Guest Author - D. Lynn Byrne, Ph.D.
The issue of half-time versus full-time enrollment can cause many a new student a bit of stress. For those of you who will be enrolling for the first time this fall and are still debating how many hours to take, here are some things you should think about.
If you plan on taking part in financial aid programs on campus, most universities are going to require that you enroll for at least half of a full-time load. What does that mean? That depends. Some universities define "full-time" graduate students as those taking 9 hours; others say 12 hours is "full-time." Because the definition can vary, and in fact, the definition of "half-time" may have vary by office--the financial aid office on your campus may have a definition that's very different from your department's definition. If you need financial aid, you'll need to work with the definition the financial aid office provides you.
Many professional programs require full-time enrollment. How do you manage that if you're also working? Sometimes that means you'll have to give up a few working hours in favor of pursuing your education; or you may have to quit working altogether. Before making a final decision on this matter, however, visit with your academic advisor. If you have to work to support yourself, your department may cut you some slack on the enrollment issue.
If you intend to finish a master's degree in one year or a doctoral degree in three years, you may have to pursue full-time studies. Why? Time to degree is impacted greatly by the number of courses you take and when you can take them. Also, keep in mind that the definitions for half- and full-time in a master's program may not match those used for a doctoral program. Why? Many universities believe that students pursuing doctoral degrees, especially those students involved in research towards dissertation or capstone, need fewer hours for full-time enrollment as they're already spending so much time in educational pursuits outside of the classroom.
If you have questions in your mind regarding your enrollment or if you need clarification of the university's expecations for your enrollment, check with your academic advisor now. You don't want to find yourself behind the curve come fall.
Until next time!
Lynn Byrne
