for University
credit and by Special Examination for
Grade are used in calculating the grade-point average.
Unit of Credit, Definition
Utilizing the definition that an hour of work is the equivalent of 50
minutes of class time (often called a contact hour) or 60 minutes of
independent-study work, university policy requires at least 45 hours of work
by each student for each unit of credit. Contact hours required for specific
types of courses are as follows:
- At least 15 contact hours of recitation, lecture, discussion, seminar,
or colloquium, as well as a minimum of 30 hours of student homework are
required for each unit of student credit.
- Workshops require at least 15 through 45 contact hours and the
appropriate number of homework hours to comprise a total of at least 45
hours of work for each unit of credit.
- Studios require at least 30 contact hours and at least 15 hours of
homework for each unit of credit.
- Laboratory courses must maintain a minimum of 45 contact hours per unit
of credit.
- Field trips are to be counted hour-for-hour as laboratory meetings.
- Each unit of internship or practicum must require a minimum of 45 hours
of work.
Since it would be virtually impossible for a student to complete
satisfactorily 45 hours of work in less than one week, the policy regarding
the duration of courses maintains that a course must cover at least a one-week
period for every unit of credit given. During the summer session, however, 6
units of credit might be given over a five-week period.
It is understood that, when the official university calendar deviates from
these guidelines, that calendar shall prevail.
It is also understood that the hour requirements specified above represent
minimums for average students and that considerable deviation in excess of
these requirements may occur, particularly at the graduate level.
Also see the Arizona Board of Regents Policy Manual, 
Definition
of a Unit of Credit (pdf) in pdf format.
Graduate Credit for Seniors
(Policy updated May 23, 2003: clarification on
the use of 500-level courses toward the bachelor's and graduate degrees, and
the use of graduate and professional transfer courses.)
A senior within 15 units of completing requirements for graduation may
register for graduate work if recommended by the head of the department
offering the course and approved by the Dean of the Graduate College. A
petition for Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses must be filed with
the Graduate College at the time of registration or within 10 days thereafter.
The Dean of the Graduate College will not approve a petition unless the senior
has a grade-point-average (GPA) of 3.000 or better
on all University Credit and is proceeding toward
graduation as directly as possible. Under such a petition, seniors may enroll
in 500-level courses for undergraduate or graduate credit (not both). Courses
numbered at the 600, 700, and 900 levels are not open to undergraduates.
Just as graduate University Credit may be applied toward a bachelor's
degree (as upper division credit) or a graduate degree (as graduate credit),
graduate or professional level credit earned and transferred from another
institution may be applied toward a baccalaureate degree at the UA only if it
is not used to complete a graduate or professional degree at that institution.
Professional degrees include (but are not limited to) such programs as law and
medicine. Students may petition the acceptance of graduate or professional
credit by submitting a Transfer Credit Appeal, along with a letter from the
graduate or professional college stating that the courses in question were
not/are not being applied toward a graduate or professional degree at that
institution.
Dental and veterinary students in the programs of microbiology and
veterinary science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, should also see,
Special
Conditions for DDS and DVM Candidates.
See the Graduation Services site for detailed instructions on
Undergraduate
Enrollment in Graduate Courses, and contact your
Graduation
Services advisor if you have questions.
Maximum Number of Units Allowed Per Semester
(Summer and winter added: May 9, 2000)
The maximum number of units allowed in fall and spring semesters is
determined by the college in which you are enrolled. Summer and
winter unit maxima are determined by the session in which you are
enrolled. See below. The maximum number of units include all work
carried in residence as well as concurrent registration in correspondence,
extension, or approved courses at other institutions. Medical students
please consult the College of Medicine.
Approval of the college dean is required for any student to exceed the
maximum number of units allowed per semester.
Summer Session Unit Maxima:
- Presession: 3 to 4 units (one course)
- 1st Summer Session: 6 to 7 units (two courses)
- 2nd Summer Session: 6 to 7 units (two courses)
Winter Session Unit Maxima: 3 to 4 units (one course)
Fall and Spring Unit Maxima:
| College or School |
Maximum #
of Units |
| Agriculture and Life Sciences |
19 |
| Architecture, Planning, and
Landscape Architecture |
19 |
| Arizona International College |
19 |
| Business and Public
Administration |
19 |
| Education |
19 |
| Engineering and Mines |
19 |
| Fine Arts |
19 |
| Graduate College |
16 |
| Health Professions, School of |
19 |
| Humanities |
19 |
| Law |
17 |
| Nursing |
19 |
| Pharmacy |
19 |
| Public Health |
19 |
| Science |
19 |
| Social and Behavioral
Sciences |
19 |
| University College |
19 |
Class standing/classification in the various colleges and schools, based
upon the number of units completed, is given in the table below. A student's
class standing does not necessarily relate to the number of semesters or units
required to complete degree requirements.
Revised 2/28/07 classification updated for
College of Engineering.
| College or School |
Freshman |
Sophomore |
Junior |
Senior |
| Agriculture and Life Sciences |
1-25 |
26-57 |
58-90 |
91+ |
| Architecture, Planning, and Landscape
Architecture |
1-29 |
30-60 |
61-94 |
95+ |
| Arizona International College |
1-24 |
25-55 |
56-86 |
87+ |
| Business and Public Administration |
1-24 |
25-55 |
56-86 |
87+ |
| Education |
-- |
-- |
56-86 |
87+ |
| Engineering and Mines |
1-25 |
26-57 |
58-89 |
90+ |
| Fine Arts |
1-24 |
25-55 |
56-86 |
87+ |
| Health Professions, School of * |
1-24 |
25-55 |
56-86 |
87+ |
| Humanities |
1-24 |
25-55 |
56-86 |
87+ |
| Law |
1st year
1-30
|
2nd year
31-58
|
3rd year
59-85
|
-- |
| Medicine College
class standings are not
determined based on the number of units completed. If you have
questions please contact the college directly. |
| Nursing |
-- |
33-63 |
64-96 |
97+ |
| Pharmacy College
class standings are not
determined based on the number of units completed. If you have
questions please contact the college directly. |
| Public Health |
1-30 |
31-60 |
61-96 |
97+ |
| Science ** |
1-24 |
25-55 |
56-86 |
87+ |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences |
1-24 |
25-55 |
56-86 |
87+ |
| University College |
1-24 |
25-55 |
-- |
-- |
* Health Professions class standing units
updated November 9, 2000.
** The B.S.G. with a major in geosciences (offered prior to 1998) has
the same class standing unit criteria as the College of Engineering and Mines
above. The B.S. with a major in geosciences (offered 1998 and later) has the
same class standing unit criteria as the College of Science.
Full-time Student Status
Full-time status for an undergraduate student varies with the college and
study program, but ordinarily requires a load of at least 12 units per
semester. Full-time status for graduate students is more widely variable,
depending upon assistantship or associateship duties and the composition of
the individual student's program. Students in doubt about their standing
should check with the their college dean's office.
