A normal course load is 5 courses. No student should register for fewer than 4 courses. Students may not register for less than 4 course units (cu) nor more than 5.5 cu without submitting the Faculty Advisor Sign-off form. In general, students with a grade point average below 3.0 are not permitted to take more than 5.5 cu.

First-semester students are not permitted to register for more than 5.5 cu. The maximum course load for second semester may be increased only after the grades for first-semester are posted (usually beginning of January).

Students are not permitted to pre-register for more than 5.5 cu during advance registration. (A 6.5 cu maximum may be granted for dual degree students and seniors who need more cus to graduate on time.) Students may only register for more than 5.5 course units at the start of the new semester after grades and course load from the previous semester are available. The department can increase the maximum load from 5 to 6 cu or 5.5 to 6.5 cu (one cu increment) if the student is in good academic standing (a 3.0 gpa or better and no outstanding incompletes). A request to increase the course load must be received prior to the add deadline, typically two weeks after the start of the semester. Requests to raise course units must be made each semester.

In rare cases, students may request a course load of 7 or 7.5 cu. Such students must submit a Petition for Action which justifies the need to take an excessive course load. A detailed academic plan is required.

Students on probation are limited to a maximum of 4.5 cu.

Summer Course Load

Students taking Summer Courses at Penn may not exceed 4 credit units (CUs) for the 11-Week Session and no more than 2 CUs for Summer Session I or Summer Session II.

Students taking Summer Courses at other universities (Credit Away) may not exceed 4 CUs.

Penn Engineering offers undergraduates only a full-time program of study, for which the normal minimum course load is 4 course units (CU) per term. Occasionally, a student may take a reduced course load of 3.5 or 3.0 CU. Such a reduced course load is considered full-time by Student Financial Services; therefore, such a student is still billed at the normal full-tuition rate. Note that this reduced course load may jeopardize both state and federal financial aid. Also, international students should check with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) (international students have to enroll in a minimum of 3 CUs per semester).

Additionally, registering for fewer than 4 CU per term may affect other considerations, such as visa status, athletic eligibility and/or insurance coverage. Please check carefully to ensure that you know the enrollment requirements of relevant organizations and/or agencies to avoid jeopardizing your standing as a student. Also, keep in mind that satisfactory academic progress in SEAS assumes 8 CU per academic year.

On rare occasions, students are allowed to carry 2.5 or fewer CU in a given term. In order to be granted part-time status, a student must petition for approval. Graduating seniors in their final semester may petition for part-time status by carrying 2.5 or fewer CU, if at that time they need only 2.5 or fewer CU to graduate. Without this permission, students will be billed at the full-time rate.

Students must complete the requirements for the BAS or BSE within an eight-year calendar period after matriculation, i.e., the first term listed on the transcript. If they do not complete the degree within this time period, they forfeit the right to complete the degree and will be withdrawn from the University. Students may petition for action for an extension as warranted. If granted, the student’s coursework and their full record will be evaluated, and additional or replacement coursework may be required in order to complete the degree.