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How Do I Get a Credit Hour Overload?

During the fall and spring terms, you may register for a maximum of 18 credit hours. Any amount over this is called an "overload" and must be approved as described below. For summer, a course load of more than 12 credit hours is considered an overload throughout the entire summer, and a course load of more than 6 credit hours in shorter summer sessions is considered an overload.

To petition for a credit hour overload in the College of Arts and Sciences you must be one of the following:

  • An undergraduate who has officially declared a major in the College of Arts and Sciences
  • An undergraduate who has not yet declared a major
  • An undergraduate or graduate student-at-large

Approval for a course overload is granted under the following conditions:

  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • Write a Petition explaining the compelling reason the overload is necessary
  • Fill out the Overload Request form 
  • Submit the Petition and the Overload Request form to the CAS Dean's office (Room BBH 158)

You may not carry a course overload during the first semester of study at Northeastern.

Note: If not a major in the College of Arts and Sciences, see the other colleges to request a credit overload.

Dean's List Requirements

The Dean's List recognizes majors in the College of Arts and Sciences who have achieved academic success in a specific semester.

Criteria for determining eligibility for the Dean's List:

  1. Major must have been declared by the end of the semester being awarded.
  2. A semester grade point average of 3.80 or above for the semester being awarded.
  3. Successful completion of six (6) or more credit hours with letter grades of A, B, C or D.

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