Graduate-Level Coursework

Policy statement

Under normal circumstances undergraduate students should not be enrolled in graduate-level courses. If, however, the instructor, the department through which the course is offered, and the student agree that the course is appropriate given the student's academic goals and interests and that s/he is qualified to take the course, the student may enroll. The student must accept full responsibility for fulfilling the course requirements and for the grade earned. All graduate-level courses taken as an undergraduate student apply to the College cumulative Grade Point Average. Even if the student has successfully completed a graduate-level course, it will satisfy degree requirements for a bachelor's degree only by special permission of the Dean. Approval for graduate-level courses to be applied toward the requirements for a bachelor's degree is not guaranteed, but rather is granted on a case-by-case basis. To request such approval, the following procedure should be followed:

1. The student obtains permission from the instructor of the course and the department through which the course is offered to enroll in the graduate-level course;
2. The student asks his/her academic advisor to submit an exception in the College database;
3. The Dean reviews the exception request and notifies the academic advisor of the decision; 
4. The academic advisor notifies the student of the decision.

In those cases in which undergraduates are permitted to count graduate-level coursework toward a bachelor's degree, no more than 9* credit hours will be counted. Graduate courses taken while an undergraduate and counted toward the requirements of a bachelor's degree may count toward a graduate degree only in circumstances permitted by the Graduate School or professional school that administers the graduate degree program. These courses also may not be permitted to apply toward a degree program at another university.

*Students on degree requirements prior to Summer 2023 may petition to count up to 12 credit hours of graduate coursework toward an undergraduate degree in the College.

Students in Special Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree Programs

The above policy does not apply to students in certain College-sponsored accelerated five-year undergraduate/graduate degree programs. These programs will have a “special requirements and policies” section outlining the special provisions.

While students in these special programs are not subject to the same limits on coursework taken at the graduate level as other students in the College, no graduate coursework beyond what is specified for the graduate portion of the degree may count toward any undergraduate portion of the degree, including the minimum of 90 credit hours required in the College of Arts and Sciences.

All courses taken at the graduate level through participation in an undergraduate/graduate degree program will count toward the College Cumulative GPA.