Courses and Credits

The Course Numbering System

Beginning with the 1984-85 academic year, Prairie View A&M University moved from a three-digit to a four-digit course numbering system. Under the new system, the first digit represents the course level (i.e., below college level/developmental 0, freshman 1, sophomore 2, junior 3, senior 4, and masters 5, doctoral 7). The fourth digit indicates the credit hour value of the course.

Unit of Credit

The unit of credit used at Prairie View A&M University is the semester hour. A semester hour is the equivalent of one lecture contact hour per week for one semester. Time requirements for the semester credit hour in activities other than lecture vary according to the nature and objectives of the activities.

Course Loads

The normal full-time course load ranges from 12 semester hours to 18-semester hour per semester during the regular academic year and six to seven semester hours during a five-week summer term. Undergraduate students required to enroll in one or more developmental courses as a result of placement examinations are restricted to a maximum 15 credit hour course load in a regular semester and 6 semester hours in a five-week summer term. The total credit hours earned for the two summer sessions may not exceed twelve.

Course Overloads

Undergraduate students with a 3.0 GPA or higher may be allowed to take a maximum of 21 semester credit hours during any long semester and 14 semester credit hours during the combined summer semesters. Taking of courses simultaneously at another institution which would cause the student’s total workload to exceed the maximum overload of 21 semester credit hours will not be permitted. If a student persists in registering at another institution without approval of the dean of the respective college or school, the work taken will not be acceptable for transfer to Prairie View A&M University.

Independent Study Courses

Independent study courses are permitted on a highly selective need basis. Any student enrolling in an independent study course must have the prior approval of the supervising faculty member, the Department Head in which the course is to be taken, Dean of the College and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. No more than 6 such credit hours may be counted toward a degree.

Course Auditing

When space is available and the Department and Dean consent, any person may audit a course by paying the $10 per course audit fee. An individual sixty-five years of age or older is exempt from paying the fee. Credit is not awarded for any audit course. Individuals who audit courses do not submit papers, take examinations, participate in discussions, or receive evaluations in courses audited. Those wishing to audit may register only after late registration but prior to the 12th class day of a regular semester or the 4th class day of a summer session. A student who audits a course may not change registration during the semester to take the course for credit.

Classification of Students

Freshman: A student who has enrolled in regular college work but has earned fewer than 30 semester credit hours. Developmental/Remedial/Study Skills courses do count towards full-time status and course loads, but not classification.
Sophomore: A student who has earned 30 to 59 semester credit hours.
Junior: A student who has earned 60 to 89 semester credit hours.
Senior: A student who has earned at least 90 semester credit hours.