Registration Information

Undergraduate: Undergraduate student should average 15 credits of work for eight semesters for a total of 120 credits. The maximum load for first year students is 17 credits per semester. The maximum load for sophomore, junior or senior students is 18 credits per semester. The maximum load for undergraduate students is 12 credits per summer session (with a credit per week ration or no more than one credit per week during the summer). The maximum load for undergraduate students is one credit per week during J-term (typically no more than four credits per J-term).

Full-time students are designated as being enrolled for 12 or more credits. Students in the Honors Program may carry one honors course per semester in addition to the regular course load.

Graduate: Full-time graduate students status is defined by enrollment for at least eight credits in the fall or spring terms, and for at least four credits in the summer. When graduate students complete undergraduate courses, each undergraduate credit will count as a graduate credit in calculating load. Graduate students who are working as graduate assistants must be either currently enrolled in a graduate course or admitted to a graduate program and enrolled in a course (either graduate or undergraduate). 

Undergraduate: Any sophomore, junior, or senior who desires to enroll for more than 18 semester hours or a first year student who desires to enroll for more than 17 semester hours must make an application for an excess load. 

Graduate: The normal load for full-time students is 8-15 credits during a semester and 4-9 during summer session (but no more than one credit per week without the director's permission). You may exceed these maximums once during your graduate program if you: 

• are not on academic probation;
• have successfully completed at least 16 graduate credits; and
• have filed written approval from your advisor with the Graduate Studies Office. 

If you take undergraduate courses, each three undergraduate credits will count as two graduate credits in calculating your load. Graduate assistants must take at least eight credits and no more than twelve credits.

The unit of credit is the semester hour, which is given for the satisfactory completion of a subject pursued for one semester and having one class period or two laboratory periods per week. 

There is a per-credit charge for an excess load over 18 credits.

Course numbered in the 100s are intended for first year students, 200s for sophomores, 300s for juniors and 400s for seniors. Courses numbered below 100 do not carry credits toward a degree. First year students may not register for 300 or 400 level courses without permission and sophomores may not register for 400 level courses without permission. This permission must come from the chair of the department offering the course. Courses in the 500s and 600s are reserved for graduate students. Slash courses are numbered with both undergraduate and graduate numbers (300/500, 400/600.) First year students and sophomores are not permitted in 300/500 and 400/600 courses. Juniors and seniors are permitted in 300/500 and 400/600 courses. No undergraduate students may enroll in 700-level courses under any circumstances. A sophomore may petition the Dean of Graduate Studies for admission to a 300/500 course, but only under extraordinary circumstances, and with written support of the instructor and adviser.

A student may repeat any course in which a grade of 'C-', 'D+','D', 'F', 'XF', 'U', or 'W' was earned.

Students may request to repeat courses in which other grades were received only if there are extenuating circumstances. To request this exception, a Course Repeat Exception form must be completed and approved by the student's adviser, the chair of the department offering the course, and the student's Dean BEFORE the end of the first day of classes for that term.  If the form is not completed and submitted to the Registrar's Office by the end of the first day of classes for that term, the student will be automatically dropped from the roster.

The original grade will remain on the student's transcript. The new grade will replace the previous grade when computing the grade point average (GPA). If a student repeats a course and earns a lower new grade, the lower new grade will be used in the computation of the GPA.  If a student withdraws from a course taken as a "Repeat", the original grade earned will be reinstated in the overall GPA calculation.

The university does not guarantee the right to repeat any course. Courses may be deactivated, discontinued, or offered on a different schedule.

Students may not retake courses at another institution in order to raise their UWRF GPA. Transfer credit generally applies toward graduation. However, grades for these courses will not be calculated into your UWRF cumulative GPA.

NOTE:  Athletes should check with their coaches before repeating courses in which a grade of D was earned, as it may affect their athletic eligibility. Students receiving veteran's benefits may not count in benefit level determination those credits for which grades of D were previously earned.

Faculty Senate Policy passed December 1, 2012 (Motion 2012-2013/69)

If a student withdraws from a course taken as a "Repeat," the original grade earned will be reinstated in the overall GPA calculation.

Athletes should check with their coaches before repeating courses in which a grade of D was earned, as it may affect their athletic eligibility.

Students receiving veterans' benefits may not count in benefit level determination those credits for which D's were previously earned.

NOTE TO FINANCIAL AID STUDENTS: In accordance with federal regulations, you are not allowed to use federal financial aid to pay for repeated classes in which you previously received a grade of C or higher. If you have any questions on how this could affect your financial aid award, contact the Financial Aid Office.