Credit Hour Load

Credit Hours Load (Overloads)

During the Fall and Spring semesters, a student may register for a maximum of 18 credit hours per semester. Graduate students in the Computer Science or Counseling (Clinical Mental Health, Community, Couple and Family, Rehabilitation, or School Counseling) programs are restricted to 12 semester hours during the Fall and Spring semesters.

During the Summer semester, a student may register for a maximum of 12 credit hours.  

No student may carry a course overload during their first semester at Northeastern.

To be considered for a course overload students must:

  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  • Write a petition explaining the compelling reason the overload is necessary.
  • Submit the letter of petition to the appropriate college Dean or Department.

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

  • Undergraduates who have officially declared a major or pre-major in the College of Arts and Sciences
  • Undergraduates who have not yet declared a major or pre-major
  • Undergraduate and Graduate Students-at-Large

Dean of the College of Business and Technology

  • Undergraduates who have officially declared a major or pre-major in the College of Business and Management

Dean of the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education

  • Undergraduates who have officially declared a major or pre-major in the Goodwin College of Education
  • Graduate Students-at-Large officially admitted to a certification program

Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research

  • Graduates admitted to a master’s degree program.

Director of Nontraditional Degree Programs

  • Undergraduates officially admitted to the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program or the University Without Walls program