Course Load / Rate of Work Limits
The normal rate of work is defined as 16 credits per semester, counting toward the 128 credits required as the graduation standard. Students in their final year may work at the rate of 12 credits each term, as long as all degree requirements will be met by the end of their final semester.
Some courses — notably, HWL courses — do not carry credits and do not contribute toward the calculation of a legal course load or progress toward the graduation standard. Students enrolling in them do so as a supplement to an otherwise legal program of study.
The minimum rate of work is 12 credits (equivalent to three semester courses) per term and 28 credits (equivalent to seven semester courses) per academic year.
The maximum rate of work is 22 credits (5.5 semester courses) per term and 44 credits (11 semester courses) per academic year.
| Number of courses |
Equivalent number of credits |
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum per semester | three | 12 |
| Maximum per semester | 5.5 | 22 |
| Minimum per year | seven | 28 |
| Maximum per year | 11 | 44 |
Exceptions are rarely made to the rate of work limits, however in some limited circumstances overloads and underloads are allowed. Students working below the minimum rate of work without permission will be placed on probation and may be subject to withdrawal.
Summer School Course Load / Rate of Work
Brandeis Summer School is not a required term, so there are no minimum credit requirements. However, there are upper limits on the number of credits students may enroll in over the summer, a student may earn credit toward the Brandeis degree for no more than 12 credits in one summer, no matter where the courses are taken.
The maximum number of credits students may enroll in for a single 5-week session is eight. Students enrolling in eight credits in one session are limited to no more than 4 credits in the other sessions.